Regulation of endothelial function by mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. Antioxid Redox Signal 2011 Sep 15;15(6):1517-30
Date
01/05/2011Pubmed ID
21194353Pubmed Central ID
PMC3151425DOI
10.1089/ars.2010.3642Scopus ID
2-s2.0-79955753583 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 179 CitationsAbstract
Mitochondria are well known for their central roles in ATP production, calcium homeostasis, and heme and steroid biosynthesis. However, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS), including superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, once thought to be toxic byproducts of mitochondrial physiologic activities, have recently been recognized as important cell-signaling molecules in the vascular endothelium, where their production, conversion, and destruction are highly regulated. Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species appear to regulate important vascular homeostatic functions under basal conditions in a variety of vascular beds, where, in particular, they contribute to endothelium-dependent vasodilation. On exposure to cardiovascular risk factors, endothelial mitochondria produce excessive ROS in concert with other cellular ROS sources. Mitochondrial ROS, in this setting, act as important signaling molecules activating prothrombotic and proinflammatory pathways in the vascular endothelium, a process that initially manifests itself as endothelial dysfunction and, if persistent, may lead to the development of atherosclerotic plaques. This review concentrates on emerging appreciation of the importance of mitochondrial ROS as cell-signaling molecules in the vascular endothelium under both physiologic and pathophysiologic conditions. Future potential avenues of research in this field also are discussed.
Author List
Widlansky ME, Gutterman DDAuthors
David Gutterman MD Emeritus Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinMichael E. Widlansky MD Center Director, Interim Chief, Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
CalciumElectron Transport Complex I
Electron Transport Complex III
Endothelium, Vascular
Endothelium-Dependent Relaxing Factors
Humans
Hydrogen Peroxide
Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial
Mitochondria
Nitric Oxide
Oxidative Stress
Peroxidases
Signal Transduction
Superoxides
