The role of NO in COVID-19 and potential therapeutic strategies

Wanyi Fang; Jingrui Jiang; Lei Su; Tong Shu; Huan Liu; Shenghan Lai; Reza A Ghiladi; Jun Wang

doi:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.12.008

The role of NO in COVID-19 and potential therapeutic strategies

Free Radic Biol Med. 2021 Feb 1:163:153-162. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.12.008. Epub 2020 Dec 22.

Authors

Wanyi Fang¹, Jingrui Jiang², Lei Su³, Tong Shu³, Huan Liu¹, Shenghan Lai⁴, Reza A Ghiladi⁵, Jun Wang⁶

Affiliations

¹ National 111 Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Department of Biomedicine and Biopharmacology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
² National 111 Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
³ School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
⁴ Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Maryland, USA.
⁵ Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, North Carolina, USA.
⁶ National 111 Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Department of Biomedicine and Biopharmacology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China. Electronic address: jun_wang@hbut.edu.cn.

PMID: 33347987
PMCID: PMC7754882
DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.12.008

Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) is a free radical playing an important pathophysiological role in cardiovascular and immune systems. Recent studies reported that NO levels were significantly lower in patients with COVID-19, which was suggested to be closely related to vascular dysfunction and immune inflammation among them. In this review, we examine the potential role of NO during SARS-CoV-2 infection from the perspective of the unique physical, chemical and biological properties and potential mechanisms of NO in COVID-19, as well as possible therapeutic strategies using inhaled NO. We also discuss the limits of NO treatment, and the future application of this approach in prevention and therapy of COVID-19.

Keywords: Anti-inflammation; Anti-viral; COVID-19; Nitric oxide; Vasodilation.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Administration, Inhalation
Anti-Inflammatory Agents / blood
Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use*
Anticoagulants / blood
Anticoagulants / therapeutic use*
Antiviral Agents / blood
Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
COVID-19 / blood
COVID-19 / pathology
COVID-19 / virology
COVID-19 Drug Treatment*
Endothelial Cells / drug effects
Endothelial Cells / pathology
Endothelial Cells / virology
Humans
Inflammation
Lung / blood supply
Lung / drug effects*
Lung / virology
Mitochondria / drug effects
Mitochondria / virology
Nitric Oxide / blood
Nitric Oxide / therapeutic use*
SARS-CoV-2 / drug effects
SARS-CoV-2 / pathogenicity
Severity of Illness Index
Vasodilation / drug effects

Substances

Anti-Inflammatory Agents
Anticoagulants
Antiviral Agents
Nitric Oxide