Nitric Oxide Synthase 2
HEP-NOS
INOS
NOS2A
NOS
Nitric Oxide Synthase 2A (Inducible, Hepatocytes)
Peptidyl-Cysteine S-Nitrosylase NOS2
Nitric Oxide Synthase 2, Inducible
Nitric Oxide Synthase, Inducible
Inducible NO Synthase
Hepatocyte NOS
Inducible NOS
EC 1.14.13.39
Nitric Oxide Synthase, Macrophage
NOS, Type II
NOS Type II
Nitric oxide is a reactive free radical which acts as a biologic mediator in several processes, including neurotransmission and antimicrobial and antitumoral activities. This gene encodes a nitric oxide synthase which is expressed in liver and is inducible by a combination of lipopolysaccharide and certain cytokines. Three related pseudogenes are located within the Smith-Magenis syndrome region on chromosome 17. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]
Forensic Context
A study in mice demonstrated that hyperoxia exposure significantly downregulated the NOS2 mRNA level, suggesting a serious risk of pulmonary collapse due to loss of lung surfactant production [Shimada et al. DOI:10.1007/S00414-008-0226-6]. In human burn patients, early decreased expression of the NOS2 gene in peripheral blood mononuclear cells correlated with burn severity, autograft failure, and infection, and its expression ratio with ARG1 significantly correlated with clinical outcomes including acute lung injury [Mahung et al. DOI:10.1097/TA.0000000000003602]. A study in human postmortem cardiac tissue demonstrated that the NOS2 mRNA expression is significantly increased in the affected regions of myocardial infarction (MI) hearts compared to healthy controls, indicating its role in oxidative stress and tissue injury [Wilmes et al. DOI:10.1007/S00414-019-02051-Y]. Further research in human MI hearts confirmed this significant upregulation and revealed a stronger, significant correlation between the NOS2 and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) mRNA specifically in affected regions, suggesting pathological transcription regulation during infarction [Wilmes et al. DOI:10.1007/S00414-020-02311-2].