Inducible nitric oxide synthase: Good or bad?

Publication date: September 2017
Source:Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, Volume 93
Author(s): Maggie Lind, Alan Hayes, Martin Caprnda, Daniel Petrovic, Luis Rodrigo, Peter Kruzliak, Anthony Zulli
Nitric oxide synthases (NOS) are a family of isoforms responsible for the synthesis of the potent dilator nitric oxide (NO). Expression of inducible NOS (iNOS) occurs in conditions of inflammation, and produces large amounts of NO. In pathological conditions iNOS is regarded as a harmful enzyme and is proposed to be a major contributor to diseases of the cardiovascular system such as atherosclerosis. In this review, we address the notion that iNOS is a detrimental enzyme in disease and discuss its potentially beneficial roles. Additionally, we describe other molecules associated with iNOS in diseases such as atherosclerosis, and current research on therapeutic inhibitors tested to reduced pathology associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD).



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