Bogdan C
Institute of Clinical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Wasserturmstrasse 3-5, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany.
Nat Immunol. 2001 Oct;2(10):907-16. doi: 10.1038/ni1001-907.
During the past two decades, nitric oxide (NO) has been recognized as one of the most versatile players in the immune system. It is involved in the pathogenesis and control of infectious diseases, tumors, autoimmune processes and chronic degenerative diseases. Because of its variety of reaction partners (DNA, proteins, low-molecular weight thiols, prosthetic groups, reactive oxygen intermediates), its widespread production (by three different NO synthases (NOS) and the fact that its activity is strongly influenced by its concentration, NO continues to surprise and perplex immunologists. Today, there is no simple, uniform picture of the function of NO in the immune system. Protective and toxic effects of NO are frequently seen in parallel. Its striking inter- and intracellular signaling capacity makes it extremely difficult to predict the effect of NOS inhibitors and NO donors, which still hampers therapeutic applications.
在过去二十年中，一氧化氮（NO）已被公认为免疫系统中功能最为多样的物质之一。它参与传染病、肿瘤、自身免疫过程和慢性退行性疾病的发病机制及控制。由于其具有多种反应伙伴（DNA、蛋白质、低分子量硫醇、辅基、活性氧中间体），广泛的生成途径（由三种不同的一氧化氮合酶（NOS）产生）以及其活性受浓度强烈影响这一事实，NO 继续令免疫学家感到惊讶和困惑。如今，关于 NO 在免疫系统中的功能尚无简单统一的图景。NO 的保护作用和毒性作用常常同时出现。其显著的细胞间和细胞内信号传导能力使得预测 NOS 抑制剂和 NO 供体的效果极为困难，这仍然阻碍了其治疗应用。
