Peroxynitrite and cardiomyocyte cell death: An evolving story A commentary on 'Peroxynitrite is a major trigger of cardiomyocyte apoptosis in vitro and in vivo'

摘要

Peroxynitrite is a potent biological oxidant formed from the near-diffusion limited reaction between superoxide and nitric oxide . Increasing evidence supports the role of peroxynitrite generation as a pivotal mechanism of cell dysfunction and cell death in a number of pathological conditions, including diabetes , ischemia-reperfusion injury , atherosclerosis , neurodegeneration , and circulatory shock . Peroxynitrite can produce considerable damage to most cellular components either directly, via one- or two-electron oxidations, or indirectly, via the generation of free radicals formed during peroxynitrite homolysis (yielding OH* and NO2 radicals) or from its reaction with carbon dioxide (yielding CO3- and NO2 radicals) [1,7]. Oxidation of proteins (primarily on cysteine-bound thiols), lipids, and DNA and nitration of protein tyrosine residues represent the major toxic consequences of peroxynitrite in biological systems