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Review
. 2001 Sep-Nov;52(3-5):189-95.
doi: 10.1080/15216540152845993.

Nitric oxide, mitochondria, and cell death

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Free article
Review

Nitric oxide, mitochondria, and cell death

G C Brown et al. IUBMB Life. 2001 Sep-Nov.
Free article

Abstract

NO or its derivatives (reactive nitrogen species: RNS) have three types of actions on mitochondria: 1) reversible inhibition of mitochondrial respiration at cytochrome oxidase by NO, and irreversible inhibition at multiple sites by RNS; 2) stimulation of mitochondrial production of superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and peroxynitrite by NO; and 3) induction of mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) by RNS. Similarly there are three main roles of mitochondria in NO-induced cell death: a) NO inhibition of respiration can induce necrosis (or excitotoxicity in neurons) and inhibit apoptosis if glycolysis is insufficient to compensate, b) RNS- or oxidant-induced signal transduction or DNA damage may activate the mitochondrial pathway to apoptosis, and c) RNS-induced MPT may induce apoptosis or necrosis.

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