TREATMENTS BASED ON DISCOVERY THAT NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE IS A PARAQUAT DIAPHORASE

摘要

Paraquat has been found to accept electrons from nitric oxide synthase (NOS)
whereupon the reduced paraquat generates toxic O2- and prevents NOS from
giving electrons to arginine and thereby inhibits NO production. This is
generalized for compounds with a redox potential greater than nitric oxide
synthase. The compounds inhibit nitric oxide synthase and kill cells including
NOS by generating O2- and also by depriving the cells of the NO which they
need. Applications include treating paraquat-induced injury and pathologically
proliferating cells (tumors, restenosis benign prostatic hypertrophy,
pulmonary hypertension, infective pathogens).