Nitric oxide - a pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediator

NO is an ubiquitous mediator in cardiovascular, nervous and immune systems. Here we briefly review the role of NO in chronic inflammation and septic shock. In particular, we present the evidence that the double nature of NO resulting in its pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory action can be rather explained by oxidant stress environment and formation of secondary products of NO then by a double nature of NO itself.