Nitric oxide--a newly discovered chemical transmitter in human skin

Nitric oxide (NO) is synthesized by many cells in the body. Low concentrations of NO have homeostatic roles in the circulation and nervous system, whereas high concentrations are biocidal, cytocidal and have immunomodulatory roles. The place of NO in the skin has recently become the focus of much attention, and this review highlights studies on the part played by NO in health and disease.