Modulation of autoimmune diseases by nitric oxide.
Nitric oxide (NO) is an intercellular messenger that performs a number of functions, including neurotransmission, vasodilatation, inhibition of platelet aggregation, and modulation of leukocyte adhesion. NO has recently been shown to act as a potent cytotoxic effector molecule as well as to play an important role in the pathogenesis of organ-specific autoimmunity. NO may also modulate the immune response by interfering with Th1/Th2 balance in autoimmune diseases. This review will discuss the role of NO and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in pathophysiologic and therapeutic implications in various autoimmune diseases with particular reference to T helper-1 (Th1) and T helper-2 (Th2) cytokines.
Singh
V K
VK
Department of Immunology, Sanjay Gandhi Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India. vksingh@sgpgi.ac.in
Mehrotra
S
S
Narayan
P
P
Pandey
C M
CM
Agarwal
S S
SS
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000503:physiopathology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000503:physiopathology; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000503:physiopathology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000201:enzymology; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014605:Uveitis / Q000503:physiopathology
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase