When blood vessels experience low blood flow (low shear stress), a protein called Akt helps trigger a process that produces nitric oxide, which keeps blood vessels healthy. But when we block Akt, the blood vessel's ability to produce nitric oxide gets even worse.

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Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

4

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4

Modulation of low shear stress-induced eNOS multi-site phosphorylation and nitric oxide production via protein kinase and ERK1/2 signaling

Cross-Sectional Study

In Vitro

2017 Feb

The study shows that when researchers blocked the Akt protein with a drug called perifosine, it stopped the ability of low shear stress to turn on eNOS-Ser1177 (an enzyme important for making nitric oxide), and it also made the drop in nitric oxide production worse. This matches exactly what the claim says about Akt's role.

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Source Study

Modulation of low shear stress-induced eNOS multi-site phosphorylation and nitric oxide production via protein kinase and ERK1/2 signaling

Score: 4

DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2016.6060

Similar Assertions

Scientists found that a specific signaling pathway called ERK1/2 is responsible for how blood flow changes affect an enzyme that controls nitric oxide production, and blocking this pathway stops the negative effects of low blood flow on nitric oxide.

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When blood flows slowly, it triggers a specific chain of molecular events that turns off an important enzyme that normally keeps blood vessels healthy and protected from inflammation and plaque buildup.

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