Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Non-invasive Assessment of Microvascular and Endothelial Function
05:41

Non-invasive Assessment of Microvascular and Endothelial Function

Published on: January 29, 2013

16.6K

Acute Tetrahydrobiopterin Improves Endothelial Function in Patients With COPD

Paula Rodriguez-Miguelez1, Justin Gregg2, Nichole Seigler1

  • 1Georgia Prevention Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Augusta University, Augusta, GA.

Chest
|April 30, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) improved endothelial function in COPD patients, normalizing it to control levels. This suggests BH4 may be a novel therapy for reducing cardiovascular disease risk in COPD.

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Cardiovascular diseases are common in COPD patients, often linked to endothelial dysfunction.
  • Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is crucial for nitric oxide (NO) synthesis and regulating endothelial function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if a single dose of BH4 improves endothelial function in COPD patients.
  • To determine if BH4 increases NO bioavailability in these patients.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial involving 17 COPD patients.
  • Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) measured endothelial function pre- and post-treatment with BH4 or placebo.
  • Endothelial NO synthase (NOS3) phosphorylation was assessed.

Main Results:

  • BH4 significantly increased FMD, improving endothelial function compared to placebo and normalizing it to control levels.
  • BH4 administration led to a significant increase in the ratio of phospho-NOS3 to total NOS3 protein.
  • Placebo treatment showed no significant changes in FMD or NOS3 phosphorylation.

Conclusions:

  • A single dose of BH4 effectively improves endothelial function in COPD patients.
  • The mechanism involves increased NOS3 phosphorylation, suggesting enhanced NO bioavailability.
  • BH4 shows potential as a novel therapeutic agent for cardiovascular risk reduction in COPD.
Abstract

Keywords:
BH(4)COPDFMDNOS3endothelial function

More Related Videos

Assessing Endothelial Vasodilator Function with the Endo-PAT 200007:46

Assessing Endothelial Vasodilator Function with the Endo-PAT 2000

Published on: October 15, 2010

44.5K
Utilizing Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Improve Language Function in Stroke Patients with Chronic Non-fluent Aphasia10:15

Utilizing Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Improve Language Function in Stroke Patients with Chronic Non-fluent Aphasia

Published on: July 2, 2013

18.4K

Related Concept Videos

COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features01:20

COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of lung conditions that progressively worsen over time, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. This cluster of diseases collectively leads to a gradual and irreversible decline in lung function over time.
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...
1.9K
COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids01:26

COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids

Chronic obstructive pulmonary isease (COPD) involves a group of progressive lung disorders characterized by persistent airflow limitation and chronic respiratory symptoms. Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome (ACOS), encompassing features of both asthma and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is a group of progressive lung disorders that includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and refractory (non-reversible) asthma. ACOS leads to complex clinical presentations that combine the inflammatory...
831
Improving Translational Accuracy02:07

Improving Translational Accuracy

3.7K
Improving Translational Accuracy02:07

Improving Translational Accuracy

Base complementarity between the three base pairs of mRNA codon and the tRNA anticodon is not a failsafe mechanism. Inaccuracies can range from a single mismatch to no correct base pairing at all. The free energy difference between the correct and nearly correct base pairs can be as small as 3 kcal/ mol. With complementarity being the only proofreading step, the estimated error frequency would be one wrong amino acid in every 100 amino acids incorporated. However, error frequencies observed in...
15.0K
Acute Pharyngitis01:30

Acute Pharyngitis

Introduction
Acute pharyngitis is the inflammation of the back of the throat (pharynx), commonly resulting in a sore throat. It is a frequently encountered condition that prompts individuals to seek medical advice.
Classification
Acute pharyngitis can be categorized based on its underlying cause:
4.4K
Functional Groups02:45

Functional Groups

Functional groups are a group of atoms with characteristic properties, which when linked to the carbon skeleton of a molecule, alter the properties of that molecule. For example, the presence of certain functional groups on a molecule will make them hydrophilic, whereas others will make them hydrophobic. These functional groups are an indispensable part of organic chemistry and important components of biological molecules, such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Each...
89.1K