title: Characterization of reactive nitrogen species in allergic asthma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the molecular mechanism of reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in the pathogenesis of asthma and examine the use of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) measurements in close conjunction with standard clinical assessments of asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Through PubMed, Google Scholar, and Medline databases, a broad medical literature review was performed in the following areas of asthma pathobiology and management: allergic asthma, RNS, nitric oxide (NO), airway inflammation, and FENO.
  
  
  METHODS
  Studies were selected based on the physiologic and pathophysiologic roles of RNS in relation to allergic asthma. Current evaluations on clinical applications of FENO in asthma treatment also were selected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the onset of an asthma attack, an enhanced production of NO strongly correlates with increase inducible NO synthase (NOS) activity, whereas endothelial NOS and neuronal NOS regulate primarily normal metabolic functions in the central and peripheral airways. During allergic inflammatory responses, NO and superoxide form peroxynitrite, which has deleterious effects in the respiratory tract. RNS directly accentuates airway inflammation and cytotoxicity through nitrosative stress. Moreover, the use of FENO to monitor eosinophilic-mediated airway inflammation is a potentially valuable assessment that supplements standard procedures to monitor the progression of asthma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review examines recent evidence implicating the molecular mechanisms of NO and NO-derived RNS in the pathobiology of asthma and suggests that monitoring FENO may markedly contribute to asthma diagnosis.
authors: Molecular Physiology and Rehabilitation Research Laboratory, Radiologic Sciences and Respiratory Therapy Division, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio. Electronic address: zuo.4@osu.edu.
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Zuo
authors: Exercise and Sport Nutrition Laboratory, Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.
authors: Majid S
authors: MS
authors: Koozechian
authors: Molecular Physiology and Rehabilitation Research Laboratory, Radiologic Sciences and Respiratory Therapy Division, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio.
authors: Lauren L
authors: LL
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D030421:Peroxynitrous Acid / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species; D030421:Peroxynitrous Acid; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III