What is Nitric Oxide? And why should I care.

Nitric oxide (nitrogen oxide,[3] nitrogen monoxide)

Nitric oxide or NO has become one of the most studied molecules in the scientific and medical literature.  Although only relatively recently was it discovered to be produced in the human body, the chemical properties of NO gas were first characterized in 1772.  Indeed, there have been over 140,000 publications on NO, more than half of which have appeared in the last 12 years.  NO produced in biological systems has a half-life of less than 1 second and is biologically active in the concentration range from 1-100nM.  Another interesting feature is that NO is lipophilic so that it can readily permeate biological membranes.  The concept of a gas selectively and specifically mediating cell signaling events is unlike the conventional receptor ligand concepts associated with cell signaling. 

These discoveries were so revolutionary that the 1998 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Robert Furchgott, Louis Ignarro, and Ferid Murad, for their discoveries of NO as a signal molecule in the vasculature and specifically in the control of blood pressure. In addition to this role, NO is one of the most important signaling molecules in the body, and is involved in virtually every organ system where it is responsible for modulating an astonishing variety of effects.  NO has been shown to be involved in and affect (just to list a few major examples) neurotransmission, memory, stroke, glaucoma and neural degeneration, pulmonary hypertension, penile erection, angiogenesis, wound healing, atherogenesis, inflammation such as arthritis, nephritis, colitis, autoimmune diseases (diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease), invading pathogens, tumors, asthma, tissue transplantation, septic shock, platelet aggregation and blood coagulation, sickle cell disease, gastrointestinal motility, hormone secretion, gene regulation, hemoglobin delivery of oxygen, insulin signaling and diabetes, stem cell proliferation and differentiation, and bronchodilation.  One can then begin to appreciate then the many consequences of the loss of the production of nitric oxide.

It is the mission of this Society to advance the field of nitric oxide.  There have been many discoveries and innovations in the nitric oxide field with regards to diagnostics and therapeutics.  Many of these discoveries stem from members of the NO Society.  We now have an appreciation for how the body makes NO, what goes wrong in patients or subjects that can’t make NO and through emerging science and research are beginning to understand how to therapeutically fix the underlying problems of NO deficiency.  Although NO is widely recognized and appreciated in the scientific and medical community, there is still very little awareness around NO by patients and consumers.  We will always keep the information on this website up to date with the latest research and breakthroughs in nitric oxide science.

Cardiovascular disease – nitric oxide is the most important molecules produced in our cardiovascular system.  In fact, loss of the production of nitric oxide is recognized as one of the earliest events in the onset and progression of cardiovascular disease.  From high blood pressure, heart failure, coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke, nitric oxide play an essential role in combatting all these conditions

Immune function – when our body is invaded by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi, our working heart and muscles. 

Cancer – nitric oxide appears to play a dual role in cancer.  Low, physiological levels of NO appear to have anti-cancer properties whereas higher concentrations produced for prolonged periods may contribute to cancer cell growth and proliferation.  There is much focus and current research on understanding how NO affects cancer cell growth.

immune system responds by producing massive amounts of nitric oxide acutely to kill these pathogens.  The production and regulation of nitric oxide by our immune system can help keep us free from any chronic infections

Nervous system – nitric oxide is a cell signaling molecule and facilitates communication between cells.  In the nervous system, nitric oxide is a neurotransmitter involved in long term memory and cognition.  Disruption of nitric oxide plays a role in many neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimers and Parkinson Disease.

Physical performance – your ability to generate nitric oxide may predict how well you perform athletically.  Nitric oxide not only controls and regulates blood flow to working skeletal and heart muscles, but also controls how efficiently your mitochondria generate cellular energy from oxygen.  Exercise intolerance in older individuals is due to these people being unable to effectively produce nitric oxide and regulate blood flow to the body. 

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FASEB Societies:
American Association of Anatomists
The American Association of Immunologists  (AAI)
American Physiological Society  (APS)
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology  (ASBMB)
American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
American Society for Clinical Investigation
The American Society of Human Genetics
American Society for Nutrition
American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics  (ASPET)

The Biophysical Society

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Society for Developmental Biology

Federation of European Biochemical Societies

The Foundation Center  Locate private sources for research funding.

GrantsNet  A compendium of funding opportunities for training in the biological and medical sciences

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute

International Cytokine Society

The Physiological Society

The Society For Free Radical Biology and Medicine  (formerly The Oxygen Society)

Oxygen Club of California  Annual meetings, including sessions on NO

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Research America  A US medical research advocacy organization. Only 3 cents of each Health dollar is spent on research; here’s an organization trying to change that.

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