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Fig. 2 | Lipids in Health and Disease

Fig. 2

From: Docosahexaenoic acid regulates vascular endothelial cell function and prevents cardiovascular disease

Fig. 2

A possible mechanism of nitric oxide production in endothelial cells. Nitric oxide is released through enzymatic conversion of L-arginine by eNOS. eNOS transcription is induced by growth factors and hormones, whereas eNOS enzyme activity requires calcium, calmodulin, NADPH and BH4. The activity of eNOS is regulated by complex formation with these proteins in microdomains of endothelial cells. The L-arginine metabolite, ADMA, reduces production of nitric oxide by competitive binding to eNOS. Abbreviations: R, receptor; HSP, heat shock protein; NE; 5-HT, serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine); ET-1, endothelin-1; CaM, calmodulin; NADPH, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate; BH4, 5,6,7,8-tetra-hydrobiopterine; NO, nitric oxide; eNOS, nitric oxide synthase

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Lipids in Health and Disease

ISSN: 1476-511X