Faculty Collaboration Database

Communication Is Key: Mechanisms of Intercellular Signaling in Vasodilation. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 2017 May;69(5):264-272

Date

05/10/2017

Pubmed ID

28482351

Pubmed Central ID

PMC5424612

DOI

10.1097/FJC.0000000000000463

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85019730447 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   38 Citations

Abstract

Thirty years ago, Robert F. Furchgott concluded that nitric oxide, a compound traditionally known to be a toxic component of fuel exhaust, is in fact released from the endothelium, and in a paracrine fashion, induces relaxation of underlying vascular smooth muscle resulting in vasodilation. This discovery has helped pave the way for a more thorough understanding of vascular intercellular and intracellular communication that supports the process of regulating regional perfusion to match the local tissue oxygen demand. Vasoregulation is controlled not only by endothelial release of a diverse class of vasoactive compounds such as nitric oxide, arachidonic acid metabolites, and reactive oxygen species, but also by physical forces on the vascular wall and through electrotonic conduction through gap junctions. Although the endothelium is a critical source of vasoactive compounds, paracrine mediators can also be released from surrounding parenchyma such as perivascular fat, myocardium, and cells in the arterial adventitia to exert either local or remote vasomotor effects. The focus of this review will highlight the various means by which intercellular communication contributes to mechanisms of vasodilation. Paracrine signaling and parenchymal influences will be reviewed as well as regional vessel communication through gap junctions, connexons, and myoendothelial feedback. More recent modes of communication such as vesicular and microRNA signaling will also be discussed.

Author List

Freed JK, Gutterman DD

Authors

Julie K. Freed PhD, MD Senior Associate Dean, Institute Director, Associate Professor in the Anesthesiology department at Medical College of Wisconsin
David Gutterman MD Emeritus Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Animals
Arteries
Cardiovascular Diseases
Endothelium, Vascular
Endothelium-Dependent Relaxing Factors
Humans
Muscle, Smooth, Vascular
Nitric Oxide
Paracrine Communication
Reactive Oxygen Species
Signal Transduction
Vasodilation