Nitric oxide application for myocardial protection in coronary artery disease

Nitric oxide (NO) is a small free radical with critical signaling roles in physiology and pathophysiology. NO release is necessary to regulate vascular tone and maintain adequate blood flow in all organs. It is known that nitrite reduction pathways under hypoxia supplement conventional NO synthesis by NO synthases. NO signaling pathways are essential for cardiac protection against ischemic-reperfusion injury due to acute myocardial infarction or surgical treatment of coronary artery disease under cardiopulmonary bypass. Impaired mechanisms of NO generation is important cause of cardiovascular disease and target for therapy. Cardiac protective properties of NO, their formation and regulation, as well as opportunities of NO application in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases are reviewed in the article.