Peroxynitrite: A Putative Cytotoxin

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Abstract
In recent years it has become apparent that peroxynitrite. which is one of the toxic metabolites originating from the reaction of nitric oxide and superoxide presents a number of pathologic states in which free radicals are thought to be involved. Peroxynitrite is capable of oxidizing a wide variety of biomolecules including plasma, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and nucleic acids. Peroxynitrite is involved in the hydroxylation of aromatic compounds and acts as a nitrating agent. It modifies free or protein‐associated tyrosine residues to give nitrotyrosines, leaving a marker detectable in vivo. Peroxynitrite has been implicated in the pathophysiology of a variety of diseases including inflammation, atherosclerosis, arthritis, endotoxemia, ischaemia‐reperfusion injury, or acute respiratory distress syndrome. Development of specific peroxynitrite scavengers may provide new approaches for the effective treatment of these disease states.