Authors: Barrachina, M.D.; Panes, J.; Esplugues, J.V.

Source: Current Pharmaceutical Design, Volume 7, Number 1, 1 January 2001 , pp. 31-48(18)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

Nitric oxide is a ubiquitous molecule involved in a variety of biological processes. The specific action of NO depends on its enzymatic sources namely neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), endothelial NOS (eNOS) and inducible NOS (iNOS) and all three isoforms have been localized in the gastrointestinal tract. Constitutive synthesis of NO by nNOS or eNOS isoforms is involved in the maintaining of the gastrointestinal mucosal integrity through modulation of gastric mucosal blood flow, epithelial secretion and barrier function. However, large amounts of NO synthesized from the inducible isoform have been implicated in tissue injury in the gut during inflammatory reactions. In this review we provide an overview of the dual role of nitric oxide in modulating gastrointestinal mucosal defense and injury. In addition, we highlight the therapeutic potential of NO modulation.

Keywords: Neuronal nitric oxide synthase; No modulation; Flavin mononucleotide; Tetrahydrobiopterin depleting agents; Nos isoforms; Gastrointestinal Mucosal Integrity; Mucosal microcirculation; Endogenous mediators; Pentagastrin; GMP mechanism; Peri intestinal venules; Radical mediated liver; Reperfusion induced; Trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid; No mesalamine

Document Type: Review article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612013398491

Publication date: 2001-01-01

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• Current Pharmaceutical Design publishes timely in-depth reviews covering all aspects of current research in rational drug design. Each issue is devoted to a single major therapeutic area. A Guest Editor who is an acknowledged authority in a therapeutic field has solicits for each issue comprehensive and timely reviews from leading researchers in the pharmaceutical industry and academia.
  
  Each thematic issue of Current Pharmaceutical Design covers all subject areas of major importance to modern drug design, including: medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, drug targets and disease mechanism.

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