Regulation of antioxidant and oxidant enzymes in vascular cells and implications for vascular disease

Data from numerous studies demonstrate that oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of vascular disease. Oxidative stress leads to many pathologic events, such as inactivation of nitric oxide, lipid oxidation, enhanced mitogenicity and apoptosis of vascular cells, and increased expression and activation of redox-sensitive genes, which contribute to atherogenesis at all stages of the disease. Multiple enzymes are expressed in vascular cells that are involved in the elimination and production of reactive oxygen species, including the superoxide dismutases, catalase, thioredoxin reductase, glutathione peroxidase, NAD(P)H oxidase, xanthine oxidase, myeloperoxidase, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Several agonists and pathologic conditions that predispose to vascular disease induce changes in the expression and activity levels of these antioxidant and oxidant enzyme systems, leading to modulation of vascular oxygen radical load. Identification of key enzymes and mechanisms of vascular oxidative stress is important for the development of novel, specific pharmacologic interventions.