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Published on: November 24, 2017
Nitrogen Oxide in Host Defense against Parasites
1Laboratoire associe INRA de Physiopathologie et Toxicologie Experimentales, Ecole Nationale Veterinaire de Toulouse, 23 chemin des Capelles, Toulouse Cedex, 31076, France
Nitric oxide (NO), produced by inducible NO synthase (iNOS), mediates antimicrobial and antitumoral activity. Its role in parasitic infection protection in vivo and in human macrophages remains under investigation.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Nitric oxide (NO) is a versatile molecule involved in vasodilation, neurotransmission, inflammation, and immunity.
- NO production by cytokine-activated cells is crucial for antimicrobial and antitumoral activities, mediated by inducible NO synthase (iNOS).
- iNOS expression and activity are tightly regulated by various cytokines, with some inducing and others inhibiting its function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the role of nitric oxide (NO) in parasitic infection.
- To investigate the in vitro and in vivo correlation between NO production and antiparasitic activity.
- To address the controversial presence of the iNOS pathway in human monocyte/macrophages.
Main Methods:
- Review of in vitro experiments demonstrating NO production by cytokine-activated rodent cells.
- Analysis of studies correlating in vitro NO generation with antiparasitic activity.
- Examination of research on iNOS expression in human cells, including hepatocytes and monocyte/macrophages.
Main Results:
- In vitro studies confirm NO production by cytokine-activated rodent cells as a mediator of antimicrobial and antitumoral activity.
- A strong correlation exists between antiparasitic activity and NO production by cytokine-activated cells in vitro.
- While human hepatocytes express iNOS, its presence in human monocyte/macrophages is debated.
Conclusions:
- Nitric oxide (NO) plays a significant role in innate immunity, particularly in mediating antimicrobial and antitumoral responses via iNOS.
- The in vivo relevance of NO in protection against parasitic infections requires further investigation.
- The functionality of the iNOS pathway in human monocyte/macrophages remains a critical area of ongoing research and controversy.
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