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Christoph V. Suschek, Tankred Schewe, Helmut Sies, Klaus-Dietrich Kröncke

Nitrite, a naturally occurring precursor of nitric oxide that acts like a ‘prodrug’

Keywords: nitrate, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, skin, UVA

There are enzymatic and non-enzymatic mechanisms that generate NO^? from nitrite in blood, stomach, saliva, urine and skin. In blood vessels, nitrite-derived NO^? can provide protection via compensatory vasodilation during hypoxia, and in various body fluids it may have antibacterial activity. In the skin, nitrite-derived NO^? may contribute to skin tanning, as well as to protection against UV-induced cell damage. Current knowledge on nitrite acting like an NO^? ‘prodrug’ is presented, emphasizing the role of nitrite in skin.

Biological Chemistry, Walter de Gruyter

Print ISSN: 1431-6730
Volume: 387, 05/2006
Pages: 499 - 506

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