UC Davis

Mechanisms underlying arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are poorly understood. Using mice with endothelial cell (EC) expression of constitutively active Notch4 (Notch4*^EC), we show decreased arteriolar tone in vivo during brain AVM initiation. Reduced vascular tone is a primary effect of Notch4*^EC, as isolated pial arteries from asymptomatic mice exhibited reduced pressure-induced arterial tone ex vivo. The nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS) inhibitor NG-nitro-l-arginine (L-NNA) corrected vascular tone defects in both assays. L-NNA treatment or endothelial NOS (eNOS) gene deletion, either globally or specifically in ECs, attenuated AVM initiation, assessed by decreased AVM diameter and delayed time to moribund. Administering nitroxide antioxidant 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl also attenuated AVM initiation. Increased NOS-dependent production of hydrogen peroxide, but not NO, superoxide, or peroxynitrite was detected in isolated Notch4*^EC brain vessels during AVM initiation. Our data suggest that eNOS is involved in Notch4*^EC-mediated AVM formation by up-regulating hydrogen peroxide and reducing vascular tone, thereby permitting AVM initiation and progression.