Mombouli J V, Vanhoutte P M
Center for Experimental Therapeutics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
Trends Pharmacol Sci. 1997 Jul;18(7):252-6.
Endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization of vascular smooth muscle is a mechanism that contributes to the vasodilator response to shear stress and chemicals acting on endothelial receptors. The phenomenon is explained by the release from endothelial cells, of an endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor(s) (EDHF) (s), although its (their) exact nature is still controversial. Indeed, endothelial cells produce several substances that are capable of evoking hyperpolarization in vascular smooth muscle. However, which of these factors represents EDHF under physiological conditions remains unknown. The term EDHF should be reserved for a substance(s) that differs from both NO and prostaglandins. In this review Jean-Vivien Mombouli and Paul M. Vanhoutte consider the possible candidates for EDHF and the arguments that have lead to the proposal that these substances fulfil the functions of an endothelium-derived relaxing agent. The weaknesses of the available sudies are also discussed. The identification of EDHF would allow the understanding of its physiological role alongside other known endothelial mediators such as NO and prostacyclin. This could lead to the design of new therapies aimed at correcting the impairment of EDHF-mediated dilatation in a number of cardiovascular diseases.
血管平滑肌的内皮依赖性超极化是一种促成血管舒张反应以应对剪切应力和作用于内皮受体的化学物质的机制。这种现象可以通过内皮细胞释放一种或多种内皮源性超极化因子（EDHF）来解释，尽管其确切性质仍存在争议。实际上，内皮细胞会产生几种能够引起血管平滑肌超极化的物质。然而，在生理条件下这些因素中哪一个代表EDHF仍然未知。术语EDHF应保留用于与一氧化氮（NO）和前列腺素都不同的一种或多种物质。在这篇综述中，让 - 维维安·蒙布利和保罗·M·万霍特考虑了EDHF的可能候选物以及导致提出这些物质履行内皮源性舒张剂功能的论据。还讨论了现有研究的不足之处。鉴定出EDHF将有助于理解其与其他已知的内皮介质（如NO和前列环素）一起的生理作用。这可能会导致设计出新的疗法，旨在纠正多种心血管疾病中EDHF介导的扩张功能受损的情况。
