NOS3 and Hypertension: Proposed molecular mechanisms of glucocorticoid-induced hypertension and atherosclerosis in endothelial cells include downregulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS3) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGFA) and upregulation of endothelin-1, factor VIII, and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (SERPINE1) [21,22,23].