Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO), a free radical molecule, produced by NO synthase (NOS) in the body exerts a number of pathophysiological actions due to its chemical reactivity. Low amounts of NO (nM) normally produced by constitutive NOS play a critical role in different physiological events such as vasodilation and neurotransmission. Higher amounts of NO (μM) locally and spatially produced by inducible NOS during inflammation act as double-edged sword exerting either beneficial or detrimental effects. Recently, new vision on the biological role of NO has been proposed based on the possible cross-talk between constitutive and inducible NOS. Accordingly, normally produced low amounts of NO may be involved in the regulation of NF-kB activation and successively the expression of inducible NOS. Under normal conditions NF-kB activation is suppressed by low amounts of NO. Under conditions in which massive amounts of NO produced by inducible NOS act detrimentally, NO-elicited down-regulation of NF-kB activation is compromised due to the drop in NO at the early phase of inflammation caused by inactivation of constitutive NOS. Any treatment which counterparts the drop in NO, therefore, may present a new approach either in preventing or in treating inflammatory diseases.
Keywords: nitric oxide, no synthase, vasodilation, neurotransmission
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title: Biochemical Aspects of Nitric Oxide
Volume: 10 Issue: 14
Author(s): Sofia Mariotto, Marta Menegazzi and Hisanori Suzuki
Affiliation:
Keywords: nitric oxide, no synthase, vasodilation, neurotransmission
Abstract: Nitric oxide (NO), a free radical molecule, produced by NO synthase (NOS) in the body exerts a number of pathophysiological actions due to its chemical reactivity. Low amounts of NO (nM) normally produced by constitutive NOS play a critical role in different physiological events such as vasodilation and neurotransmission. Higher amounts of NO (μM) locally and spatially produced by inducible NOS during inflammation act as double-edged sword exerting either beneficial or detrimental effects. Recently, new vision on the biological role of NO has been proposed based on the possible cross-talk between constitutive and inducible NOS. Accordingly, normally produced low amounts of NO may be involved in the regulation of NF-kB activation and successively the expression of inducible NOS. Under normal conditions NF-kB activation is suppressed by low amounts of NO. Under conditions in which massive amounts of NO produced by inducible NOS act detrimentally, NO-elicited down-regulation of NF-kB activation is compromised due to the drop in NO at the early phase of inflammation caused by inactivation of constitutive NOS. Any treatment which counterparts the drop in NO, therefore, may present a new approach either in preventing or in treating inflammatory diseases.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Mariotto Sofia, Menegazzi Marta and Suzuki Hisanori, Biochemical Aspects of Nitric Oxide, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2004; 10 (14) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612043384637
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612043384637 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
The Cardiovascular Effects of Metformin: Further Reasons to Consider An Old Drug as a Cornerstone in the Therapy of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Current Vascular Pharmacology Provocation Tests in Diagnosing Drug Hypersensitivity
Current Pharmaceutical Design Mean Platelet Volume During Ischemic Stroke is a Potential Pro-inflammatory Biomarker in the Acute Phase and During Neurorehabilitation Not Directly Linked to Clinical Outcome
Current Neurovascular Research Cardiac SPECT-CT and PET-CT Imaging
Current Medical Imaging Cardiovascular Pharmacogenetics of Anti-Thrombotic Agents and Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
Current Molecular Medicine Tenofovir-Related Nephropathies in HIV-Infected Patients
Current Vascular Pharmacology Coarctation of the Aorta - An Evolution of Therapeutic Options
Current Cardiology Reviews The Role of Cnidaria in Drug Discovery. A Review on CNS Implications and New Perspectives
Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery (Discontinued) Tailored Angiogenesis Inhibition in Cancer Therapy: Respecting the Heart to Improve the Net Outcome
Current Signal Transduction Therapy Biologic Therapy in Psoriasis: Safety Profile
Current Drug Safety Vascular and Cardiac Oxidative Stress and Inflammation as Targets for Cardioprotection
Current Pharmaceutical Design Erythropoietin: New Horizon in Cardiovascular Medicine
Recent Patents on Cardiovascular Drug Discovery A Perspective on Quantum Mechanics Calculations in ADMET Predictions
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry The Application of Natural Products in Cancer Therapy by Targeting Apoptosis Pathways
Current Drug Metabolism Peripheral Blood Derived Cell Trafficking for Cardiac Regeneration
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy Autologous Cell Therapy for Vascular Regeneration: The Role of Proangiogenic Cells
Current Medicinal Chemistry Polyphenols Regulate Endothelial Functions and Reduce the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
Current Pharmaceutical Design An Evidence-Based Review of the Mechanism of Action, Efficacy, and Safety of Biologic Therapies in the Treatment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis
Current Medicinal Chemistry Chaperones and Cardiac Misfolding Protein Diseases
Current Protein & Peptide Science Patent Selections
Recent Patents on Cardiovascular Drug Discovery