Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Nitric oxide and macrophage function

J MacMicking1, Q W Xie, C Nathan

  • 1Department of Medicine, Cornell University Medical College, New York, NY 10021, USA.

Annual Review of Immunology
|January 1, 1997
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

[Effect of side-to-end anastomosis on postoperative bowel function in rectal cancer surgery: a prospective single-center randomized controlled trial].

Zhonghua wei chang wai ke za zhi = Chinese journal of gastrointestinal surgery·2025
Same author

Desiccation-induced DNA damage facilitates drug resistance in <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i>.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025
Same author

Cellular blue nevus tumor presenting as a submandibular lymph node in a 16-year-old.

American journal of otolaryngology·2021
Same author

[Clinicopathological features and prognosis in patients with presacral recurrent rectal cancer].

Zhonghua wei chang wai ke za zhi = Chinese journal of gastrointestinal surgery·2020
Same author

[Comparison of clinical efficacy among different surgical methods for presacral recurrent rectal cancer].

Zhonghua wei chang wai ke za zhi = Chinese journal of gastrointestinal surgery·2020
Same author

[Comparative study of functional prognosis of transanal total mesorectal excision and conventional total mesorectal excision based on propensity score matching].

Zhonghua wai ke za zhi [Chinese journal of surgery]·2020
Same journal

The Neuroimmune Circuitry of Peripheral Sensory Neuron Subtypes in Chronic Pain.

Annual review of immunology·2026
Same journal

The Spectrum of Fibroblast Immune Biology.

Annual review of immunology·2026
Same journal

The Molecular Logic of Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain Class Switch Recombination.

Annual review of immunology·2026
Same journal

Decoding Human T Cell Immunity with Artificial Intelligence and Single-Cell Genomics.

Annual review of immunology·2026
Same journal

Immune Niches in Cancer.

Annual review of immunology·2026
Same journal

T Cell Receptor Signaling and Immune Tolerance: From Autoimmunity to Cancer Immunity.

Annual review of immunology·2026
See all related articles

The high-output isoform of nitric oxide synthase (NOS2) is crucial for immune defense, enabling macrophages to fight pathogens and tumors. However, NOS2 also has dual roles, potentially harming host cells during infection and inflammation.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2), also known as inducible NOS (iNOS), is a key enzyme at the innate-adaptive immune interface.
  • NOS2 produces high levels of nitric oxide (NO), a critical signaling molecule in immune responses.
  • Its expression is primarily regulated at the transcriptional level in macrophages.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the structure, regulation, and function of NOS2 in macrophages.
  • To understand the role of NOS2 in host defense against pathogens and tumor cells.
  • To explore the dual protective and destructive nature of NOS2-derived NO.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on NOS2 structure, function, and regulation.
  • Analysis of NOS2 expression patterns in various species and disease states.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Examination of the molecular mechanisms underlying NOS2 catalysis and NO production.

    • Main Results:

    • NOS2 requires complex assembly involving at least 17 binding reactions for dimerization and function.
    • Macrophage NOS2 expression is induced by cytokines and microbial products, independent of elevated intracellular calcium.
    • NOS2 is found in macrophages across diverse species, notably in human monocytes/macrophages during infection or inflammation.

    Conclusions:

    • Sustained NO production by NOS2 equips macrophages with potent antimicrobial and antitumor capabilities.
    • NOS2-mediated NO actions are augmented by other macrophage-derived factors.
    • NOS2 exhibits a duality, protecting against infection while also potentially damaging host cells, mirroring other immune response components.