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Published on: February 25, 2016
Nitric oxide production in PCD: possible evidence for differential nitric oxide synthase function
Emmanouil Paraskakis1, Nadwa Zihlif, Andrew Bush
1Department of Paediatric Respiratory Medicine, Royal Brompton Hospital, Sydney Street, London SW3 6NP, UK.
Pediatric Pulmonology
|August 28, 2007
Summary
Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is linked to lower airway nitric oxide (NO). This study found alveolar NO levels are normal in PCD, suggesting no general NO handling issue and supporting variable flow NO measurements for assessing NO synthase activity.
Area of Science:
- Respiratory Medicine
- Biochemistry
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is associated with reduced fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), indicating lower airway inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity.
- Nitric oxide (NO) production in the airways involves both iNOS and endothelial NOS (eNOS).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether alveolar NO concentration (Calv), reflecting eNOS function, is normal in children with PCD.
- To determine if reduced FeNO in PCD is solely due to impaired iNOS function.
- To assess the utility of variable flow FeNO measurements in differentiating NO production pathways.
Main Methods:
- FeNO was measured at multiple exhalation flow rates (50, 100, 200, 260 ml/sec) in 24 children with PCD and 20 healthy controls.
- Spirometry and medical history were recorded.
- Alveolar NO concentration (Calv) and bronchial NO flux (JNO) were calculated from FeNO measurements.
Main Results:
- Children with PCD exhibited significantly lower FeNO at 50 ml/sec (FeNO50) and reduced bronchial NO flux (JNO) compared to controls.
- Alveolar NO concentration (Calv) was comparable between PCD patients and healthy controls.
- The findings suggest no generalized defect in NO handling in PCD.
Conclusions:
- Normal alveolar NO (Calv) in PCD patients indicates preserved endothelial NOS (eNOS) function.
- Reduced bronchial NO flux (JNO) in PCD supports impaired inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity.
- Variable flow FeNO measurements may differentiate between iNOS and eNOS contributions to NO production.
