Skip Navigation

European Heart Journal 1995 16(Supplement C):51-58; doi:10.1093/eurheartj/16.suppl_C.51
Copyright © 1995 by the European Society of Cardiology.
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow E-letters: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when E-letters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Lüscher, T. F.
Right arrow Articles by Noll, G.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Lüscher, T. F.
Right arrow Articles by Noll, G.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© 1995 The European Society of Cardiology

Local regulation of the coronary circulation in health and disease: role of nitric oxide and endothelin

T. F. Lüscher, R. R. Wenzel and G. Noll

Cardiology, Cardovascular Research, University Hospital Bern, Switzerland

correspondence: Thomas F. Luscher, MD. Professor of Medicine, Cardiology, University Hospital, Inselspital, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland

Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in western countries. Its pathogenesis is unknown, but involves enhanced vasoconstriction, increased interaction of platelets and monocytes with the vessel wall, as well as proliferation, migration and extracellular matrix formation of vascular smooth muscle. The endothelium lies in a strategic anatomical position between circulating blood and vascular smooth muscle cells. This supports the concept that dysfunction of these cells significantly contributes to coronary artery disease. Besides other mediators, endothelial cells are a source of nitric oxide and endothelin.

Nitric oxide is a vasodilator, an inhibitor of both platelet function and proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle. Endothelin is a potent vasoconstrictor that facilitates proliferation.

Under pathological conditions, in particular the presence of cardiovascular risk factors, endothelial dysfunction occurs and is a major contributor to the increase in platelet vessel wall interaction, vasoconstriction and proliferation in the coronary system. Endothelium-dependent vasodilation is usually reduced and endothelium-dependent constrictor responses, as well as endothelin production, are augmented. Hence, endothelial cells are important targets and mediators of coronary artery disease.

Key Words: Coronary artery disease • endothelial cells • nitric oxide

Supported by grants of the Swiss National Research Foundation (No. 32-32541, 91, 32-35591, 92), the Sandoz Foundation and an educational grant by Swiss Mobiliar Insurance. Dr R. R. Wenzel is supported by a grant of the German Research Association (Deustche Forschungsgemeinschaft, No. WE 1772/1.1)


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Cardiovasc ResHome page
B Schwartzkopff and B.E Strauer
Squeezing tubes: a case of remodeling and regulation: Coronary reserve in hypertensive heart disease
Cardiovasc Res, October 1, 1998; 40(1): 4 - 8.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.