Table 6 The positve protective effects of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase (Enos) and Endothelial Nitric Oxide (eNO)
The positve protective effects of eNOS – eNO | |
|---|---|
1. | Promotes vasodilatation of vascular smooth muscle. |
2. | Counteracts smooth muscle cell proliferation. |
3. | Decreases platelet adhesiveness. |
4. | Decreases adhesiveness of the endothelial layer to WBCs (monocytes). Thus, the .... "Teflon effect". |
5. | Anti- inflammatory. |
6. | Anti- oxidant. It scavenges reactive oxygen species, locally. Acts as a chain – breaking antioxidant to scavenge ROS. |
7. | Anti- fibrotic. When NO is normal or elevated MMPs are low and conversely if NO is low MMPs are elevated and active. MMPs are redox sensitive. |
8. | NO has diverse anti-atherosclerotic actions on the arterial vessel wall: including antioxidant effects by direct scavenging of ROS – RNS acting as chain breaking antioxidants and anti-inflammatory effects |