Reactive Oxygen Species and the Cardiovascular System

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) influence various physiological processes including host defense, hormone biosynthesis, and cellular signaling. Increased ROS production (oxidative stress) is implicated in many diseases of the cardiovascular system, including hypertension, atherosclerosis, cardiac failure, stroke, diabetes, and kidney disease. ROS are produced throughout the cardiovascular system, in the kidney and central and peripheral nervous system. A major source for cardiovascular, renal, and neural ROS is a family of non-phagocytic NAD(P)H oxidases, including the prototypic Nox2 homologue-based NAD(P)H oxidase, as well as other NAD(P)H oxidases, such as Nox1 and Nox4. Other possible sources include mitochondrial electron transport enzymes, xanthine oxidase, cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase, and uncoupled nitric oxide synthase (NOS). NAD(P)H oxidase-derived ROS is important in regulating endothelial function and vascular tone and oxidative stress is implicated in endothelial dysfunction, inflammat...