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Nitric oxide and its role in lipid peroxidation
Author(s) -
Violi F.,
Marino R.,
Milite M.T.,
Loffredo L.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
diabetes/metabolism research and reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.307
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1520-7560
pISSN - 1520-7552
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1520-7560(199907/08)15:4<283::aid-dmrr42>3.0.co;2-u
Subject(s) - peroxynitrite , lipid peroxidation , chemistry , nitric oxide , superoxide , biochemistry , antioxidant , radical , biophysics , in vitro , biology , organic chemistry , enzyme
Nitric oxide (NO) is a free radical with an unpaired electron in the highest orbital. This is why it behaves as a potential antioxidant agent by virtue of its ability to reduce other molecules. In vitro experiments support this concept inasmuch as NO is able to inhibit lipid peroxidation. However, NO is rapidly inactivated by the superoxide anion (O . 2 ) to form peroxynitrite (ONOO − ), which is a potent oxidant. Therefore, in the presence of O . 2 , NO behaves as a potent pro‐oxidant. This is the mechanism that accounts for the low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation that occurs when NO and O . 2are simultaneously present in the medium. As NO and O . 2are simultaneously released by cells such as endothelial cells, the balance between these two radicals is crucial in understanding the net effect of NO on lipid peroxidation. Thus an excess of NO will favour lipid peroxidation inhibition, while an excess of O . 2or equimolar concentration of NO and O . 2will induce lipid peroxidation. Modulation of this balance may have important clinical implications, particularly in the atherosclerotic process in which oxidant stress seems to play a pivotal role in the onset and progression of vascular lesions. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.