Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Torino, 10125 Torino, Italy.
Department of Pharmacy, "Federico II" University of Naples, 80131 Naples, Italy.
Molecules. 2022 Apr 5;27(7):2337. doi: 10.3390/molecules27072337.
Nitric oxide is a ubiquitous signaling radical that influences critical body functions. Its importance in the cardiovascular system and the innate immune response to bacterial and viral infections has been extensively investigated. The overproduction of NO is an early component of viral infections, including those affecting the respiratory tract. The production of high levels of NO is due to the overexpression of NO biosynthesis by inducible NO synthase (iNOS), which is involved in viral clearance. The development of NO-based antiviral therapies, particularly gaseous NO inhalation and NO-donors, has proven to be an excellent antiviral therapeutic strategy. The aim of this review is to systematically examine the multiple research studies that have been carried out to elucidate the role of NO in viral infections and to comprehensively describe the NO-based antiviral strategies that have been developed thus far. Particular attention has been paid to the potential mechanisms of NO and its clinical use in the prevention and therapy of COVID-19.
一氧化氮是一种普遍存在的信号自由基，影响着关键的身体功能。它在心血管系统和对细菌和病毒感染的先天免疫反应中的重要性已经得到了广泛的研究。NO 的过度产生是包括影响呼吸道的病毒感染的早期组成部分。高水平的 NO 的产生是由于诱导型一氧化氮合酶 (iNOS) 的 NO 生物合成的过度表达，这与病毒清除有关。基于 NO 的抗病毒治疗的发展，特别是气态 NO 吸入和 NO 供体，已被证明是一种出色的抗病毒治疗策略。本综述的目的是系统地检查已经进行的多项研究，以阐明 NO 在病毒感染中的作用，并全面描述迄今为止开发的基于 NO 的抗病毒策略。特别关注了 NO 的潜在机制及其在 COVID-19 的预防和治疗中的临床应用。
