Nitric oxide and inflammatory periodontal disease.
Free radicals are species capable of independent existence that contain 1 or more unpaired electrons. These species are beneficial to the host if secreted in appropriate amounts, and may act as powerful antibacterial agents or help in the regulation of vascular tone in the endothelium. In healthy individuals, there is an appropriate balance between free radicals and their scavengers. This balance can be shifted to an unhealthy pro-oxidant state when the production of free radicals is increased, resulting in serious cell damage leading to progressive inflammatory diseases of the periodontium and periapical tissues, and/or precancerous and cancerous lesions of the oral cavity. Free radicals can be important biomarkers for these diseases when clinical symptoms are not present. Nitric oxide (NO) is a free radical gas and an inflammatory biomarker. The aim of this paper is to present the role of NO in periodontal health and inflammation.
Simran R
SR
Parwani
Rajkumar N
RN
Parwani
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D010519:Periodontium / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D005609:Free Radicals; D009569:Nitric Oxide
inflammation; nitric oxide; periodontal disease; reactive oxygen species