In cardiovascular diseases (CVD) such as hypertension, atherosclerosis and chronic heart failure, endothelial dysfunction correlates with and can even predict long-term disease progression and outcome [1]. Endothelial dysfunction is defined as the impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxation. Whilst a number of factors contribute to endothelial dysfunction, compromised nitric oxide-cyclic GMP (NO-cGMP) signalling is a hallmark of this condition. Indeed, loss of vasodilatory and anti-platelet effects of NO may result in CVD initiation and progression. There is increasing evidence that pathophysiological production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) interferes with NO-cGMP signalling and may play a significant role in the development of endothelial dysfunction. At least three underlying mechanisms have been proposed (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1
figure 1

The NO-sGC signalling pathway and potential drug targets under physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Under physiological conditions (A), NO, synthesised by NOS from l-arginine, activates soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) leading to the formation of cGMP and downstream effector mechanisms. sGC stimulators enhance the sensitivity of sGC to low levels of bioavailable NO. Under pathological condition (B) such as oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species, e.g. superoxide (O −2 ) most likely derived from NADPH oxidases (NOX), affect the NO-sGC system by three mechanisms: Superoxide scavenges NO; superoxide induces eNOS uncoupling, reducing NO production and enhanced superoxide production; superoxide oxidises the NO receptor, sGC, rendering it unresponsive to NO activation. Potential therapeutic strategies to diminish oxidative stress include the application of NADPH oxidase inhibitors, eNOS recoupler such as BH4 or eNOS enhancer (AVE 9488), and sGC stimulators of reduced (Fe2+) or sGC activators of the oxidised (Fe3+) and haem-free (apo-) sGC

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Firstly, ROS directly reduce the bioavailability of NO by chemical scavenging. NO reacts with excess superoxide, forming peroxynitrite (ONOO−) [2]. Secondly, ROS indirectly affect NO bioavailability by uncoupling endothelial NO synthase (eNOS). Mechanistically, this involves oxidation of the essential NOS redox-sensitive cofactor tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4, see below) by ROS [1], which subsequently uncouples eNOS, which then produces superoxide instead of NO [3]. Thirdly, ROS alter both the expression and activity of the NO receptor, soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC). This mechanism involves oxidation of the sGC haem and subsequent haem loss [4, 5], ubiquitination of the empty haem pocket [6] and proteasomal degradation [7].

Several enzymes are capable of initiating this scenario, including xanthine oxidase, cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase, uncoupled eNOS, cytochrome p450 and the mitochondrial electron chain. However, NADPH oxidases stand out as the major source of ROS as they are the only known enzyme family solely dedicated to ROS production. All other known enzymes produce ROS as a by-product or as a consequence of a biochemical “accident”. Importantly, of all known ROS targets, NOS and sGC show the clearest clinical relevance, as demonstrated by several ongoing drug development programmes in different clinical stages or even existing drugs in clinical practise. This brief review will therefore focus on the NADPH oxidase-NOS-governed fine balance of radicals. For further information into other sources of ROS, we refer the reader to several excellent reviews [8, 9].

Enhancing endothelial NO synthesis

NO is a ubiquitous signalling molecule with distinctive roles in diverse tissues and species [10]. It is synthesised either enzymatically from the amino acid l-arginine by NOS or generated non-enzymatically from nitrite under acidic conditions, e.g. in ischaemia/reperfusion [11]. Three isoforms of NOS exist: neuronal (nNOS/NOS1), inducible (iNOS/NOS2) and endothelial (eNOS/NOS3). Of these three isoforms, eNOS is the most relevant in cardiovascular system. eNOS is primarily present in endothelial cells, is constitutively expressed and synthesises NO for short time periods in response to receptor or physical stimulation. NO released by eNOS mediates several physiological and vasoprotective functions including the inhibition of vascular contraction and platelet activation. The activity of eNOS is dependent on the availability of BH4 and other cofactors.

Three approaches have been pursued to increase sub-optimal levels of NO: the use of NO donors, stimulating eNOS activity by substrate supply or more recently by enhancing eNOS expression. NO donors have problematic pharmacokinetics, are prone to tolerance phenomena and lead to enhanced nitrative chemistry in the vascular wall [9]. The second approach, i.e. to stimulate NOS activity by co-factor (BH4) or substrate (l-arginine) supplementation is mechanistically plausible, but the clinical efficacies of these approaches remain to be shown [12]. The bioavailability of orally supplied l-arginine may be limited by first-pass effects [13]. Moreover, l-arginine may act not only by enhancing substrate supply but also by displacing an inhibitory methylated l-arginine analogue, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), from the enzyme's substrate binding site [12]. In fact, plasma ADMA levels may represent one of the better markers of endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disease risk [12]. More recently, an eNOS enhancer, AVE9488, was introduced as a third approach to overcome insufficient NO synthesis by upregulating eNOS expression. AVE9488 protects against ischaemia/reperfusion injury in animal models, but the mechanism is not fully understood [14]. However, one foreseeable risk is the presence of oxidative stress as additionally expressed eNOS may become uncoupled, which can exacerbate the problem [3]. Nevertheless, the potential clinical benefits of eNOS enhancers certainly provide a new approach to treat CVD.

Interestingly, some pathological vascular conditions may be linked with excessive rather than reduced NO production. Stroke-induced neuronal death appears in part to be caused by excessive nNOS activation [15]. Similarly, unwarranted upregulation of iNOS causes refractory hypotension in septic shock [16]. Early studies showed that inhibitors of NOS were effective in normalising blood pressure in different animal models of sepsis, but attempts to translate these findings into an effective clinical therapy were disappointing to date. A multi-centre phase III study of 800 patients with a NOS inhibitor failed to show any benefit and had to be terminated early due to a high mortality rate [16]. Given that NO is a mediator of many essential physiological functions, it is not surprising that global inhibition of NOS has adverse effects. Therefore, selective iNOS inhibition reducing local—as opposed to a global—NO production may have more favourable effects. Recently, new selective iNOS inhibitors have become available. Nevertheless, their efficacy and safety in the clinic remain to be determined [17]. Interestingly, a recent provocative hypothesis proposed that NO is rather protective in sepsis. Indeed, enhancing NO formation via exogenous nitrite enhanced survival in a sepsis model [18]. Thus, we may see soon a dogma shift on the role of NO in sepsis, whilst the negative role in stroke seems unchallenged; therefore, stroke may be an indication for NOS inhibition.

Potentiating NO via sGC stimulators

Many physiological functions of NO are mediated through its primary receptor, sGC. sGC is a heterodimeric protein consisting of a homologous α and a haem-containing β sub-unit. The haem group is located on the axial ligand histidine105 of the β subunit [5]. sGC activation by NO is haem-dependent and leads to the conversion of GTP to cGMP, which modulates the activity of several down-stream effector molecules including protein kinases, phosphodiesterase (PDE) and ion channels [5]. According to the simplest model for sGC activation by NO, sGC is activated in two steps: NO first binds to the haem of sGC to form a six-coordinated NO-Fe2+-Histidine105 intermediate complex, which is then rapidly converted to a penta-complex [19]. It is believed that the breakage of the haem–histidine105 bond on the β subunit leads to the full activation of the enzyme [5].

Pharmacological activation of sGC has been employed for more than a century in the form of organic nitrates for the treatment of angina, acute and chronic heart failure. More recently, inhaled NO is used in acute respiratory distress syndrome and congenital heart defects. However, their clinical application is limited due to the development of tolerance from chronic administration and the route of administration, respectively [20]. Recently, it was discovered that sGC has an allosteric binding site where so-called sGC stimulators bind and potentiate sGC activation by NO.

Given the shortcomings of organic nitrates, the first report of a direct, NO-independent stimulator of sGC, YC-1, in 1994 raised much interest [21]. In 2001, Bayer Healthcare AG reported a new class of sGC stimulators, with BAY 41-2272 as prototype [22]. sGC stimulators require an intact and functional prosthetic haem moiety in sGC and act synergistically with NO. In comparison to YC-1, BAY 41-2272 is a more potent sGC stimulator, is orally active and has no or less PDE-inhibiting properties [22]. Mechanistically, sGC stimulators increase the half-life of the nitrosyl-haem complex [5]. Despite their effectiveness in a variety of animal models of CVD, stimulators such as BAY 41-2272 and BAY 41-8543 showed unfavourable drug metabolism and pharmacokinetic (DMPK) properties. More recently another stimulator, Riociguat (BAY 63-2521), was found to have an improved DMPK profile. It has beneficial effects on pulmonary haemodynamics and exercise capacity in patients with pulmonary hypertension. Riociguat is currently in phase III clinical development for the oral treatment of pulmonary hypertension [23]. However, both enhanced NO synthesis, NO donors and sGC stimulators fail when the sGC haem is oxidatively damaged and lost. Here, a different class of sGC-modulating drug becomes important, sGC activators.

Replacing NO by sGC activators

sGC activators helped to elucidate a previously unrecognised alternative pathway to generate cGMP from sGC beyond the binding of NO to the Fe2+ haem of the sGC β subunit. One key observation was the existence of a haem-oxidised sGC (ox-sGC) and even haem-free sGC (apo-sGC) [5]. It is now clear that ox-/apo-sGC is ubiquitously present in cells and tissues [5, 24]. It has been speculated that the oxidised form is elevated in CVD associated with increased levels of ROS [5].

In contrast to sGC stimulators which synergize with NO, BAY 58-2667 showed additive effects when combined with NO donors [5]. Further investigations revealed that NO and BAY 58-2667 activate sGC independently. It was proposed that BAY 58-2667 activates sGC by replacing the prosthetic haem or—in the case of the haem-free enzyme—by directly occupying the orphaned haem-pocket. At this year's 4th International Conference on cGMP, the crystal structure of a domain similar to that of the N terminus of sGCβ and its interaction with BAY 58-2667 was reported. It was shown that BAY 58-2667 can indeed displace the haem by occupying the pocket and thus mimicking the interaction of haem with sGC [25]. More recently, BAY 58-2667 has demonstrated its efficacy in a proof-of-concept phase IIb clinical study in heart failure patients, reducing pre- and post-load and increasing cardiac output from baseline [26]. Another sGC activator, HMR1766 (Sanofi-Aventis) is currently in a phase II clinical study for treatment of neuropathic pain.

In summary, the physiological existence of haem-free apo-sGC can no longer be rejected. This raises questions about the ratio of haem-free to oxidised (Fe3+) to reduced (Fe2+) sGC in physiological and pathophysiological conditions, and why apo-sGC seems to be more prevalent under disease conditions. Given that many pathological conditions are associated with oxidative stress, the link between ROS and different redox states of sGC needs further elucidation.

Having described three validated and clinically relevant mechanisms by which ROS affect NOS and cGMP signalling and several pharmacologic approaches to reverse these, a more rational approach is to prevent oxidative damage occurring in the first place by identifying and targeting the major sources of ROS, e.g. NADPH oxidases.

The relevant sources of ROS

ROS include free radicals such as the superoxide (O −2 ), the hydroxyl radical (HO) and non-radical species such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hyperchlorous acid (HClO) and peroxynitrite. ROS contribute to the homeostasis of a number of physiological systems including the respiratory, immune and neurological system [27]. Under physiological conditions, antioxidant defence enzymes scavenge and detoxify excess ROS. Endogenous antioxidants include superoxide dismutase, which dismutates superoxide into H2O2, as well as catalase and peroxidases, which convert H2O2 into water or other metabolites. Oxidative stress results from an imbalance between ROS generation and ROS inactivation. This may well be a highly localised sub-cellular event, as opposed to a systemic phenomenon.

Decreased inactivation of ROS appears to be a less common cause for oxidative stress [28] when compared to an increase in ROS generation. Thus, inhibiting enhanced ROS production is a promising strategy to restore endothelial function and to manage CVD. Of all the potential sources of ROS, NADPH oxidases are the only known enzyme family that has ROS as their sole enzymatic product [29]. NADPH oxidase was first identified in phagocytic cells as the enzyme responsible for the respiratory burst [30]. It later became apparent that these enzymes are also expressed in a variety of non-phagocytic cells, including all cells in the blood vessel wall [31], suggesting other functions besides host defence [9]. NADPH oxidases are enzyme complexes primarily distinguished by the membrane spanning catalytic NOX sub-unit that transfers electrons from NADPH to molecular oxygen. Five mammalian members of the NOX family have been identified (NOX1-5) [27] with NOX1, 2, 4 and 5 being expressed in the blood vessel wall. Importantly, NOX5 is not expressed in rodents, which may turn out to be a previously unrecognised limitation of mouse and rat models of oxidative stress. NOX isoforms rely to varying degrees on the association of regulatory proteins. NOX1- and NOX2-containing isoforms require the association of a smaller membrane protein, p22phox, an “organiser” protein (p47phox or NOXO1), an “activator” protein (p67phox or NOXA1) and a small GTPase, Rac1 [9]. NOX4 may only require the association of p22phox, whilst NOX5 appears to function independently of any associated proteins but is regulated by [Ca2+] [9]. NADPH oxidase activity in vascular cells is acutely increased by various pathological stimuli, such as angiotensin II, endothelin-1, growth factors, cytokines, metabolic factors (e.g. advanced glycation end products), oxidised LDL, mechanical forces and ischaemia-related stimuli [32]. For a more comprehensive overview on the molecular biology and regulation of NADPH oxidases, we refer to these reviews [9, 27, 29, 33–36].

Vascular NADPH oxidase-dependent superoxide production appears to be a driving force in the development of endothelial dysfunction in several animal models of CVD [1, 9]. In coronary arteries of patients with CAD, NADPH oxidase activity is increased [37, 38], as is expression of NOX5 [39]. In patients with diabetes, superoxide produced by NADPH oxidases and uncoupled eNOS significantly contributes to the endothelial dysfunction of arteries from these patients [40]. Nevertheless, the exact structure, regulation, distribution and patho-physiological role of the individual human NOX isoforms are only being unravelled.

How to prevent or treat oxidative stress?

As ROS are derived from a number of sources, it was deemed feasible to readjust the balance of ROS production and detoxification by supplementing antioxidants. However, clinical trials testing this hypothesis showed little benefits in reducing cardiovascular events or mortality; some of the treatments even caused harm [41]. Indeed, in vivo detoxification of increased ROS by antioxidant supplementation may be impossible due to the poor bioavailability of the antioxidants at the correct sub-cellular localisation and at the optimal time point. Antioxidants may also promote new radical chain reactions initiated by their oxidised forms. Importantly, the global removal of ROS may result in unwanted effects since ROS also regulate important physiological functions. Therefore, the current strategy is to identify and target the major sources of ROS, including NADPH oxidases.

A major constraint in NADPH oxidase research and translation is the lack of specific inhibitors. All commonly used compounds, including apocynin and diphenyleneiodonium, are unspecific [42] (Wind et al., unpublished observations), and there are no specific NOX inhibitors commercially available. The novel NADPH oxidase inhibitor, VAS2870, inhibits PDGF-stimulated cell migration and NADPH activity in vascular smooth muscle cells [43] as well as oxidised LDL-stimulated ROS formation in endothelial cells [44]. However, its mechanism of action and selectivity for different NOX isoforms is unknown. In vivo experiments with a small peptide inhibitor, gp91ds-tat, which interferes with the interaction between NOX2 and the regulator p47phox, had promising results, e.g. it reduced angioplasty-induced superoxide and neointimal hyperplasia of rat carotid artery [45]. As individual NOX isoforms are regulated by different subunits, targeting these protein–protein interactions is one strategy for the development of isoform-specific NOX inhibitors. For more details on NADPH oxidase inhibitors and their limitations, we refer to other published reviews [32, 46–48]. Once specific inhibitors become available, their potential to manage CVD by preventing ROS formation can be fully explored. This concept may also be applicable to other chronic diseases associated with oxidative stress.

Conclusions

The dissection of the oxidative stress hypothesis into a detailed identification of clinically relevant enzymes targeted by ROS offers for the first time a more mechanistic approach to CVD therapy. eNOS recouplers/enhancers as well as sGC stimulators/activators target specific oxidative damage, which currently can only be detected at a functional level. Nevertheless, clinical efficacy and proof-of-concept animal models promise a far more positive outcome than for previous antioxidant approaches. Thinking foward, the NADPH oxidase field represents an uncharted territory in the management of CVD. We believe that the development of NOX isoform selective inhibitors in the next decade will reveal the clinical relevance of this enzyme family.

Twenty years after its discovery [49], NO has come of age. It may be not so much NO synthesis itself but the signalling and oxidative events surrounding this unusual molecule that may produce the therapeutic outcomes that have been postulated for this highly protective vascular pathway and for CVD management.