Arginine metabolism in asthma

Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2014 Nov;34(4):767-75. doi: 10.1016/j.iac.2014.07.007. Epub 2014 Aug 19.

Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) is important in the regulation of airway tone and airway responsiveness. Alterations in the L-arginine metabolism resulting in reduced availability of the substrate L-arginine for NO synthases, as well as the presence of NO synthase inhibitors such as asymmetric dimethylarginine, contribute to the reduced NO formation and airway dysfunction in asthma. Therapeutic interventions aiming to modulate the impaired L-arginine metabolism may help correct the enhanced airway tone and responsiveness in asthma.

Keywords: ADMA; Agmatine; Arginase; Arginine metabolism; Citrulline; Nitric oxide synthase; Ornithine; Polyamine.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Arginine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Arginine / metabolism
  • Asthma / drug therapy
  • Asthma / metabolism*
  • Bronchial Hyperreactivity / drug therapy
  • Bronchial Hyperreactivity / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents
  • N,N-dimethylarginine
  • Arginine
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase