PEROXYNITRITE - A PUTATIVE CYTOTOXIN

In recent years it has become apparent that peroxynitrite, which is on e of the toxic metabolites originating from the reaction of nitric oxi de and superoxide presents a number of pathologic states in which free radicals are thought to be involved. Peroxynitrite is capable of oxid izing a wide variety of biomolecules including plasma, proteins, lipid s, carbohydrates and nucleic acids. Peroxynitrite is involved in the h ydroxylation of aromatic compounds and acts as a nitrating agent. It m odifies free or protein-associated tyrosine residues to give nitrotyro sines, leaving a marker detectable in vivo. Peroxynitrite has been imp licated in the pathophysiology of a variety of diseases including infl ammation, atherosclerosis, arthritis, endotoxemia, ischaemia-reperfusi on injury, or acute respiratory distress syndrome. Development of spec ific per oxynitrite scavengers may provide new approaches for the effe ctive treatment of these disease states.