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Nitric Oxide

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Encyclopedia of Medical Immunology

Synonyms

Endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF); Nitrogen monoxide; Nitrogen oxide; NO; Reactive nitrogen species

Definition

Nitric oxide (NO) is a radical compound formed when a single nitrogen is covalently bonded with a single oxygen (.N = O). Nitric oxide is produced endogenously from the catabolism of L-arginine by a nitric oxide synthase (NOS).

The Janus Nature of Nitric Oxide: Immunotoxicant and Immunomodulator

As for most, if not all, endogenous and exogenous compounds that have differential effects on the immune or any organ system, their dose and time of exposure affect whether the outcome is positive (stimulatory) or negative (inhibitory). Originally described by Venchikov (1960) for biological effect dependent on dose, a chemical, such as iron, can have a wide biological range of effects. Based on the exposure dose, the effects can range from being essential for existence to positive physiologically stimulatory effect, to negative physiological interferences due to...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Immunology, Wadsworth Center New York State Department of Health, 120 New Scotland Avenue, 12208-3425, Albany, NY, USA

    David A. Lawrence

Authors
  1. David A. Lawrence
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to David A. Lawrence .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia

    Ian R. Mackay

  2. Center for Autoimmune Disease Research, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Noel R. Rose

  3. The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA

    Betty Diamond

  4. The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA

    Anne Davidson

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Lawrence, D.A. (2014). Nitric Oxide. In: Mackay, I.R., Rose, N.R., Diamond, B., Davidson, A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Medical Immunology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-84828-0_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-84828-0_16

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-84827-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-84828-0

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