Mediators: Nitric Oxide and other toxic oxygen species, in pathology of septic shock

Evans, T.J. and Cohen, J. (1996) Mediators: Nitric Oxide and other toxic oxygen species, in pathology of septic shock. In: Pathology of Septic Shock. Springer: Berlin, pp. 189-207. ISBN 978-3-642-80188-4

Abstract

Amongst the many mediators that have been implicated in the pathophysiological changes seen in sepsis and septic shock, nitric oxide (NO) is one of the most recent to be described. Its role in mammalian cell biology is enormous (reviewed in Nathan 1992; Bredt and Snyder 1994), but this chapter focuses on its role in sepsis. While the functions of NO are legion, we concentrate on a few central roles that NO plays in sepsis. In particular, we discuss its hypotensive, cytotoxic, immunomodulatory, cardiovascular, and cerebral effects. In common with other mediators in sepsis there are problems in extending the results obtained in animal models to humans. We therefore discuss the clinical data pertaining to the role of NO in sepsis separately. NO is one example of a potentially toxic oxygen compound, and many others have been identified as possible mediators in sepsis which we do not have space to review. However, it is clear that NO can react with a number of these compounds to generate very toxic molecules, which are described here.

• Item Type: Book Sections
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Evans, Professor Tom
• Authors: Evans, T.J., and Cohen, J.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
• Publisher: Springer
• ISBN: 978-3-642-80188-4