NITRIC OXIDE-MEDIATED MITOCHONDRIAL DAMAGE IN THE BRAIN - MECHANISMS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES

Citation
Jp. Bolanos et al., NITRIC OXIDE-MEDIATED MITOCHONDRIAL DAMAGE IN THE BRAIN - MECHANISMS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES, Journal of neurochemistry, 68(6), 1997, pp. 2227-2240
Citations number
177
Categorie Soggetti
Biology,Neurosciences
Journal title
ISSN journal
00223042
Volume
68
Issue
6
Year of publication
1997
Pages
2227 - 2240
Database
ISI
SICI code
0022-3042(1997)68:6<2227:NOMDIT>2.0.ZU;2-#
Abstract
Within the CNS and under normal conditions, nitric oxide ((NO)-N-.) ap pears to be an important physiological signalling molecule. Its abilit y to increase cyclic GMP concentration suggests that (NO)-N-. is impli cated in the regulation of important metabolic pathways in the brain. Under certain circumstances (NO)-N-. synthesis may be excessive and (N O)-N-. may become neurotoxic. Excessive glutamate-receptor stimulation may lead to neuronal death through a mechanism implicating synthesis of both (NO)-N-. and superoxide (O-2(.)-) and hence peroxynitrite (ONO O-) formation. In response to lipopolysaccharide and cytokines, glial cells may also be induced to synthesize large amounts of (NO)-N-., whi ch may be deleterious to the neighbouring neurones and oligodendrocyte s. The precise mechanism of (NO)-N-. neurotoxicity is not fully unders tood. One possibility is that it may involve neuronal energy deficienc y. This may occur by ONOO- interfering with key enzymes of the tricarb oxylic acid cycle, the mitochondrial respiratory chain, mitochondrial calcium metabolism, or DNA damage with subsequent activation: of the e nergy-consuming pathway involving poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase. Possibl e mechanisms whereby ONOO- impairs the mitochondrial respiratory chain and the relevance for neurotoxicity are discussed. The intracellular content of reduced glutathione also appears important in determining t he sensitivity of cells to ONOO- production. It is concluded that neur otoxicity elicited by excessive (NO)-N-. production may be mediated by mitochondrial dysfunction leading to an energy deficiency state.