Role of Reduced Nitric Oxide in Liver Cell Apoptosis Inhibition During Liver Damage.

Hepatic injury is a major event in liver surgery and may lead to liver cell apoptosis. Nitric oxide (NO) is an unstable, carbon-centered radical with a short half-time and a key role in molecular signaling. Increasing evidence demonstrates that NO plays an important role in the liver cell apoptosis caused by hepatic ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury and other liver damage. Our recent article summarized the association between elevated nitric oxide levels and hepatic cell apoptosis during liver injury. This article reviews the newest research progress for the relationship between decreased nitric oxide levels and hepatic cell apoptosis inhibition during liver injury. It is shown that decreased NO level can influence liver apoptosis by promoting or inhibiting the signaling pathway involving the caspase family, BCL-2, mitochondria, oxidative stress, death receptors, and mitogen activated protein kinases, etc. This review outlines the literature basis for clinical application of anti-apoptosis treatment to relieve organ injury following liver surgery. NO-related drugs appear to be helpful in clinical treatment of liver diseases.