Received June 25, 2007
Revised August 20, 2007
Accepted after revision September 5, 2007
Cardiovascular Control [210]
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Epoxygenases and PPARs in vascular biology
Jessica A Wray 1
David Bishop-Bailey 1*
1 Queen Mary University London
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: d.bishop-bailey{at}qmul.ac.uk.
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Abstract |
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Epoxygenases, particularly of the CYP2C and CYP2J families represent important lipid metabolising enzymes. Epoxygenases are found throughout the cardiovascular system where their lipid products, particularly the arachidonic acid metabolites, the epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) have the potential to regulate vascular tone, cell proliferation, migration, inflammation and cardiac function. The receptors for EETs are however poorly understood. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR)s are a family of 3 (
, 
/
, 
) nuclear receptors that are activated by lipid metabolites. Activation of PPAR and PPAR, similar to the longer term effects of EETs, causes the inhibition of vascular cell proliferation, migration and inflammation. Interestingly, EETs and their metabolites have recently been found to active both PPAR and PPAR. The epoxygenase-EET-PPAR pathway may therefore represent a novel endogenous protective pathway by which short lived lipid mediators control vascular cell activation.
Key Words:
Endothelial cell, Inflammation, Smooth muscle
