The role of nitric oxide
1Department of Medicine, Research Group Immunobiology, 2Department of Dermatology and 3Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Correspondence to: Victoria Kolb-Bachofen, Forschungsgruppe Immunbiologie, Med. Fakultaet, Heinrich-Heine-Universitaet, Gebaeude 23.12, Universitaetsstr. 1, D-40225 Duesseldorf. E-mail: bachofen{at}uni-duesseldorf.de
When studying the impact of endothelins (ETs) on physiology and pathophysiology, this needs to be done in the context of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis and action, since these two are closely intertwined in their action. Here, we will review the work demonstrating the crosstalk between endothelin-1 (ET-1) and NO, and the recent developments regarding the role of these two mediators in inflammatory processes. Moreover, we will discuss the role of NO in pro-inflammatory diseases and the potential mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory activity of ET receptor antagonism.