The anti-parasitic effects of nitric oxide.
Endogenous and exogenous nitric oxide (NO) possesses antiparasitic effects on both Protozoa and Metazoa. However, NO production requires a tight control to limit cytotoxic damage to the host's own cells. The best known parasitic macromolecular targets for NO(-donors) are cysteine proteases, which are relevant in several aspects of the parasite life cycle and parasite-host relationships, and appear as promising targets for anti-parasitic chemotherapy.
Ascenzi
Paolo
P
Dipartimento di Biologia, Università Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446,1-00146 Roma, Italy. ascenzi@bio.uniroma3.it
Bocedi
Alessio
A
Gradoni
Luigi
L
D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010272:Parasitic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000962:Antimalarials; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide