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Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Chemiluminescence-based Assays for Detection of Nitric Oxide and its Derivatives from Autoxidation and Nitrosated Compounds
Published on: February 16, 2022
Nitric oxide and protection against cardiac ischemia
Zhengyuan Xia1, Paul M Vanhoutte
1Department of Anesthesiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. zyxia@hkucc.hku.hk
Abstract:
Nitric oxide (NO) is produced in almost all tissues and it exerts a variety of biological actions under both physiological and pathological conditions. It is synthesized by three distinct enzymes: endothelial (eNOS), neuronal (nNOS) and inducible (iNOS) nitricoxide synthases. NO is a cardioprotective mediator in powerful cardioprotective processes such as pre- and post-conditioning ischemia;they operate largely in a NO-dependent manner. However, the activity of different NOSs isoforms as well as, the bioavailability of NO can be affected by a variety of disease conditions (in particular diabetes) and pathological situations associated with significantly elevated levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). These adversely affect NO-signaling, as well as the efficacy and safety of treatments with NO or NO-containing agents.
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