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Nitric oxide, nitrotyrosine, and nitric oxide modulators in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

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Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO), a simple free-radical gas, elicits a diverse range of physiologic and pathophysiologic effects, and plays an important role in pulmonary diseases. Nitrosative stress and nitration of proteins in airway epithelium may be responsible for steroid resistance in asthma and their ineffectiveness in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), supporting the potential role of future therapeutic strategies aimed at regulating NO synthesis in asthma and COPD. In this article, we review the potential role of NO modulators (NO synthase inhibitors and NO donors), which, if given on a regular basis, may have clinical benefit in asthma and COPD.

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  1. Department of Thoracic Medicine, National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College, Dovehouse Street, SW3 6LY, London, UK

    Sergei A. Kharitonov MD, PhD & Peter J. Barnes MD

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  1. Sergei A. Kharitonov MD, PhD
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  2. Peter J. Barnes MD
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Kharitonov, S.A., Barnes, P.J. Nitric oxide, nitrotyrosine, and nitric oxide modulators in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 3, 121–129 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-003-0024-7

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