Authors: Hawkey C J
Publish Date: 1996/08/01
Volume: 2, Issue: 3, Pages: 225-226
Abstract
Nitric oxide molecule of the year in 1992 is interesting but perplexing for gastroenterologists On the one hand small amounts of nitric oxide synthesized by constitutive forms of nitric oxide in response to stimuli that elevate intracellular calcium are beneficial These beneficial effects include physiological vasodilatation and an antiinflammatory effect mediated by decreased leukocyteendothelial interactions However inflammatory stimuli including particularly lipopolysaccharide interferon interleukin1 and tumor necrosis factor α stimulate expression of a second inducible form of nitric oxide synthase NOS This inducible nitric oxide synthase iNOS is not responsive to environmental stimuli and results in essentially uncontrolled synthesis of amounts of nitric oxide that are two to three orders
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