title: Role of nitric oxide in gastrointestinal inflammatory and ulcerative diseases: perspective for drugs development.
abstract: Nitric oxide is a ubiquitous molecule involved in a variety of biological processes. The specific action of NO depends on its enzymatic sources namely neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), endothelial NOS (eNOS) and inducible NOS (iNOS) and all three isoforms have been localized in the gastrointestinal tract. Constitutive synthesis of NO by nNOS or eNOS isoforms is involved in the maintaining of the gastrointestinal mucosal integrity through modulation of gastric mucosal blood flow, epithelial secretion and barrier function. However, large amounts of NO synthesized from the inducible isoform have been implicated in tissue injury in the gut during inflammatory reactions. In this review we provide an overview of the dual role of nitric oxide in modulating gastrointestinal mucosal defense and injury. In addition, we highlight the therapeutic potential of NO modulation.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Barrachina
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Panés
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Esplugues
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C496319:NOS2 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II