内源性一氧化氮在急性高原病中的研究进展

1一氧化氮(nitric oxide,NO)与内源性一氧化氮(endogenous NO,eNO) NO是具有调节血管张力、血流等众多生物学作用的脂溶性气体信号分子,eNO是由L-精氨酸(L-arginine,L-Arg)经过体内一氧化氮合酶nitric oxide synthase,NOS;主要有神经源型(neuronal NOS,nNOS)、诱导型(inducible NOS,iNOS)和内皮源型(endothelial NOS,eNOS)3种]催化合成的,广泛存在于全身组织1].NO通过一些生物分子和细胞间相互作用参与机体的保护、调节及逆转等生理过程2].近年来的研究发现NO在调节血管张力、抑制炎症以及抗动脉粥样硬化中发挥关键作用1-2].

Roles of endogenous nitric oxide in acute mountain sickness

Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is the greatest challenge of military medicine and wilderness medicine, as the increasing populations of entering Tibet and others who rapidly ascend to high altitude. AMS is considered as a kind of vascular dysfunction and disequilibrium of body fluid diseases induced by environmental stress. Studies reveal that endogenous nitric oxide (NO), a predominant endogenous vessel dilator, plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of AMS. The decreased production and blocked delivery of NO cause dysfunction of the vascular system in hypoxic situations. Subsequently, AMS develops under the facilitations of alterations in brain and pulmonary blood vessels. NO or L-arginine (the precursor of NO) can also be used to prevent and treat AMS. This review will summarize the progress on the roles of NO in the pathogenesis, pathophysiology, treatment and prophylaxis of AMS.