Role of Nitric Oxide and Its Clinical Applications

Nitric oxide is a colourless gas produced by the human body. The reaction of Nitric Oxide has its importance in various health aspects. The synthesis of the compound is found in various mediating processes such as thunderstorms, lightning, or in the human body. 

The compound has its application in various effects such as:

Environmental effect

The nitric oxide present in the nature reacts with the varying radicals present and thereby finding the compounds that result in the contribution to:

Acid rain

The formation of nitric acid with the reaction of nitric oxide and hyperoxide radical in the environment results in acid rain deposition.

Depletion of Ozone

The ozone layer is the protective layer of the earth and has O_3 in its chemical nature. The nitric oxide in nature reacts with the ozone and forms the dioxygen, thereby forming the deletion of the layer.

Biological effects

The presence of nitric oxide in the human body also finds its clinical application as the compound acts as the signalling molecule. The presence of the molecule mediates varying cascades and is responsible for:

• Formation of cGMP

• Action as the autocrine and paracrine signalling molecule

• Vasodilation and many more.

Characteristics of Nitric Oxide in the applications as Signalling molecule

The discovery of the role of Nitric oxide as the chemical messenger and its significant role in the cardiovascular system dates back to 1987. It showed a shift in the branch of chemical biology. The discovery resulted in Robert Furchgott, Louis Ignarro and Ferid Murad being awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine back in 1998.

The earlier studies of nitric oxide made it considered as a toxic pollutant. The analysis of the uncharged compound with unpaired electron characteristics made the change in the paradigm of the nitric oxide studies.

The nitric oxide molecule is developed with no charge over it. However, the presence of the unpaired electrons contributes to the stabilisation of the compound and its application in the delivery system. 

The presence of the unpaired electrons in the compound makes it suitable to react with only compounds with unpaired electrons. It thus adds to the characteristic that the compound is reactive and non-reactive.

Thus, it can be said that the reaction of the binding of the nitrous oxide with the varying molecules in the cell microenvironment contributes to the clinical significance of the compound. Along with this, the low molecular weight and the lipophilic nature of the compound and the short half-life mediates the biological significance of nitric oxide.

Clinical application of Nitric Oxide

The clinical role of nitric oxide is developed in the cell metabolism and management of tissue with adequate energy supply and cardiovascular homeostasis. The functions of the Nitric oxide in the cell are:

Cellular significance of Nitric oxide

The compound is binding with the electron transport chain in the mitochondria and is responsible for the NO-induced reduction of mitochondrial respiration. It is also found to increase cellular mitochondriogenesis.

The increase in the concentration of nitrous oxide may even result in cell death. 

Significance of Nitric Oxide in Vasodilation

With the increase in the nitric oxide concentration, there has been a lowering of the cytoplasmic calcium concentration with the reduction in the calcium sensitivity of microfibrillar. There has been the formation of the opposition to the vasoconstrictor effect and the formation of the vasodilation. 

The vasodilation of the arteries and veins is based on the endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) activity. The nitric oxide is termed the potent EDRF. 

Nitric oxide is found to have a potent role in vascular function and vascular dysfunction. Many factors limit the working of the endothelial, such as diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and ageing. These factors are responsible for the decreased response to vasodilation with the reduced production of nitric oxide by endothelial cells. 

The development of the reduction in the level of nitric oxide results in the formation of cardiac dysfunctions. The development of fat in the arteries led to the condition of atherosclerosis. The condition arises with the decrease in vasodilation with reduced nitric oxide. 

The reduced nitric oxide forms the basis of chest pain, which is called angina and leads to heart problems such as heart failure. The use of nitric oxide forms the basis for the treatment of the angina pectoris and other cardiac dysfunctions.

Conclusion

Nitric oxide is a gas with the presence of unpaired electrons. The compound is responsible for being involved in environmental and clinical applications. It has its environmental effects with acid rain and ozone depletion. It is also considered important for cellular functioning with the role in the mitochondrial electron transport chain and the skeletal muscle signalling. The development of cardiac dysfunction such as angina pectoris or heart failure, also known as myocardial infarction, is developed with the cells’ reduced nitric oxide production.