title: The pivotal role of nitric oxide: effects on the nervous and immune systems.
abstract: Nitric oxide (NO) has an important role in physiological and pathological processes in general, and in particular plays a homeostatic role in the nervous and immune systems. The many different physiological functions of NO include those of a mediator of blood vessel dilation, neurotransmitter, neuromodulator and inductor of mitochondrial biogenesis. In addition, NO can transform into highly reactive and harmful molecules producing an impairment of the DNA, lipids or proteins, and thus altering their function. This dual action of NO, by which it plays an important role in homeostasis and aids the development of pathological processes, makes this molecule an interesting target for medical therapies, especially with respect to the nervous and immune systems. This review describes the multiple roles of NO played out in the nervous and immune systems during different physiological and pathophysiological processes.
authors.forename: Celia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Banuls
authors.forename: Milagros
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rovira-Llopis
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Falcon
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Castello
authors.forename: Jose R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Herance
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Polo
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blas-Garcia
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hernandez-Mijares
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Doctor Peset, Avda Gaspar Aguilar 90, 46017, Valencia, Spain. Victor.Victor@uv.es.
authors.forename: Victor M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Victor
mesh_terms: D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology*; D009424:Nervous System Physiological Phenomena; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide