A central role for the endothelial NADPH oxidase in atherosclerosis

An increasing body of evidence has demonstrated that NADPH oxidase plays a critical role in several early steps leading toward the development of atherosclerosis, These effects appear to be carried out by both the ability of O-2(-) to act as a small second messenger molecule, and potentially the oxidation of low density lipoprotein by O-2(-). We describe a model for the initiation and development of atherosclerosis that suggests targeted inhibition of NADPH oxidase as a powerful site for prevention and treatment of this disease. (C) 2000 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.