Most cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), as well as age-related cardiovascular alterations, are accompanied by increases in oxidative stress, usually due to increased generation and/or decreased metabolism of ROS (reactive oxygen species; for example superoxide radicals) and RNS (reactive nitrogen species; for example peroxynitrite). The superoxide anion is generated by several enzymatic reactions, including a variety of NADPH oxidases and uncoupled eNOS (endothelial NO synthase). To relieve the burden caused by this generation of free radicals, which also occurs as part of normal physiological processes, such as mitochondrial respiratory chain activity, mammalian systems have developed endogenous antioxidant enzymes. There is an increased usage of exogenous antioxidants such as vitamins C and E by many patients and the general public, ostensibly in an attempt to supplement intrinsic antioxidant activity. Unfortunately, the results of large-scale trails do not generate much enthusiasm for the continued use of antioxidants to mitigate free-radical-induced changes in the cardiovascular system. In the present paper, we review the clinical use of antioxidants by providing the rationale for their use and describe the outcomes of several large-scale trails that largely display negative outcomes. We also describe the emerging understanding of the detailed regulation of superoxide generation by an uncoupled eNOS and efforts to reverse eNOS uncoupling. SIRT1 (sirtuin 1), which regulates the expression and activity of multiple pro- and anti-oxidant enzymes, could be considered a candidate molecule for a ‘molecular switch’.
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Review Article|
March 23 2012
Free radical biology of the cardiovascular system
Alex F. Chen;
Alex F. Chen
*Department of Surgery, McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, U.S.A.
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Dan-Dan Chen;
Dan-Dan Chen
*Department of Surgery, McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, U.S.A.
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Andreas Daiber;
Andreas Daiber
†2nd Medical Clinic, Molecular Cardiology, Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
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Frank M. Faraci;
Frank M. Faraci
‡Departments of Internal Medicine and Pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, U.S.A.
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Huige Li;
Huige Li
§Department of Pharmacology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
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Christopher M. Rembold;
Christopher M. Rembold
‖Cardiovascular Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, U.S.A.
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Ismail Laher
∥Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2176 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z3
Correspondence: Dr Ismail Laher (email [email protected]).
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
November 08 2011
Revision Received:
December 21 2011
Accepted:
January 06 2012
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2012 Biochemical Society
2012
Clin Sci (Lond) (2012) 123 (2): 73–91.
Article history
Received:
November 08 2011
Revision Received:
December 21 2011
Accepted:
January 06 2012
Citation
Alex F. Chen, Dan-Dan Chen, Andreas Daiber, Frank M. Faraci, Huige Li, Christopher M. Rembold, Ismail Laher; Free radical biology of the cardiovascular system. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 July 2012; 123 (2): 73–91. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20110562
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