Volume 1465, Issue 1 p. 10-28
CONCISE REVIEW

Impact of nitric oxide's bidirectional role on glaucoma: focus on Helicobacter pylori–related nitrosative stress

Apostolis Papaefthymiou

Apostolis Papaefthymiou

Department of Gastroenterology, 401 General Military Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece

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Michael Doulberis

Michael Doulberis

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

Department of Internal Medicine, Second Medical Clinic, Ippokration Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece

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Panagiotis Katsinelos

Panagiotis Katsinelos

Department of Internal Medicine, Second Medical Clinic, Ippokration Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece

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Christos Liatsos

Christos Liatsos

Department of Gastroenterology, 401 General Military Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece

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Stergios A. Polyzos

Stergios A. Polyzos

Department of Internal Medicine, Second Medical Clinic, Ippokration Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece

First Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece

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Georgios Kotronis

Georgios Kotronis

Department of Internal Medicine, Agios Pavlos General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece

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Katerina Papanikolaou

Katerina Papanikolaou

Department of Internal Medicine, Second Medical Clinic, Ippokration Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece

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Jannis Kountouras

Corresponding Author

Jannis Kountouras

Department of Internal Medicine, Second Medical Clinic, Ippokration Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece

Address for correspondence: Professor Jannis Kountouras, Department of Internal Medicine, Second Medical Clinic, Ippokration Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54642, Macedonia, Greece. [email protected], [email protected]Search for more papers by this author
First published: 23 October 2019
Citations: 8

Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO), a small molecule generated ubiquitously, targets a plethora of tissues to regulate both physiological and pathophysiological functions. NO overproduction, stimulated by microenvironmental conditions, is the main component that dysregulates the tight balance between its beneficial and damaging roles in ocular homeostasis. Considering the protective functions of NO against glaucoma, its endogenous release facilitates aqueous humor drainage and regulates ocular blood flow, maintaining a normal intraocular pressure. NO overproduction generates free radicals, such as peroxynitrite, which induce a vicious circle of vascular disharmony and dysregulation, transient ischemia, nitrosative stress, neuronal degeneration, and permanent glaucomatic injury. Helicobacter pylori (Hp) is considered a burdening factor of glaucoma. NO overproduction and possible systematic dispersion in Hp infection (Hp-I) could suggest a potential pathophysiological bridge between these conditions. In this review, we aim to elucidate the role of NO in glaucoma with respect to Hp-I, with the aim to stimulate further studies.