Role of nitric oxide in immune responses against viruses: beyond microbicidal activity

Autor(es)

Uehara, Elaine Uchima ^{[1, 2]} ; Shida, Beatriz de Stefano ^[2] ; de Brito, Cyro Alves ^{[2, 3]}

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biomed Sci, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Adolfo Lutz Inst, Ctr Immunol, BR-01246902 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Med, Lab Dermatol & Immunodeficiencies LIM 56, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo de Revisão
• Fonte: Inflammation Research; v. 64, n. 11, p. 845-852, NOV 2015.
• Citações Web of Science: 19

Resumo

Nitric oxide (NO) is a free radical produced during l-arginine metabolism. In addition to its physiological activities in vascular and neuronal functions, its role in the immune system as a microbicide and tumor-killing mediator has been well described, as well as its release by activated macrophages. Furthermore, NO is produced by a variety of immune and non-immune cells and is involved in the regulation of several immune functions, such as T-cell polarization and suppression. Viral infections generally promote NO production; however, according to its concentration, NO can trigger different effector mechanisms in immune responses. NO can activate the second messenger cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), can increase the cytoplasmic p53 tumor suppressor molecule, and can modify host and viral molecules by nitrosylation. Because of its microbicide function, NO has frequently been considered a protective mediator in viral infections; however, in some cases NO could be deleterious, potentiating inflammation or contributing to virus latency. Thus, advances in the knowledge of the role of NO in immunomodulation and in the pathogenesis of viral diseases could contribute not only to the development of vaccines and therapeutic strategies but also to the use of its metabolites (nitrate/nitrite) and the enzyme responsible for its production (iNOS) as prognostic markers of some of these viral infections. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 13/03563-6 - Influência do óxido nítrico na resposta imunológica mediada pela ativação de receptores toll-like em camundongos neonatos
• Beneficiário: Cyro Alves de Brito
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular