Abstract | SIGNIFICANCE:
Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death worldwide and pose an immense economical burden. In most cases, the underlying problem is vascular occlusion by atherosclerotic plaques. Importantly, different cell types of the vascular wall and the immune system play crucial roles in atherosclerosis at different stages of the disease. Furthermore, atherosclerosis and conditions recognized as risk factors are characterized by a reduced availability of the vasoprotective molecule nitric oxide and an increase in reactive oxygen species, so-called oxidative stress. Transcription factors function as intracellular signal integrators and relays and thus, play a central role in cellular responses to changing conditions. Recent Advances: Work on specific transcriptional regulators has uncovered many of their functions and the upstream pathways modulating their activity in response to reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Here, we have reviewed for a few selected examples how this can contribute not only to protection against atherosclerosis development but also to disease progression and the occurrence of clinical manifestations, such as plaque rupture. CRITICAL ISSUES:
Transcription factors have pleiotropic outputs and often also divergent functions in different cell types and tissues. Thus, in light of potential severe adverse side effects, a global activation or inhibition of particular transcriptions factors does not seem a feasible therapeutic option. FUTURE DIRECTIONS:
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Authors | Stefanie Kohlgrüber, Aditi Upadhye, Nadine Dyballa-Rukes, Coleen A McNamara, Joachim Altschmied |
Journal | Antioxidants & redox signaling
(Antioxid Redox Signal)
Vol. 26
Issue 13
Pg. 679-699
(05 01 2017)
ISSN: 1557-7716 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 27841660
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Review, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Reactive Oxygen Species
- Transcription Factors
- Nitric Oxide
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Topics |
- Animals
- Atherosclerosis
(metabolism)
- Cardiovascular Diseases
(drug therapy, metabolism, prevention & control)
- Endothelium, Vascular
(metabolism)
- Humans
- Nitric Oxide
(metabolism)
- Reactive Oxygen Species
(metabolism)
- Transcription Factors
(metabolism)
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