Donate Help Contact The AHA Sign In Home
American Heart Association
Circulation Research
Search: search_blue_button Advanced Search
Circulation Research. 2006;99:1067-1075
Published online before print October 19, 2006, doi: 10.1161/01.RES.0000250430.62775.99
This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
99/10/1067    most recent
01.RES.0000250430.62775.99v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Esplugues, J. V.
Right arrow Articles by Victor, V. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Esplugues, J. V.
Right arrow Articles by Victor, V. M.
Related Collections
Right arrow Oxidant stress
Right arrow Endothelium/vascular type/nitric oxide
Right arrow Other Vascular biology
(Circulation Research. 2006;99:1067.)
© 2006 American Heart Association, Inc.


Molecular Medicine

Complex I Dysfunction and Tolerance to Nitroglycerin

An Approach Based on Mitochondrial-Targeted Antioxidants

Juan V. Esplugues, Milagros Rocha, Cristina Nuñez, Irene Bosca, Sales Ibiza, Jose R. Herance, Angel Ortega, Juan M. Serrador, Pilar D’Ocon, Victor M. Victor

From the Departamento de Farmacologia (J.V.E., M.R., P.D.), Facultad de Medicina, Universitat de Valencia; Unidad Mixta Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC)-Universitat de Valencia (C.N., I.B., S.I., J.M.S., V.M.V.); Instituto de Alta Tecnologia (J.R.H.), Parque de Investigaciones Biomedicas, Barcelona; and Unidad Central de Investigacion (A.O.), Universitat de Valencia, Spain.

Correspondence to Dr Victor M. Victor, Unidad Mixta CNIC-Valencia, Departamento de Farmacologia, Avda Blasco Ibañez 15-17, Valencia, Va 46010, Spain. E-mail vmvictor{at}cnic.es


*    Abstract
up arrowTop
*Abstract
down arrowIntroduction
down arrowMaterials and Methods
down arrowResults
down arrowDiscussion
down arrowReferences
 
Nitroglycerin (GTN) tolerance was induced in vivo (rats) and in vitro (rat and human vessels). Electrochemical detection revealed that the incubation dose of GTN (5x10–6 mol/L) did not release NO or modify O2 consumption when administered acutely. However, development of tolerance produced a decrease in both mitochondrial O2 consumption and the Km for O2 in animal and human vessels and endothelial cells in a noncompetitive action. GTN tolerance has been associated with impairment of GTN biotransformation through inhibition of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH)-2, and with uncoupling of mitochondrial respiration. Feeding rats with mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants (mitoquinone [MQ]) and in vitro coincubation with MQ (10–6 mol/L) or glutathione (GSH) ester (10–4 mol/L) prevented tolerance and the effects of GTN on mitochondrial respiration and ALDH-2 activity. Biotransformation of GTN requires functionally active mitochondria and induces reactive oxygen species production and oxidative stress within this organelle, as it is inhibited by mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants and is absent in HUVEC{rho}0 cells. Experiments analyzing complex I–dependent respiration demonstrate that its inhibition by GTN is prevented by mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants. Furthermore, in presence of succinate (10x10–3 mol/L), a complex II electron donor added to bypass complex I–dependent respiration, GTN-treated cells exhibited O2 consumption rates similar to those of controls, thus suggesting that complex I was affected by GTN. We propose that, following prolonged treatment with GTN in addition to ALDH-2, complex I is a target for mitochondrially generated reactive oxygen species. Our data also suggest a role for mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants as therapeutic tools in the control of the tolerance that accompanies chronic nitrate use.


Key Words: nitroglycerin • endothelium • oxidative stress • mitochondria • antioxidant


*    Introduction
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
*Introduction
down arrowMaterials and Methods
down arrowResults
down arrowDiscussion
down arrowReferences
 
The vasodilatory actions of nitroglycerin (glyceryl trinitrate [GTN]) have generally been attributed to its bioconversion into the relaxant agent nitric oxide (NO), which acts on the enzyme soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC).1–3 However, most studies that support the existence of such a pathway have demonstrated increases of NO only when GTN concentrations considerably exceeded the plasma levels reached during clinical dosing.4 Moreover, the involvement of other NO-related species in the actions of GTN when used at clinically relevant concentrations is also under debate.5,6 Different enzymes have been implicated in the bioconversion of GTN, in particular, glutathione S-transferases,7 the cytochrome p450 system,8 and xanthine oxidoreductase,9 although the most recent evidence suggests a central role for mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH)-2.10–13

The medical use of GTN is limited by the development of tolerance, which occurs following prolonged administration or the application of high doses. This phenomenon has been related to various mechanisms, in particular, desensitization of sGC,14 and, mainly, impairment of GTN biotransformation by inhibition of ALDH-2.10–12 These actions, like others associated with GTN, have been linked to an increase in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS),15 as well as mitochondrial dysfunction.11 The present study confirms the theory that tolerance to GTN (both in vivo and in vitro) is related to the oxidative stress that leads to an inhibition of ALDH-2. Furthermore, through the use of mitochondrial antioxidants such as mitoquinone (MQ),16,17 or glutathione (GSH) ester,18 we have confirmed the mitochondria to be the main location for the development of tolerance. Finally, we have identified mitochondrial complex I as a target at which the initial oxidative stress responsible for GTN tolerance takes place.


*    Materials and Methods
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
*Materials and Methods
down arrowResults
down arrowDiscussion
down arrowReferences
 
Umbilical cords obtained from the Department of Gynaecology (Faculty of Medicine of Valencia) were cut into rings (5 mm) and placed in Krebs solution ([in x10–3 mol/L] NaCl 118, KCl 4.75, CaCl2 1.9, MgSO4 1.2, KH2PO4 1.2, NaHCO3 25, and glucose 10.1). Human umbilical vein cells (HUVECs) and human umbilical arterial endothelial cells (HUAECs) were cultured in medium 199 (Cambrex, Walkersville, Md) as previously described.19 Male Sprague–Dawley rats (200 to 250 g; Harlan, Barcelona, Spain) were decapitated and 5 mm rings obtained from their thoracic aortas.

To generate HUVEC{rho}0 cells, 50 ng/mL ethidium bromide was added to the medium for 7 days to inhibit mitochondrial gene transcription and activity.11 Pyruvate (110 mg/mL) and uridine (50 µg/mL) were used as alternative energy and nucleotide sources. Lack of mitochondrial gene expression was evaluated by Western blot analysis for cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (Molecular Probes, Leiden, The Netherlands), and the absence of respiratory function was measured by analyzing mitochondrial oxygen (O2) consumption.

All protocols complied with European Community guidelines for the use of experimental animals and were approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Valencia.

Vascular Contractility Studies
Rings were suspended in an organ bath containing Krebs solution (37°C), as described previously.6 GTN tolerance was induced in vitro by incubating rings for 3 hours with GTN (5x10–6 mol/L). Rings from the in vivo nitrate-tolerance experiments were obtained from rats that had been allowed free access for 14 days to tap water with or without MQ or triphenylphosphonium (TPP) (5x10–4 mol/L)20 and that had been treated with a GTN patch for the last 3 days.15 All of these parameters were selected from preliminary experiments and were similar to those used by other authors.15,21,22 Relaxation-response curves were obtained by adding cumulative concentrations of GTN (10–10 to 10–4 mol/L) or DETA-NO (10–8 to 10–4 mol/L). Some experiments were performed in aortic denudated rings, and, when necessary, either MQ (10–6 mol/L) or GSH ester (10–4 mol/L) was added 1 hour before the 3-hour GTN incubation period and maintained thereafter. In preliminary experiments the lipophilic cation linker TPP (5x10–6 mol/L), responsible for targeting MQ to mitochondria, showed no effect on vascular responses. When necessary, experiments were performed in the presence of non–mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants such as uric acid (UA) (10–4 mol/L, scavenger of ONOO), ebselen (Eb) (10–4 mol/L; scavenger of ONOO and H2O2), and tempol (TP) (10–3 mol/L; scavenger of O2). The adequate concentration (–log [M]) for producing 50% relaxation (pEC50) was obtained from a nonlinear regression analysis with GraphPad software.

ALDH Activity
The activity of ALDH-2 in homogenates of aortic rings was determined by measuring the conversion of propionaldehyde to propionic acid11 and was expressed as the mean rate of absorbance (0.0125 A340 was equivalent to 1 nmol/mg per minute).

Measurements of O2 Consumption and NO Production
The aorta from 2 animals (100±1.04 mg wet weight) or human umbilical arteries or veins (196±2.3 or 199±3.6 mg wet weight, respectively) were cut into rings and resuspended in Krebs solution. HUVECs, HUVEC{rho}0 cells, and HUAECs were resuspended (5x106 cells/mL) in Krebs supplemented with L-arginine (3x10–4 mol/L) and HEPES (25x10–3 mol/L). Induction of GTN tolerance (in vivo or in vitro) and the use of mitochondrial and non–mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants were similar to those described in the vascular reactivity studies. When administered acutely, the dose of GTN used (5x10–6 mol/L) had no effect on mitochondrial O2 consumption, despite producing maximal relaxations of vascular rings. The aforementioned tissues were then placed in a gas-tight chamber, and O2 consumption was measured with a Clark-type O2 electrode (Rank Brothers, Bottisham, UK).6 Sodium cyanide (10–3 mol/L) confirmed that O2 consumption was mainly mitochondrial. Measurements were collected using the data-acquisition device Duo.18 (WPI, Stevenage, UK). A hyperbolic function was used to describe the relationship between O2 concentration and the rate of O2 consumption (VO2). The maximal rate of O2 consumption (VO2max) and the apparent O2 affinity Michaelis–Menten constant (Km) (10–6 mol/L) were calculated according to their analogy with the Michaelis–Menten constant. Trypan blue exclusion test revealed no changes in cell viability.

NO concentration in the cell medium was monitored throughout the 3-hour incubation period with GTN by means of an NO electrode (ISO-NOP; WPI, Stevenage, UK) as described previously.23 The NO donor DETA-NO (10–5 mol/L) was added at the end of each experiment as an internal control. Changes in intracellular NO were also evaluated by incubating cells with the fluorescent probe diaminodifluorofluorescein diacetate (DAF-FM DA) (1x10–6 mol/L). Thereafter, the medium was changed to HBSS, supplemented with glucose (20x10–3 mol/L), L-arginine (3x10–4 mol/L), and DAF-FM, incubated for 30 minutes and measured using a Fluoroskan plate reader (TL, Franklin, Mass). cGMP levels were measured with the Biomol assay kit (Plymouth Meeting, Pa).

Measurement of ROS Production, GSH Content, and Complex I Activity
Two methods were used to evaluate ROS. Total ROS production was assessed following incubation (30 minutes) with the fluorescent probe 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) (5x10–6 mol/L), as described elsewhere.24 Quantitative assessment of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was performed with the Amplex Red H2O2/Peroxidase Assay kit (Molecular Probes, Eugene, Ore).25,26

GSH content was assessed following incubation (30 minutes) with the fluorescent probe monochlorobimane (MCB) (40x10–6 mol/L). GSH levels were also measured by confocal microscopy (Leica, Heidelberg, Germany), following incubation (30 minutes) with 5-chloromethylfluorescein diacetate (CMFDA) (1x10–6 mol/L). The ratio oxidized glutathione (GSSG)/GSH was calculated as previously described.27 Proteins were determined using the BCA protein assay kit (Pierce, Rockford, Ill).

The activity of mitochondrial complex I was assessed by calculating the NADH oxidation rate.28 Briefly, a cellular homogenate (20 µL, 0.3 mg) was added to 1 mL of potassium phosphate buffer (10–2 mol/L) containing NADH (10–4 mol/L) at 37°C. Basal absorbance (340 nm) was recorded for 1 minute, and 5 µL of ubiquinone (10–2 mol/L) was then added, and the rate of NADH oxidation (taken as complex I activity) over 2 minutes was measured. The NADH oxidation rate was calculated from the time-dependent decrease in the slope of absorbance using an extinction coefficient for NADH of 6.81x10–3 mol/L cm–1 at 340 nm. Isolated complex I–dependent respiration was evaluated in digitonin permeabilized cells in the presence of the complex I substrates malate (0.4x10–3 mol/L) and glutamate (3x10–2 mol/L), the complex II substrate succinate (10–2 mol/L), or the complex I inhibitor rotenone (6x10–6 mol/L).29

Drugs and Solutions
Phenylephrine (Phe), acetycholine (ACh), 1H-[1,2,4]-oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), sodium cyanide, KCl, ubiquinone, succinate, rotenone, glutamate, malate, digitonin, arginine, HEPES, uridine, TPP, glucose, 5,5'-dithio-bis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB), trypan blue, GSH reductase (GR), NADH, TP, UA, Eb, methylpyrazole, H2O2, and hemoglobin were obtained from Sigma-Aldrich (St Louis, Mo). Propionaldehyde was from Fluka (Milano, Italy). The GTN used is a clinically used preparation (Solinitrina, Allmirall, Barcelona, Spain). Patches of GTN were from Schering-Plough (Madrid, Spain). Na-pyruvate was from GIBCO-BRL (Gaithersburg, Md). Ethidium bromide was from SERVA (Heidelberg, Germany). HBSS and medium 199 were from Cambrex (Verviers, Belgium). DETA-NO was from Alexis (San Diego, Calif). DAF-FM, and DCFH-DA were from Calbiochem (San Diego, Calif). MCB and CMFDA were from Molecular Probes (Eugene, Ore). MQ was synthesized according to the published method.30 GSH ester was prepared as previously described.31

Data Analysis
Unless stated otherwise all values are mean±SEM of at least 5 experiments. Statistical analysis was performed with 1-way ANOVA with post hoc corrections, followed by the Student t test for unpaired samples (GraphPad Software). Significance was defined as P<0.05.


*    Results
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
up arrowMaterials and Methods
*Results
down arrowDiscussion
down arrowReferences
 
Tolerance to GTN Vasorelaxation
Figure 1 shows dose-dependent relaxation curves by GTN (10–10 to 10–4 mol/L) in precontracted (Phe 10–6 mol/L) rings. Figure 1A represents results from rat aorta in which tolerance was induced in vivo, and Figure 1B and 1C show results from rat aorta and human umbilical artery and vein in which tolerance was induced in vitro. Table 1 shows pEC50 values. Continuous treatment with GTN (in vivo or in vitro) caused a significant rightward shift in the GTN concentration-response curves, indicating the development of GTN-induced vascular tolerance. In GTN-tolerant rat aortas, the maximal GTN relaxation values were significantly diminished (82.2±0.9% of controls, P<0.05). Removal of the endothelium enhanced the maximal relaxations values caused by GTN, although they continued to differ from those of controls (91.6±2% of controls, P<0.05 versus both).


Figure 1
View larger version (30K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 1. Dose-dependent relaxation curves by GTN (10–10 to 10–4 mol/L) on precontracted (Phe 10–6 mol/L) vascular rings in the presence of mitochondrial-targeted (MQ 10–6 mol/L; GSH ester 10–4 mol/L) or non–mitochondrial-targeted (UA 10–4 mol/L; Eb 10–4 mol/L; TP 10–3 mol/L) antioxidants. A, Results in rat aorta in which tolerance was induced in vivo. B and C, Results in rat aorta and human umbilical artery and vein in which tolerance was induced in vitro. Each point represents mean±SEM of 5 to 7 separate experiments.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 1. pEC50 of the Dose-Dependent Relaxation Curves by GTN in Rat Aortic Rings and Artery and Vein Rings from Human Umbilical Cord

Treatment with MQ (in vivo or in vitro) or GSH ester (in vitro) during the induction of tolerance restored the acute vasorelaxant effects of GTN, suggesting that mitochondrial ROS were involved in the development of GTN tolerance. Addition of non–mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants (UA, Eb, and TP) following the in vitro induction of tolerance only partially restored the acute effects of GTN (Figure 1C). pEC50 values with DETA-NO (10–8 to 10–4 mol/L) were similar in controls (6.06±0.07) and GTN-tolerant (5.96±0.05) aortas. Incubation with DETA-NO (5x10–6 mol/L; 3 hours) did not induce tolerance to the effects of the GTN (7.98±0.07) administered later.

GTN Biotransformation
ALDH activity was significantly (P<0.001) diminished in GTN-tolerant aortas when compared with that of controls (1.1±0.1 vs 2.8±0.2 nmol/mg per minute, respectively). Presence of MQ or GSH ester during the in vitro induction of GTN tolerance prevented such a decrease (2.7±0.2 and 2.5±0.2 nmol/mg per minute, respectively).

Mitochondrial O2 Consumption
Figure 2 and Table 2 show that the rate of O2 consumption, the apparent Km for O2, and VO2max decreased in vessels in which GTN tolerance was induced in vivo (Figure 2A) or in vitro (Figure 2B). Treatment with MQ (in vivo or in vitro) or GSH ester (in vitro) during the induction of tolerance prevented these inhibitory effects of GTN. Following the in vitro induction of tolerance, addition of non–mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants partially (P<0.05) restored the inhibitory effects of GTN (Table 2). Presence of the NO scavenger hemoglobin (10–5 mol/L) or the sGC inhibitor ODQ (5x10–6 mol/L) did not modify the effects of GTN on O2 consumption (data not shown).


Figure 2
View larger version (12K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 2. Representative traces showing the rate of O2 consumption in a closed respiration chamber. A, Traces in the aorta of rats pretreated with MQ (14 days) and in which GTN tolerance was induced in vivo. B, Traces following preincubation with GTN (5x10–6 mol/L) and MQ (10–6 mol/L) in rat aorta and human umbilical artery and vein in which GTN tolerance was induced in vitro (3 hours). C, Electrochemical detection of NO production in HUVECs after addition of GTN (5x10–6 mol/L) and DETA-NO (10–5 mol/L).


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 2. Modulation of the Apparent Km for O2 and VO2max in Rat Aortic Rings and Artery and Vein Rings From Human Umbilical Cord and HUVECs and HUAECs

Figure 2C shows representative traces of the electrochemical detection of NO in a medium containing HUVECs. Addition of GTN (5x10–6 mol/L) did not induce any NO signal, whereas a robust increase was noted following DETA-NO (10–5 mol/L). Similar results were obtained with the NO-sensitive fluorescent probe DAF-FM (data not shown).

Role of Mitochondria in GTN-Induced cGMP Production
To confirm the role of functioning mitochondria in GTN bioactivity, we created HUVEC{rho}0 cells and considered the absence of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I as an index (Figure 3A). These cells were associated with a 99% reduction in O2 consumption (Figure 3B). In HUVECs (Figure 3B), preincubation with MQ during the induction of tolerance prevented the inhibitory effects of GTN on mitochondrial O2 consumption. The addition of GTN increased cGMP levels in HUVECs, but such a response was absent when cells have been preincubated with GTN and in HUVEC{rho}0 cells (Figure 3C). Coincubation with either MQ or GSH ester prevented the effects induced by the incubation with GTN in HUVECs. Both HUVECs and HUVEC{rho}0 cells exhibited an increased cGMP production following addition of DETA-NO (10–4 mol/L). Preincubation of HUVECs with DETA-NO (5x10–6 mol/L; 3 hours) did not modify the increase in cGMP that follows acute addition of GTN (data not shown).


Figure 3
View larger version (22K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 3. (Figure 3A) Western blot analysis for cytochrome c oxidase in HUVECs and HUVEC{rho}0 cells (in which the expression was absent). Tubulin was used as a control charge. B, Representative traces showing the rate of O2 consumption in HUVEC{rho}0 cells and in HUVECs following in vitro preincubation with GTN (5x10–6 mol/L) or GTN+MQ (10–6 mol/L). C, cGMP levels in HUVECs and HUVEC{rho}0 cells. In some cases, cells were preincubated with GTN (5x10–6 mol/L). Coincubation with MQ (10–6 mol/L) or GSH ester (10–4 mol/L) prevented the effect on cGMP levels of GTN tolerance in HUVECs. Addition of DETA-NO (10–4 mol/L) increased cGMP levels in both HUVECs and HUVEC{rho}0 cells. Data are mean±SEM of 3 to 5 separate experiments. *P<0.001 vs control, {dagger}P<0.001 vs cells with mitochondria.

ROS Production and GSH Levels
Preincubation of HUVECs with GTN significantly increased the fluorescence of DCFH-DA, indicating an augmented production of ROS (Figure 4A). A similar increase was observed when the effects of GTN preincubation were evaluated by confocal microscopy (Figure 4B). Incubation with GTN also increased H2O2 (Figure 4C). In all cases, coincubation with MQ and GSH ester reversed the effects of GTN. Similar results were obtained in HUAECs (data not shown). Neither incubation of HUVEC{rho}0 cells with GTN nor acute administration of GTN in both HUVECs and HUVEC{rho}0 cells produced any increase in ROS-related fluorescence. Pretreatment with GTN produced increases in H2O2 in aortic rings with and without endothelium (Figure 4D), and coincubation with MQ or GSH ester prevented such an increase (data not shown). Although the removal of the endothelium reduced the level of fluorescence, the production of ROS continued to be substantial, thus suggesting that both muscle and endothelial cells are capable of generating ROS following incubation with GTN.


Figure 4
View larger version (26K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 4. Effects of preincubation with GTN (5x10–6 mol/L; 3 hours), GTN+MQ (10–6 mol/L), or GTN+GSH ester (10–4 mol/L) on total ROS. A through C, Changes in fluorescence of (A), representative images of (B), and H2O2 production in (C) HUVECs and HUVEC{rho}0 cells. D, H2O2 in aortic rings with or without endothelium. *P<0.001 vs control.

Oxidative stress is related to both an increase in ROS production and a decrease in antioxidant content. As shown in Figure 5A, preincubation of HUVECs with GTN significantly decreased the fluorescence of MCB, indicating a reduction in GSH levels. A similar diminution in CMFDA fluorescence was observed when the effects of GTN were evaluated by confocal microscopy (Figure 5B). Treatment with MQ reversed these effects, and, as expected, GSH ester boosted the levels of the fluorescence signal. Figure 5C shows how incubation with GTN increased the GSSG:GSH ratio, an index of oxidative stress, whereas MQ and GSH ester prevented this effect.


Figure 5
View larger version (23K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 5. Effects of preincubation with GTN (5x10–6 mol/L; 3 hours), GTN+MQ (10–6 mol/L), or GTN+GSH ester (10–4 mol/L) on GSH levels in HUVECs, as measured by fluorimetry (mean±SEM of 5 to 7 experiments) (A) or confocal microscopy (representative images) (B). The GSSG:GSH ratio was measured spectrophotometrically (C). *P<0.001 vs control.

GTN Impairs Mitochondrial O2 Consumption by Inhibiting Complex I: Reversal by Mitochondrial-Targeted Antioxidants
Figure 6A shows the inhibitory effects of preincubation with GTN on mitochondrial complex I activity, as calculated from the rate of NADH oxidation in HUVECs. Coincubation with either MQ or GSH ester reversed this effect. The specificity of the action of GTN was further characterized through an alternative method involving cells permeabilized with digitonin and measurement of isolated complex I–dependent respiration. Figure 6B shows that HUVECs respiring on the complex I substrates malate (0.4x10–3 mol/L) and glutamate (30x10–3 mol/L) were inhibited by nearly 90% with the complex I inhibitor rotenone (6x10–6 mol/L). Cells incubated with GTN respired very poorly with malate and glutamate, whereas rotenone-sensitive respiration did not differ to that observed in the absence of the inhibitor. When succinate (10x10–3 mol/L), a complex II electron donor, was added to bypass complex I–dependent respiration, GTN-treated cells exhibited O2 consumption rates similar to those of controls, suggesting that complex I was the main target of GTN preincubation. Coincubation with MQ or GSH ester prevented the effects of GTN preincubation on the levels of complex I–dependent respiration.


Figure 6
View larger version (25K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 6. Effects of preincubation with GTN (5x10–6 mol/L; 3 hours), GTN+MQ (10–6 mol/L), or GTN+GSH ester (10–4 mol/L) on the activity of complex I in HUVECs, as measured by calculating the NADH oxidation rate (A) or isolated complex I–dependent respiration in digitonin-permeabilized cells in the presence of the complex I substrates malate (0.4x10–3 mol/L) and glutamate (3x10–2 mol/L), the complex II substrate succinate (10–2 mol/L), or the complex I inhibitor rotenone (6x10–6 mol/L) (B). Mean±SEM of 5 to 7 experiments. *P<0.001 vs control.


*    Discussion
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
up arrowMaterials and Methods
up arrowResults
*Discussion
down arrowReferences
 
The present study demonstrated how prolonged in vivo administration or in vitro preincubation with GTN result in a reduced vascular relaxation when the drug is administered acutely, thus resembling the clinical induction of GTN tolerance.11,21,22 The dose of GTN used for incubation does not release NO and following the induction of tolerance, it reduced mitochondrial O2 consumption in a noncompetitive manner in vascular tissue and endothelial cells, which is contrary to that observed when administered acutely.6 It has been suggested that biotransformation of GTN requires a functionally active mitochondria and leads to an increased production of ROS and oxidative stress that coincides with an impairment of mitochondrial ALDH-2 activity.10,11 We have delved further into these processes by using HUVEC{rho}0 cells and mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants to show that MQ and GSH ester prevent the induction of GTN tolerance and block any increase in the production of ROS and any reduction in ALDH-2 activity within the mitochondria. Finally, we propose that complex I of the electron transport chain is a target of the ROS that is generated during the induction of GTN tolerance and can cause a decrease in mitochondrial O2 consumption. Collectively, these findings extent the concept that mitochondrial dysfunction plays a key role in the appearance of nitrate tolerance.

MQ is the result of covalently linking ubiquinone to a TPP cation, causing a several-hundred-fold accumulation within the mitochondria.30 The active antioxidant form of MQ is the reduced ubiquinol form, which is regenerated by the electron transport chain, and selectively blocks mitochondrial oxidative damage by detoxifying ROS.16,17 This and other mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants have been shown to protect this organelle from oxidative stress in isolated cells32 and living tissues20 in hypoxia,26 apoptosis,29 and cancer.18 In our experiments, continuous pretreatment with GTN produced a substantial reduction in its vasorelaxant effects of GTN when administered acutely, but not in those of acute DETA-NO. These experiments argue against desensitization of sGC as a possible mechanism for GTN tolerance. Administration in vivo of MQ prevented the reduction in the relaxant effects of GTN. This effect was equally reproduced in vitro by MQ and GSH ester, another antioxidant that increases GSH levels in mitochondria.18 Furthermore, as previously shown,11,33 non–mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants such as UA, Eb, and TP partially reproduced the effects of MQ and GSH ester, probably as a result of their access to the mitochondria.

In further experiments, vascular tissues and cells in which GTN tolerance had been induced in vivo or in vitro exhibited a reduction of O2 consumption and the Km for O2 in a way that indicated of a noncompetitive action. Administration in vivo of MQ or in vitro of either MQ or GSH ester prevented these effects. Once more, UA, Eb, and TP partially reproduced the effects of MQ and GSH ester. In this way, taking into account the specificity of these non–mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants,33 ONOO, H2O2, and O2 would be involved in the impairment of mitochondrial respiration.

The dose of GTN used in vitro did not result in an electrochemical detection of NO release, thus confirming our previous hypothesis that biotransformation of these clinically relevant doses of GTN does not release free NO.6 In HUVECs, the acute addition of GTN increased cGMP levels and ALDH-2 activity, whereas this response was absent following preincubation with GTN. Coincubation with either MQ or GSH ester prevented the effects induced by incubation with GTN. In HUVEC{rho}0 cells, GTN-stimulated increases in cGMP were abolished, thus confirming the necessity for GTN to be metabolized by functional mitochondria. This corroborates previous results obtained in mouse macrophages and porcine endothelial cells.10,11 Collectively, this evidence gives weight to the idea that ALDH-2 contributes to GTN bioconversion, and the subsequent increase in cGMP levels, whereas inhibition of this enzyme is implicated in GTN tolerance.

It has been widely postulated that continuous exposure to GTN would lead to an increase in the production of ROS,15,34–39 which is related to the development of tolerance and cross-tolerance.11 Our results with varying fluorescence methods confirm this hypothesis, because incubation with GTN increased the release of ROS in vascular cells and tissues. The mitochondria seems the origin of said ROS production, as they were absent in HUVEC{rho}0 cells, whereas treatment with MQ and GSH ester reversed the increase in both ROS and oxidative stress that followed incubation with GTN. It is important to highlight the important contribution of vascular muscle cells to this genesis of ROS, as demonstrated by the maintenance of a substantial production in endothelium-denudated vessels.

The subsequent oxidative stress and complex I impairment following long-term treatment with GTN could inactivate ALDH-2 or inhibit the ALDH-2 repair system, both of which result in the impairment of GTN bioactivation. In addition, a potential interaction with superoxide may decrease the bioavailability of the vasodilator released following GTN bioactivation. ROS are highly toxic to various sites of mitochondrial respiratory chain, and inhibition of complex I would seem to be the most likely consequence.22 We demonstrate that GTN tolerance is accompanied by a marked reduction in NADH oxidation, indicative of a reduction in complex I activity and prevented by mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants. Further experiments analyzing isolated complex I–dependent respiration in permeabilized HUVECs demonstrated that in the presence of succinate, a complex II electron donor added to bypass complex I–dependent respiration, GTN-treated cells exhibited O2 consumption rates similar to those of controls, thus confirming that continuous exposure to GTN mainly affects complex I. Again, MQ and GSH ester prevented the effects of GTN, highlighting ROS-mediated damage in complex I as the likely cause of the respiration deficiency.

In conclusion, the present study confirms that prolonged exposure to GTN induces oxidative stress and highlights the mitochondria as both the source and target of ROS. In addition, we propose that the activity of mitochondrial complex I is diminished following continuous incubation with GTN. Our data provide fresh insight into the mechanisms responsible for nitrate tolerance, suggesting a potential role for mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants as a therapeutic tool in the prevention or control of the tolerance that accompanies the chronic use of GTN in patients.


*    Acknowledgments
 
We thank B. Normanly for editorial assistance and F. Rodriguez and C. Amezcua for providing help.

Sources of Funding

This study was financed by Generalitat Valenciana grant 2006-341 and Contrato-Investigador Fondo de Investigacion Sanitaria (FIS) (CP03/00024) (both to V.M.V.) and Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia grant SAF2005-01366 (to J.V.E.). V.M.V. is the recipient of a Contrato (FIS).

Disclosures

None.


*    Footnotes
 
Original received May 30, 2006; resubmission received September 18, 2006; revised resubmission received October 5, 2006; accepted October 6, 2006.


*    References
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
up arrowMaterials and Methods
up arrowResults
up arrowDiscussion
*References
 
1. Parker JD, Parker JO. Nitrate therapy for stable angina pectoris. N Engl J Med. 1998; 338: 520–531.[Free Full Text]

2. Munzel T, Daiber A, Mulsch A. Explaining the phenomenon of nitrate tolerance. Circ Res. 2005; 97: 618–628.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

3. Mulsch A, Bara A, Mordvintcev P, Vanin A, Busse R. Specificity of different organic nitrates to elicit NO formation in rabbit vascular tissues and organs in vivo. Br J Pharmacol. 1995; 116: 2743–2749.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

4. Artz JD, Toader V, Zavorin SI, Bennet BM, Thatcher GR. In vitro activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase and nitric oxide release: a comparison of NO donors and NO mimetics. Biochemistry. 2001; 40: 9256–9264.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

5. Kleschyov AL, Oelze M, Daiber A, Huang Y, Mollnau H, Schulz E, Sydow K, Fichtlscherer B, Mulsch A, Munzel T. Does nitric oxide mediate the vasodilator activity of nitroglycerin? Circ Res. 2003; 93: 104–112.[CrossRef]

6. Nuñez C, Victor VM, Tur R, Alvarez-Barrientos A, Moncada S, Esplugues JV, D’Ocon P. Discrepancies between nitroglycerin and NO-releasing drugs on mitochondrial oxygen consumption, vasoactivity, and the release of NO. Circ Res. 2005; 97: 1063–1069.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

7. Lau DT, Chan EK, Benet LZ. Glutathione S-transferase-mediated metabolism of glyceryl trinitrate in subcellular fractions of bovine coronary arteries. Pharm Res. 1992; 9: 1460–1464.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

8. McDonald BJ, Bennett BM. Biotransformation of glyceryl trinitrate by rat aortic cytochrome P450. Biochem Pharmacol. 1993; 45: 268–270.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

9. O’Byrne S, Shirodaria C, Millar T, Stevens C, Blake D, Benjamin N. Inhibition of platelet aggregation with glyceryl trinitrate and xanthine oxidoreductase. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2000; 292: 326–330.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

10. Chen Z, Zhang J, Stamler JS. Identification of the enzymatic mechanism of nitroglycerin bioactivation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002; 99: 8306–8311.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

11. Sydow K, Daiber A, Oelze M, Chen Z, August M, Wendt M, Ullrich V, Mulsch A, Schulz E, Keaney JF, Stamler JS, Munzel T. Central role of mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase and reactive oxygen species in nitroglycerin tolerance and cross-tolerance. J Clin Invest. 2004; 113: 482–489.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

12. Chen Z, Foster MW, Zhang J, Mao L, Rockman HA, Kawamoto T, Kitagawa K, Nakayama KI, Hess DT, Stamler JS. An essential role for mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase in nitroglycerin bioactivation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005; 102: 12159–12164.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

13. Li Y, Zhang D, Jin W, Shao C, Yan P, Xu C, Sheng H, Liu Y, Yu J, Xie Y, Zhao Y, Lu D, Nebert DW, Harrison DC, Huang W, Jin L. Mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH-2) Glu504Lys polymorphism contributes to the variation in efficacy of sublingual nitroglycerin. J Clin Invest. 2006; 116: 506–511.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

14. Artz JD, Schmidt B, McCracken JL, Marletta MA. Effects of nitroglycerin on soluble guanylate cyclase: implications for nitrate tolerance. J Biol Chem. 2002; 277: 18253–18256.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

15. Munzel T, Sayegh H, Freeman BA, Tarpey MM, Harrison DG. Evidence for enhanced vascular superoxide anion production in nitrate tolerance. A novel mechanism underlying tolerance and cross-tolerance. J Clin Invest. 1995; 95: 187–194.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

16. Schafer M, Schafer C, Ewald N, Piper HM, Noll T. Role of redox signaling in the autonomous proliferative response of endothelial cells to hypoxia. Circ Res. 2003; 92: 1010–1015.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

17. Jauslin ML, Meier T, Smith RA, Murphy MP. Mitochondria-targeted antioxidants protect Friedreich Ataxia fibroblasts from endogenous oxidative stress more effectively than untargeted antioxidants. FASEB J. 2003; 17: 1972–1974.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

18. Ortega AL, Carretero J, Obrador E, Gambini J, Asensi M, Rodilla V, Estrela JM. Tumor toxicity by endothelial cells. Impairment of the mitochondrial system for glutathione uptake in mouse B16 melanoma cells that survive after in vitro interaction with the hepatic sinusoidal endothelium. J Biol Chem. 2003; 278: 13888–13897.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

19. Dejana E, Colella S, Languino LR, Balconi G, Corbascio GC, Marchisio PC. Fibrinogen induces adhesion, spreading, and microfilament organization of human endothelial cells in vitro. J Cell Biol. 1987; 104: 1403–1411.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

20. Adlam VJ, Harrison JC, Porteous CM, James AM, Smith RA, Murphy MP, Sammut IA. Targeting an antioxidant to mitochondria decreases cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury. FASEB J. 2005; 19: 1088–1095.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

21. Mihm MJ, Coyle CM, Jing L, Bauer JA. Vascular peroxynitrite formation during organic nitrate tolerance. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1999; 291: 194–198.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

22. Hanspal IS, Magid KS, Webb DJ, Megson IL. The effect of oxidative stress on endothelium-dependent and nitric oxide donor-induced relaxation: implications for nitrate tolerance. Nitric Oxide. 2002; 6: 263–270.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

23. Ibiza S, Victor VM, Bosca I, Ortega A, Urzainqui A, O’Connor JE, Sanchez-Madrid F, Esplugues JV, Serrador JM. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase regulates T cell receptor signaling at the immunological synapse. Immunity. 2006; 24: 753–765.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

24. Frost MT, Wang Q, Moncada S, Singer M. Hypoxia accelerates nitric oxide-dependent inhibition of mitochondrial complex I in activated macrophages. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2005; 288: 394–400.

25. Michelakis ED, Hampl V, Nsair A, Wu X, Harry G, Haromy A, Gurtu R, Archer SL. Diversity of mitochondrial function explains differences in vascular oxygen sensing. Circ Res. 2002; 90: 1307–1315.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

26. Sanjuan-Pla A, Cervera AM, Apostolova N, Garcia-Bou R, Victor VM, Murphy MP, McCreath KJ. A targeted antioxidant reveals the importance of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species in the hypoxic signaling of HIF-1 alpha. FEBS Lett. 2005; 579: 2669–2674.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

27. Victor VM, De la Fuente M. Immune redox state from mice with endotoxin-induced oxidative stress. Involvement of NF-kappaB. Free Radic Res. 2003; 37: 19–27.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

28. Ragan CI, Wilson MT, Darley-Usmar VM, Lowe PN. In: edited by Darley-Usmar VM, Rickwood D, Wilson MT, eds. Mitochondria: A Practical Approach. Oxford, UK: IRL; 1997: 79–112.

29. Apostolova N, Cervera AM, Victor VM, Cadenas S, Sanjuan-Pla A, Alvarez-Barrientos A, Esplugues JV, McCreath KJ. Loss of apoptosis-inducing factor leads to an increase in reactive oxygen species, and an impairment of respiration that can be reversed by antioxidants. Cell Death Differ. 2006; 13: 354–357.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

30. Kelso GF, Porteous CM, Coulter CV, Hughes G, Porteous WK, Ledgerwood EC, Smith RA, Murphy MP. Selective targeting of a redox-active ubiquinone to mitochondria within cells: antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties. J Biol Chem. 2001; 276: 4588–4596.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

31. Martensson J, Meister A. Mitochondria damage in muscle occurs after marked depletion of glutathione and is prevented by giving glutathione monoester. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1989; 86: 471–475.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

32. Dhanasekaran A, Kotamraju S, Kalivendi SV, Matsunaga T, Shang T, Keszler A, Joseph J, Kalyanaraman B. Supplementation of endothelial cells with mitochondria-targeted antioxidants inhibits peroxide-induced mitochondrial iron uptake, oxidative damage, and apoptosis. J Biol Chem. 2004; 279: 37575–37587.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

33. Hink U, Oelze M, Kolb P, Bachschmid M, Zou MH, Daiber A, Mollnau H, August M, Baldus S, Tsilimingas N, Walter U, Ullrich V, Munzel T. Role of peroxynitrite in the inhibition of prostacycline synthase in nitrate tolerance. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2003; 42: 1826–1834.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

34. Dikalov S, Fink B, Skatchkov M, Stalleicken D, Bassenge E. Formation of reactive oxygen species by pentaerithrityltetranitrate and glyceryl trinitrate in vitro and development of nitrate tolerance. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1998; 286: 938–944.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

35. Mulsch A, Oelze M, Kloss S, Mollnau H, Topfer A, Smolenski A, Walter U, Stasch JP, Warnholtz A, Hink U, Meinertz T, Munzel T. Effects of in vivo nitroglycerin treatment on activity and expression of the guanylyl cyclase and cGMP-dependent protein kinase and their downstream target vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein in aorta. Circulation. 2001; 103: 2188–2194.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

36. Gori T, Parker JD. The puzzle of nitrate tolerance: pieces smaller than we thought? Circulation. 2002; 106: 2404–2408.[Free Full Text]

37. Warnholtz A, Mollnau H, Heitzer T, Kontush A, Moller-Bertram T, Lavall D, Giaid A, Beisiegel U, Marklund SL, Walter U, Meinertz T, Munzel T. Adverse effects of nitroglycerin treatment on endothelial function, vascular nitrotyrosine levels and cGMP-dependent protein kinase activity in hyperlipidemic Watanabe rabbits. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2002; 40: 1356–1363.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

38. Parker JD. Nitrate tolerance, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial function: another worrisome chapter on the effects of organic nitrates. J Clin Invest. 2004; 113: 352–354.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

39. Daiber A, Mulsch A, Hink U, Mollnau H, Warnholtz A, Oelze M, Munzel T. The oxidative stress concept of nitrate tolerance and the antioxidant properties of hydralazine. Am J Cardiol. 2005; 96: 25–36.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
V. M. Victor, M. Rocha, C. Banuls, M. Sanchez-Serrano, E. Sola, M. Gomez, and A. Hernandez-Mijares
Mitochondrial Complex I Impairment in Leukocytes from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Patients with Insulin Resistance
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 2009; 94(9): 3505 - 3512.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
HypertensionHome page
D. Graham, N. N. Huynh, C. A. Hamilton, E. Beattie, R. A.J. Smith, H. M. Cocheme, M. P. Murphy, and A. F. Dominiczak
Mitochondria-Targeted Antioxidant MitoQ10 Improves Endothelial Function and Attenuates Cardiac Hypertrophy
Hypertension, August 1, 2009; 54(2): 322 - 328.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Biol. Chem.Home page
M. V. Wenzl, M. Beretta, A. C. F. Gorren, A. Zeller, P. K. Baral, K. Gruber, M. Russwurm, D. Koesling, K. Schmidt, and B. Mayer
Role of the General Base Glu-268 in Nitroglycerin Bioactivation and Superoxide Formation by Aldehyde Dehydrogenase-2
J. Biol. Chem., July 24, 2009; 284(30): 19878 - 19886.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Physiol. GenomicsHome page
A. Pautz, P. Rauschkolb, N. Schmidt, J. Art, M. Oelze, P. Wenzel, U. Forstermann, A. Daiber, and H. Kleinert
Effects of nitroglycerin or pentaerithrityl tetranitrate treatment on the gene expression in rat hearts: evidence for cardiotoxic and cardioprotective effects
Physiol Genomics, July 9, 2009; 38(2): 176 - 185.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.Home page
P. Wenzel, E. Schulz, T. Gori, M. A. Ostad, F. Mathner, S. Schildknecht, S. Gobel, M. Oelze, D. Stalleicken, A. Warnholtz, et al.
Monitoring White Blood Cell Mitochondrial Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Activity: Implications for Nitrate Therapy in Humans
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., July 1, 2009; 330(1): 63 - 71.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Circ. Res.Home page
V. M. Victor, C. Nunez, P. D'Ocon, C. T. Taylor, J. V. Esplugues, and S. Moncada
Regulation of Oxygen Distribution in Tissues by Endothelial Nitric Oxide
Circ. Res., May 22, 2009; 104(10): 1178 - 1183.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Circ. Res.Home page
J. S. Stamler
Nitroglycerin-Mediated S-Nitrosylation of Proteins: A Field Comes Full Cycle
Circ. Res., September 12, 2008; 103(6): 557 - 559.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Am Coll CardiolHome page
R. Guo, X.-P. Chen, X. Guo, L. Chen, D. Li, J. Peng, and Y.-J. Li
Evidence for Involvement of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide in Nitroglycerin Response and Association With Mitochondrial Aldehyde Dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) Glu504Lys Polymorphism
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., September 9, 2008; 52(11): 953 - 960.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Cardiovasc ResHome page
A. Daiber and T. Gori
Vascular tolerance to nitroglycerin in ascorbate deficiency: results are in favour of an important role of oxidative stress in nitrate tolerance
Cardiovasc Res, September 1, 2008; 79(4): 722 - 723.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Am Coll CardiolHome page
U. Hink, A. Daiber, N. Kayhan, J. Trischler, C. Kraatz, M. Oelze, H. Mollnau, P. Wenzel, C. F. Vahl, K. K. Ho, et al.
Oxidative Inhibition of the Mitochondrial Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Promotes Nitroglycerin Tolerance in Human Blood Vessels
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., December 4, 2007; 50(23): 2226 - 2232.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Bio.Home page
D. D. Gutterman
Combating Nitrate Tolerance: A Novel Endogenous Mechanism
Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, August 1, 2007; 27(8): 1673 - 1676.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Bio.Home page
P. Wenzel, M. Oelze, M. Coldewey, M. Hortmann, A. Seeling, U. Hink, H. Mollnau, D. Stalleicken, H. Weiner, J. Lehmann, et al.
Heme Oxygenase-1: A Novel Key Player in the Development of Tolerance in Response to Organic Nitrates
Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, August 1, 2007; 27(8): 1729 - 1735.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
99/10/1067    most recent
01.RES.0000250430.62775.99v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Esplugues, J. V.
Right arrow Articles by Victor, V. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Esplugues, J. V.
Right arrow Articles by Victor, V. M.
Related Collections
Right arrow Oxidant stress
Right arrow Endothelium/vascular type/nitric oxide
Right arrow Other Vascular biology