Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK.
Heart. 2010 Dec;96(23):1872-7. doi: 10.1136/hrt.2009.180430. Epub 2010 Sep 13.
Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) functions as a cofactor in several important enzyme systems. Substantial evidence implicates BH4 as a key regulator of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in the setting of endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. Investigators have now taken early steps in addressing the potential of BH4 as a therapeutic strategy. However, it has become more apparent that the role of BH4 in other enzymatic pathways, including other NOS isoforms and the aromatic amino acid hydroxylases, may have a bearing on important aspects of cardiovascular homeostasis. Together with eNOS, these enzymes may play key roles in diverse cardiovascular disease states such as ischaemia-reperfusion injury, cardiac hypertrophy, cardiac autonomic function and pulmonary hypertension. This review provides an overview of the role of BH4 in cardiovascular pathophysiology.
四氢生物蝶呤（BH4）作为几种重要酶系统的辅助因子发挥作用。大量证据表明，BH4 是内皮功能障碍和动脉粥样硬化中内皮型一氧化氮合酶（eNOS）的关键调节剂。研究人员现在已经在探索 BH4 作为一种治疗策略的潜力方面迈出了早期的步伐。然而，越来越明显的是，BH4 在其他酶促途径中的作用，包括其他 NOS 同工型和芳香族氨基酸羟化酶，可能对心血管稳态的重要方面有影响。这些酶与 eNOS 一起，可能在多种心血管疾病状态中发挥关键作用，如缺血再灌注损伤、心肌肥厚、心脏自主功能和肺动脉高压。这篇综述概述了 BH4 在心血管病理生理学中的作用。
