Takaharu Ueno and Tetsuhiko Yoshimura*
Division of Bioinorganic Chemistry, Institute for Life Support Technology,
Yamagata Technopolis Foundation,
2-2-1 Matsuei, Yamagata 990-2473, Japan
*ĘTo whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract: Nitric oxide (NO) is recognized as an endogenous mediator
of vascular tone, a neurotransmitter and an immune effector molecule. Furthermore,
it has been implicated in the development of various diseases. Because NO
is extremely labile in the biological milieu, its activities can be effected
not only by NO itself but also by relatively stable physiologic NO carriers
or NO donors. Dinitrosyl iron complexes have been recognized as endogenous
NO carrier molecules as well as S-nitrosothiols. The complex has
been found in cells and the tissues of mammals and bacteria via its readily
detectable, characteristic electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signals.
Endogenously produced dinitrosyl iron complex with thiolate ligands (DNIC)
has a critical biological potential; and it can function as a physiologic
regulatory factor in a biological system, especially the immune and cardiovascular
systems. We have been studying the in vivo behavior and distribution of
DNIC to elucidate its physiological roles and pharmacokinetics. In this
article, an attempt is made to provide an overview of the history, physiology
and in vivo behavior of DNIC.
Keywords: Nitric oxide (NO), Dinitrosyl iron complex, Dinitrosyl dithiolato
iron complex, NO carrier,
NO donor, S-Nitrosothiol