Maintenance of vascular integrity: Role of nitric oxide and other bradykinin mediators

In the blood-vessel wall, the endothelium plays a key functional role by generating several substances that modulate vascular smooth muscle tone, as well as growth, and platelet function. This review focuses on the role of the endothelial L-arginine/nitric oxide signal transduction pathway in the maintenance of vascular integrity. Functional alterations of this pathway may be important in cardiovascular disease, because depressed activity of this protective mechanism leads to impaired relaxation and is also associated with reduced antithrombotic properties of the endothelial layer. Many of the beneficial effects of ACE inhibitor therapy may be mediated through their ability to enhance the physiological roles of nitric oxide.