Current Medicinal Chemistry - Volume 23, Issue 24, 2016

The cellular reaction to external challenges is a tightly regulated process consisting of integrated processes mediated by a variety of signaling molecules, generated as a result of modulation of corresponding biosynthetic systems. Both, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX) systems, consist of constitutive forms (NOS1, NOS3 and COX-1), which are mostly involved in housekeeping tasks, and inducible forms ( Read More

Nitric oxide (NO), as an essential signaling molecule, participates in various physiological processes such as cardiovascular homeostasis, neuronal transmission, immunomodulation, and tumor growth. The multiple role of NO in physiology and pathophysiology has triggered a massive interest in the strategies of delivering exogenous NO for biomedical applications. Hence, different kinds of NO prodrugs have been developed up to Read More

Despite long and intensive investigation, the mechanisms by which nitric oxide (NO) regulates immune function and carcinogenesis remain incompletely understood. Protein S-nitrosylation, the covalent attachment of a nitroso group to a cysteine thiol, has emerged as a central mechanism of NO-dependent cellular regulation. In particular, recent research has revealed important roles for S-nitrosylation/denitrosy Read More

Nitric Oxide (NO) is a signaling radical, highly diffusible pleiotropic regulator of a large set of different molecular and biological pathways, including, neurotransmission, vasodilatation and macrophagemediated responses against infections. It is produced from the amino acid L-Arginine and oxygen by the enzymatic action of three isoforms of the Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS), differently expressed and regulated in tissues. Incr Read More

Professor Ferid Murad has been a remarkable colleague and a mentor. During our very first meeting, he not only shared unresolved puzzles in Nitric Oxide (NO) research but also listened to my questions pointing to protein nitration and nitrosylation. This was start of a new avenue in my laboratory involving protein nitration, inducible nitric oxide synthase and nitrite production in the context of signaling and gene expressio Read More

Background: The pioneering work of Robert F. Furchgott, Luis J. Ignaro and Ferid Murad has led us to investigate whether nitric oxide (NO) is present in the brain, its origin and whether it possesses a functional role in brain structures. This review is mainly an outline of own findings obtained by using the push-pull superfusion technique. Method: We have used the push-pull superfusion technique that makes it possible to determin Read More

NO-sensitive guanylyl cyclase (NO-GC) acts as the receptor for nitric oxide and by the increase in cGMP executes most of the NO effects in the cardiovascular and neuronal system. Two isoforms of NO-GC exist whose existence has not been paid much attention to probably because they reveal comparable regulatory and catalytic properties and therefore cannot be differentiated in vivo. Analysis of mice in which either on Read More

Background: The pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is not fully understood. Together with some important physiological functions in the Central Nervous System (CNS), nitric oxide (NO) can have both, neuroprotective or neurotoxic actions, depending on its redox state. An important body of evidence suggests the involvement of NO in many of the processes leading to neurodegeneration in several neurological disord Read More

Background: Recent findings suggest that dopaminergic abnormalities found in psychotic disorders may be secondary to nitric oxide dysfunctions. Nitric oxide seems to influence glutamatergic and dopaminergic neurotransmission, both of which have been associated with psychosis. Objective: To search and review published works which examined the influence of nitric oxide in psychotic disorders subjects. Method: The researc Read More

Close to 1% of the world population suffer from schizophrenia. Current medications for this chronic mental disorder have greatly improved treatment over the last half century or more, but, the newer atypical antipsychotics have proven to be disappointing, and enormous challenges remain. The negative symptoms and cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia which greatly affect overall morbidity call for better treatme Read More

Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is expressed in several cell types, particularly in inflammatory cells, in response to diverse proinflammatory stimuli, including viral proteins as HIV Tat and gp120. This response is preceded by an early decline in basal nitric oxide (NO) levels, dependent on a signaling leading to inhibition of the constitutive isoform of NO synthase (cNOS). This process requires critical levels of arachidonic acid ( Read More

In the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, nitric oxide (NO) has been shown over the last 25 years to exert a prominent function as inhibitory neurotransmitter. Apart from the regulation of secretion and resorption, NO from nitrergic neurons has been demonstrated to be crucial for GI smooth muscle relaxation and motility. In fact, several human diseases such as achalasia, gastroparesis, slow transit constipation or Hirs Read More

Exhaled nitric oxide (NO) originates from the upper airways, and takes action, to varying extents, in regulation, protection and defense, as well as in noxious processes. Nitric oxide retains important functions in a wide range of physiological and pathophysiological processes of the human body, including vaso-regulation, antimicrobial activity, neurotransmission and respiration. This review article reports the ongoing investigations Read More

Osteoporosis is a major health problem, affecting over 10 million people in the U.S. and leading to fractures associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Normal bone mass is maintained by a balance between the anabolic effects of osteoblasts and catabolic effects of osteoclasts. Most osteoporosis therapies inhibit osteoclast activity; parathyroid hormone is the only FDA-approved agent that increases osteoblast activity, Read More

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a unique site-specific treatment for eradicating a variety of solid tumors, including prostate, lung, bladder, and brain tumors. PDT is a three-component modality involving (i) administration of a photosensitizing agent (PS), (ii) PS photoexcitation by visible or near-infrared light, and (iii) molecular oxygen. Upon photoexcitation, PS gives rise to tumor-damaging reactive oxygen species, most promine Read More

cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB) plays a central role in various aspects of central nervous system (CNS) function, ranging from the developmental stages to neuronal plasticity and survival in adult brain. Activation of CREB plays a crucial role in learning and memory and is at the convergence of multiple intracellular signaling cascades including CAMKII and MAPK. This review focuses on the important functions of n Read More