title: Nitric oxide and protection against cardiac ischemia.
abstract: Nitric oxide (NO) is produced in almost all tissues and it exerts a variety of biological actions under both physiological and pathological conditions. It is synthesized by three distinct enzymes: endothelial (eNOS), neuronal (nNOS) and inducible (iNOS) nitricoxide synthases. NO is a cardioprotective mediator in powerful cardioprotective processes such as pre- and post-conditioning ischemia;they operate largely in a NO-dependent manner. However, the activity of different NOSs isoforms as well as, the bioavailability of NO can be affected by a variety of disease conditions (in particular diabetes) and pathological situations associated with significantly elevated levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). These adversely affect NO-signaling, as well as the efficacy and safety of treatments with NO or NO-containing agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. zyxia@hkucc.hku.hk
authors.forename: Zhengyuan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Vanhoutte
mesh_terms: D001682:Biological Availability; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D020033:Protein Isoforms; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase