Biologjia Online

When immune cells are exposed to pro-inflammatory cytokines or bacterial endotoxin they initiate transcription of inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS). This results in an increase in cellular nitric oxide (NO), with cytostatic and cytotoxic effects that contribute to facilitate host defense. However, too much NO can be a bad thing; sustained overproduction of NO can cause septic shock resulting in systemic hypotension, organ failure, and even death.