Molecular control of blood flow and angiogenesis: role of nitric oxide.

In the past decade, the importance of the vascular endothelium as a multifunctional regulator of vascular smooth muscle physiology and pathophysiology has been appreciated. Indeed, the endothelium responds to hemodynamic stimuli (pressure, shear stress and wall strain) and locally manufactured mediators (such as bradykinin, prostaglandins, angiotensin II and nitric oxide) that can influence blood flow, cell trafficking into tissue and angiogenesis. In this chapter, the importance of nitric oxide (NO) as a mediator of blood flow control, vascular permeability and angiogenesis will be discussed.