Title:Recent Advances on Nitric Oxide in the Upper Airways
Volume: 23
Issue: 24
Author(s): Mauro Maniscalco, Andrea Bianco, Gennaro Mazzarella and Andrea Motta
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Asthma, Inflammation, humming, PCD, polyposis, nose, sinusitis.
Abstract: Exhaled nitric oxide (NO) originates from the upper airways, and
takes action, to varying extents, in regulation, protection and defense, as
well as in noxious processes. Nitric oxide retains important functions in a
wide range of physiological and pathophysiological processes of the human
body, including vaso-regulation, antimicrobial activity, neurotransmission
and respiration. This review article reports the ongoing investigations regarding
the source, biology and relevance of NO within upper respiratory
tract. In addition, we discuss the role of NO, originating from nasal and
paranasal sinuses, in inflammatory disorders such as allergic rhinitis, sinusitis,
primary ciliary dyskinesia, and cystic fibrosis.
