The roles of cytochromes P450 in vascular biology and cardiovascular homeostasis

Cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis are human health crises that remain the leading cause of death worldwide. The cytochromes P450 (CYPs) are key metabolizing enzymes of both xenobiotics and endobiotics. Many CYP enzymes have been identified in the heart, kidneys, endothelium, and smooth muscle of blood vessels. Furthermore, mounting evidence points to the role of endogenous CYP-dependent metabolites, such as epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE), thromboxane A2 (TxA2) and prostacyclin (PGI2), in the maintenance of vascular physiology and cardiovascular homeostasis. The link between CYP genetic polymorphism and its pathological impact on cardiovascular disorders, such as hypertension and myocardial infarction, has been established in recent years. Therefore, there are numerous studies indicating the involvement of CYP in atherosclerotic and cardiovascular diseases. Currently, concentrating on treatment modalities that target the CYP pathways represents an attractive therapeutic strategy for the researchers in the field. While data are promising, further clinical investigation is necessary to understand fully the functional roles of the CYP enzymes in the regulation of vasculature and cardiovascular injuries in humans and to validate the safety of these potential therapeutic agents for use in patients.