Pulmonary artery hypertension: caveolin-1 and eNOS interrelationship: a new perspective

Cardiol Rev. 2007 May-Jun;15(3):143-9. doi: 10.1097/01.crd.0000249381.49138.b9.

Abstract

Pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) is a sequela of a number of disparate diseases, often with a fatal consequence. Endothelial dysfunction is considered to be an early event during the development of PAH. Impaired availability of bioactive nitric oxide (NO) is a key underlying feature in most forms of clinical and experimental PAH. NO, generated by catalytic activity of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) on l-arginine, modulates vascular function and structure. For optimal activation, eNOS is targeted to caveolae, the flask-shaped invaginations found on the surface of plasmalemmal membrane of a variety of cells, including endothelial cells. Caveolin-1, the major coat protein of caveolae, regulates eNOS activity. Evidence is accumulating to suggest that caveolin-1 may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of PAH. This review is intended to summarize recent findings indicating a role for caveolin-1 and caveolin-1/eNOS interrelationship in PAH.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Caveolin 1 / metabolism*
  • Cell Membrane / drug effects
  • Cell Membrane / physiology
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Disease Progression
  • Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects
  • Endothelium, Vascular / enzymology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / etiology*
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / mortality
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / drug effects
  • Nitric Oxide / administration & dosage*
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase / metabolism*
  • Risk Assessment
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Survival Analysis
  • Vascular Resistance

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Caveolin 1
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase