Scott Jeremy A, Grasemann Hartmut
Division of Biomedical Sciences, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Lakehead University, 955 Oliver Road Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 5E1, Canada.
Program in Physiology and Experimental Medicine, Research Institute, and Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada.
Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2014 Nov;34(4):767-75. doi: 10.1016/j.iac.2014.07.007. Epub 2014 Aug 19.
Nitric oxide (NO) is important in the regulation of airway tone and airway responsiveness. Alterations in the L-arginine metabolism resulting in reduced availability of the substrate L-arginine for NO synthases, as well as the presence of NO synthase inhibitors such as asymmetric dimethylarginine, contribute to the reduced NO formation and airway dysfunction in asthma. Therapeutic interventions aiming to modulate the impaired L-arginine metabolism may help correct the enhanced airway tone and responsiveness in asthma.
