Targeting the endothelial Ca 2+ tool kit to rescue endothelial dysfunction in obesity associated-hypertension

Obesity is a major cardiovascular risk factor which dramatically impairs endothelium-dependent vasodilation and leads to hypertension and vascular damage. The impairment of the vasomotor response to extracellular autacoids, e.g. acetylcholine, mainly depends on the reduced nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, which hampers vasorelaxation in large conduit arteries. In addition, obesity may affect endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization (EDH), which drives vasorelaxation in small resistance arteries and arterioles. Of note, endothelial Ca 2+ signals drive NO release and trigger EDH.