Is tetrahydrobiopterin a therapeutic option in diabetic hypertensive patients?

Figures & data

Figure 1 Tetrahydrobioterin synthesis.

Abbreviation: BH4, tetrahydrobiopterin; sGTP-CH, GTP cyclohydrolase; PTPS, pyruvoyl tetrahydrobiopterin synthase; SR, sepiapterin reductase; DHPR, dihydrofolate reductase.

Table 1 Factors that increase guanosine triphosphate cyclohydrolase I activity

Cytokines	Transcriptional factors	Inflammatory mediators
Interferon γ	Nuclear factor κB	Lipopolysaccharides
Tumor necrosis factor α	Signal transducer and activator of transcription 1/3

Figure 2 Interaction between tetrahydrobiopterin and nitric oxide synthesis.

Table 2 Antiatherosclerotic effects of nitric oxide

Decreases endothelial permeability Inhibition of low-density lipoprotein oxidation Reduces influx of lipoproteins into the vascular wall Inhibition of proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells Prevention of leukocyte adhesion to vascular endothelium Inhibition of leukocyte migration into the vascular wall