NO produced by eNOS plays important roles in the cardiovascular system. Alterations in eNOS activity and expression occur in various cardiovascular disorders and eNOS constitutes a therapeutic target. In addition to posttranslational modifications of eNOS that affect eNOS activity, transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of eNOS expression also controls eNOS-derived NO production. Bradykinin is an important determinant of vascular function and participates in the regulation of eNOS activity and expression. A number of currently used drugs or investigational molecules targeting specific ion channels, enzymes or receptors, including dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, statins, AT1 receptor blockers and angiotensin-(1-7), increase eNOS expression and activity. In this context, activation of bradykinin B2 receptors appears to be a common step for these drugs to promote eNOS expression, which certainly contributes to their therapeutic actions.
Keywords: AT1 receptor blockers; Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors; angiotensin-(1-7); bradykinin; dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers; endothelial nitric oxide synthase; nitric oxide; statins; transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation..
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