Skip to main content
International Journal of Vascular Medicine logoLink to International Journal of Vascular Medicine
. 2012 Feb 12;2012:918267. doi: 10.1155/2012/918267

Endothelial Dysfunction and Diabetes: Effects on Angiogenesis, Vascular Remodeling, and Wound Healing

Gopi Krishna Kolluru 1, Shyamal C Bir 1, Christopher G Kevil 1,*
PMCID: PMC3348526  PMID: 22611498

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by inappropriate hyperglycemia due to lack of or resistance to insulin. Patients with DM are frequently afflicted with ischemic vascular disease or wound healing defect. It is well known that type 2 DM causes amplification of the atherosclerotic process, endothelial cell dysfunction, glycosylation of extracellular matrix proteins, and vascular denervation. These complications ultimately lead to impairment of neovascularization and diabetic wound healing. Therapeutic angiogenesis remains an attractive treatment modality for chronic ischemic disorders including PAD and/or diabetic wound healing. Many experimental studies have identified better approaches for diabetic cardiovascular complications, however, successful clinical translation has been limited possibly due to the narrow therapeutic targets of these agents or the lack of rigorous evaluation of pathology and therapeutic mechanisms in experimental models of disease. This paper discusses the current body of evidence identifying endothelial dysfunction and impaired angiogenesis during diabetes.

1. Introduction

Endothelial cell dysfunction (ECD) is a broad term which implies dysregulation of endothelial cell functions, including impairment of the barrier functions of endothelial cells, vasodilation, disturbances in proliferative capacities, migratory as well as tube formation properties, angiogenic properties, attenuation of synthetic function, and deterrence of white blood cells from adhesion and diapedesis [1]. Several factors contribute to ECD including smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, obesity, hyperglycemia, advance glycation end products (AGEs), and genetic factors [1, 2]. Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by inappropriate hyperglycemia due to lack of or resistance to insulin, which contributes to ECD. About 170 million people worldwide are affected by diabetes including 20.8 million diabetic patients in the USA, numbers projected to double by 2030 [3]. Diabetes can be stratified into two groups with type 1 diabetes being insulin dependent and type II insulin independent. Both type 1 and type 2 cause hyperglycemia, which in turn causes endothelial dysfunction by its different glycooxidative products. Type 2 diabetes causes insulin resistance which is also responsible for endothelial dysfunction [4]. Obesity, which is individually a risk factor for EC dysfunction is also closely related to type 2 diabetes [5]. These two amplify the ECD more frequently. Angiogenesis or neovascularization is a global term which typically involves arteriogenesis and vasculogenesis [6]. These complex processes require multiple factors to stimulate vascular sprouting, remodeling, and recruitment of endothelial cells as well as establish stable vasculature [6, 7]. Angiogenic responses are known to be defective in some tissues (e.g., peripheral limbs) while enhanced in other tissues (e.g., retina) during diabetes [8]. Here, we discuss the contribution of endothelial dysfunction and subsequent aberrant angiogenic responses in diabetes. Figure 1 illustrates several pathophysiological conditions under diabetes and the major subsequent symptoms associated (Figure 1).

Figure 1.

Figure 1

Diabetic vascular disease effects and symptoms. Various pathophysiological conditions affected in the body due to diabetic vascular disease are illustrated. Prominent symptoms of diabetes mediated abnormalities are indicated for each condition.

2. Endothelial Dysfunction

Endothelial dysfunction is a systemic pathological condition which can be broadly defined as an imbalance between vasodilating and vasoconstricting substances produced by the endothelium or overall functions of the endothelium [2]. Normal functions of endothelial cells include production of nitric oxide (NO), regulation of platelet adhesion, coagulation, immune function, control of volume, and electrolyte content of the intravascular and extravascular spaces. Endothelial dysfunction is primarily due to reduction in NO bioavailabilty, and a marker for vascular health. Endothelial dysfunction can result from and/or contribute to several disease processes, as occurs in diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia and hypertension, and also due to environmental factors, such as smoking tobacco products and exposure to air pollution [9].

Specifically, endothelial dysfunction is associated with reduced nitric oxide production, anticoagulant properties, increased platelet aggregation, increased expression of adhesion molecules, increased expression of chemokines and cytokines, and increased reactive oxygen species production from the endothelium [10]. These all play important roles in the development of diabetic vascular complications including atherosclerosis and other vascular pathologies. Importantly, endothelial dysfunction has been shown to be of prognostic significance in predicting vascular events [11, 12], so endothelial function testing may potentiate the detection of cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction, peripheral vascular disease, ischemic stroke, and others [13, 14].

An important feature of endothelial dysfunction is the inability of arteries and arterioles to optimally dilate in response to an appropriate stimulus by vasodilators acting on the endothelium. This endothelial dysfunction is notoriously associated with decreased NO bioavailability, which is due to impaired NO production by the endothelium and/or increased inactivation of NO by reactive oxygen species [15, 16]. Figure 2 illustrates the various steps involved in blood vessel leading to vascular endothelial dysfunction and inflammation under diabetes (Figure 2). Reduced NO bioavailability decreases the ability of endothelial cells to execute their functions in regulating vascular tone and growth, thrombosis, immune cell responses, and vascular barrier functions.

Figure 2.

Figure 2

Hyperglycemic effects on the blood vessel. Atherosclerotic plaque formation initiated through uptake of LDL from blood by endothelial cells. Foam cells produce proinflammatory cytokines that are released into the lumen of blood vessel (far right). Increased ROS production through iNOS leads to increased ROS generation. Steps involved in leukocyte adhesion and migration (bottom left). Increased glucose leads to decreased L-arginine and BH4, which leads to decreased NO production in endothelial cells. All of these factors are proinflammatory and atherogenic.

3. Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood glucose either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced by the pancreas. This resulting high blood sugar produces the classical symptoms of polyuria: frequent urination polydipsia (increased thirst) and polyphagia (increased hunger) [17].

Type 1 diabetes results from the body's failure to produce insulin due to autoimmune or idiopathic destruction of cells, and may require the injection of insulin to control symptoms. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas cannot synthesize enough insulin to maintain euglycemia. Type 1 diabetes is more common among children and young adults and insulin injections are used for treatment, thus type 1 diabetes is also referred to as insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or Juvenile Diabetes [17, 18].

In case of type II diabetes, there is normal production of insulin hormone but the body cells are resistant to insulin, a condition in which cells fail to use insulin properly, or sometimes combined with an absolute insulin deficiency. Cells and tissues are not responsive to insulin, so glucose remains elevated in the bloodstream. Type 2 diabetes is commonly manifested by middle-to-late-aged adults (40 years); however, its prevalence is increasing in younger populations. As insulin was initially not considered necessary for treatment of type 2 diabetes, it is known as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or Adult Onset Diabetes [17, 19].

A diabetic patient cannot metabolize carbohydrates, proteins or fats due to improper production of insulin, a blood glucose regulator, or resistance to insulin. Insulin helps cells use glucose as a main energy source. However, diabetic patients' cells do not make use of glucose from the blood due to abnormal insulin metabolism, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels or hyperglycemia. Over time, high glucose levels in the bloodstream can lead to severe complications such as vision loss, cardiovascular diseases, kidney disorder, and nerve damage [1719].

4. Angiogenesis

Angiogenesis is a global term which indicates the physiological process involving the growth of new blood vessels or neovascularization. This is a vital process for embryological growth, tissue development, and wound healing in damaged tissues. Angiogenesis is also an important step in the transition of tumors from a confined locale to malignancy [20]. Neovascularization or angiogenesis has also been interchangeably associated with vasculogenesis which primarily refers to developmental formation of vascular structures from circulating or tissue-resident endothelial progenitor cells that proliferate into de novo endothelial cells. Angiogenesis predominantly relates to formation of endothelium-lined microvasculature with supportive cells (e.g., pericytes). Postembryonic vascular development plays an important role throughout life to address tissue metabolic and functional needs as well as reproductive physiological responses. Arteriogenesis refers to maturation and enlargement of smaller preexisting arterial vessels through vascular remodeling or collateral growth.

These processes require several biochemical and physiological factors to stimulate vessel sprouting and remodeling of the primitive vascular network, which in turn establish stable and functional blood vessel networks. There are several angiogenic factors which are involved in stimulation, promotion, and stabilization of new blood vessels such as VEGFs, FGFs, Angiopoietins, PDGF, MCP-1, TGF, various integrins, VE-cadherin, ephrins nitric oxide, and others [2023]. Likewise mechanical stimulation such as physiological shear stress is also important particularly in arteriogenesis [24]. Angiogenesis and arteriogenesis/vascular remodeling represents excellent therapeutic options for the treatment of numerous cardiovascular diseases. Below is a table showing the causes of excessive and deficient angiogenesis under diabetes (Table 1).

Table 1.

Comparison of aberrant angiogenesis under diabetes.

Defective angiogenesis Excessive angiogenesis
Phenotype Causes Phenotype Causes

Reduced angiogenesis and collateral formation Reduced VEGF, FGF, EPC circulation, cytokines, ECM/BM degradation; increased AGEs and MMP Retinal capillary occlusion Elevated intraocular pressure

Vascular occlusion, inflammation Increased free fatty acids, polyol pathway, cytokines, ICAM, VCAM Increased vascular permeability Increased VEGF

Reduced wound healing; transplant failure Reduced VEGF and growth factors; sorbitol-inositol imbalance; increased ACE, Ang-II and tissue factor mRNA Capillary sprouting Increased VEGF, FGF, PDGF; cytokines (TGF-β); integrins

Embryonic vasculopathy (anomalous vasculogenesis and angiogenesis) Reduced VEGF, IL-1, TGF-β Vascular remodeling Increased laminin, fibronectin, collagen IV, ECM components, lipidosis

4.1. Increased Production of Reactive Oxygen Species

Both endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells are capable of producing reactive oxygen species from a variety of enzymatic sources. In disease states such as diabetes, vascular production of reactive oxygen metabolites can increase substantially [15]. Increased production of the superoxide anion (O2 ) can lead to decreased tissue bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO) via a facile radical/radical reaction that occurs more rapidly than the reaction of O2 with superoxide dismutase (SOD) [25]. This phenomenon alters endothelial regulation of vasomotion in a variety of disease conditions. Importantly, this endothelial dysfunction is due to vascular production of superoxide. There are several enzymes that involve generating ROS such as NADPH oxidase, aldehyde oxidase, xanthine oxidase, and glucose oxidase. Besides these, mitochondrial uncoupling also produces ROS by various mechanisms, which are all discussed below.

4.1.1. NADPH Oxidase

Recent evidence suggests that the major source of vascular superoxide ion and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) occurs through membrane-bound, nicotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide- (NADH-) dependent oxidase (NOX) [26]. NOX is a transmembrane enzyme and generate superoxide by electron transfer from NADPH to molecular oxygen. The product of this reaction is the O2 , which undergoes secondary reactions. O2 inactivates NO to yield peroxynitrite and can also spontaneously or under catalysis by SODs form H2O2 [27, 28]. NADPH-oxidase-derived ROS has been implicated in the regulation of vasodilation directly or indirectly by decreasing NO bioavailability [29, 30]. This observation provides a direct link between NADPH oxidase and endothelial function in humans. In pathological conditions such as diabetes, atherosclerosis, hypertension, cardiac failure, and ischemia reperfusion injury, ROS generation mediates endothelial cell dysfunction, cell proliferation, migration, inflammation, extracellular matrix deposition, fibrosis, angiogenesis, and cardiovascular remodeling [31, 32].

4.1.2. Aldehyde Oxidases

Aldehyde oxidase (AO) produces O2 and H2O2 from aldehyde [33, 34]. These aldehydes are the substrate for both AO and xanthine oxidase (XO). In diabetes, lipid peroxidation and glycation of protein are much more common than in normal healthy subjects [35]. Therefore, the contribution of oxidative stress from aldehyde AO would be higher. AO-derived ROS may also play role in cardiovascular complications in diabetes [36]. However, the pathophysiological importance of this pathway for diabetic vascular disease requires further study.

4.1.3. Xanthine Oxidases (XOs)

Xanthine oxidase (XO) activity accounts for significant increased of ROS production in different tissues, as treatment with the XO inhibitor (allupurinol) reduces the ROS production [37]. Increase of both XO expression and activity results in imbalance of ATP/ADP ratio and increased ROS production in skeletal muscle of STZ-induced diabetic mice [38, 39]. These studies demonstrate that superoxide generated through increased XO seen in experimental diabetic mice is intimately involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic vascular complications.

4.1.4. Glucose Oxidase

Glucose oxidase (GO) oxidizes glucose, which leads to production of free radicals resulting in oxidative stress during diabetes. There is evidence that glycation of protein depends on the oxidation of glucose since the product of glucose oxidation is attached to the protein to generate AGEs [40]. AGEs mediate increased NADPH subunit gp91 expression, NADH/NADPH oxidase activity, and decreased manganese super oxide dismutase (MnSOD) levels [41]. This finding indicates that AGEs play key pathophysiological roles in increasing oxidative stress in diabetes along with subsequent endothelial dysfunction through decreasing endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) phosphorylation.

4.1.5. Mitochondrial Dysfunction

One of the major intracellular sources of ROS production is mitochondria. ROS formation is a byproduct of oxidative phosphorylation across the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Although mitochondrial complexes 1 and 3 are mainly responsible for generation of ROS, dysfunction of complexes 2 and 4 may result in electron leak and increased ROS production [32, 42]. Hyperglycemia in humans or animal models of diabetes is associated with impaired mitochondrial activity predominantly in vascular tissues resulting in mutations within mitochondrial DNA, ROS production, apoptosis, and endothelial dysfunction [4345]. However, the vascular damage by mitochondrial ROS can be prevented by upregulation of MnSOD and UCP-1, which reduces PKC activation, formation of AGEs, and NF-κB activation in endothelial cells [46].

4.1.6. Comparison of ROS-Induced Pathogenesis and Subsequent Complications in Both Types of Diabetes

The combined effects of genetic susceptibility, environmental factors, and dietary deficiencies are known responsible for type 1 diabetes. Autoreactive T cells recognize and liberate ROS and proinflammatory cytokines [47]. Research-based evidence supported that there is an increase in ROS generation from activated phagocytes following viral attack [48]. NOX-derived as well as mitochondrial ROS have implications in β cell destruction and onset of diabetes. Hyperglycemia can increase assembly of NOX enzymes through its p47 phox subunit and therefore enhance superoxide production and facilitates β cell destruction [49]. The superoxide leaked from mitochondria can form H2O2 and work to uncouple glucose metabolism from insulin secretion. Ultimately, high level of oxidative stress can cause β cell death [46, 50].

Previously, Takasu et al. have demonstrated in rat model that alloxan induces type 1 diabetes which causes redox-mediated β cell DNA fragmentation culminating in cell death [51]. In contrast, recent studies show that alloxan resistant strain of mice shows increased ROS dissipation and resistance to β cell death [51]. Streptozotocin also produces XO-mediated superoxide that binds with NO to generate peroxynitrite [52]. Antioxidant defense of β cell mitochondria is exceptionally low due to its reduced glutathione peroxidase, SOD, and catalase activity [53]. This can make β cells vulnerable to excess oxidative stress and subsequent cytokine-mediated autoimmune attack [54]. Therefore, ROS whatever the source is directly or indirectly responsible for development of type 1 diabetes.

The hallmark of type 2 diabetes is insulin resistance as well as β cell dysfunction. ROS is involved in progression of insulin resistance, which leads to β cell dysfunction developing into type 2 diabetes [55, 56]. There are couples of mechanisms to ROS-induced onset of type 2 diabetes [5764]. Tirosh et al. suggested that ROS disrupts insulin-induced cellular redistribution of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) and thus impairing GLUT4 translocation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes [62]. Another mechanism is that hyperglycemia-induced excess ROS presumably lead to activation of JNK pathway. This activation of JNK pathway activates inflammatory cytokines which eventually involved in insulin resistance and dysfunction of β cell in type 2 diabetes [57, 63]. These studies suggest that ROS is increased in both types of diabetes.

ROS causes loss of insulin type 1 diabetes by destructing the β cells but it causes insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes by β cell dysfunction of [49, 55, 56]. Endothelium-dependent vasodilation is impaired in diabetic animals and humans. Excessive production of vascular superoxide contributes to this impairment of endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation [65]. There is evidence that pretreatment of diabetic rat aorta with SOD and/or antioxidant probucol prevents the impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxation in aortic rings [66]. Likewise, pretreatment with either SOD or catalase has been shown to improve endothelium dysfunction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats suggesting that vascular production of both superoxide and H2O2 may contribute to endothelial dysfunction [67]. Another relevant mechanism involves direct inactivation of endothelial-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) by advanced glycation end products, (AGEs) and increased adhesion of leukocytes to the endothelium [68]. Besides, this increased production of the superoxide anion can lead to decreased tissue bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO) via a facile radical/radical reaction that occurs more rapidly than the reaction of superoxide anion with superoxide dismutase [25]. This phenomenon alters endothelial regulation of vasomotion in a variety of disease conditions. Importantly, this endothelial dysfunction is due to vascular production of superoxide. Therefore, ROS-induced loss of insulin or insulin resistance is responsible for ultimate onset of type 1 and type 2 diabetes and their vascular complications, respectively. Finally, ROS-induced endothelial dysfunction is mediated by decreased NO bioavailability, inactivation of EDRF by AGEs that are common pathways in both type, of diabetes.

4.1.7. Role of ROS in Impaired Angiogenesis in Diabetes

Cardiovascular complications are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus. In particular, diabetes is associated with a poor outcome after vascular occlusion. This can be attributed in part to impaired neovascularization [69]. Three principal events, vasculogenesis, angiogenesis, and collateral growth, contribute to postnatal vessel growth, and each may be affected by diabetes. Indeed, there are a number of equally tenable hypotheses regarding the mechanisms underlying alterations in blood vessel growth in diabetes, including a reduction in vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) signaling, changes in inflammation-related pathways, and accumulation of advanced glycation end products [7072]. Postnatal vasculogenesis can also be affected because the proangiogenic effects of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNCs) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are reduced in diabetic mice and patients with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes [73]. Evidence suggests that the effects of ROS on vascular function depend critically on the amount of ROS present. However, precise amounts and the species of ROS involved are not fully understood. Low levels of ROS (principally H2O2) under physiological conditions can act as intracellular secondary messengers modulating proangiogenic pathways such as VEGF-A signaling and postnatal vasculogenesis; conversely, higher levels of ROS can impair neovascularization [74, 75]. These ROS include superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical, lipid peroxides, and peroxynitrite, which are recognized to play major roles in vascular biology stimulating redox signaling [75, 76]. Each of these species derives from specific enzymatic or chemical reactions as discussed earlier.

Seminal works in experimental models of types 1 and 2 diabetes, as well as in human patients, suggest that there is a strong link between ROS and diabetes [75, 77]. Several studies have been performed in diabetic patients, animals, and in high-glucose-treated endothelial cells that implicate NADPH oxidase as an important source of hyperglycemia-induced ROS formation [69, 7880]. Ebrahimian et al. demonstrated that diabetes-induced overproduction of ROS impairs postischemic neovascularization [69]. This study also reported that blockade of oxidative stress in the setting of diabetes restores key pathways involved in angiogenesis, such as VEGF-A signaling and postnatal vasculogenesis. However, NADPH oxidase activity and ROS production mediate angiogenesis in both cultured cells and in vivo models of neovascularization [81]. Nishikawa et al. suggest that glucose-induced mitochondrial production of ROS stimulates several biochemical mechanisms involved in diabetic complications, including retinopathy [46]. Studies indicate that superoxide production by NADPH oxidase has a primary role in VEGF expression and vitreoretinal neovascularization in a mouse model for ischemic retinopathy [82]. Moreover, increased expression of NADPH subunit NOX2 correlates with increases in ROS and VEGF and breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier during diabetic retinopathy [83]. In addition, superoxide overproduction by NADPH oxidase likely reduces NO bioactivity by scavenging or through uncoupling of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and may also lead to the formation of other signaling species such as peroxynitrite [77, 84]. These alterations in NO signaling might contribute to modulation of postischemic neovascularization because NO is a well-known mediator of BM-MNC mobilization and differentiation, as well as basal neovascularization reaction [85]. However, previous studies present evidence that NADPH oxidase activity and expression are significantly increased in diabetic tissue [77, 81]. Evidence shows that blockade of NADPH oxidase activity or the scavenging of ROS restores postischemic neovascularization in diabetes. The subcellular distribution of NADH oxidase activity responsible for the effects of diabetic retinopathy is not clear. Though there is evidence that NADH oxidase is expressed in retinal epithelium and retinal pericytes, there is no clear information on the contribution to increased angiogenesis [86]. In addition, there are no studies available implicating the exact role of VEGF in macular edema and retinal angiogenesis. Hyperglycemia-induced overproduction of ROS also impairs EPC function leading to impairment of angiogenesis and vasculogenesis in diabetes [87, 88]. But EPC implications on ROS and angiogenesis under diabetes is still not clear and a subject of extensive study.

It has been reported that diabetes-induced increases in ROS-mediated p38MAPK phosphorylation in BM-MNCs reduce BM-MNC differentiation into EPCs in vitro and impair their proangiogenic potential in vivo [73]. Similarly, diabetes has been shown to activate p38MAPK in vascular cells via PKC-dependent and -independent pathways [89]. Moreover, p38MAPK activation is known to downregulate EPC proliferation and differentiation that may contribute to impaired vasculogenesis in diabetes. Antioxidant defense capacity is reduced in animal models of diabetes, and this can also contribute to diabetes-induced oxidative stress [90]. Chronic treatment of diabetic animals with N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) improved or normalized endothelium-dependent responses which may normalize impaired angiogenesis in diabetes [91]. Vasodilation, a primary initiation factor for arteriogenesis, is attenuated through ROS reduction of NO bioavailability during diabetes. There is strong evidence that collateral formation is impaired in diabetes [92]. This further substantiates that all three components of diabetic angiogenesis are impaired by ROS, whatever the source of production.

4.2. Decreased NO Production and EC Dysfunction

The vascular endothelium comprises the internal lining of blood vessels, which serves as an interface between the blood and smooth muscle cells. Endothelium is a key determinant of vascular health in addition to being a barrier between luminal contents and the vessel. Endothelial dysfunction, which is often related to impaired endothelium-dependent NO-mediated relaxation, occurs in both cellular and experimental models of diabetes [9395]. Similarly, the majority of clinical studies have shown an abnormality in endothelium dependent vasodilation in patients with diabetes [9698]. Thus, decreased levels of NO may underlie the atherogenic predisposition of diabetes. Many of the metabolic conditions associated with diabetes, including hyperglycemia, excess free fatty acid liberation, and insulin resistance mediate abnormalities in endothelial cell function by affecting the synthesis or degradation of NO [99].

Endothelial dysfunction associated with insulin resistance appears to precede the development of overt hyperglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus [100, 101]. Oxidative stress and insulin resistance have a direct relationship mediating diabetic cardiovascular complications. Insulin plays a critical role in the maintenance of physiological endothelial function through its ability to stimulate NO release via a cascade that involves activation of the PI3K-Akt signaling and downstream serine phosphorylation of eNOS. A key characteristic of insulin resistance is decreased PI3K signaling, increased mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity, and increased secretion of ET-1, a consequence of endothelial dysfunction [102].

The majority of deaths occurring in patients with diabetes is due to vascular dysfunction. Studies have shown that endothelial dysfunction, as represented by impaired endothelium-dependent NO-mediated relaxation, occurs in diabetes [98, 103]. The first evidence of endothelial dysfunction in humans was reported in penile corpora cavernosa of IDDM and NIDDM patients [104]. High concentrations of glucose have been associated with endothelial dysfunction in vivo and in vitro [95, 105]. Mechanisms underlying this endothelial dysfunction could include decreased activity and/or expression of eNOS or increased degradation of NO secondary to enhanced superoxide production. More recent data support the concept of NO degradation, because treatment of vessels from diabetic animals with SOD improved endothelial-dependent relaxation and the use of vitamin C (another known antioxidant) in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes markedly increased endothelial-dependent relaxation in forearm arterioles [105, 106]. Mechanisms involved in decreased NO bioavailability and endothelial dysfunction under diabetes is depicted in Figure 3. Posttranslational modification of eNOS through the hexosamine pathway, downregulation of eNOS expressions and S-nitrosylation of eNOS have been the major causes for diabetic endothelial dysfunction [107109].

Figure 3.

Figure 3

Signaling mechanisms leading to endothelial dysfunction under diabetes. Diabetes-mediated hyperglycemia leads to multiple-signal pathway dysfunction within vascular endothelial cells. Primary insults include mitochondrial dysfunction, defective PI3 kinase signaling, decreased NO production, increased oxidative stress, and differential PKC isoform activation. Key words: pARP: poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase; AGE: advance glycation end products; DAG: diacylglycerol; NF-κB: nuclear factor kappa-B; PKC: protein kinase C; iNOS: inducible nitric oxide synthase; NADH: nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide; NO: nitric oxide; RAGE: receptor for advanced glycation endproducts; O2 : superoxide anion; ONOO: peroxynitrite; PI3K: phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases; AKT: protein kinase B; eNOS: endothelial nitric oxide synthase; GTPCH: GTP cyclohydrolase; BH4: tetrahydrobiopterin; BH2: dihydrobiopterin.

4.2.1. Causes of Reduction of NO Production Leading to ECD

(1) Reduction of NO Bioavailability —

Nitric oxide is a key signaling molecule produced by vascular endothelial cells, which plays a vital role in the maintenance of vascular tone and other physiological processes of the cell. Cellular exposure to high glucose as seen in diabetes induces generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) [110]. Another major abnormality that is commonly prevalent with diabetes is decreased in NO bioavailability [111]. A number of studies suggest that decreased NO bioactivity associated under hyperglycemia and diabetes is due to either quenching of normally released NO or impairment of NOS activity [100]. Reduced vascular production of NO is associated with uncoupling of eNOS due to ROS, reduced cofactors of eNOS such as L-arginine and tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), and improper activity of BH4 producing enzyme GTP cyclohydrolase I [112, 113].

(2) eNOS Phosphorylation —

Defects in Akt/eNOS signaling may play a primary role in endothelial dysfunction in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Studies have shown that Akt/eNOS phosphorylation is decreased in aortas of diabetic animals, as well as type 2 diabetic patients [114]. Activation of PI3K-Akt pathway eNOS-derived NO results in improved endothelial function and rescue of impaired myocardial cells [115]. Recent studies on eNOS gene disruption studies in mice revealed that deficiency leads to insulin resistance resulting in hypertension and hyperlipidemia [116]. Further biochemical studies in insulin-responsive cells have revealed a phosphorylation-dependent signaling role in insulin stimulated activation of eNOS [117]. Chen and Stinnett have shown in studies with diabetic mice that high glucose upregulated Ang-2 and downregulated Tie-2 expression leading to significant impairment of Ang-1-induced Akt and eNOS phosphorylation, which resulted in impairment of endothelial cell migration and sprouting [118]. Ang-1 gene transfer restored Tie-2 expression and rescued these abnormalities in diabetes.

O-GlcNAcylation protein modifications result in several diabetic complications. Studies show that O-GlcNAcylation of eNOS in endothelial cells is involved in micro- and macrovascular complications [119]. In a diabetic rat model, Musicki et al. showed O-GlcNAcylation modifications caused eNOS dysfunction in the penis thereby affecting phosphorylation of eNOS at the Ser1177 residue, which contributed to erectile dysfunction and long-term penile health issues for patients with diabetes [120]. In another study, Cho et al. showed in a diabetic mouse model that impairment of erectile function was caused by upregulation of expression of Rho-kinase 2 (ROCK2) and myosin phosphatase targeting subunit 1 (MYPT1) and decreased eNOS phosphorylation. Lima et al. have shown that elevated O-GlcNAc levels contribute to end-organ damage and vasoconstriction under diabetes, concurrent with decreased eNOS (Ser1177) and Akt phosphorylation (Ser473) [121]. These studies indicate that targeting abnormal O-GlcNAcylation, that is, associated with diabetes can enhance eNOS phosphorylation and thereby restore vasoregulation.

Taguchi et al. demonstrated in a streptozotocin-induced murine diabetic model that GRK2 is upregulated under diabetic conditions impairing Akt/eNOS activity by inhibiting their phosphorylation. However, phosphorylation of Akt at Thr308 was normalized and the phosphorylation of eNOS at Ser1177 was increased by GRK2-inhibitor [122]. Decreased phosphorylation of both Thr495 and Ser1177 residues in livers of diabetic mice was observed by Elrod et al., although there was no difference in total hepatic eNOS protein [123]. Sasso et al. demonstrated that in the hearts of diabetic patients with chronic coronary heart disease (CHD), there was downregulation of VEGF-dependent intracellular signaling and eNOS phosphorylation [124]. They reported reduced VEGF receptor Flk-1 phosphorylation concomitant with decreased Akt phosphorylation and decreased eNOS protein phosphorylation and expression. Studies also show that there is an influence of posttranslational modifications leading to decreased eNOS activity under diabetes [107, 125].

NO-based therapies have been proven by numerous investigations in various animal models [126128]. Calvert et al. have shown that in diabetic mice under hepatic and cardiac I/R, treatment with metformin-augmented AMPK activation and significantly increased eNOS phosphorylation at serine 1177 residue [129]. Another study in diabetic rats by Penumathsa et al. demonstrated that Niacin-bound Chromium (NBC) treatments mediate translocation of Glut-4 leading to dissociation of Cav-1/eNOS interaction followed by increased phosphorylation of AMPK, Akt, and eNOS [130]. Ahanchi et al. have demonstrated that NO exerts protection in a rat carotid artery balloon injury model of type 2 diabetic obese rats. Their results show that topical administration of NO not only prevented neointimal hyperplasia following artery injury, but also reduced ROS production and cell death and inhibited VSMC proliferation in these animals [128]. Together, these studies indicate that diabetes-mediated endothelial dysfunction potentially alters eNOS phosphorylation and thereby NO production. Increases in Akt/eNOS phosphorylation or inhibition of the factors involved in repressing eNOS would rectify the vascular complications during diabetes. Akt/eNOS phosphorylation serves important roles in rectifying vascular defects during the pathology of diabetes; however, further studies are needed to explore different sites involved in eNOS phosphorylation during diabetic complications that affect NO production and thereby endothelial dysfunction.

(3) eNOS Uncoupling —

Endothelial NOS (eNOS) derived nitric oxide (NO) in endothelial cells regulates vascular tone and plays a key role in maintaining endothelial health. Evidence from eNOS knockout mice states that functional eNOS is critical for the maintenance of vascular health [131, 132]. Proper functioning of the endothelium is often linked to the production and bioavailability of NO and relative regulation of ROS. Endothelial dysfunction occurs when there is a reduced bioavailability of NO. This reduced NO bioavailability and endothelial dysfunction is observed under hyperglycemic conditions both in vitro and in vivo [95, 97]. Decreased endothelial-dependent arterial relaxation is observed during diabetes in animal models as well as in human subjects [133].

Endothelial NOS acts as an active enzyme complex producing NO in its “homodimer” state during physiological conditions, while the enzyme is inactive and unable to produce NO under pathological conditions. Even though a concomitant increase in eNOS levels is observed under pathological conditions [134, 135], this state may generate superoxide anions from the monomerized eNOS instead of NO, a condition called “eNOS uncoupling” [136]. Studies indicate that endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) function is impaired in diabetes as a result of reduced NO bioavailability and increased vascular generation of reactive oxygen species [13, 137, 138]. Endothelial NOS uncoupling and nitrosative stress have been observed during vascular abnormalities such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, and diabetes [136].

(4) Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) —

Endothelial NOS must be in an active dimer state to produce NO. Regulation of the dimeric eNOS complex is important for proper functioning of eNOS. L-arginine and BH4 are two critical factors that maintain the dimeric state of eNOS allowing electron flow across the homodimer to generate NO from the ferrous-dioxygen complex [134, 135, 139]. BH4 is a metabolite that serves as a critical cofactor and inhibits superoxide generation from the heme group at the oxygenase domain of eNOS [112]. BH4 acts as a redox regulator of eNOS by promoting and stabilizing eNOS protein monomers into the active homodimeric form [140], which in turn maintains the healthy state of the endothelium. Under reduced L-arginine or BH4 levels, eNOS functions in an “uncoupled” state in which NADPH-derived electrons are added to molecular oxygen rather than L-arginine, generating more O2 as a product. O2 generated by eNOS has been implicated in a variety of experimental and clinical vascular disease states including diabetes, hypertension, and atherosclerosis [141].

eNOS uncoupling and endothelial dysfunction are apparent in experimental models of diabetes and in diabetic patients [77, 84] despite the fact that eNOS expression is actually increased. Hyperglycemia results in BH4 deficiency and eNOS dysfunction characterized by a decrease in NO with a concomitant increase in superoxide production [111, 142, 143]. In vitro studies have demonstrated that high glucose levels reduce NO activity and increase superoxide levels coupled with reduced eNOS dimerization in endothelial cells [144146]. Hyperglycemia results in significant reductions in both total biopterins and BH4. BH4 bioavailability is postulated to be limiting in several vascular disease states including diabetes. Peroxynitrite, a potent oxidant, rapidly oxidizes BH4 to BH3, and subsequently to BH2 [143, 147], which may compete with L-arginine for eNOS, resulting in impaired eNOS bioactivity [139].

There are several studies that suggested the role of BH4 in eNOS homodimerization. A study on bovine eNOS expressed in E. coli suggested that BH4 influences the heme environment and stabilizes the eNOS protein [148]. In another study it was shown that exogenously added BH4 increased both eNOS activity and dimerization [149]. It is interesting to observe that eNOS protein expression levels increase in endothelial cells in response to high glucose [113, 146], which indicates the uncoupling of eNOS due to decreased BH4. Although studies indicate that BH4 facilitates electron transfer and maintains the dimerized state of the enzyme, the complete role of BH4 in eNOS regulation is currently unknown.

BH4 has proven to be an established therapeutic agent for hyperphenylalaninemia. Its potential has also been evaluated for therapeutic efficacy in the reversal of endothelial dysfunction. Studies indicate that BH4 therapeutic interventions to improve endothelial function have limited success in animal models of type 2 diabetes and in human studies [150152]. Conversely, studies have shown that supplementation of this cofactor restores eNOS-mediated NO formation and endothelial function in hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes [135, 139, 141]. Experimental and clinical evidence suggests that BH4 or L-arginine can act as a therapeutic agent to restore diabetes-induced endothelial dysfunction [138, 151, 153]. Pieper has shown that in vitro treatment of BH4 over the aortic rings of diabetic rats restores endothelial function [154]. Heitzer et al. have shown that the attenuated endothelium-dependent vasodilation in the forearm of diabetic patients was considerably improved by concomitant treatment with BH4, but not endothelium-independent vasodilation responses [151]. Lastly, Cai et al. showed in HAEC cultured in high glucose that BH4 restores the physiologically normal enzymatic activity of eNOS [155]. Together, these findings suggest that supplementation of BH4 may be useful to alleviate vascular complications through restoration of endothelial functions/eNOS activity in type 2 diabetes patients.

(5) GTP Cyclohydrolase —

While BH4 is known to be an essential cofactor for activity of all NOS enzymes, its synthesis is also important for vascular health [156]. BH4-synthesizing enzyme GTP cyclohydrolase I (GCH) and BH2 reducing enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) counteract the intracellular depletion of BH4. GCH is the first-rate limiting enzyme for BH4 de novo biosynthesis through GTP catalyses [157]. GCH is constitutively produced in endothelial cells and its activity is crucial for BH4 bioavailability and proper endothelial function. Studies show that genetic overexpression of GCH can prevent endothelial dysfunction in diabetes [142, 158, 159].

Previously, it was reported that insulin can augment GCH activities in ECs through a PI3K-dependent pathway and that insulin-induced vasodilation depends on BH4 biosynthesis [160162]. However, these mechanisms may be impaired in the insulin-resistant state. Hyperphenylalaninemic (Hph-1) mice are mutants with partially reduced GCH activity. Studies in the Hph-1 mouse suggest that BH4 deficiency leads to hypertension, increased vascular oxidative stress, and reduced eNOS activity, which demonstrates that reduced BH4 levels lead to eNOS uncoupling in the absence of vascular disease [163]. From these studies it is clear that increased endothelial BH4 biosynthesis by transgenic GCH overexpression can alter eNOS uncoupling and can improve vascular health. Mitchell et al. have reported in a glucocorticoid-induced rat model of hypertension that GCH mRNA levels were reduced, and impaired endothelium-dependent relaxations could be restored by incubating vessels in sepiapterin (BH4 precursor). This suggests that reduced BH4 bioavailability is a cause of eNOS uncoupling and vascular dysfunction [164]. Other studies in the DOCA-salt hypertensive mouse also showed that decreased BH4 levels were related to reduced GCH activity [165]. Increased GCH activity through exogenous gene delivery or BH4 supplementation reversed BH4 deficiency and endothelial dysfunction by reducing superoxide levels.

Study of isolated aortic rings from diabetic rats showed that overexpression of GCH by gene transfer reverses diabetes-induced BH4 deficiency and restores NO bioavailability [159]. In another study Meininger et al. showed that GCH-I activity is markedly decreased in animal models of types 1 and 2 diabetes, which contributes to endothelial dysfunction [159, 166168]. Alp et al. showed that an increase in endothelial BH4 levels, NO bioavailability, and reduced endothelial superoxide production were observed in a transgenic human GCH overexpressor mouse model of diabetes compared to diabetic wild-type mice [158]. These studies strongly indicate that the depletion of BH4, NO bioavailability, and increased endothelial superoxide production are interrelated in the diabetic condition. While prevention of decreased BH4 levels through overexpression of GCH restores vascular function, other mechanisms such as endothelial GCH phosphorylation have yet to be explored during diabetes and other vascular complications.

(6) Arginase —

Vascular dysfunction is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients [169]. Reduced L-arginine availability has been implicated as a cause of vascular dysfunction in diabetes and other diseases. Arginase, which catalyzes L-arginine to urea and ornithine, competes directly with NOS for L-arginine. Increase in arginase activity leads to decreased cellular arginine levels and its availability for eNOS thereby decreasing NO production and generation of superoxide by eNOS [170, 171]. Enhanced arginase activity has been implicated in a number of vascular dysfunctional states including diabetic erectile dysfunction [172175].

There are two mammalian variants of arginase, arginase I and II, which are differentially expressed in various tissues [173, 176, 177]. Arginase I is localized to the cytoplasm and prominently expressed in the liver, whereas arginase II is located in the mitochondria and expressed in the kidney. Arginase activity increases in the liver of diabetic rats [178, 179]. Reports from diabetic animals and patients demonstrate that arginase activity is increased under diabetic conditions [180, 181], while decreased insulin signaling is associated with diabetic insulin resistance. It is important to note that insulin represses gene expression of urea cycle enzymes, thus increased arginase activity may be linked with decreased insulin signaling which requires further study.

Increased arginase expression reduces NO synthesis in diabetes resulting in impairment of normal endothelial functions such as vascular remodeling responses [182]. This suggests important roles played by arginase leading to many of the vascular complications observed during diabetes [183]. Arginase I has been reported to be upregulated in porcine coronary microvessels, which consequently lead to diminished vasodilation [175]. In another study Zhang et al. showed in pigs with experimental hypertension that NO-mediated dilation of coronary arterioles is reduced due to increased arginase I activity, which leads to limited availability of L-arginine [173]. Romero et al. showed that in coronary arteries of diabetic rats that arginase I activity results in a diminished NO-mediated response contributing to vascular endothelial dysfunction, due to decreased availability of L-arginine for eNOS [184]. Recently Grönros et al. demonstrated that type 2 diabetic Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats have increased arginase II expression, along with coronary artery microvascular dysfunction [185]. Importantly, microvascular function was normalized after arginase inhibition highlighting that arginase activity diverts arginine from NOS and that arginase inhibition increases NO bioavailability and coronary microvascular function in the GK type 2 diabetic rat.

Studies with patients indicate that diabetes is associated with an impaired vasodilator function of coronary arteries and vasospasm that indicates coronary endothelial dysfunction [186188]. Recently Beleznai et al. demonstrated that in patients with diabetes, arginase I is upregulated in coronary arterioles, which interferes with NO-mediated vasomotor responses [189]. In this study, the authors found that the presence of N G-hydroxy-l-arginine, a selective inhibitor of arginase, or application of L-arginine restored ACh-induced coronary dilation in patients with DM. Interestingly, in nondiabetic patients with other vascular abnormalities either arginase inhibition or L-arginine supplementation failed to show any change in vascular responses, indicating that arginase targets the ACh-mediated response. Further study is needed to ascertain the role of insulin and other pathological factors that are affected by increased arginase 1 expression in diabetes. These findings suggest that targeting arginase could be a useful treatment of diabetic endothelial dysfunction.

(7) Peroxynitrite's Role in NO Bioavailability and Endothelial Dysfunction —

Diabetes has been shown to increase the vascular formation of the NO/superoxide reaction product peroxynitrite. There are several experimental and clinical studies available that demonstrate the formation of peroxynitrite in various tissues during diabetes, especially within the endothelium [190194]. Moreover, there are various mechanisms that underlie the peroxynitrite-induced diabetic complications [195].

Increased levels of peroxynitrite under high glucose conditions reduce BH4 production and also reduce BH4 producing enzyme GCH expression, contributing to eNOS uncoupling [168, 196]. Specifically, peroxynitrite rapidly oxidizes the active BH4 to inactive dihydrobiopterin (BH2), leading to eNOS uncoupling [197]. In addition, peroxynitrite causes eNOS uncoupling through 26S proteasome-dependent degradation of GCH leading to the release of zinc from the zinc-thiolate cluster of eNOS, which presumably leads to the formation of disulfide bonds between monomers [146]. Oxidative loss of BH4 may mediate some of the observed effects of increased reactive oxygen species production on endothelial function in vascular disease states [143, 197].

Peroxynitrite targets various biomolecules, leading to cardiovascular dysfunction through multiple mechanisms [25]. One of these includes activation of the nuclear enzyme poly(ADP-ribose), polymerase (PARP-1), which is involved in the development of diabetic cardiovascular dysfunctions [192]. PARP-1 leads to the production of inflammatory mediators such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and major histocompatibility complex class II [198, 199]. NF-κB is a key molecule in regulating expression changes of these proteins. Overproduction of peroxynitrite can increase iNOS through NF-κB activation in endothelial cells [200]. Nagai et al. have also shown that peroxynitrite increases N ε-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML), a major antigenic advanced glycation end-product (AGE), which activates cell-signaling pathways such as NF-κB to enhance the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM) [201], which is involved in vascular inflammation. Thus evidence from various studies mentioned above suggests that peroxynitrite is a major mediator of vascular injury under diabetic conditions and indicates that effective neutralization of peroxynitrite formation can be beneficial in restoring NO bioavailability and vascular health.

(8) Glutathionylation —

Protein S-glutathionylation forms by a direct oxidation of a protein and reduced glutathione (GSH), by a thiol-disulfide exchange between a protein Cys and oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and also with S-nitrosoglutathione [202]. This emerging pathway provides an additional mechanism to regulate intracellular redox state and the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Recent studies indicate the importance of oxidants that directly impact the function of tissues by altering the structure of protein cysteinyl thiols. Multiple modes of protein-cysteine oxidation, such as S-thiolation, S-nitrosylation formation, and intra- and intermolecular protein disulfides are already known to play a prominent role in redox regulation [203, 204]. Several cellular signaling mechanisms have been reported to be modified resulting from protein glutathionylation involving defective insulin signaling resulting from diabetic conditions, which include NFκB, RyR1, K+ and ATP channels, PKC, aldose reductase, mitochondrial complex I, and sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA) [205207]. It is interesting to note that alterations in these signals were reported in defective insulin secretion from β cells, insulin sensitization in peripheral tissues, and complication-related cell injury and tissue damage in diabetes [208]. Moreover, there is increasing evidence of functional changes resulting from these glutathionylation modifications in diabetes, with protein posttranslational modifications playing an important role in the maintenance and progression of disease pathogenesis [208]. S-glutathionylation of proteins is the primary mechanism of thiol redox signaling and therefore has significant impact on the pathogenesis of diabetes.

Increased formation of glutathionylated Hb HbSSG represents a change in the oxygen carrying capacity of hemoglobin and tissue-specific glutathionylation, which may lead to differential cellular responses. Niwa et al. demonstrated that there are increased levels of HbSSG observed in diabetic and hyperlipidemic patients [209]. Increased oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and glutathione depletion are commonly observed in diabetic subjects without microangiopathy [210]. Vita et al. have demonstrated in patients with coronary artery disease that the impaired endothelial NO bioactivity is reversed upon L-2-oxo-4thiazolidine carboxylate (OTC) delivery, an intracellular GSH inducer [211]. These studies emphasize the role played by GSH in regulating endothelial functions during disease states. S-glutathionylation of eNOS is a crucial switch providing redox regulation of cellular signaling, endothelial function, and vascular tone. Some eNOS S-glutathionylation can be increased under conditions like hypertension, with impaired vasodilation that is restored by thiol-specific reducing agents reversing this S-glutathionylation. Chen et al. have recently shown that cysteine residues Cys689 and Cys908 are critical for normal eNOS function, which can be glutathionylated to produce superoxide [125].

Glutathione in its oxidized form (GSSG) has been shown to regulate the activity of several purified enzymes including carbonic anhydrase III, protein kinase C (PKC), and human aldose reductase (AR) [212]. For years, inhibition of AR in diabetes has been a popular therapeutic approach. Cys298, an active site of AR for thiol modifications, is known to regulate substrate binding [213, 214]. S-glutathionylation of AR, specifically at Cys298, inhibits its activity under normal glucose concentrations [215, 216]. Likewise, inhibitors of AR have proved to be effective for therapeutic intervention in diabetes [213]. Glutaredoxin (Grx) has been reported to be increased in the diabetic heart and retina of rats [217], since AR is a regulatory target for Grx, Grx-dependent inhibition additionally may further enhance AR inhibition. Future therapeutics could be aimed at targeted inhibition of AR-mediated glucose signaling, without affecting aldehyde detoxification to prevent diabetes-associated inflammation and other vascular abnormalities.

Sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) actively transport cytosolic Ca2+ into the sarcoplasmic reticulum, thus quenching cytoplasmic Ca2+ signals and regulating calcium oscillations in response to glucose [218]. Nitric oxide (NO) stimulates SERCA to decrease intracellular Ca2+ thereby allowing relaxation of cardiac, skeletal, and vascular smooth muscle [205]. High glucose has been reported to prevent NO-induced inhibition of VSMC migration due to Cys674 to serine mutation of SERCA, where this Cys is also subject to sulfonic acid formation in VSMC resulting in glutathionylation [219]. These results suggest a scenario involving increased oxidized thiol resulting in deglutathionylation modification of SERCA-Cys674-SH to the sulfonic acid which leads to protein glutathionylation affecting protein function.

Insulin and downstream signaling critically regulate NO and associated endothelial cell functions [220]. Studies provide evidence that glutathionylation of Cys118 and activation of Ras lead to endothelial insulin resistance, which was only recovered with Grx overexpression, implicating a role for Grx as a target treatment in diabetes [221]. Decreased Akt activity due to high glucose has been reported in diabetic rats and endothelial cells [222]. Changes in Akt activity are implicated in multiple signaling cascades that can be regulated by glutathionylation or interaction with Grx [223]. The mechanism of regulation of Akt phosphorylation by Grx is still not resolved. However, Murata's group proposed that the GSH/Grx system can protect Akt oxidation induced by H2O2 through glutathionylation of Akt cysteine residues Cys-297 and Cys-311 [224]. Wang et al. considered that this Akt protection is via deglutathionylation of upstream activators such as protein kinase A (PKA) [223]. Protein kinase C (PKC) is a major pathway that has tissue-specific implications under diabetic and vascular complications [225]. PKC isozymes can be oxidatively inactivated by S-glutathiolation involving endogenous thiols such as GSH [226]. Clinical trials have shown that Ruboxistaurin, a PKC-β inhibitor, can induce vascular protection of diabetic retinopathy [227]; however, Grx-mediated deglutathionylation of PKC may prove to be an additional therapeutic target for diabetic vascular complications.

NO synthesis is impaired in glutathione- (GSH-) depleted endothelial cells and GSH is reduced in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) [228]. Martina et al. have shown that administration of GSH in patients with T2DM is able to improve platelet constitutive NOS (cNOS) activity together with a reduction of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) [229]. Endothelial cell NO bioactivity is relatively sensitive to manipulations of intracellular GSH [230]. Studies have shown that thiol-manipulating agents altered endothelial NO bioactivity through mechanisms independent of changes in intracellular GSH [211]. In particular, protein thiol oxidation with diamide appears to have important implications for endothelial cell NO bioactivity by a direct effect on eNOS catalytic activity [231]. Further studies have to be performed to understand different changes in thiol residues that regulate endothelial NO activity under diabetic condition.

4.2.2. Role of Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Endothelial Dysfunction and Diabetes

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are critical for maintenance and repair of endothelial cells. They play an important role in angiogenesis as they proliferate, migrate and differentiate, and are a source for proangiogenic cytokines [232]. EPCs express markers of both hematopoietic stem cells (CD34 and CD133) and endothelial cells (CD146, vWF, and VEGFR2) [233235]. EPC dysfunction could contribute to the pathogenesis of vascular disease. There are numerous studies that have demonstrated, in patients with diabetes and cardiovascular disease, that the number of EPCs from peripheral blood is reduced and EPC function impaired [73, 88, 236, 237].

Reports suggest that the number of circulating EPCs is decreased under both types 1 and 2 diabetes, which is likely to be involved in the pathogenesis of vascular complications [88, 238, 239]. In diabetes, the bone marrow derived EPCs are dysfunctional, producing fewer endothelial cells with reduced proliferative, and migratory potential due to oxidative stress [88]. EPCs act as a surrogate marker of vascular health and indicate cardiovascular risk in healthy persons [87, 240, 241]. In diabetic patients with vascular complications, there is a marked reduction of circulating EPCs compared to those patients without vasculopathy, and EPC counts correlate with the severity of vascular disease [87].

Studies performed in vitro show EPCs from diabetic populations result in endothelial cells with a reduced capacity to form tubes, thereby inhibiting their ability to revascularize damage tissues [239, 242]. Kielczewski et al. demonstrated in renal occlusion model of C57BL/6J.gfp chimeric mice that insulin-like growth factor binding protein- (IGFBP-) 3 modulates vascular development by regulating EPC migration and restores the function of injured vasculature and NO generation [243]. In another study, Feng et al. showed in umbilical cord-derived EPCs that oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL) inhibits EPC survival and impairs their function, which may lead to inhibition of eNOS [244]. Recently Reinhard and colleagues have reported that in patients with type 2 diabetes on multifactorial treatments designed to improve glycemic control, lower lipids, reduce hypertension, and thrombosis, there was a significant increase in the number of EPCs [245]. Vasa et al. showed that in patients with coronary artery disease the number and migratory activity of EPCs are reduced, which may contribute to impaired vascularization [236]. Sorrentino et al. have demonstrated that the reendothelialization capacity of EPCs derived from patients with diabetes is severely impaired due to oxidative stress and reduced NO bioavailability [246]. In another publication, Thum and coworkers have attributed this deficiency to eNOS uncoupling as a result of diminished tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) levels caused by EPC dysfunction in diabetic patients [247]. However, further studies are required to verify that increasing EPC numbers will improve diabetic anomalies. EPCs have also been suggested to function as activators of mature ECs through secretion of angiogenic factors [248]. These studies provide evidence that EPCs play a crucial role in regulating eNOS and endothelial functions under vascular dysfunctions.

It is known that under diabetic conditions there are increased oxidative stress levels [15]. Increased ROS prompts the EPCs to produce pathologic cytokines such as monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), NF-κB, interleukin-8 (IL-8), elevated levels of iNOS, and decreased eNOS. The reduced functional activity of EPCs during hyperglycemia involves the Akt/eNOS pathway, where signaling is downregulated under diabetic conditions [249]. Ii et al. have attributed the phenotypic differences of EPCs during diabetes to decreased thrombospondin-1 expression [250]. There is an indication that upregulation of cyclin-dependent Kinase (CDK) inhibitors p16 and p21 leads to a reduction in proliferating EPCs under hyperglycemic conditions [251]. Information on molecular mechanisms influencing EPC numbers under diabetic or vascular dysfunctions is still sparse and deserves further research to better understand molecular mechanisms responsible for EPC formation and function.

Therapeutic strategies could take advantage of EPCs ability to deliver cytokines and growth factors to diseased tissue to induce revascularization. Identifying the key modulators of physiologically normal functioning EPCs is essential in determining potential targets for restoring proper EPC function in diabetic populations. Clinical trials by Hamano et al. have shown that therapeutic angiogenesis induced by local implantation of autologous bone marrow cells led to recovery in patients with ischemic heart disease [252]. Studies performed by Strauer et al. showed similar effects, thus providing further evidence of the therapeutic potential of EPCs [253]. Recently, Wang et al. demonstrated that EPC dysfunction in diabetes may be caused by decreased manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) expression [254]. In their study they also stated that in diabetic EPCs, expression of protein phosphatase 2A (which inactivates AMPK) was upregulated. Systemic hyperoxia is an adjunctive therapy to stimulate wound healing in diabetic patients, approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Previous studies showed that hyperoxia increases NO levels in vascular tissues via NOS stimulation [255], and bone-marrow-derived NO increased the number of circulating EPCs in nondiabetic models [256]. In a study focused on improving the number of circulating EPCs in a model of diabetes, Gallagher et al. showed that hyperoxia reversed the diabetic defect in EPC mobilization, which is a NO-mediated effect [257]. Stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α), a chemokine that increases EC migration and angiogenesis mediated through NO [258, 259]. SDF-1α mediates EPC recruitment in ischemia, reversed the diabetic defect in EPC homing [257]. Desouza et al. have published recently that reduced activity and survival of EPCs in diabetic rats are caused by elevated NF-κB levels, which results in decreased phosphorylation of Akt. This can be ameliorated by knockdown of NF-κB, which restores insulin signaling, improves EPC survival, and decreases neointimal hyperplasia [260].

Numerous studies demonstrated the positive effects of EPCs in repair processes of wound healing, ischemic repair, limb ischemia, endogenous endothelial repair, and neovascularization [261263]. On the contrary, EPCs contribute to pathological neovascularization, and recent studies show that circulating EPCs are reduced in patients with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) but increased in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) [264266]. These findings suggest the flipside of the EPCs that they may be associated with proinflammatory and proangiogenic EPCs, which lead to pathological neovascularization as observed in PDR. Studies on diabetic retinopathy lead to explore the possible role of EPCs in tumor angiogenesis [267]. Lyden et al. have demonstrated in angiogenic defective tumor resistant Id-mutant mice model that tumor angiogenesis is associated with circulating EPCs [268]. Their results state that impaired VEGF-driven EPC proliferation causes defective angiogenesis in this mice model. EPCs induce the endothelial cells leading to neovascular formation followed by cytokine-mediated recruitment of pro-angiogenic mural cells at the site of tumor growth [269, 270]. However, the brighter side of EPCs as a therapeutic modality is more, compared to its caveats. The promising results coming from research with EPCs warrant future studies into therapeutic uses of EPCs for treatment of vascular disease in diabetic populations.

4.3. Decreased Growth Factors and Cytokines in DM Results in Impaired Angiogenesis

Expression of various angiogenic growth factors is reduced during diabetic ischemia. Rivard et al. have shown that both VEGF protein and mRNA levels are decreased in ischemic muscles of type 1 diabetic mice [70]. The authors also showed that VEGF therapy restored blood flow in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice. Insulin resistance also causes decreased expression of VEGF in type 2 diabetes [271]. Nitric oxide also plays a role in the angiogenic action of growth factors such as VEGF, FGF, and TGF-β. The induction of angiogenesis by these growth factors is blocked by NOS inhibitors [272, 273]. Collateral formation is impaired in diabetic patients and animal models of diabetes [70, 92]. Monocytes/macrophages are the major players in collateral formation. Waltenberger and colleagues have shown that VEGF-dependent monocyte function is severely impaired in diabetic patients [72]. Hyperglycemia and increased AGEs in diabetes cause defective VEGF signaling including inactivation of the VEGF receptor, FLK-1, which affects endothelial growth and migration, monocyte, and EPC recruitment and release from bone marrow. These defects also contribute to impaired arteriogenesis in diabetic ischemia [274]. EPC release from bone marrow, recruitment and homing to the ischemic site, is important for postnatal vasculogenesis, which is defective in diabetes. VEGF and SDF-1α, which promote EPC recruitment to the ischemic site, are impaired during vasculogenesis in diabetes [257]. FGF levels are also decreased in skeletal muscle, which impairs angiogenesis during diabetes [275]. Angiopoetin and its receptor, Tie 2, also play roles in impaired angiogenesis in diabetes [276]. Tanii et al. have suggested that PDGF-BB is decreased in STZ-induced type 1 diabetic mouse hind limb ischemia [277]. All of the above findings indicate that defective growth factor expression and signaling during diabetes impairs all three processes of neovascularization in diabetes.

4.4. Immune Cell Dysfunction in Diabetes Causing Defective Peripheral Angiogenesis

Reduced chemotaxis has been reported in polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) of diabetic patients (type 1 and type 2) than in those of healthy subjects [278, 279]. Another study corroborated reduced leukocyte chemotaxis in patients with hyperglycemia [278]. Since most PMN functions are energy-dependent processes, an adequate energy production is necessary for an optimal PMN function [280]. Glucose needs insulin to stimulate uptake into PMNs to generate this energy, which may explain the improvement of the chemotactic response after the addition of these two substances [281]. There is conflicting information regarding adhesion of PMNs in DM patients as some have shown decreased adhesion and others have shown no alteration [278]. Impairment of phagocytosis is found in PMNs isolated from poorly regulated patients. Cytokine release is decreased after stimulation of PMN in diabetes [278, 282]. Impaired chemotaxis and phagocytotic properties of monocytes are observed in diabetic patients. Plasma from healthy control subjects or addition of insulin does not cause any significant change in the phagocytotic capacity of diabetic monocytes, it seems that this impaired function is caused by an intrinsic defect in the monocytes themselves [283]. In addition to the decreased production of proinflammatory cytokines following LPS stimulation, monocyte/macrophage functions are also impaired in DM type 1 patients. The cellular response of monocytes to VEGF-A is attenuated in diabetic patients [72]. Impaired chemotaxis and monocyte phagocytotic activity leads to reduced cellular innate immunity, thereby increasing the prevalence of infections and decreasing growth factors which impair wound healing and angiogenesis in DM patients.

4.5. Differences in Impaired Angiogenesis in Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes after Ischemia

Types 1 and 2 diabetes differ in disease onset, pathophysiological mechanisms, and symptom severity. Likewise, restoration of blood flow after ischemia in both types of diabetes also differs. An interesting study by Yan et al. has shown that blood flow recovery was delayed and less effective in type 2 diabetes compared to that in type 1 diabetes [284]. Results from this study identified that capillary/myofiber ratio and arteriolar size were more severely diminished in type 2 diabetes due to attenuated eNOS expression in ischemic tissue and EPCs. Oxidative stress, as observed through nitrotyrosine formation, was preferentially increased in ischemic tissue in type 2 diabetes [284]. EPC migration and incorporation of EPCs into tubular structures was less effective in type 2 diabetes. The tubule formation defect in EPCs may explain the difference in impaired angiogenesis and arteriogenesis following chronic ischemia in experimental type 2 diabetes. Rivard et al. have reported that exogenous VEGF rescues impaired blood flow in type 1 diabetic NOD mice [70]; however, some authors suggest that growth factor or gene therapy may be insufficient as a sole strategy to enhance type 2 diabetic revascularization [274]. This result again indicates the severity of impaired neovascularization in type 2 diabetes. One of the important sources of conflicting findings in diabetic angiogenesis may be the use of diverse animal models to induce diabetes, the models themselves, and the effect of ischemia on angiogenesis in these models.

4.5.1. Diabetic Wound Healing

Wound healing occurs as a cellular response to injury and involves activation of keratinocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, macrophages, and platelets. These cell types coordinate and maintain healing through the release of many growth factors and cytokines. Defective immune cell responses or impaired recruitment within the wound site results in defective healing in diabetes. Prolonged diabetes leads to impaired wound healing, a result of defective angiogenesis [72, 92]. Foot wounds followed by ulceration are a leading cause of hospital admissions for people with diabetes throughout the world and is a major comorbidity associated with diabetes, leading to extreme pain and suffering and poor quality of life for patients. Data have shown that diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are estimated to occur in 15% of all patients with diabetes [285] and precede 84% of all diabetes-related lower-leg amputations [286]. There are several ways that uncontrolled diabetes can lead to diminished wound healing. Firstly, diabetic individuals often are unable to combat infection due to defective immune responses. Thus, even small scrapes can transition to open, infected sores. Secondly, nerve damage in diabetic patients' results in lack of peripheral sensory function. Nerve damage may be prominent in diabetic patients resulting in a diminished capacity to notice cuts, blisters, or ulcers. Thirdly, diabetic individuals typically have diffuse atherosclerotic vessel disease that diminishes blood perfusion leading to a disruption in wound oxygenation and healing [287]. Lastly, the DFU may also become a portal for systemic infection leading to bacteremia, septicemia, and may result in limb amputation. Importantly, delayed healing of diabetic wounds is also characterized by impaired angiogenesis and vasculogenesis responses [20]. A series of multiple mechanisms, including decreased cell and growth factor response, lead to diminished peripheral blood flow and decreased endothelial cell proliferation and contribute to the lack of wound healing in diabetes. Excessive ROS production in diabetic patients is a primary factor contributing to wound healing deficiencies, which can be reversed using ROS antagonists [288]. Decreased or impaired production of NO in DM is mainly due to impairment of eNOS phosphorylation and deficiency of arginase. There is evidence that NO produced during the healing process clearly regulates and augments wound repair [289]. Frank et al. reported that wound healing and angiogenesis are impaired due to reduced eNOS- and iNOS-dependent NO production which could also affect growth factor expression [290]. A recent study showed that increased ROS delayed wound healing and treatment with eNOS and MnSOD rectified poor diabetic wound healing. Antioxidants such as vitamin E have also been reported to accelerate diabetic wound healing, angiogenic responses, macrophage function, collagen accumulation, epidermal barrier function, granulation tissue formation, keratinocyte and fibroblast migration and proliferation, number of epidermal nerves, bone healing, accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components, and their remodeling through matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) [291293]. Imputed defense responses like defective phagocytic granulocyte function and decreased granulocyte chemotaxis lead to impaired wound repair in diabetic patients [294]. Nolan et al. suggested that diabetic ulcers are more prone to impaired granulocytic function and chemotaxis [295]. Fang et al. suggested that GM-CSF is reduced in diabetic wounds and treatment with exogenous GM-CSF enhances wound healing in diabetes [296]. Nonetheless, prolonged inflammation, impaired neovascularization, decreased extracellular matrix remodeling, increased levels of proteinases, and defective macrophage activity all contribute to poor wound healing in diabetes.

Bone-marrow-derived EPCs may also play a significant role in the healing of diabetic wounds. Gallagher and colleagues reported that EPCs in the bone marrow respond to chemokine gradients of VEGF and SDF-1α, which result in the homing of these cells to sites of hypoxia where they then participate in the formation of new blood vessels [257]. Bone-marrow-derived EPCs are mobilized to wound sites by eNOS activation in the bone marrow which is impaired in diabetics [257]. EPC recruitment to the wound site depends on upregulation of SDF-1α. Gallagher et al. also reported a decrease in SDF-1α expression particularly by epithelial cells and myofibroblasts derived from wounds of streptozocin-induced diabetic mice; this decrease was responsible for decreased EPC homing [257]. There is evidence that expression of growth factors apart from VEGF, such as FGF or PDGF-BB, is also implicated in decreased diabetic wound healing. Fibroblast delivery of PDGF-BB through an absorbable mesh is a clinically efficacious drug therapy approved by the FDA [297, 298]. Thus it is possible that simultaneous combined therapies such as upregulation of growth factors and potential treatments targeting eNOS activation and EPC recruitment might secure better healing in diabetes.

4.6. Diabetic Ocular Dysfunctions

There are several possible mechanisms of excessive angiogenesis in diabetes such as hypoxia, upregulation of growth factors, integrins, oxidative stress, AGEs and fibronectins, and others [299]. Among the growth factors, VEGF has been shown to have potent proangiogenic activity both in vitro and in vivo. VEGF is an EC-specific mitogen, a chemotactic agent for EC and monocytes [72]. VEGF can also recruit EPC to ischemic sites [8, 300]. There is also evidence that human recombinant VEGF induces pathological vascular symptoms similar to diabetic retinopathy in nonhuman primates. Williams suggested that VEGF can be induced and stabilized by hypoxia, hyperglycemia, and various cytokines such as TGF-β and IL-1 [301]. It has been reported in patients of diabetic retinopathy that there are abnormal levels of VEGF in vitreous and aqueous humor. Increased levels of VEGF and FGF at the site of abnormal angiogenesis were also reported in patients with diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy, respectively [302, 303].

VEGF expression is elevated in diabetic retinopathy by increased ROS levels mediated through AGEs [304]. H2O2 stimulates cell migration and proliferation in endothelial cells, and ROS directly modulates VEGF-A expression and vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation [304]. It has also been suggested that both the gp91phox-containing NADPH oxidase and Rac1 play a major role in VEGF-A-induced endothelial cell proliferation [69]. These studies indicate that AGEs induce angiogenesis through differential signaling under diabetic retinopathy, through ROS generation.

Recently, possible involvement of inflammation in diabetic retinopathy has been recognized. Proinflammatory cytokine like TNF-α is identified as an initiator of inflammatory reactions in retinas of patients with diabetic retinopathy and rodent model of diabetes mellitus [305, 306]. Increased expression of inflammatory mediators such as IL-1β, CCL5, and CXCL12, and adhesion molecules such as ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in diabetic retinopathy patients also increase inflammation in the vessels [307309]. In addition, leukocytes recruitment at the vascular endothelium is a factor of inflammation in diabetic retinopathy [310]. Mcleaod et al. reported that numbers of neutrophils are significantly elevated in both retinal and choroidal vessels from diabetic patients that correlate with upregulation of ICAM-1 and P-selectin in the vessels [311]. These studies comprehensively suggest that diabetic retinopathy may also be an inflammatory disease.

Integrin adhesion molecules are necessary for cellular migration and organization of growth factor signaling within extracellular compartment to induce angiogenesis [312]. Studies reveal that many endothelial cell integrins such as α1β1, α2β1, α4β1, α5β1, α6β1, α6β4, α9β1, αvβ3, and αvβ5 are involved in the regulation of endothelial functions leading to angiogenesis [313]. Casaroli Marano and his colleagues reported that integrin α5β1 is upregulated in diabetic retinopathy [314]. Moreover, blockage of integrins leads to blunt the motility and growth of cells necessary for angiogenesis in hypoxia-induced retinal neovascularization [315]. Hyperglycemia causes overexpression of fibronectin that in turn degrades into a proangiogenic form of fragmented fibronectin that results in aberrant angiogenesis, as observed in diabetic retinopathy [316]. These studies indicate that in patients with diabetes integrins induce proangiogenic signaling resulting in aberrant signaling under diabetes that is characteristic of diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy, and macrosomia.

4.7. Endothelial Cell Dysfunction—Diabetic Therapy

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterized by impaired endogenous insulin secretion and activity, reduced NO production and increased production of free radicals, or impaired antioxidant defenses. The predominant factor in diabetes-mediated complications is endothelial dysfunction. The mechanisms that lead to endothelial dysfunction in diabetes are complex. Single therapy may not adequately improve endothelial function, so it is necessary to target multiple factors for therapeutic intervention of endothelial dysfunction. There are numerous risk factors that can cause endothelial cell damage under diabetes such as hyperglycaemia, insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia, increased oxidative stress, inflammation, and hypertension [317, 318]. Most interventions targeting more than one risk factor of endothelial damage only can improve endothelial functions [319]. Treatments that improve endothelial function systemically, like ACE inhibitors, statins, metformin, antioxidants, folate, PKC-inhibitors, and supplements like L-arginine, BH4, folic acid, and polyphenols also appear to provide protection from diabetes mediated vascular events [320324]. There are several clinical trials investigating the therapeutic regulation of endothelial function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus [320322, 325328]. However, there is no single therapy to date that can provide complete protection from diabetes-induced vascular events.

4.7.1. Antioxidant Therapy

Increased free radical generation represents vascular endothelial dysfunction in type 1 and type 2 diabetes [9]. Antioxidant therapy has been an easy and well-known choice to reduce diabetes-mediated vascular abnormalities. Previous studies showed that there is an improved endothelium-dependent relaxant response with various antioxidant agents, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) [329, 330]. This paradigm has gradually shifted as further studies demonstrated that antioxidant therapy alone is not sufficient; results with various antioxidants, namely, vitamins E and C, have had disappointing results [331, 332]. Now it is almost certain that antioxidant therapy is an option that must be used in combination with other therapies to alleviate vascular abnormalities.

In a study Ting et al. demonstrated that intra-arterial administration of vitamin C (24 mg/min) in diabetic subjects, augmented methacholine mediated endothelium-dependent vasodilation, whereas this is not reflected in nondiabetic subjects [105]. In another study by Timimi et al. in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients, vitamin C selectively restored the impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation in the forearm resistance vessels of these patients. These findings indicate that adequate scavenging of oxidant radicals by parenteral administration of ascorbate (vitamin C) restores endothelium-dependent vasodilation in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes [105, 333].

Koo et al. have shown in diabetic rats that antioxidant therapy was ineffective when administered alone and was effective only when combined with insulin treatment [334]. Results of their work show that insulin therapy results in significant, but incomplete reduction in blood pressure and other ROS-mediated parameters, while antioxidant therapy alone had no effect on these parameters. However, combined insulin and antioxidant therapies show the desired effects in diabetic animals. Beckman et al. in their study on diabetic patients receiving oral vitamin C (1,000 mg) and vitamin E (800 IU) daily or matching placebo for 6 months showed that oral antioxidant therapy improves endothelium mediated vasodilation in type 1 but not type 2 diabetes [335]. There are certain clinical trials that state that vitamin E supplementation reduces cardiovascular events in individuals with diabetes mellitus and the Hp 2-2 (haptoglobin, a major antioxidant protein) genotype [336].

Although many pathways are invoved in ROS-induced endothelial dysfunction in both types of diabetes, few effective antioxidant approaches have achieved clinical success. Various factors make traditional antioxidant therapy inefficient at mediating oxidative stress during diabetes. Antioxidants such as vitamin E or C are required in extremely high concentrations to reduce levels of peroxynitrite. Moreover, there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate that vitamin E reaches target cells. Over the last decade several studies have suggested that antioxidant therapy only delays diabetes-induced endothelial dysfunctions, rather than providing complete recovery.

4.7.2. Metformin

Metformin is a first-line oral antidiabetic drug of choice in the biguanide class of drugs. Metformin reduces LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels and is the only antidiabetic drug that has been shown to prevent cardiovascular complications caused by diabetes [337, 338]. Metformin targets to ameliorate the insulin resistance mainly in the liver and muscle, thereby lowering blood glucose. Metformin primarily reduces the hepatic glucose output by regulating gluconeogenesis [337, 339, 340].

Previous studies by Mather et al. also showed that metformin improved vascular endothelial functions and insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes [320]. De Jager et al. have shown that in patients with type 2 diabetes treated with insulin, metformin treatment was associated with improvement of endothelial function by decreasing expression of VCAM-1, E-selectin and PAI-1, which were not related to changes in glycemic control [341]. In another study Vitale et al. showed that metformin improves both insulin resistance and thereby endothelial function, measured by the homeostasis model, in patients with metabolic syndrome [342]. In a clinical study De Aguiar et al. demonstrated the endothelial protective effects of metformin in patients with diabetes and metabolic syndrome. In their study metformin leads to decreased weight, BMI, systolic blood pressure, and fasting plasma glucose, and improved lipid profile. Endothelium-dependent forearm blood flow (FBF) responses were also improved [343].

In contrast to these reports there are studies that report metformin has no significant effects on endothelium in patients with type 2 diabetes [344]. The UK Prospective Diabetes Study showed that although monotherapy with metformin and also sulfonylureas or insulin can achieve good glycemic control initially, sustained control with these agents fails in 50% of patients after three years [345]. There should be multiple therapies which target different aspects of diabetic abnormalities to protect vascular function and obtain adequate long-term glycemic control. Metformin causes this beneficial effect through several mechanisms: (1) direct reduction of insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes, (2) antioxidant effects in both types of diabetes, which ultimately increases NO bioavailability, and (3) direct effect on vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells causing vasorelaxation [320]. All of these will finally improve endothelial dysfunction in diabetes.

4.7.3. AMPK an Emerging Therapy for Vascular Dysfunction in Diabetes Mellitus

Studies show that metformin activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), an enzyme that plays a key role in insulin signaling and glucose metabolism [346]. Metformin requires AMPK to induce its inhibitory effect on glucose production by liver cells [347]. This concept is further strengthened by the studies from Kim et al. who demonstrated that hepatic SHP gene expression induced by metformin requires AMPK and further inhibits the expression of hepatic gluconeogenic genes [338]. However, the AMPK-metformin crosstalk has not been well studied. Even pharmacological agents such as statins, thiazolidinediones, and rosiglitazone, to mention a few, are mediated in part by activation of AMPK in endothelial cells [348]. AMPK regulates eNOS activity and promotes eNOS association with heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) [349, 350]. Studies show that AMPK is involved in suppression of inflammatory agents such as NF-κB, regulating ROS/ONOO, and also inducing mitochondrial biogenesis via PGC-1α induction in the endothelium [349]. In another study, adiponectin exerted cardioprotective affects during myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion that involves AMPK activation and production of endothelial NO thereby improving endothelial functions [351]. These studies show that AMPK contributes to prevention of ischemic heart disease through eNOS bioactivity and endothelial function. Further studies are warranted to explore the role of AMPK as a therapeutic agent for diabetes.

4.7.4. Dipyridamole

Dipyridamole is a well-known antiplatelet agent, which is used with aspirin for ischemic stroke treatment and to restrict the progression of arterial occlusive disease [352]. Dipyridamole may inhibit adenosine uptake and cGMP-specific phosphodiesterases (PDE), thereby potentiating cGMP-mediated nitric oxide actions [352, 353]. De La Cruz et al. showed that aspirin plus dipyridamole showed prevention of ischemic cerebrovascular events like inflammation, as compared with other antiplatelet drugs or aspirin alone [354]. Vallon and Osswald have shown in an early diabetes model of rats that daily treatment with dipyridamole rectified diabetic kidney function by reducing interstitial adenosine concentrations in the kidney [355]. Dipyridamole may also augment coronary collateral development and cardiac function after ischemia/reperfusion injury [356, 357].

Dipyridamole also induces neuroprotection, antiplatelet effects, prolonged angiogenic effects, and an antioxidant effect [356, 358360]. According to this “radical theory,” ischemic tissue injury associated with ischemia-reperfusion determines an increased oxidative stress which can contributes significantly to worsening of tissue injury [361]. There are studies that show direct powerful antioxidant properties of dipyridamole which protects NO bioavailability [362, 363]. Recent studies by our group also showed that dipyridamole therapy stimulates arteriogenesis during chronic hind-limb ischemia involving an endocrine NO/nitrite system [364].

Iuliano et al. have demonstrated that dipyridamole exhibits an antioxidant effect in inhibiting lipid peroxidation of methyl linoleate, and in the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) [365]. Kusmic et al. observed that dipyridamole prevents lipid peroxidation and exhibits antioxidant properties in an ex vivo model [366]. Garćia-Fuentes et al. demonstrated in White Leghorn chicks that coconut oil-induced hypercholesterolemia was blunted with dipyridamole therapy [367]. Recently our group examined for the first time the role of dipyridamole in a mouse type 2 diabetic model to reduce oxidative stress as a protective mechanism of ischemia-induced angiogenesis during diabetes [368]. Dipyridamole therapy selectively and rapidly restores ischemic hind-limb blood flow in the diabetic mouse suggesting that it not only augments nitrite/NO endocrine functions but also directly reduces oxidative stress. There are earlier studies that showed altered blood glucose levels and maintenance of NO bioavailability following dipyridamole therapy [369371]. Previous study by our group has shown that dipyridamole increases NO bioavailability by PKA dependent-eNOS pathway [364]. Another possible mode of dipyridamole action is through its antiplatelet effect. Therefore, antioxidant effect increased NO bioavailability and antiplatelets effect of dipyridamole improves endothelial dysfunction in both type of diabetes. Currently, metabolic effects and mode of action of dipyridamole therapy in diabetic vascular dysfunctions, such as diabetic retinopathy, are not known. Extensive studies in this line are much needed to understand the mechanistic aspects of dipyridamole during diabetes.

5. Conclusions

From the above discussion, it is obvious that endothelial dysfunction leading to defective angiogenesis in diabetes is multifactorial. Some of these factors are increased ROS and AGEs, decreased growth factors and cytokines, and altered immune cell responses. Similarly, defective diabetic wound healing is due to downregulation of different growth factors and overproduction of ROS leading to decreased NO bioavailability. On the other hand, excessive angiogenesis in diabetic retinopathy is multifactorial, as it involves increased growth factor and cytokine expression and increased oxidative stress, AGEs, and so forth. Researchers are trying to identify different agents that could provide vascular benefits from diabetes. Recent studies on therapies aimed at multiple factors of disease progression may act as an adjunct to the available conventional therapies. Improving clinical methodologies and techniques can further help in identifying the extent of endothelial damage, which could prevent the risk of disease progression. Studies aimed at combination therapies could prove beneficial to enhance protection against vascular complications during diabetes.

Acknowledgments

This work was sponsored by NIH grant HL80482 and ADA Grant 1-10-BS-84 to C. G. Kevil S. C. Bir is funded by a fellowship from the Malcolm Feist Cardiovascular Research Endowment, LSU Health Sciences Center-Shreveport.

References

  • 1.Goligorsky MS. Endothelial cell dysfunction: can’t live with it, how to live without it. American Journal of Physiology. 2005;288(5):F871–F880. doi: 10.1152/ajprenal.00333.2004. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 2.Deanfield J, Donald A, Ferri C, et al. Endothelial function and dysfunction. Part I: methodological issues for assessment in the different vascular beds: a statement by the working group on endothelin and endothelial factors of the European society of hypertension. Journal of Hypertension. 2005;23(1):7–17. doi: 10.1097/00004872-200501000-00004. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 3.Wild S, Roglic G, Green A, Sicree R, King H. Global Prevalence of Diabetes: estimates for the year 2000 and projections for 2030. Diabetes Care. 2004;27(5):1047–1053. doi: 10.2337/diacare.27.5.1047. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 4.Li H, Isomaa B, Taskinen MR, Groop L, Tuomi T. Consequences of a family history of type 1 and type 2 diabetes on the phenotype of patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2000;23(5):589–594. doi: 10.2337/diacare.23.5.589. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 5.Steinberger J, Daniels SR. Obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes, and cardiovascular risk in children: an American heart association scientific statement from the atherosclerosis, hypertension, and obesity in the young committee (council on cardiovascular disease in the young) and the diabetes committee (council on nutrition, physical activity, and metabolism) Circulation. 2003;107(10):1448–1453. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.0000060923.07573.f2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 6.Bir SC, Esaki J, Marui A, et al. Angiogenic properties of sustained release platelet-rich plasma: characterization in-vitro and in the ischemic hind limb of the mouse. Journal of Vascular Surgery. 2009;50(4):870–879. doi: 10.1016/j.jvs.2009.06.016. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 7.Cao R, Bråkenhielm E, Pawliuk R, et al. Angiogenic synergism, vascular stability and improvement of hind-limb ischemia by a combination of PDGF-BB and FGF-2. Nature Medicine. 2003;9(5):604–613. doi: 10.1038/nm848. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 8.Martin A, Komada MR, Sane DC. Abnormal angiogenesis in diabetes mellitus. Medicinal Research Reviews. 2003;23(2):117–145. doi: 10.1002/med.10024. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 9.Cai H, Harrison DG. Endothelial dysfunction in cardiovascular diseases: the role of oxidant stress. Circulation Research. 2000;87(10):840–844. doi: 10.1161/01.res.87.10.840. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 10.Al-Isa AN, Thalib L, Akanji AO. Circulating markers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in Arab adolescent subjects: reference ranges and associations with age, gender, body mass and insulin sensitivity. Atherosclerosis. 2010;208(2):543–549. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2009.07.056. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 11.Corrado E, Rizzo M, Coppola G, Muratori I, Carella M, Novo S. Endothelial dysfunction and carotid lesions are strong predictors of clinical events in patients with early stages of atherosclerosis: a 24-month follow-up study. Coronary Artery Disease. 2008;19(3):139–144. doi: 10.1097/MCA.0b013e3282f3fbde. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 12.Perticone F, Ceravolo R, Pujia A, et al. Prognostic significance of endothelial dysfunction in hypertensive patients. Circulation. 2001;104(2):191–196. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.104.2.191. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 13.Bucala R, Tracey KJ, Cerami A. Advanced glycosylation products quench nitric oxide and mediate defective endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in experimental diabetes. The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 1991;87(2):432–438. doi: 10.1172/JCI115014. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 14.Suuronen EJ, Hazra S, Zhang P, et al. Impairment of human cell-based vasculogenesis in rats by hypercholesterolemia-induced endothelial dysfunction and rescue with l-arginine supplementation. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 2010;139(1):209–216. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2009.04.055. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 15.Kaneto H, Katakami N, Matsuhisa M, Matsuoka TA. Role of reactive oxygen species in the progression of type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis. Mediators of Inflammation. 2010;2010:11 pages. doi: 10.1155/2010/453892. Article ID 453892. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 16.Witting PK, Rayner BS, Wu BJ, Ellis NA, Stocker R. Hydrogen peroxide promotes endothelial dysfunction by stimulating multiple sources of superoxide anion radical production and decreasing nitric oxide bioavailability. Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry. 2007;20(5):255–268. doi: 10.1159/000107512. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 17.McCance DR, Hanson RL, Pettitt DJ, Bennett PH, Hadden DR, Knowler WC. Diagnosing diabetes mellitus—do we need new criteria? Diabetologia. 1997;40(3):247–255. doi: 10.1007/s001250050671. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 18.Hviid A, Stellfeld M, Wohlfahrt J, Melbye M. Childhood vaccination and type 1 diabetes. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2004;350(14):1398–1404. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa032665. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 19.MacKinnon M. Type 2 diabetes. Nursing Standard. 1999;14(10):39–46. doi: 10.7748/ns1999.11.14.10.39.c2715. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 20.Carmeliet P. Mechanisms of angiogenesis and arteriogenesis. Nature Medicine. 2000;6(4):389–395. doi: 10.1038/74651. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 21.Carmeliet P, Jain RK. Angiogenesis in cancer and other diseases. Nature. 2000;407(6801):249–257. doi: 10.1038/35025220. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 22.Semenza GL. Vasculogenesis, angiogenesis, and arteriogenesis: mechanisms of blood vessel formation and remodeling. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry. 2007;102(4):840–847. doi: 10.1002/jcb.21523. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 23.Wahlberg E. Angiogenesis and arteriogenesis in limb ischemia. Journal of Vascular Surgery. 2003;38(1):198–203. doi: 10.1016/s0741-5214(03)00151-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 24.Helisch A, Schaper W. Arteriogenesis: the development and growth of collateral arteries. Microcirculation. 2003;10(1):83–97. doi: 10.1038/sj.mn.7800173. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 25.Pacher P, Beckman JS, Liaudet L. Nitric oxide and peroxynitrite in health and disease. Physiological Reviews. 2007;87(1):315–424. doi: 10.1152/physrev.00029.2006. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 26.Paravicini TM, Touyz RM. NADPH oxidases, reactive oxygen species, and hypertension: clinical implications and therapeutic possibilities. Diabetes Care. 2008;31:S170–S180. doi: 10.2337/dc08-s247. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 27.Kajiya M, Hirota M, Inai Y, et al. Impaired NO-mediated vasodilation with increased superoxide but robust EDHF function in right ventricular arterial microvessels of pulmonary hypertensive rats. American Journal of Physiology. 2007;292(6):H2737–H2744. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00548.2006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 28.Shimokawa H, Matoba T. Hydrogen peroxide as an endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor. Pharmacological Research. 2004;49(6):543–549. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2003.10.016. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 29.Tsuji S, Taniuchi S, Hasui M, Yamamoto A, Kobayashi Y. Increased nitric oxide production by neutrophils from patients with chronic granulomatous disease on trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Nitric Oxide. 2002;7(4):283–288. doi: 10.1016/s1089-8603(02)00110-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 30.San Martín A, Du P, Dikalova A, et al. Reactive oxygen species-selective regulation of aortic inflammatory gene expression in Type 2 diabetes. American Journal of Physiology. 2007;292(5):H2073–H2082. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00943.2006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 31.Pawlak K, Naumnik B, Brzósko S, Pawlak D, Myśliwiec M. Oxidative stress—a link between endothelial injury, coagulation activation, and atherosclerosis in haemodialysis patients. American Journal of Nephrology. 2004;24(1):154–161. doi: 10.1159/000076244. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 32.Shen GX. Oxidative stress and diabetic cardiovascular disorders: roles of mitochondria and NADPH oxidase. Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology. 2010;88(3):241–248. doi: 10.1139/Y10-018. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 33.Mira L, Maia L, Barreira L, Manso CF. Evidence for free radical generation due to NADH oxidation by aldehyde oxidase during ethanol metabolism. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics. 1995;318(1):53–58. doi: 10.1006/abbi.1995.1203. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 34.Kundu TK, Hille R, Velayutham M, Zweier JL. Characterization of superoxide production from aldehyde oxidase: an important source of oxidants in biological tissues. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics. 2007;460(1):113–121. doi: 10.1016/j.abb.2006.12.032. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 35.Esterbauer H, Schaur RJ, Zollner H. Chemistry and Biochemistry of 4-hydroxynonenal, malonaldehyde and related aldehydes. Free Radical Biology and Medicine. 1991;11(1):81–128. doi: 10.1016/0891-5849(91)90192-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 36.Badwey JA, Karnovsky ML. Production of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide by an NADH oxidase in guinea pig polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Modulation by nucleotides and divalent cations. The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 1979;254(22):11530–11537. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 37.Bravard A, Bonnard C, Durand A, et al. Inhibition of xanthine oxidase reduces hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and improves mitochondrial alterations in skeletal muscle of diabetic mice. American Journal of Physiology. 2011;300(3):E581–E591. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00455.2010. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 38.Matsumoto S, Koshiishi I, Inoguchi T, Nawata H, Utsumi H. Confirmation of superoxide generation via xanthine oxidase in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Free Radical Research. 2003;37(7):767–772. doi: 10.1080/1071576031000107344. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 39.Bonnard C, Durand A, Peyrol S, et al. Mitochondrial dysfunction results from oxidative stress in the skeletal muscle of diet-induced insulin-resistant mice. The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2008;118(2):789–800. doi: 10.1172/JCI32601. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 40.Ulrich P, Cerami A. Protein glycation, diabetes, and aging. Recent Progress in Hormone Research. 2001;56:1–21. doi: 10.1210/rp.56.1.1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 41.Su J, Lucchesi PA, Gonzalez-Villalobos RA, et al. Role of advanced glycation end products with oxidative stress in resistance artery dysfunction in type 2 diabetic mice. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2008;28(8):1432–1438. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.108.167205. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 42.Lenaz G, Bovina C, D’Aurelio M, et al. Role of mitochondria in oxidative stress and aging. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 2002;959:199–213. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2002.tb02094.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 43.Fosslien E. Review: mitochondrial medicine—molecular pathology of defective oxidative phosphorylation. Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Science. 2001;31(1):25–67. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 44.Abdul-Ghani MA, Matsuda M, DeFronzo RA. Strong association between insulin resistance in liver and skeletal muscle in non-diabetic subjects. Diabetic Medicine. 2008;25(11):1289–1294. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2008.02597.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 45.Davidson SM, Duchen MR. Endothelial mitochondria: contributing to vascular function and disease. Circulation Research. 2007;100(8):1128–1141. doi: 10.1161/01.RES.0000261970.18328.1d. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 46.Nishikawa T, Edelstein D, Du XL, et al. Normalizing mitochondrial superoxide production blocks three pathways of hyperglycaemic damage. Nature. 2000;404(6779):787–790. doi: 10.1038/35008121. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 47.Bottino R, Balamurugan AN, Tse H, et al. Response of human islets to isolation stress and the effect of antioxidant treatment. Diabetes. 2004;53(10):2559–2568. doi: 10.2337/diabetes.53.10.2559. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 48.Gamble DR, Taylor KW, Cumming H. Coxsackie viruses and diabetes mellitus. British Medical Journal. 1973;4(5887):260–262. doi: 10.1136/bmj.4.5887.260. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 49.Gyurko R, Siqueira CC, Caldon N, Gao L, Kantarci A, Van Dyke TE. Chronic hyperglycemia predisposes to exaggerated inflammatory response and leukocyte dysfunction in Akita mice. Journal of Immunology. 2006;177(10):7250–7256. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.177.10.7250. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 50.Maechler P, Jornot L, Wollheim CB. Hydrogen peroxide alters mitochondrial activation and insulin secretion in pancreatic beta cells. The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 1999;274(39):27905–27913. doi: 10.1074/jbc.274.39.27905. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 51.Takasu N, Komiya I, Asawa T, Nagasawa Y, Yamada T. Streptozocin- and alloxan-induced H2O2 generation and DNA fragmentation in pancreatic islets: H2O2 as mediator for DNA fragmentation. Diabetes. 1991;40(9):1141–1145. doi: 10.2337/diab.40.9.1141. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 52.Suarez-Pinzon WL, Szabó C, Rabinovitch A. Development of autoimmune diabetes in NOD mice is associated with the formation of peroxynitrite in pancreatic islet β-cells. Diabetes. 1997;46(5):907–911. doi: 10.2337/diab.46.5.907. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 53.Lenzen S, Drinkgern J, Tiedge M. Low antioxidant enzyme gene expression in pancreatic islets compared with various other mouse tissues. Free Radical Biology and Medicine. 1996;20(3):463–466. doi: 10.1016/0891-5849(96)02051-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 54.Lenzen S. Oxidative stress: the vulnerable β-cell. Biochemical Society Transactions. 2008;36(3):343–347. doi: 10.1042/BST0360343. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 55.Evans JL, Goldfine ID, Maddux BA, Grodsky GM. Oxidative stress and stress-activated signaling pathways: a unifying hypothesis of type 2 diabetes. Endocrine Reviews. 2002;23(5):599–622. doi: 10.1210/er.2001-0039. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 56.Poitout V, Robertson RP. Minireview: secondary β-cell failure in type 2 diabetes—a convergence of glucotoxicity and lipotoxicity. Endocrinology. 2002;143(2):339–342. doi: 10.1210/endo.143.2.8623. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 57.Hirosumi J, Tuncman G, Chang L, et al. A central, role for JNK in obesity and insulin resistance. Nature. 2002;420(6913):333–336. doi: 10.1038/nature01137. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 58.Hotamisligil GS. Role of endoplasmic reticulum stress and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase pathways in inflammation and origin of obesity and diabetes. Diabetes. 2005;54(2):S73–S78. doi: 10.2337/diabetes.54.suppl_2.s73. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 59.Pieper GM, Gross GJ. Oxygen free radicals abolish endothelium-dependent relaxation in diabetic rat aorta. American Journal of Physiology. 1988;255(4):H825–H833. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.1988.255.4.H825. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 60.Rösen P, Nawroth PP, King G, Möller W, Tritschler HJ, Packer L. The role of oxidative stress in the onset and progression of diabetes and its complications: a summary of a congress series sponsored by UNESCO-MCBN, the American diabetes association and the German diabetes society. Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews. 2001;17(3):189–212. doi: 10.1002/dmrr.196. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 61.Tesfamariam B. Free radicals in diabetic endothelial cell dysfunction. Free Radical Biology and Medicine. 1994;16(3):383–391. doi: 10.1016/0891-5849(94)90040-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 62.Tirosh A, Potashnik R, Bashan N, Rudich A. Oxidative stress disrupts insulin-induced cellular redistribution of insulin receptor substrate-1 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in 3T3-L1 adipocytes: a putative cellular mechanism for impaired protein kinase B activation and GLUT4 translocation. The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 1999;274(15):10595–10602. doi: 10.1074/jbc.274.15.10595. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 63.Waeber G, Delplanque J, Bonny C, et al. The gene MAPK8IP1, encoding islet-brain-1, is a candidate for type 2 diabetes. Nature Genetics. 2000;24(3):291–295. doi: 10.1038/73523. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 64.West IC. Radicals and oxidative stress in diabetes. Diabetic Medicine. 2000;17(3):171–180. doi: 10.1046/j.1464-5491.2000.00259.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 65.Kim YK, Lee MS, Son SM, et al. Vascular NADH oxidase is involved in impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation in OLETF rats, a model of type 2 diabetes. Diabetes. 2002;51(2):522–527. doi: 10.2337/diabetes.51.2.522. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 66.Oyama Y, Kawasaki H, Hattori Y, Kanno M. Attenuation of endothelium-dependent relaxation in aorta from diabetic rats. European Journal of Pharmacology. 1986;132(1):75–78. doi: 10.1016/0014-2999(86)90013-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 67.Alexander RW. Hypertension and the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis: oxidative stress and the mediation of arterial inflammatory response: a new perspective. Hypertension. 1995;25(2):155–161. doi: 10.1161/01.hyp.25.2.155. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 68.Vitek MP, Bhattacharya K, Glendening JM, et al. Advanced glycation end products contribute to amyloidosis in Alzheimer disease. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 1994;91(11):4766–4770. doi: 10.1073/pnas.91.11.4766. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 69.Ebrahimian TG, Heymes C, You D, et al. NADPH oxidase-derived overproduction of reactive oxygen species impairs postischemic neovascularization in mice with type 1 diabetes. American Journal of Pathology. 2006;169(2):719–728. doi: 10.2353/ajpath.2006.060042. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 70.Rivard A, Silver M, Chen D, et al. Rescue of diabetes-related impairment of angiogenesis by intramuscular gene therapy with adeno-VEGF. American Journal of Pathology. 1999;154(2):355–363. doi: 10.1016/S0002-9440(10)65282-0. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 71.Tamarat R, Silvestre JS, Huijberts M, et al. Blockade of advanced glycation end-product formation restores ischemia-induced angiogenesis in diabetic mice. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2003;100(14):8555–8560. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1236929100. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 72.Waltenberger J, Lange J, Kranz A. Vascular endothelial growth factor-A-induced chemotaxis of monocytes is attenuated in patients with diabetes mellitus: a potential predictor for the individual capacity to develop collaterals. Circulation. 2000;102(2):185–190. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.102.2.185. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 73.Tepper OM, Galiano RD, Capla JM, et al. Human endothelial progenitor cells from type II diabetics exhibit impaired proliferation, adhesion, and incorporation into vascular structures. Circulation. 2002;106(22):2781–2786. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.0000039526.42991.93. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 74.Deshpande NN, Sorescu D, Seshiah P, et al. Mechanism of hydrogen peroxide-induced cell cycle arrest in vascular smooth muscle. Antioxidants and Redox Signaling. 2002;4(5):845–854. doi: 10.1089/152308602760599007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 75.Griendling KK, FitzGerald GA. Oxidative stress and cardiovascular injury: part ii: animal and human studies. Circulation. 2003;108(17):2034–2040. doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000093661.90582.c4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 76.Tojo T, Ushio-Fukai M, Yamaoka-Tojo M, Ikeda S, Patrushev N, Alexander RW. Role of gp91phox (Nox2)-containing NAD(P)H oxidase in angiogenesis in response to hindlimb ischemia. Circulation. 2005;111(18):2347–2355. doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000164261.62586.14. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 77.Guzik TJ, Mussa S, Gastaldi D, et al. Mechanisms of increased vascular superoxide production in human diabetes mellitus: role of NAD(P)H oxidase and endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Circulation. 2002;105(14):1656–1662. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.0000012748.58444.08. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 78.Ellis EA, Guberski DL, Somogyi-Mann M, Grant MB. Increased H2O2, vascular endothelial growth factor and receptors in the retina of the BBZ/WOR diabetic rat. Free Radical Biology and Medicine. 2000;28(1):91–101. doi: 10.1016/s0891-5849(99)00216-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 79.Griendling KK, Sorescu D, Ushio-Fukai M. NAD(P)H oxidase: role in cardiovascular biology and disease. Circulation Research. 2000;86(5):494–501. doi: 10.1161/01.res.86.5.494. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 80.Sonta T, Inoguchi T, Tsubouchi H, et al. Evidence for contribution of vascular NAD(P)H oxidase to increased oxidative stress in animal models of diabetes and obesity. Free Radical Biology and Medicine. 2004;37(1):115–123. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2004.04.001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 81.Ushio-Fukai M, Tang Y, Fukai T, et al. Novel role of gp91phox-containing NAD(P)H oxidase in vascular endothelial growth factor-induced signaling and angiogenesis. Circulation Research. 2002;91(12):1160–1167. doi: 10.1161/01.res.0000046227.65158.f8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 82.Al-Shabrawey M, Rojas M, Sanders T, et al. Role of NADPH oxidase in retinal vascular inflammation. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. 2008;49(7):3239–3244. doi: 10.1167/iovs.08-1755. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 83.Al-Shabrawey M, Bartoli M, El-Remessy AB, et al. Role of NADPH oxidase and Stat3 in statin-mediated protection against diabetic retinopathy. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. 2008;49(7):3231–3238. doi: 10.1167/iovs.08-1754. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 84.Hink U, Li H, Mollnau H, et al. Mechanisms underlying endothelial dysfunction in diabetes mellitus. Circulation Research. 2001;88(2):E14–E22. doi: 10.1161/01.res.88.2.e14. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 85.Aicher A, Heeschen C, Mildner-Rihm C, et al. Essential role of endothelial nitric oxide synthase for mobilization of stem and progenitor cells. Nature Medicine. 2003;9(11):1370–1376. doi: 10.1038/nm948. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 86.Bedard K, Krause KH. The NOX family of ROS-generating NADPH oxidases: physiology and pathophysiology. Physiological Reviews. 2007;87(1):245–313. doi: 10.1152/physrev.00044.2005. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 87.Fadini GP, Agostini C, Sartore S, Avogaro A. Endothelial progenitor cells in the natural history of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis. 2007;194(1):46–54. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2007.03.046. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 88.Loomans CJM, de Koning EJP, Staal FJT, et al. Endothelial progenitor cell dysfunction: a novel concept in the pathogenesis of vascular complications of type 1 diabetes. Diabetes. 2004;53(1):195–199. doi: 10.2337/diabetes.53.1.195. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 89.Igarashi M, Wakasaki H, Takahara N, et al. Glucose or diabetes activates p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase via different pathways. The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 1999;103(2):185–195. doi: 10.1172/JCI3326. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 90.Wohaieb SA, Godin DV. Alterations in free radical tissue-defense mechanisms in streptozocin-induced diabetes in rat. Effects of insulin treatment. Diabetes. 1987;36(9):1014–1018. doi: 10.2337/diab.36.9.1014. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 91.Aktunc E, Ozacmak VH, Ozacmak HS, et al. N-acetyl cysteine promotes angiogenesis and clearance of free oxygen radicals, thus improving wound healing in an alloxan-induced diabetic mouse model of incisional wound. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology. 2010;35(8):902–909. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.2010.03823.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 92.Abaci A, Oguzhan A, Kahraman S, et al. Effect of diabetes mellitus on formation of coronary collateral vessels. Circulation. 1999;99(17):2239–2242. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.99.17.2239. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 93.Bohlen HG, Lash JM. Topical hyperglycemia rapidly suppresses EDRF-mediated vasodilation of normal rat arterioles. American Journal of Physiology. 1993;265(1):H219–H225. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.1993.265.1.H219. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 94.Pieper GM, Meier DA, Hager SR. Endothelial dysfunction in a model of hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia. American Journal of Physiology. 1995;269(3):H845–H850. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.1995.269.3.H845. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 95.Tesfamariam B, Brown ML, Deykin D, Cohen RA. Elevated glucose promotes generation of endothelium-derived vasoconstrictor prostanoids in rabbit aorta. The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 1990;85(3):929–932. doi: 10.1172/JCI114521. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 96.Clarkson P, Celermajer DS, Donald AE, et al. Impaired vascular reactivity in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is related to disease duration and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 1996;28(3):573–579. doi: 10.1016/0735-1097(96)82380-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 97.Johnstone MT, Creager SJ, Scales KM, Cusco JA, Lee BK, Creager MA. Impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation in patients with insulin- dependent diabetes mellitus. Circulation. 1993;88(6):2510–2516. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.88.6.2510. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 98.Williams SB, Cusco JA, Roddy MA, Johnstone MT, Creager MA. Impaired nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 1996;27(3):567–574. doi: 10.1016/0735-1097(95)00522-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 99.King GL. The role of hyperglycaemia and hyperinsulinaemia in causing vascular dysfunction in diabetes. Annals of Medicine. 1996;28(5):427–432. doi: 10.3109/07853899608999103. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 100.Rask-Madsen C, King GL. Mechanisms of disease: endothelial dysfunction in insulin resistance and diabetes. Nature Clinical Practice Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2007;3(1):46–56. doi: 10.1038/ncpendmet0366. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 101.Tan KCB, Chow WS, Ai VHG, Lam KSL. Effects of angiotensin II receptor antagonist on endothelial vasomotor function and urinary albumin excretion in type 2 diabetic patients with microalbuminuria. Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews. 2002;18(1):71–76. doi: 10.1002/dmrr.255. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 102.Kim JA, Montagnani M, Kwang KK, Quon MJ. Reciprocal relationships between insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction: molecular and pathophysiological mechanisms. Circulation. 2006;113(15):1888–1904. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.105.563213. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 103.Tesfamariam B, Brown ML, Cohen RA. Elevated glucose impairs endothelium-dependent relaxation by activating protein kinase C. The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 1991;87(5):1643–1648. doi: 10.1172/JCI115179. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 104.Saenz de Tejada I, Goldstein I, Azadzoi K, Krane RJ, Cohen RA. Impaired neurogenic and endothelium-mediated relaxation of penile smooth muscle from diabetic men with impotence. The New England Journal of Medicine. 1989;320(16):1025–1030. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198904203201601. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 105.Ting HH, Timimi FK, Boles KS, Creager SJ, Ganz P, Creager MA. Vitamin C improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 1996;97(1):22–28. doi: 10.1172/JCI118394. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 106.Pieper GM, Moore-Hilton G, Roza AM. Evaluation of the mechanism of endothelial dysfunction in the genetically-diabetic BB rat. Life Sciences. 1996;58(9):PL147–PL152. doi: 10.1016/0024-3205(95)02360-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 107.Du XL, Edelstein D, Dimmeler S, Ju Q, Sui C, Brownlee M. Hyperglycemia inhibits endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity by posttranslational modification at the Akt site. The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2001;108(9):1341–1348. doi: 10.1172/JCI11235. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 108.Veves A, Akbari CM, Primavera J, et al. Endothelial dysfunction and the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthetase in diabetic neuropathy, vascular disease, and foot ulceration. Diabetes. 1998;47(3):457–463. doi: 10.2337/diabetes.47.3.457. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 109.Wadham C, Parker A, Wang L, Xia P. High glucose attenuates protein S-nitrosylation in endothelial cells: role of oxidative stress. Diabetes. 2007;56(11):2715–2721. doi: 10.2337/db06-1294. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 110.Brownlee M. Biochemistry and molecular cell biology of diabetic complications. Nature. 2001;414(6865):813–820. doi: 10.1038/414813a. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 111.Creager MA, Lüscher TF, Cosentino F, Beckman JA. Diabetes and vascular disease. Pathophysiology, clinical consequences, and medical therapy: part I. Circulation. 2003;108(12):1527–1532. doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000091257.27563.32. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 112.Alp NJ, Channon KM. Regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase by tetrahydrobiopterin in vascular disease. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2004;24(3):413–420. doi: 10.1161/01.ATV.0000110785.96039.f6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 113.Cai S, Khoo J, Mussa S, Alp NJ, Channon KM. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase dysfunction in diabetic mice: importance of tetrahydrobiopterin in eNOS dimerisation. Diabetologia. 2005;48(9):1933–1940. doi: 10.1007/s00125-005-1857-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 114.McVeigh GE, Brennan GM, Johnston GD, et al. Impaired endothelium-dependent and independent vasodilation in patients with Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. Diabetologia. 1992;35(8):771–776. doi: 10.1007/BF00429099. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 115.Wang Y, Wei X, Xiao X, et al. Arachidonic acid epoxygenase metabolites stimulate endothelial cell growth and angiogenesis via mitogen-activated protein kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt signaling pathways. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 2005;314(2):522–532. doi: 10.1124/jpet.105.083477. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 116.Shankar RR, Wu Y, Shen HQ, Zhu JS, Baron AD. Mice with gene disruption of both endothelial and neuronal nitric oxide synthase exhibit insulin resistance. Diabetes. 2000;49(5):684–687. doi: 10.2337/diabetes.49.5.684. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 117.Montagnani M, Chen H, Barr VA, Quon MJ. Insulin-stimulated activation of enos is independent of ca2+ but requires phosphorylation by akt at ser(1179) The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2001;276(32):30392–30398. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M103702200. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 118.Chen J-X, Stinnett A. Disruption of Ang-1/Tie-2 signaling contributes to the impaired myocardial vascular maturation and angiogenesis in type II diabetic mice. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2008;28(9):1606–1613. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.108.169235. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 119.Issad T, Masson E, Pagesy P. O-GlcNAc modification, insulin signaling and diabetic complications. Diabetes and Metabolism. 2010;36(6):423–435. doi: 10.1016/j.diabet.2010.09.001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 120.Musicki B, Kramer MF, Becker RE, Burnett AL. Inactivation of phosphorylated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (Ser-1177) by O-GlcNAc in diabetes-associated erectile dysfunction. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2005;102(33):11870–11875. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0502488102. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 121.Lima VV, Giachini FRC, Carneiro FS, et al. Increased vascular O-GlcNAcylation augments reactivity to constrictor stimuli—vasoactive peptide symposium. Journal of the American Society of Hypertension. 2008;2(6):410–417. doi: 10.1016/j.jash.2008.06.001. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 122.Taguchi K, Kobayashi T, Takenouchi Y, Matsumoto T, Kamata K. Angiotensin II causes endothelial dysfunction via the GRK2/Akt/eNOS pathway in aortas from a murine type 2 diabetic model. Pharmacological Research. 2011;64(5):535–546. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2011.05.001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 123.Elrod JW, Duranski MR, Langston W, et al. eNOS gene therapy exacerbates hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in diabetes: a role for enos uncoupling. Circulation Research. 2006;99(1):78–85. doi: 10.1161/01.RES.0000231306.03510.77. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 124.Sasso FC, Torella D, Carbonara O, et al. Increased vascular endothelial growth factor expression but impaired vascular endothelial growth factor receptor signaling in the myocardium of type 2 diabetic patients with chronic coronary heart disease. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2005;46(5):827–834. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2005.06.007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 125.Chen CA, Wang TY, Varadharaj S, et al. S-glutathionylation uncouples eNOS and regulates its cellular and vascular function. Nature. 2010;468(7327):1115–1120. doi: 10.1038/nature09599. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 126.Kapadia MR, Chow LW, Tsihlis ND, et al. Nitric oxide and nanotechnology: a novel approach to inhibit neointimal hyperplasia. Journal of Vascular Surgery. 2008;47(1):173–182. doi: 10.1016/j.jvs.2007.09.005. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 127.Marks DS, Vita JA, Folts JD, Keaney JF, Welch GN, Loscalzo J. Inhibition of neointimal proliferation in rabbits after vascular injury by a single treatment with a protein adduct of nitric oxide. The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 1995;96(6):2630–2638. doi: 10.1172/JCI118328. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 128.Ahanchi SS, Varu VN, Tsihlis ND, et al. Heightened efficacy of nitric oxide-based therapies in type II diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome. American Journal of Physiology. 2008;295(6):H2388–H2398. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00185.2008. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 129.Calvert JW, Gundewar S, Jha S, et al. Acute metformin therapy confers cardioprotection against myocardial infarction via AMPK-eNOS- mediated signaling. Diabetes. 2008;57(3):696–705. doi: 10.2337/db07-1098. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 130.Penumathsa SV, Thirunavukkarasu M, Samuel SM, et al. Niacin bound chromium treatment induces myocardial Glut-4 translocation and caveolar interaction via Akt, AMPK and eNOS phosphorylation in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats after ischemia-reperfusion injury. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. 2009;1792(1):39–48. doi: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2008.10.018. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 131.Duplain H, Burcelin Ŕ, Sartori C, et al. Insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension in mice lacking endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Circulation. 2001;104(3):342–345. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.104.3.342. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 132.Waldron GJ, Ding H, Lovren F, Kubes P, Triggle CR. Acetylcholine-induced relaxation of peripheral arteries isolated from mice lacking endothelial nitric oxide synthase. British Journal of Pharmacology. 1999;128(3):653–658. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0702858. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 133.Cardillo C, Panza JA. Impaired endothelial regulation of vascular tone in patients with systemic arterial hypertension. Vascular Medicine. 1998;3(2):138–144. doi: 10.1177/1358836X9800300208. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 134.Bouloumié A, Bauersachs J, Linz W, et al. Endothelial dysfunction coincides with an enhanced nitric oxide synthase expression and superoxide anion production. Hypertension. 1997;30(4):934–941. doi: 10.1161/01.hyp.30.4.934. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 135.Cosentino F, Hishikawa K, Katusic ZS, Lüscher TF. High glucose increases nitric oxide synthase expression and superoxide anion generation in human aortic endothelial cells. Circulation. 1997;96(1):25–28. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.96.1.25. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 136.Förstermann U, Münzel T. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase in vascular disease: from marvel to menace. Circulation. 2006;113(13):1708–1714. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.105.602532. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 137.Pannirselvam M, Verma S, Anderson TJ, Triggle CR. Cellular basis of endothelial dysfunction in small mesenteric arteries from spontaneously diabetic (db/db -/-) mice: role of decreased tetrahydrobiopterin bioavailability. British Journal of Pharmacology. 2002;136(2):255–263. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0704683. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 138.Pieper GM. Review of alterations in endothelial nitric oxide production in diabetes: protective role of arginine on endothelial dysfunction. Hypertension. 1998;31(5):1047–1060. doi: 10.1161/01.hyp.31.5.1047. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 139.Vasquez-Vivar J, Martasek P, Whitsett J, Joseph J, Kalyanaraman B. The ratio between tetrahydrobiopterin and oxidized tetrahydrobiopterin analogues controls superoxide release from endothelial nitric oxide synthase: an EPR spin trapping study. Biochemical Journal. 2002;362(3):733–739. doi: 10.1042/0264-6021:3620733. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 140.Raman CS, Li H, Martásek P, Král V, Masters BSS, Poulos TL. Crystal structure of constitutive endothelial nitric oxide synthase: a paradigm for pterin function involving a novel metal center. Cell. 1998;95(7):939–950. doi: 10.1016/s0092-8674(00)81718-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 141.Channon KM. Tetrahydrobiopterin: regulator of endothelial nitric oxide synthase in vascular disease. Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine. 2004;14(8):323–327. doi: 10.1016/j.tcm.2004.10.003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 142.Katusic ZS, D'Uscio LV. Tetrahydrobiopterin: mediator of endothelial protection. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2004;24(3):397–398. doi: 10.1161/01.ATV.0000121569.76931.0b. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 143.Laursen JB, Somers M, Kurz S, et al. Endothelial regulation of vasomotion in ApoE-deficient mice: implications for interactions between peroxynitrite and tetrahydrobiopterin. Circulation. 2001;103(9):1282–1288. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.103.9.1282. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 144.Cosentino F, Eto M, De Paolis P, et al. High glucose causes upregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 and alters prostanoid profile in human endothelial cells: role of protein kinase C and reactive oxygen species. Circulation. 2003;107(7):1017–1023. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.0000051367.92927.07. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 145.Salt IP, Morrow VA, Brandie FM, Connell JMC, Petrie JR. High glucose inhibits insulin-stimulated nitric oxide production without reducing endothelial nitric-oxide synthase Ser1177 phosphorylation in human aortic endothelial cells. The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2003;278(21):18791–18797. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M210618200. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 146.Zou MH, Shi C, Cohen RA. Oxidation of the zinc-thiolate complex and uncoupling of endothelial nitric oxide synthase by peroxynitrite. The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2002;109(6):817–826. doi: 10.1172/JCI14442. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 147.Kuzkaya N, Weissmann N, Harrison DG, Dikalov S. Interactions of peroxynitrite, tetrahydrobiopterin, ascorbic acid, and thiols: implications for uncoupling endothelial nitric-oxide synthase. The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2003;278(25):22546–22554. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M302227200. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 148.Rodríguez-Crespo I, Gerber NC, Ortiz De Montellano PR. Endothelial nitric-oxide synthase: expression in Escherichia coli, spectroscopic characterization, and role of tetrahydrobiopterin in dimer formation. The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 1996;271(19):11462–11467. doi: 10.1074/jbc.271.19.11462. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 149.Wever RMF, Van Dam T, Van Rijn HJM, De Groot F, Rabelink TJ. Tetrahydrobiopterin regulates superoxide and nitric oxide generation by recombinant endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 1997;237(2):340–344. doi: 10.1006/bbrc.1997.7069. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 150.Cosentino F, Hürlimann D, Delli Gatti C, et al. Chronic treatment with tetrahydrobiopterin reverses endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress in hypercholesterolaemia. Heart. 2008;94(4):487–492. doi: 10.1136/hrt.2007.122184. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 151.Heitzer T, Brockhoff C, Mayer B, et al. Tetrahydrobiopterin improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation in chronic smokers : evidence for a dysfunctional nitric oxide synthase. Circulation Research. 2000;86(2):E36–E41. doi: 10.1161/01.res.86.2.e36. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 152.Pannirselvam M, Simon V, Verma S, Anderson T, Triggle CR. Chronic oral supplementation with sepiapterin prevents endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress in small mesenteric arteries from diabetic (db/db) mice. British Journal of Pharmacology. 2003;140(4):701–706. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0705476. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 153.Pieper GM, Siebeneich W, Moore-Milton G, Roza AM. Reversal by L-arginine of a dysfunctional arginine/nitric oxide pathway in the endothelium of the genetic diabetic BB rat. Diabetologia. 1997;40(8):910–915. doi: 10.1007/s001250050767. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 154.Pieper GM. Acute amelioration of diabetic endothelial dysfunction with a derivative of the nitric oxide synthase cofactor, tetrahydrobiopterin. Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology. 1997;29(1):8–15. doi: 10.1097/00005344-199701000-00002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 155.Cai S, Khoo J, Channon KM. Augmented BH4 by gene transfer restores nitric oxide synthase function in hyperglycemic human endothelial cells. Cardiovascular Research. 2005;65(4):823–831. doi: 10.1016/j.cardiores.2004.10.040. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 156.Stuehr DJ, Griffith OW. Mammalian nitric oxide synthases. Advances in Enzymology and Related Areas of Molecular Biology. 1992;65:287–346. doi: 10.1002/9780470123119.ch8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 157.Harada T, Kagamiyama H, Hatakeyama K. Feedback regulation mechanisms for the control of GTP cyclohydrolase I activity. Science. 1993;260(5113):1507–1510. doi: 10.1126/science.8502995. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 158.Alp NJ, Mussa S, Khoo J, et al. Tetrahydrobiopterin-dependent preservation of nitric oxide-mediated endothelial function in diabetes by targeted transgenic GTP-cyclohydrolase I overexpression. The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2003;112(5):725–735. doi: 10.1172/JCI17786. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 159.Meininger CJ, Cai S, Parker JL, et al. GTP cyclohydrolase I gene transfer reverses tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency and increases nitric oxide synthesis in endothelial cells and isolated vessels from diabetic rats. The FASEB Journal. 2004;18(15):1900–1902. doi: 10.1096/fj.04-1702fje. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 160.Ishii M, Shimizu S, Nagai T, Shiota K, Kiuchi Y, Yamamoto T. Stimulation of tetrahydrobiopterin synthesis induced by insulin: possible involvement of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology. 2001;33(1):65–73. doi: 10.1016/s1357-2725(00)00070-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 161.Verma S, Arikawa E, Yao L, Laher I, McNeill JH. Preliminary report: insulin-induced vasodilation is dependent on tetrahydrobiopterin synthesis. Metabolism. 1998;47(9):1037–1039. doi: 10.1016/s0026-0495(98)90273-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 162.Viveros OH, Lee CL, Abou-Donia MM. Biopterin cofactor biosynthesis: independent regulation of GTP cyclohyrolase in adrenal medulla and cortex. Science. 1981;213(4505):349–350. doi: 10.1126/science.7017928. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 163.Cosentino F, Barker JE, Brand MP, et al. Reactive oxygen species mediate endothelium-dependent relaxations in Tetrahydrobiopterin-deficient mice. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2001;21(4):496–502. doi: 10.1161/01.atv.21.4.496. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 164.Mitchell BM, Dorrance AM, Webb RC. GTP cyclohydrolase 1 downregulation contributes to glucocorticoid hypertension in rats. Hypertension. 2003;41(3):669–674. doi: 10.1161/01.HYP.0000051889.62249.5D. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 165.Zheng JS, Yang XQ, Lookingland KJ, et al. Gene transfer of human guanosine 5′-triphosphate cyclohydrolase I restores vascular tetrahydrobiopterin level and endothelial function in low renin hypertension. Circulation. 2003;108(10):1238–1245. doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000089082.40285.C3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 166.Okumura M, Masada M, Yoshida Y, et al. Decrease in tetrahydrobiopterin as a possible cause of nephropathy in type II diabetic rats. Kidney International. 2006;70(3):471–476. doi: 10.1038/sj.ki.5000431. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 167.Wenzel P, Daiber A, Oelze M, et al. Mechanisms underlying recoupling of eNOS by HMG-CoA reductase inhibition in a rat model of streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus. Atherosclerosis. 2008;198(1):65–76. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2007.10.003. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 168.Xu J, Wu Y, Song P, Zhang M, Wang S, Zou MH. Proteasome-dependent degradation of guanosine 5′-triphosphate cyclohydrolase I causes tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency in diabetes mellitus. Circulation. 2007;116(8):944–953. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.106.684795. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 169.Cosentino F, Lüscher TF. Endothelial dysfunction in diabetes mellitus. Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology. 1998;32(supplement 3):S54–S61. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 170.Berkowitz DE, White R, Li D, et al. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase is a site of superoxide synthesis in endothelial cells treated with glyceryl trinitrate. Circulation. 2003;108(16):2000–2006. [Google Scholar]
  • 171.Kaesemeyer WH, Ogonowski AA, Jin L, Caldwell RB, Caldwell RW. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase is a site of superoxide synthesis in endothelial cells treated with glyceryl trinitrate. British Journal of Pharmacology. 2000;131(5):1019–1023. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0703665. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 172.Bivalacqua TJ, Hellstrom WJG, Kadowitz PJ, Champion HC. Increased expression of arginase II in human diabetic corpus cavernosum: in diabetic-associated erectile dysfunction. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 2001;283(4):923–927. doi: 10.1006/bbrc.2001.4874. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 173.Zhang C, Hein TW, Wang W, et al. Upregulation of vascular arginase in hypertension decreases nitric oxide-mediated dilation of coronary arterioles. Hypertension. 2004;44(6):935–943. doi: 10.1161/01.HYP.0000146907.82869.f2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 174.Jiang M, Jia L, Jiang W, et al. Protein disregulation in red blood cell membranes of type 2 diabetic patients. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 2003;309(1):196–200. doi: 10.1016/s0006-291x(03)01559-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 175.Zhang C, Hein TW, Wang W, Chang CI, Kuo L. Constitutive expression of arginase in microvascular endothelial cells counteracts nitric oxide-mediated vasodilatory function. The FASEB Journal. 2001;15(7):1264–1266. doi: 10.1096/fj.00-0681fje. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 176.Chicoine LG, Paffett ML, Young TL, Nelin LD. Arginase inhibition increases nitric oxide production in bovine pulmonary arterial endothelial cells. American Journal of Physiology. 2004;287(1):L60–L68. doi: 10.1152/ajplung.00194.2003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 177.Li H, Meininger CJ, Hawker Jr. JR, et al. Regulatory role of arginase I and II in nitric oxide, polyamine, and proline syntheses in endothelial cells. American Journal of Physiology. 2001;280(1):E75–E82. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.2001.280.1.E75. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 178.Bond JS, Failla ML, Unger DF. Elevated manganese concentration and arginase activity in livers of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 1983;258(13):8004–8009. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 179.Spolarics Z, Bond JS. Comparison of biochemical properties of liver arginase from streptozocin-induced diabetic and control mice. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics. 1989;274(2):426–433. doi: 10.1016/0003-9861(89)90455-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 180.Hagenfeldt L, Dahlquist G, Persson B. Plasma amino acids in relation to metabolic control in insulin-dependent diabetic children. Acta Paediatrica Scandinavica. 1989;78(2):278–282. doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1989.tb11070.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 181.Pieper GM, Dondlinger LA. Plasma and vascular tissue arginine are decreased in diabetes: acute arginine supplementation restores endothelium-dependent relaxation by augmenting cGMP production. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 1997;283(2):684–691. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 182.Kämpfer H, Pfeilschifter J, Frank S. Expression and activity of arginase isoenzymes during normal and diabetes-impaired skin repair. Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 2003;121(6):1544–1551. doi: 10.1046/j.1523-1747.2003.12610.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 183.Durante W, Johnson FK, Johnson RA. Arginase: a critical regulator of nitric oxide synthesis and vascular function. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology. 2007;34(9):906–911. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1681.2007.04638.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 184.Romero MJ, Platt DH, Tawfik HE, et al. Diabetes-induced coronary vascular dysfunction involves increased arginase activity. Circulation Research. 2008;102(1):95–102. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.107.155028. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 185.Grönros J, Jung C, Lundberg JO, Cerrato R, Östenson C, Pernow J. Arginase inhibition restores in vivo coronary microvascular function in type 2 diabetic rats. American Journal of Physiology. 2011;300(4):H1174–H1181. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00560.2010. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 186.De Vriese AS, Verbeuren TJ, Van De Voorde J, Lameire NH, Vanhoutte PM. Endothelial dysfunction in diabetes. British Journal of Pharmacology. 2000;130(5):963–974. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0703393. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 187.Kaneda H, Taguchi J, Kuwada Y, et al. Coronary artery spasm and the polymorphisms of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene. Circulation Journal. 2006;70(4):409–413. doi: 10.1253/circj.70.409. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 188.Miller FJ, Jr., Dellsperger KC, Gutterman DD. Pharmacologic activation of the human coronary microcirculation in vitro: endothelium-dependent dilation and differential responses to acetylcholine. Cardiovascular Research. 1998;38(3):744–750. doi: 10.1016/s0008-6363(98)00035-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 189.Beleznai T, Feher A, Spielvogel D, Lansman SL, Bagi Z. Arginase 1 contributes to diminished coronary arteriolar dilation in patients with diabetes. American Journal of Physiology. 2011;300(3):H777–H783. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00831.2010. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 190.Hoeldtke RD, Bryner KD, McNeill DR, Hobbs GR, Baylis C. Peroxynitrite versus nitric oxide in early diabetes. American Journal of Hypertension. 2003;16(9):761–766. doi: 10.1016/s0895-7061(03)00976-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 191.Kossenjans W, Eis A, Sahay R, Brockman D, Myatt L. Role of peroxynitrite in altered fetal-placental vascular reactivity in diabetes or preeclampsia. American Journal of Physiology. 2000;278(4):H1311–H1319. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.2000.278.4.H1311. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 192.Pacher P, Liaudet L, Soriano FG, Mabley JG, Szabó É, Szabó C. The role of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activation in the development of myocardial and endothelial dysfunction in diabetes. Diabetes. 2002;51(2):514–521. doi: 10.2337/diabetes.51.2.514. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 193.Pacher P, Szabo C. Role of the peroxynitrite-poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase pathway in human disease. American Journal of Pathology. 2008;173(1):2–13. doi: 10.2353/ajpath.2008.080019. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 194.Thuraisingham RC, Nott CA, Dodd SM, Yaqoob MM. Increased nitrotyrosine staining in kidneys from patients with diabetic nephropathy. Kidney International. 2000;57(5):1968–1972. doi: 10.1046/j.1523-1755.2000.00046.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 195.Szabó C, Ischiropoulos H, Radi R. Peroxynitrite: biochemistry, pathophysiology and development of therapeutics. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery. 2007;6(8):662–680. doi: 10.1038/nrd2222. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 196.Chen W, Druhan LJ, Chen CA, et al. Peroxynitrite induces destruction of the tetrahydrobiopterin and heme in endothelial nitric oxide synthase: transition from reversible to irreversible enzyme inhibition. Biochemistry. 2010;49(14):3129–3137. doi: 10.1021/bi9016632. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 197.Milstien S, Katusic Z. Oxidation of tetrahydrobiopterin by peroxynitrite: implications for vascular endothelial function. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 1999;263(3):681–684. doi: 10.1006/bbrc.1999.1422. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 198.Ehrlich W, Huser H, Kroger H. Inhibition of the induction of collagenase by interleukin-1β in cultured rabbit synovial fibroblasts after treatment with the poly(ADP-ribose)-polymerase inhibitor 3-aminobenzamide. Rheumatology International. 1995;15(4):171–172. doi: 10.1007/BF00301776. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 199.Zingarelli B, Salzman AL, Szabó C. Genetic disruption of poly (ADP-ribose) synthetase inhibits the expression of P-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. Circulation Research. 1998;83(1):85–94. doi: 10.1161/01.res.83.1.85. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 200.Cooke CLM, Davidge ST. Peroxynitrite increases iNOS through NF-κB and decreases prostacyclin synthase in endothelial cells. American Journal of Physiology. 2002;282(2):C395–C402. doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.00295.2001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 201.Nagai R, Unno Y, Hayashi MC, et al. Peroxynitrite induces formation of Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine by the cleavage of Amadori product and generation of glucosone and glyoxal from glucose: novel pathways for protein modification by peroxynitrite. Diabetes. 2002;51(9):2833–2839. doi: 10.2337/diabetes.51.9.2833. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 202.Klatt P, Pineda Molina E, Pérez-Sala D, Lamas S. Novel application of S-nitrosoglutathione-Sepharose to identify proteins that are potential targets for S-nitrosoglutathione-induced mixed-disulphide formation. Biochemical Journal. 2000;349(2):567–578. doi: 10.1042/0264-6021:3490567. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 203.Casagrande S, Bonetto V, Fratelli M, et al. Glutathionylation of human thioredoxin: a possible crosstalk between the glutathione and thioredoxin systems. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2002;99(15):9745–9749. doi: 10.1073/pnas.152168599. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 204.Fratelli M, Demol H, Puype M, et al. Identification by redox proteomics of glutathionylated proteins in oxidatively stressed human T lymphocytes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2002;99(6):3505–3510. doi: 10.1073/pnas.052592699. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 205.Adachi T, Weisbrod RM, Pimentel DR, et al. S-glutathiolation by peroxynitrite activates SERCA during arterial relaxation by nitric oxide. Nature Medicine. 2004;10(11):1200–1207. doi: 10.1038/nm1119. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 206.Cappiello M, Amodeo P, Mendez BL, et al. Modulation of aldose reductase activity through S-thiolation by physiological thiols. Chemico-Biological Interactions. 2001;130-132:597–608. doi: 10.1016/s0009-2797(00)00286-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 207.Li S, Richard Whorton A. Regulation of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B in intact cells by S-nitrosothiols. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics. 2003;410(2):269–279. doi: 10.1016/s0003-9861(02)00696-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 208.Giustarini D, Rossi R, Milzani A, Colombo R, Dalle-Donne I. S-glutathionylation: from redox regulation of protein functions to human diseases. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. 2004;8(2):201–212. doi: 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2004.tb00275.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 209.Niwa T, Naito C, Mawjood AHM, Imai K. Increased glutathionyl hemoglobin in diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia demonstrated by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization- mass spectrometry. Clinical Chemistry. 2000;46(1):82–88. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 210.Maritim AC, Sanders RA, Watkins JB. Diabetes, oxidative stress, and antioxidants: a review. Journal of Biochemical and Molecular Toxicology. 2003;17(1):24–38. doi: 10.1002/jbt.10058. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 211.Vita JA, Frei B, Holbrook M, Gokce N, Leaf C, Keaney JF. L-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid reverses endothelial dysfunction in patients with coronary artery disease. The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 1998;101(6):1408–1414. doi: 10.1172/JCI1155. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 212.Mieyal JJ, Gallogly MM, Qanungo S, Sabens EA, Shelton MD. Molecular mechanisms and clinical implications of reversible protein S-glutathionylation. Antioxidants and Redox Signaling. 2008;10(11):1941–1988. doi: 10.1089/ars.2008.2089. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 213.Srivastava SK, Ramana KV, Bhatnagar A. Role of aldose reductase and oxidative damage in diabetes and the consequent potential for therapeutic options. Endocrine Reviews. 2005;26(3):380–392. doi: 10.1210/er.2004-0028. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 214.Petrash JM, Harter TM, Devine CS, et al. Involvement of cysteine residues in catalysis and inhibition of human aldose reductase. Site-directed mutagenesis of Cys-80, -298, and -303. The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 1992;267(34):24833–24840. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 215.Cappiello M, Voltarelli M, Giannessi M, et al. Glutathione dependent modification of bovine lens aldose reductase. Experimental Eye Research. 1994;58(4):491–501. doi: 10.1006/exer.1994.1042. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 216.Chandra A, Srivastava S, Petrash JM, Bhatnagar A, Srivastava SK. Active site modification of aldose reductase by nitric oxide donors. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. 1997;1341(2):217–222. doi: 10.1016/s0167-4838(97)00084-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 217.Shelton MD, Kern TS, Mieyal JJ. Glutaredoxin regulates nuclear factor κ-B and intercellular adhesion molecule in Müller cells: model of diabetic retinopathy. The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2007;282(17):12467–12474. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M610863200. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 218.Cohen RA, Weisbrod RM, Gericke M, Yaghoubi M, Bierl C, Bolotina VM. Mechanism of nitric oxide-induced vasodilatation: refilling of intracellular stores by sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase and inhibition of store-operated Ca2+ influx. Circulation Research. 1999;84(2):210–219. doi: 10.1161/01.res.84.2.210. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 219.Tong X, Ying J, Pimentel DR, Trucillo M, Adachi T, Cohen RA. High glucose oxidizes SERCA cysteine-674 and prevents inhibition by nitric oxide of smooth muscle cell migration. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology. 2008;44(2):361–369. doi: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2007.10.022. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 220.Duncan E, Ezzat V, Kearney M. Insulin and endothelial function: physiological environment defines effect on atherosclerotic risk. Current Diabetes Reviews. 2006;2(1):51–60. doi: 10.2174/157339906775473590. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 221.Clavreul N, Bachschmid MM, Hou X, et al. S-glutathiolation of p21ras by peroxynitrite mediates endothelial insulin resistance caused by oxidized low-density lipoprotein. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2006;26(11):2454–2461. doi: 10.1161/01.ATV.0000242791.28953.4c. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 222.Song P, Wu Y, Xu J, et al. Reactive nitrogen species induced by hyperglycemia suppresses Akt signaling and triggers apoptosis by upregulating phosphatase PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10) in an LKB1-dependent manner. Circulation. 2007;116(14):1585–1595. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.716498. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 223.Wang J, Pan S, Berk BC. Glutaredoxin mediates Akt and eNOS activation by flow in a glutathione reductase-dependent manner. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2007;27(6):1283–1288. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.107.144659. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 224.Murata H, Ihara Y, Nakamura H, Yodoi J, Sumikawa K, Kondo T. Glutaredoxin exerts an antiapoptotic effect by regulating the redox state of akt. The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2003;278(50):50226–50233. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M310171200. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 225.Koya D, King GL. Protein kinase C activation and the development of diabetic complications. Diabetes. 1998;47(6):859–866. doi: 10.2337/diabetes.47.6.859. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 226.Chu F, Ward NE, O’Brian CA. Potent inactivation of representative members of each PKC isozyme subfamily and PKD via S-thiolation by the tumor-promotion/progression antagonist glutathione but not by its precursor cysteine. Carcinogenesis. 2001;22(8):1221–1229. doi: 10.1093/carcin/22.8.1221. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 227.Clarke M, Dodson PM. PKC inhibition and diabetic microvascular complications. Best Practice and Research. 2007;21(4):573–586. doi: 10.1016/j.beem.2007.09.007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 228.Huang A, Xiao H, Samii JM, Vita JA, Keaney JF. Contrasting effects of thiol-modulating agents on endothelial NO bioactivity. American Journal of Physiology. 2001;281(2):C719–C725. doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.2001.281.2.C719. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 229.Martina V, Bruno GA, Zumpano E, Origlia C, Quaranta L, Pescarmona GP. Administration of glutathione in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus increases the platelet constitutive nitric oxide synthase activity and reduces PAI-1. Journal of Endocrinological Investigation. 2001;24(1):37–41. doi: 10.1007/BF03343806. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 230.Ghigo D, Alessio P, Foco A, et al. Nitric oxide synthesis is impaired in glutathione-depleted human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The American Journal of Physiology. 1993;265(3):C728–C732. doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.1993.265.3.C728. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 231.Zhang X, Li H, Jin H, Ebin Z, Brodsky S, Goligorsky MS. Effects of homocysteine on endothelial nitric oxide production. American Journal of Physiology. 2000;279(4):F671–F678. doi: 10.1152/ajprenal.2000.279.4.F671. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 232.Mukai N, Akahori T, Komaki M, et al. A comparison of the tube forming potentials of early and late endothelial progenitor cells. Experimental Cell Research. 2008;314(3):430–440. doi: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2007.11.016. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 233.Fadini GP, Baesso I, Albiero M, Sartore S, Agostini C, Avogaro A. Technical notes on endothelial progenitor cells: ways to escape from the knowledge plateau. Atherosclerosis. 2008;197(2):496–503. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2007.12.039. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 234.Hristov M, Erl W, Weber PC. Endothelial progenitor cells: mobilization, differentiation, and homing. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2003;23(7):1185–1189. doi: 10.1161/01.ATV.0000073832.49290.B5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 235.Urbich C, Dimmeler S. Endothelial progenitor cells: characterization and role in vascular biology. Circulation Research. 2004;95(4):343–353. doi: 10.1161/01.RES.0000137877.89448.78. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 236.Vasa M, Fichtlscherer S, Aicher A, et al. Number and migratory activity of circulating endothelial progenitor cells inversely correlate with risk factors for coronary artery disease. Circulation Research. 2001;89(1):E1–E7. doi: 10.1161/hh1301.093953. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 237.Schatteman GC, Hanlon HD, Jiao C, Dodds SG, Christy BA. Blood-derived angioblasts accelerate blood-flow restoration in diabetic mice. The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2000;106(4):571–578. doi: 10.1172/JCI9087. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 238.Ding H, Triggle CR. Endothelial cell dysfunction and the vascular complications associated with type 2 diabetes: assessing the health of the endothelium. Vascular Health and Risk Management. 2005;1(1):55–71. doi: 10.2147/vhrm.1.1.55.58939. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 239.Tamarat R, Silvestre JS, Le Ricousse-Roussanne S, et al. Impairment in ischemia-induced neovascularization in diabetes: bone marrow mononuclear cell dysfunction and therapeutic potential of placenta growth factor treatment. American Journal of Pathology. 2004;164(2):457–466. doi: 10.1016/S0002-9440(10)63136-7. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 240.Werner N, Kosiol S, Schiegl T, et al. Circulating endothelial progenitor cells and cardiovascular outcomes. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2005;353(10):999–1007. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa043814. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 241.Schmidt-Lucke C, Rössig L, Fichtlscherer S, et al. Reduced number of circulating endothelial progenitor cells predicts future cardiovascular events: proof of concept for the clinical importance of endogenous vascular repair. Circulation. 2005;111(22):2981–2987. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.104.504340. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 242.Imanishi T, Hano T, Sawamura T, Nishio I. Oxidized low-density lipoprotein induces endothelial progenitor cell senescence, leading to cellular dysfunction. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology. 2004;31(7):407–413. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1681.2004.04022.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 243.Kielczewski JL, Jarajapu YPR, McFarland EL, et al. Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 mediates vascular repair by enhancing nitric oxide generation. Circulation Research. 2009;105(9):897–905. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.109.199059. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 244.Feng XM, Zhou B, Chen Z, et al. Oxidized low density lipoprotein impairs endothelial progenitor cells by regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Journal of Lipid Research. 2006;47(6):1227–1237. doi: 10.1194/jlr.M500507-JLR200. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 245.Reinhard H, Karl Jacobsen P, Lajer M, et al. Multifactorial treatment increases endothelial progenitor cells in patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetologia. 2010;53(10):2129–2133. doi: 10.1007/s00125-010-1843-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 246.Sorrentino SA, Bahlmann FH, Besler C, et al. Oxidant stress impairs in vivo reendothelialization capacity of endothelial progenitor cells from patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: restoration by the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ agonist rosiglitazone. Circulation. 2007;116(2):163–173. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.106.684381. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 247.Thum T, Fraccarollo D, Schultheiss M, et al. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase uncoupling impairs endothelial progenitor cell mobilization and function in diabetes. Diabetes. 2007;56(3):666–674. doi: 10.2337/db06-0699. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 248.Rehman J, Li J, Orschell CM, March KL. Peripheral blood “endothelial progenitor cells” are derived from monocyte/macrophages and secrete angiogenic growth factors. Circulation. 2003;107(8):1164–1169. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.0000058702.69484.a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 249.Chen YH, Lin SJ, Lin FY, et al. High glucose impairs early and late endothelial progenitor cells by modifying nitric oxide-related but not oxidative stress-mediated mechanisms. Diabetes. 2007;56(6):1559–1568. doi: 10.2337/db06-1103. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 250.Ii M, Takenaka H, Asai J, et al. Endothelial progenitor thrombospondin-1 mediates diabetes-induced delay in reendothelialization following arterial injury. Circulation Research. 2006;98(5):697–704. doi: 10.1161/01.RES.0000209948.50943.ea. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 251.Kränkel N, Adams V, Linke A, et al. Hyperglycemia reduces survival and impairs function of circulating blood-derived progenitor cells. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2005;25(4):698–703. doi: 10.1161/01.ATV.0000156401.04325.8f. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 252.Hamano K, Nishida M, Hirata K, et al. Local implantation of autologous bone marrow cells for therapeutic angiogenesis in patients with ischemic heart disease—clinical trial and preliminary results. Japanese Circulation Journal. 2001;65(9):845–847. doi: 10.1253/jcj.65.845. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 253.Strauer BE, Brehm M, Zeus T, et al. Repair of infarcted myocardium by autologous intracoronary mononuclear bone marrow cell transplantation in humans. Circulation. 2002;106(15):1913–1918. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.0000034046.87607.1c. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 254.Wang X-R, Zhang M-W, Chen D-D, Zhang Y, Chen AF. AMP-activated protein kinase rescues the angiogenic functions of endothelial progenitor cells via manganese superoxide dismutase induction in type 1 diabetes. American Journal of Physiology. 2011;300(6):E1135–E1145. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00001.2011. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 255.Thom SR, Fisher D, Zhang J, et al. Stimulation of perivascular nitric oxide synthesis by oxygen. American Journal of Physiology. 2003;284(4):H1230–H1239. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.01043.2002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 256.Goldstein LJ, Gallagher KA, Bauer SM, et al. Endothelial progenitor cell release into circulation is triggered by hyperoxia-induced increases in bone marrow nitric oxide. Stem Cells. 2006;24(10):2309–2318. doi: 10.1634/stemcells.2006-0010. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 257.Gallagher KA, Liu ZJ, Xiao M, et al. Diabetic impairments in NO-mediated endothelial progenitor cell mobilization and homing are reversed by hyperoxia and SDF-1α . The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2007;117(5):1249–1259. doi: 10.1172/JCI29710. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 258.Kuhlmann CRW, Schaefer CA, Reinhold L, Tillmanns H, Erdogan A. Signalling mechanisms of SDF-induced endothelial cell proliferation and migration. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 2005;335(4):1107–1114. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.08.006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 259.Tan Y, Shao H, Eton D, et al. Stromal cell-derived factor-1 enhances pro-angiogenic effect of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor. Cardiovascular Research. 2007;73(4):823–832. doi: 10.1016/j.cardiores.2006.12.015. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 260.Desouza CV, Hamel FG, Bidasee K, O'Connell K. Role of inflammation and insulin resistance in endothelial progenitor cell dysfunction. Diabetes. 2011;60(4):1286–1294. doi: 10.2337/db10-0875. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 261.Asahara T, Murohara T, Sullivan A, et al. Isolation of putative progenitor endothelial cells for angiogenesis. Science. 1997;275(5302):964–967. doi: 10.1126/science.275.5302.964. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 262.Schatteman GC, Dunnwald M, Jiao C. Biology of bone marrow-derived endothelial cell precursors. American Journal of Physiology. 2007;292(1):H1–H18. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00662.2006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 263.Spring H, Schüler T, Arnold B, Hämmerling GJ, Ganss R. Chemokines direct endothelial progenitors into tumor neovessels. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2005;102(50):18111–18116. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0507158102. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 264.Brunner S, Schernthaner G-H, Satler M, et al. Correlation of different circulating endothelial progenitor cells to stages of diabetic retinopathy: first in vivo data. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. 2009;50(1):392–398. doi: 10.1167/iovs.08-1748. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 265.Kusuyama T, Omura T, Nishiya D, et al. Effects of treatment for diabetes mellitus on circulating vascular progenitor cells. Journal of Pharmacological Sciences. 2006;102(1):96–102. doi: 10.1254/jphs.fp0060256. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 266.Lee IG, Chae SL, Kim JC. Involvement of circulating endothelial progenitor cells and vasculogenic factors in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. Eye. 2006;20(5):546–552. doi: 10.1038/sj.eye.6701920. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 267.Calzi SL, Neu MB, Shaw LC, Kielczewski JL, Moldovan NI, Grant MB. EPCs and pathological angiogenesis: when good cells go bad. Microvascular Research. 2010;79(3):207–216. doi: 10.1016/j.mvr.2010.02.011. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 268.Lyden D, Hattori K, Dias S, et al. Impaired recruitment of bone-marrow-derived endothelial and hematopoietic precursor cells blocks tumor angiogenesis and growth. Nature Medicine. 2001;7(11):1194–1201. doi: 10.1038/nm1101-1194. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 269.Khakoo AY, Finkel T. Endothelial progenitor cells. Annual Review of Medicine. 2005;56:79–101. doi: 10.1146/annurev.med.56.090203.104149. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 270.Kopp HG, Ramos CA, Rafii S. Contribution of endothelial progenitors and proangiogenic hematopoietic cells to vascularization of tumor and ischemic tissue. Current Opinion in Hematology. 2006;13(3):175–181. doi: 10.1097/01.moh.0000219664.26528.da. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 271.Nyengaard JR, Rasch R. The impact of experimental diabetes mellitus in rats on glomerular capillary number and sizes. Diabetologia. 1993;36(3):189–194. doi: 10.1007/BF00399948. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 272.Babaei S, Teichert-Kuliszewska K, Monge JC, Mohamed F, Bendeck MP, Stewart DJ. Role of nitric oxide in the angiogenic response in vitro to basic fibroblast growth factor. Circulation Research. 1998;82(9):1007–1015. doi: 10.1161/01.res.82.9.1007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 273.Papapetropoulos A, Desai KM, Rudic RD, et al. Nitric oxide synthase inhibitors attenuate transforming-growth-factor- β1-stimulated capillary organization in vitro. American Journal of Pathology. 1997;150(5):1835–1844. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 274.Simons M. Angiogenesis, arteriogenesis, and diabetes: paradigm reassessed? Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2005;46(5):835–837. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2005.06.008. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 275.Takeuchi K, Takehara K, Tajima K, Kato S, Hirata T. Impaired healing of gastric lesions in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats: effect of basic fibroblast growth factor. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 1997;281(1):200–207. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 276.Wong AL, Haroon ZA, Werner S, Dewhirst MW, Greenberg CS, Peters KG. Tie2 expression and phosphorylation in angiogenic and quiescent adult tissues. Circulation Research. 1997;81(4):567–574. doi: 10.1161/01.res.81.4.567. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 277.Tanii M, Yonemitsu Y, Fujii T, et al. Diabetic microangiopathy in ischemic limb is a disease of disturbance of the platelet-derived growth factor-BB/protein kinase C axis but not of impaired expression of angiogenic factors. Circulation Research. 2006;98(1):55–62. doi: 10.1161/01.RES.0000197842.38758.45. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 278.Delamaire M, Maugendre D, Moreno M, Le Goff MC, Allannic H, Genetet B. Impaired leucocyte functions in diabetic patients. Diabetic Medicine. 1997;14(1):29–34. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1096-9136(199701)14:1<29::AID-DIA300>3.0.CO;2-V. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 279.Mowat A, Baum J. Chemotaxis of polymorphonuclear leukocytes from patients with diabetes mellitus. The New England Journal of Medicine. 1971;284(12):621–627. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197103252841201. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 280.Bagdade JD, Stewart M, Walters E. Impaired granulocyte adherence. A reversible defect in host defense in patients with poorly controlled diabetes. Diabetes. 1978;27(6):677–681. doi: 10.2337/diab.27.6.677. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 281.Tan AS, Ahmed N, Berridge MV. Acute regulation of glucose transport after activation of human peripheral blood neutrophils by phorbol myristate acetate, fMLP, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Blood. 1998;91(2):649–655. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 282.Marhoffer W, Stein M, Maeser E, Federlin K. Impairment of polymorphonuclear leukocyte function and metabolic control of diabetes. Diabetes Care. 1992;15(2):256–260. doi: 10.2337/diacare.15.2.256. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 283.Katz S, Klein B, Elian I. Phagocytotic activity of monocytes from diabetic patients. Diabetes Care. 1983;6(5):479–482. doi: 10.2337/diacare.6.5.479. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 284.Yan J, Tie G, Park B, Yan Y, Nowicki PT, Messina LM. Recovery from hind limb ischemia is less effective in type 2 than in type 1 diabetic mice: roles of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and endothelial progenitor cells. Journal of Vascular Surgery. 2009;50(6):1412–1422. doi: 10.1016/j.jvs.2009.08.007. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 285.Reiber GE, Smith DG, Vileikyte L, et al. Causal pathways for incident lower-extremity ulcers in patients with diabetes from two settings. Diabetes Care. 1999;22(1):157–162. doi: 10.2337/diacare.22.1.157. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 286.McNeely MJ, Boyko EJ, Ahroni JH, et al. The independent contributions of diabetic neuropathy and vasculopathy in foot ulceration: how great are the risks? Diabetes Care. 1995;18(2):216–219. doi: 10.2337/diacare.18.2.216. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 287.Loots MAM, Lamme EN, Zeegelaar J, Mekkes JR, Bos JD, Middelkoop E. Differences in cellular infiltrate and extracellular matrix of chronic diabetic and venous ulcers versus acute wounds. Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 1998;111(5):850–857. doi: 10.1046/j.1523-1747.1998.00381.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 288.Tie L, Li XJ, Wang X, Channon KM, Chen AF. Endothelium-specific GTP cyclohydrolase I overexpression accelerates refractory wound healing by suppressing oxidative stress in diabetes. American Journal of Physiology. 2009;296(6):E1423–E1429. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00150.2009. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 289.Efron DT, Most D, Barbul A. Role of nitric oxide in wound healing. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care. 2000;3(3):197–204. doi: 10.1097/00075197-200005000-00006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 290.Frank S, Stallmeyer B, Kämpfer H, Kolb N, Pfeilschifter J. Nitric oxide triggers enhanced induction of vascular endothelial growth factor expression in cultured keratinocytes (HaCaT) and during cutaneous wound repair. The FASEB Journal. 1999;13(14):2002–2014. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 291.Galiano RD, Tepper OM, Pelo CR, et al. Topical vascular endothelial growth factor accelerates diabetic wound healing through increased angiogenesis and by mobilizing and recruiting bone marrow-derived cells. American Journal of Pathology. 2004;164(6):1935–1947. doi: 10.1016/S0002-9440(10)63754-6. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 292.Lobmann R, Ambrosch A, Schultz G, Waldmann K, Schiweck S, Lehnert H. Expression of matrix-metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in the wounds of diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Diabetologia. 2002;45(7):1011–1016. doi: 10.1007/s00125-002-0868-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 293.Maruyama K, Asai J, Ii M, Thorne T, Losordo DW, D’Amore PA. Decreased macrophage number and activation lead to reduced lymphatic vessel formation and contribute to impaired diabetic wound healing. American Journal of Pathology. 2007;170(4):1178–1191. doi: 10.2353/ajpath.2007.060018. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 294.Bessman AN, Sapico FL. Infections in the diabetic patient: the role of immune dysfunction and pathogen virulence factors. Journal of Diabetes and Its Complications. 1992;6(4):258–262. doi: 10.1016/1056-8727(92)90062-p. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 295.Nolan CM, Beaty HN, Bagdade JD. Further characterization of the impaired bactericidal function of granulocytes in patients with poorly controlled diabetes. Diabetes. 1978;27(9):889–894. doi: 10.2337/diab.27.9.889. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 296.Fang Y, Shen J, Yao M, Beagley KW, Hambly BD, Bao S. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor enhances wound healing in diabetes via upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines. British Journal of Dermatology. 2010;162(3):478–486. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2009.09528.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 297.Marston WA, Hanft J, Norwood P, Pollak R. The efficacy and safety of Dermagraft in improving the healing of chronic diabetic foot ulcers: results of a prospective randomized trial. Diabetes Care. 2003;26(6):1701–1705. doi: 10.2337/diacare.26.6.1701. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 298.Smiell JM. Clinical safety of becaplermin (rhPDGF-BB) gel. American Journal of Surgery. 1998;176(2):68S–73S. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9610(98)00174-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 299.Duh E, Aiello LP. Vascular endothelial growth factor and diabetes: the agonist versus antagonist paradox. Diabetes. 1999;48(10):1899–1906. doi: 10.2337/diabetes.48.10.1899. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 300.Aiello LP, Wong JS. Role of vascular endothelial growth factor in diabetic vascular complications. Kidney International, Supplement. 2000;58(77):S113–S119. doi: 10.1046/j.1523-1755.2000.07718.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 301.Williams B. A potential role angiotensin II-induced vascular endothelial growth factor expression in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy? Mineral and Electrolyte Metabolism. 1998;24(6):400–405. doi: 10.1159/000057401. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 302.Simon M, Grone HJ, Johren O, et al. Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors in human renal ontogenesis and in adult kidney. American Journal of Physiology. 1995;268(2):F240–F250. doi: 10.1152/ajprenal.1995.268.2.F240. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 303.Schultz GS, Grant MB. Neovascular growth factors. Eye. 1991;5, part 2:170–180. doi: 10.1038/eye.1991.31. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 304.Lu M, Kuroki M, Amano S, et al. Advanced glycation end products increase retinal vascular endothelial growth factor expression. The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 1998;101(6):1219–1224. doi: 10.1172/JCI1277. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 305.Joussen AM, Poulaki V, Mitsiades N, et al. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs prevent early diabetic retinopathy via TNF-alpha suppression. The FASEB Journal. 2002;16(3):438–440. doi: 10.1096/fj.01-0707fje. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 306.Limb GA, Chignell AH, Green W, LeRoy F, Dumonde DC. Distribution of TNFα and its reactive vascular adhesion molecules in fibrovascular membranes of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. British Journal of Ophthalmology. 1996;80(2):168–173. doi: 10.1136/bjo.80.2.168. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 307.Adamiec-Mroczek J, Oficjalska-Młyńczak J. Assessment of selected adhesion molecule and proinflammatory cytokine levels in the vitreous body of patients with type 2 diabetes—role of the inflammatory-immune process in the pathogenesis of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Graefe’s Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology. 2008;246(12):1665–1670. doi: 10.1007/s00417-008-0868-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 308.Meleth AD, Agrón E, Chan C-C, et al. Serum inflammatory markers in diabetic retinopathy. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. 2005;46(11):4295–4301. doi: 10.1167/iovs.04-1057. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 309.Murugeswari P, Shukla D, Rajendran A, Kim R, Namperumalsamy P, Muthukkaruppan V. Proinflammatory cytokines and angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors in vitreous of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy and eales’ disease. Retina. 2008;28(6):817–824. doi: 10.1097/IAE.0b013e31816576d5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 310.Barreiro O, Martín P, González-Amaro R, Sánchez-Madrid F. Molecular cues guiding inflammatory responses. Cardiovascular Research. 2010;86(2):174–182. doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvq001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 311.McLeod DS, Lefer DJ, Merges C, Lutty GA. Enhanced expression of intracellular adhesion molecule-1 and P-selectin in the diabetic human retina and choroid. American Journal of Pathology. 1995;147(3):642–653. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 312.Tomanek RJ, Schatteman GC. Angiogenesis: new insights and therapeutic potential. Anatomical Record. 2000;261(3):126–135. doi: 10.1002/1097-0185(20000615)261:3<126::AID-AR7>3.0.CO;2-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 313.Avraamides CJ, Garmy-Susini B, Varner JA. Integrins in angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. Nature Reviews Cancer. 2008;8(8):604–617. doi: 10.1038/nrc2353. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 314.Casaroli Marano RP, Preissner KT, Vilaró S. Fibronectin, laminin, vitronectin and their receptors at newly-formed capillaries in proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Experimental Eye Research. 1995;60(1):5–17. doi: 10.1016/s0014-4835(05)80079-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 315.Hammes HP, Brownlee M, Jonczyk A, Sutter A, Preissner KT. Subcutaneous injection of a cyclic peptide antagonist of vitronectin receptor-type integrins inhibits retinal neovascularization. Nature Medicine. 1996;2:529–533. doi: 10.1038/nm0596-529. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 316.Preissner KT, Kanse SM, Hammes H-P. Integrin chatter and vascular function in diabetic retinopathy. Hormone and Metabolic Research. 1997;29(12):643–645. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-979118. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 317.Dandona P, Aljada A. Endothelial dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes and the effects of thiazolidinedione antidiabetic agents. Journal of Diabetes and Its Complications. 2004;18(2):91–102. doi: 10.1016/S1056-8727(02)00259-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 318.Hadi HAR, Al Suwaidi JA. Endothelial dysfunction in diabetes mellitus. Vascular Health and Risk Management. 2007;3(6):853–876. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 319.Cooke JP. Therapeutic interventions in endothelial dysfunction: endothelium as a target organ. Clinical Cardiology. 1997;20(12):II45–II51. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 320.Mather K, Verma S, Anderson T. Improved endothelial function with metformin in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2001;37(5):1344–1350. doi: 10.1016/s0735-1097(01)01129-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 321.Ceriello A, Taboga C, Tonutti L, et al. Evidence for an independent and cumulative effect of postprandial hypertriglyceridemia and hyperglycemia on endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress generation: effects of short- and long-term simvastatin treatment. Circulation. 2002;106(10):1211–1218. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.0000027569.76671.a8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 322.Cheetham C, Collis J, O’Driscoll G, Stanton K, Taylor R, Green D. Losartan, an angiotensin type 1 receptor antagonist, improves endothelial function in non-insulin-dependent diabetes. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2000;36(5):1461–1466. doi: 10.1016/s0735-1097(00)00933-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 323.Heitzer T, Krohn K, Albers S, Meinertz T. Tetrahydrobiopterin improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation by increasing nitric oxide activity in patients with Type II diabetes mellitus. Diabetologia. 2000;43(11):1435–1438. doi: 10.1007/s001250051551. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 324.Vehkavaara S, Yki-Järvinen H. 3.5 years of insulin therapy with insulin glargine improves in vivo endothelial function in type 2 diabetes. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2004;24(2):325–330. doi: 10.1161/01.ATV.0000113817.48983.c5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 325.Fegan PG, Shore AC, Mawson D, Tooke JE, MacLeod KM. Microvascular endothelial function in subjects with type 2 diabetes and the effect of lipid-lowering therapy. Diabetic Medicine. 2005;22(12):1670–1676. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2005.01719.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 326.Littarru GP, Tiano L, Belardinelli R, Watts GF. Coenzyme Q(10), endothelial function, and cardiovascular disease. BioFactors. 2011;37(5):366–373. doi: 10.1002/biof.154. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 327.Nyström T, Gutniak MK, Zhang Q, et al. Effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 on endothelial function in type 2 diabetes patients with stable coronary artery disease. American Journal of Physiology. 2004;287(6):E1209–E1215. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00237.2004. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 328.Rask-Madsen C, Ihlemann N, Krarup T, et al. Insulin therapy improves insulin-stimulated endothelial function in patients with type 2 diabetes and ischemic heart disease. Diabetes. 2001;50(7–12):2611–2618. doi: 10.2337/diabetes.50.11.2611. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 329.Diederich D, Skopec J, Diederich A, Dai FX. Endothelial dysfunction in mesenteric resistance arteries of diabetic rats: role of free radicals. American Journal of Physiology. 1994;266(3):H1153–H1161. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.1994.266.3.H1153. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 330.Taylor PD, Poston L. The effect of hyperglycaemia on function of rat isolated mesenteric resistance artery. British Journal of Pharmacology. 1994;113(3):801–808. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1994.tb17064.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 331.Collins R, Armitage J, Parish S, Sleight P, Peto R. MRC/BHF Heart Protection Study of antioxidant vitamin supplementation in 20 536 high-risk individuals: a randomised placebo-controlled trial. The Lancet. 2002;360(9326):23–33. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(02)09328-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 332.Huang HY, Caballero B, Chang S, et al. The efficacy and safety of multivitamin and mineral supplement use to prevent cancer and chronic disease in adults: a systematic review for a National Institutes of Health state-of-the-science conference. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2006;145(5):372–385. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-145-5-200609050-00135. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 333.Timimi FK, Ting HH, Haley EA, Roddy MA, Ganz P, Creager MA. Vitamin C improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 1998;31(3):552–557. doi: 10.1016/s0735-1097(97)00536-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 334.Koo JR, Ni Z, Oviesi F, Vaziri ND. Antioxidant therapy potentiates antihypertensive action of insulin in diabetic rats. Clinical and Experimental Hypertension. 2002;24(5):333–344. doi: 10.1081/ceh-120004795. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 335.Beckman JA, Goldfine AB, Gordon MB, Garrett LA, Keaney JF, Creager MA. Oral antioxidant therapy improves endothelial function in Type 1 but not Type 2 diabetes mellitus. American Journal of Physiology. 2003;285(6):H2392–H2398. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00403.2003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 336.Milman U, Blum S, Shapira C, et al. Vitamin E supplementation reduces cardiovascular events in a subgroup of middle-aged individuals with both type 2 diabetes mellitus and the haptoglobin 2-2 genotype: a prospective double-blinded clinical trial. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2008;28(2):341–347. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.107.153965. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 337.Hundal RS, Krssak M, Dufour S, et al. Mechanism by which metformin reduces glucose production in type 2 diabetes. Diabetes. 2000;49(12):2063–2069. doi: 10.2337/diabetes.49.12.2063. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 338.Kim YD, Park KG, Lee YS, et al. Metformin inhibits hepatic gluconeogenesis through AMP-activated protein kinase-dependent regulation of the orphan nuclear receptor SHP. Diabetes. 2008;57(2):306–314. doi: 10.2337/db07-0381. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 339.Giannarelli R, Aragona M, Coppelli A, Del Prato S. Reducing insulin resistance with metformin: the evidence today. Diabetes and Metabolism. 2003;29(4):6S28–6S35. doi: 10.1016/s1262-3636(03)72785-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 340.Tiikkainen M, Häkkinen A-M, Korsheninnikova E, Nyman T, Mäkimattila S, Yki-Järvinen H. Effects of rosiglitazone and metformin on liver fat content, hepatic insulin resistance, insulin clearance, and gene expression in adipose tissue in patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes. 2004;53(8):2169–2176. doi: 10.2337/diabetes.53.8.2169. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 341.De Jager J, Kooy A, Lehert P, et al. Effects of short-term treatment with metformin on markers of endothelial function and inflammatory activity in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Internal Medicine. 2005;257(1):100–109. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2796.2004.01420.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 342.Vitale C, Mercuro G, Cornoldi A, Fini M, Volterrani M, Rosano GMC. Metformin improves endothelial function in patients with metabolic syndrome. Journal of Internal Medicine. 2005;258(3):250–256. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2796.2005.01531.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 343.de Aguiar LGK, Bahia LR, Villela N, et al. Metformin improves endothelial vascular reactivity in first-degree relatives of type 2 diabetic patients with metabolic syndrome and normal glucose tolerance. Diabetes Care. 2006;29(5):1083–1089. doi: 10.2337/diacare.2951083. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 344.Natali A, Baldeweg S, Toschi E, et al. Vascular effects of improving metabolic control with metformin or rosiglitazone in type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2004;27(6):1349–1357. doi: 10.2337/diacare.27.6.1349. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 345.Turner RC, Cull CA, Frighi V, Holman RR. Glycemic control with diet, sulfonylurea, metformin, or insulin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Progressive requirement for multiple therapies (UKPDS 49) JAMA. 1999;281(21):2005–2012. doi: 10.1001/jama.281.21.2005. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 346.Towler MC, Hardie DG. AMP-activated protein kinase in metabolic control and insulin signaling. Circulation Research. 2007;100(3):328–341. doi: 10.1161/01.RES.0000256090.42690.05. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 347.Zhou G, Myers R, Li Y, et al. Role of AMP-activated protein kinase in mechanism of metformin action. The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2001;108(8):1167–1174. doi: 10.1172/JCI13505. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 348.Hardie DG. Ampk and raptor: matching cell growth to energy supply. Molecular Cell. 2008;30(3):263–265. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2008.04.012. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 349.Schulz E, Anter E, Zou MH, Keaney JF. Estradiol-mediated endothelial nitric oxide synthase association with heat shock protein 90 requires adenosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase. Circulation. 2005;111(25):3473–3480. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.105.546812. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 350.Davis BJ, Xie Z, Viollet B, Zou MH. Activation of the AMP-activated kinase by antidiabetes drug metformin stimulates nitric oxide synthesis in vivo by promoting the association of heat shock protein 90 and endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Diabetes. 2006;55(2):496–505. doi: 10.2337/diabetes.55.02.06.db05-1064. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 351.Gonon AT, Widegren U, Bulhak A, et al. Adiponectin protects against myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion injury via AMP-activated protein kinase, Akt, and nitric oxide. Cardiovascular Research. 2008;78(1):116–122. doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvn017. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 352.Gamboa A, Abraham R, Diedrich A, et al. Role of adenosine and nitric oxide on the mechanisms of action of dipyridamole. Stroke. 2005;36(10):2170–2175. doi: 10.1161/01.STR.0000179044.37760.9d. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 353.Gamboa A, Ertl AC, Costa F, et al. Blockade of nucleoside transport is required for delivery of intraarterial adenosine into the interstitium: relevance to therapeutic preconditioning in humans. Circulation. 2003;108(21):2631–2635. doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000101927.70100.41. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 354.De La Cruz JP, Moreno A, Muñoz M, Campos JMG, De La Cuesta FS. Effect of aspirin plus dipyridamole on the retinal vascular pattern in experimental diabetes mellitus. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 1997;280(1):454–459. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 355.Vallon V, Osswald H. Dipyridamole prevents diabetes-induced alterations of kidney function in rats. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Archives of Pharmacology. 1994;349(2):217–222. doi: 10.1007/BF00169840. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 356.Picano E, Michelassi C. Chronic oral dipyridamole as a ’novel’ antianginal drug: the collateral hypothesis. Cardiovascular Research. 1997;33(3):666–670. doi: 10.1016/s0008-6363(96)00262-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 357.Symons JD, Firoozmand E, Longhurst JC. Repeated dipyridamole administration enhances collateral-dependent flow and regional function during exercise: a role for adenosine. Circulation Research. 1993;73(3):503–513. doi: 10.1161/01.res.73.3.503. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 358.Farinelli SE, Greene LA, Friedman WJ. Neuroprotective actions of dipyridamole on cultured CNS neurons. Journal of Neuroscience. 1998;18(14):5112–5123. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.18-14-05112.1998. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 359.FitzGerald GA. Drug therapy: dipyridamole. The New England Journal of Medicine. 1987;316(20):1247–1257. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198705143162005. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 360.Picano E, Abbracchio MP. European stroke prevention study-2 results: serendipitous demonstration of neuroprotection induced by endogenous adenosine accumulation? Trends in Pharmacological Sciences. 1998;19(1):14–16. doi: 10.1016/s0165-6147(97)01148-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 361.Siesjö BK, Agardh CD, Bengtsson F. Free radicals and brain damage. Cerebrovascular and brain metabolism reviews. 1989;1(3):165–211. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 362.Iuliano L, Colavita AR, Camastra C, et al. Protection of low density lipoprotein oxidation at chemical and cellular level by the antioxidant drug dipyridamole. British Journal of Pharmacology. 1996;119(7):1438–1446. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1996.tb16056.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 363.Pedulli GF, Lucarini M, Marchesi E, et al. Medium effects on the antioxidant activity of dipyridamole. Free Radical Biology and Medicine. 1999;26(3-4):295–302. doi: 10.1016/s0891-5849(98)00191-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 364.Venkatesh PK, Pattillo CB, Branch B, et al. Dipyridamole enhances ischaemia-induced arteriogenesis through an endocrine nitrite/nitric oxide-dependent pathway. Cardiovascular Research. 2010;85(4):661–670. doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvq002. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 365.Iuliano L, Pedersen JZ, Rotilio G, Ferro D, Violi F. A potent chain-breaking antioxidant activity of the cardiovascular drug dipyridamole. Free Radical Biology and Medicine. 1995;18(2):239–247. doi: 10.1016/0891-5849(94)e0123-z. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 366.Kusmic C, Petersen C, Picano E, et al. Antioxidant effect of oral dipyridamole during cerebral hypoperfusion with human carotid endarterectomy. Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology. 2000;36(2):141–145. doi: 10.1097/00005344-200008000-00001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 367.García-Fuentes E, Gil-Villarino A, Zafra MF, García-Peregrín E. Dipyridamole prevents the coconut oil-induced hypercholesterolemia: a study on lipid plasma and lipoprotein composition. International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology. 2002;34(3):269–278. doi: 10.1016/s1357-2725(01)00120-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 368.Pattillo CB, Bir SC, Branch BG, et al. Dipyridamole reverses peripheral ischemia and induces angiogenesis in the Db/Db diabetic mouse hind-limb model by decreasing oxidative stress. Free Radical Biology and Medicine. 2010;50(2):262–269. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2010.10.714. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 369.Araujo LI, McFalls EO, Lammertsma AA, Jones T, Maseri A. Dipyridamole-induced increased glucose uptake in patients with single-vessel coronary artery disease assessed with PET. Journal of Nuclear Cardiology. 2001;8(3):339–346. doi: 10.1067/mnc.2001.113615. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 370.McConell GK, Wadley GD. Potential role of nitric oxide in contraction-stimulated glucose uptake and mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscle. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology. 2008;35(12):1488–1492. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1681.2008.05038.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 371.Tousoulis D, Tsarpalis K, Cokkinos D, Stefanadis C. Effects of insulin resistance on endothelial function: possible mechanisms and clinical implications. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. 2008;10(10):834–842. doi: 10.1111/j.1463-1326.2007.00818.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from International Journal of Vascular Medicine are provided here courtesy of Wiley

RESOURCES