We are studying the role of nitric oxide (NO) in inflammation
and host defence. We are also interested in novel NO synthase-independent
means for NO production in biological systems. We believe that the great
sources of NO found in the upper airways and upper gastrointestinal tract
of healthy people have an important role in primary unspecific host defence
and consequently if NO generation is impaired at these sites the mucosal
integrity is also disturbed which may result in disorders such as infection
and gastric ulcers.
Specific interests include studies of the regulation of iNOS expression
in the airways in health and disease, characterisation of NO synthase
independent NO generation from nitrite in the gastrointestinal tract and
in blood and the combined role of NO and prostaglandins in gastric protection.
We hope that an increased knowledge of the factors regulating NO production
in the airways and the gastrointestinal tract can lead to development
of new pharmacological tools to be used in treatment and prevention of
infection and inflammation.
References:
Sobko T, Reinders C, Norin E, Midtvedt T, Gustafsson LE, Lundberg
JO. Gastrointestinal nitric oxide generation in germ-free and conventional
rats. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2004 Nov;287(5):G993-7.
Lundberg JO, Govoni M. Inorganic nitrate is a possible source for systemic
generation of nitric oxide. Free Radic Biol Med. 2004 Aug 1;37(3):395-400.
Lundberg JO, Weitzberg E, Cole JA, Benjamin N. Nitrate, bacteria and human health. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2004 Jul;2(7):593-602.
Bjorne H H, Petersson J, Phillipson M, Weitzberg E, Holm L, Lundberg JO. Nitrite in saliva increases gastric mucosal blood flow and mucus thickness. J Clin Invest. 2004 Jan;113(1):106-14.
Carlsson S, Govoni M, Wiklund NP, Weitzberg E, Lundberg JO. In vitro evaluation of a new treatment for urinary tract infections caused by nitrate-reducing bacteria. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2003 Dec;47 (12):3713-8.
Malmstrom RE, Tornberg DC, Settergren G, Liska J, Angdin M, Lundberg JO, Weitzberg E. Endogenous nitric oxide release by vasoactive drugs monitored in exhaled air. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2003 Jul 1;168(1):114-20.
Lundberg JO, Maniscalco M, Sofia M, Lundblad L, Weitzberg
E. Humming, nitric oxide, and paranasal sinus obstruction. JAMA. 2003 Jan
15;289(3):302-3.
