The Role of Nitric Oxide in Heart Failure

Nitric oxide (NO) is one of the most remarkable biological molecules characterized at the turn of XX century. Small in size, but ubiquitous and complex in its network of molecular, cellular and organ inter- tions, NO plays an important role in mammalian and non-mammalian biology. The scope and versatility of NO actions on the biological systems range from neuromodulation and regulation of cardiovascular homeostasis to cell signaling and immunity. An impressive array of physiologic and pathologic reactions are controlled by or associated with changes in the biological specter of NO. The “career” of NO in science started from a handful of publications written before 1986 to more than 52,000 contributions at the end of 2002 (Pubmed, National Library of Medicine). More than 15,000 publications deal with the effects of NO in the cardiovascular system. The NO field has been recently knighted with the 1998 Nobel Prize in Medicine awarded to R.F. Furchgott, F. Murad and L.J. Ignarro. Table of Contents......Page 8 Foreword......Page 10 Preface......Page 12 Acknowledgements......Page 14 Part I. NO and Pathophysiology of Heart Failure......Page 16 Nitric Oxide in Heart Failure: Friend or Foe......Page 18 NO and the Vasculature: Where Does It Come from and What Does It Do?......Page 24 Myocardial Contractile Effects of Nitric Oxide......Page 48 Nitric Oxide, Platelet Function, Myocardial Infarction and Reperfusion Therapies......Page 62 Nitric Oxide, Atherosclerosis and the Clinical Relevance of Endothelial Dysfunction......Page 70 Regulation of Cardiac Remodeling by Nitric Oxide: Focus on Cardiac Myocyte Hypertrophy and Apoptosis......Page 86 Role of Nitric Oxide in the Pathophysiology of Heart Failure......Page 96 Nitric Oxide, Cell Death, and Heart Failure......Page 108 Acute and Chronic Endothelial Dysfunction: Implications for the Development of Heart Failure......Page 116 The Role of NOS in Heart Failure: Lessons from Murine Genetic Models......Page 128 Part II. NO and Cardiovascular Therapeutics......Page 144 Nitric Oxide and Cardiovascular Protection......Page 146 Angiotensin II and Nitric Oxide Interaction......Page 152 The Nitric Oxide-Endothelin-1 Connection......Page 164 The Therapeutic Effect of Natriuretic Peptides in Heart Failure; Differential Regulation of Endothelial and Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthases......Page 174 Mechanisms Underlying Nitrate-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction: Insight from Experimental and Clinical Studies......Page 190 Statins and the Role of Nitric Oxide in Chronic Heart Failure......Page 202 Role of Nitric Oxide in Matrix Remodeling in Diabetes and Heart Failure......Page 210 Peroxynitrite in Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury......Page 216 The Role of the NO Axis and its Therapeutic Implications in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension......Page 228 Nitric Oxide and Cardioprotection During Ischemia-Reperfusion......Page 246 E......Page 262 K......Page 263 N......Page 264 S......Page 265 Z......Page 266

This first volume is a compilation of a series of comprehensive review articles on selected topics that were published in the Journal of Heart Failure Reviews. The 20 excellent articles were contributed by some of the leading basic and clinician scientists in the field. The articles are well balanced and address clinically pertinent issues. The book should serve as an excellent reference source for basic science and medical students, medical residents and postdoctoral fellows, pharmacologists, physicians, cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, endocrinologists, nephrologists, and neurologists. It is our hope that the book will become a companion for cardiovascular researchers and scientists working in the field of NO, the role of NO in cardiovascular pathophysiology, and the development of NO-related targets for cardiovascular therapeutics.

Research on nitric oxide (NO) is a very hot topic since 1998, when three prominent researchers were recognized by Nobel prize awards. Addresses clinically pertinent issues related to nitric oxide in the pathophysiology and therapeutics of heart failure. Chapters written by basic scientists and clinicians to emphasize translation character of research in nitric oxide. An excellent reference source for researchers, practitioners and students. A compilation of a series of comprehensive review articles - addressing clinically pertinent issues - that were published in the "Journal of Heart Failure Reviews". This book is useful for basic science and medical students, medical residents and postdoctoral fellows, pharmacologists, physicians, cardiologists, and cardiovascular surgeons. Nearly 135 years have elapsed since the Scottish physician, Sir Lauder Brunton, first proposed amyl nitrate for the relief of angina pectoris in 1867 [1].