Abstract
In 1986, nitric oxide (NO) was identified as a powerful vasodilating agent in the cardiovascular system. This was a revolutionary finding because it had never been shown that a gaseous molecule could function as a messenger or an effector in the body. The importance of NO's role in our understanding of human health and disease was recognized in 1998 when the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to three scientists who made fundamental contributions to our understanding of this remarkable molecule. As a molecule with a myriad of activities, NO may be involved in the development and progression of pediatric kidney diseases. However, the “NO status” in young subjects and appropriate methods for its measurement remain to be defined. This review attempts to highlight the recent progress in our understanding of the cellular and molecular pathways of NO that has led to current or potential future therapies involving NO. It also suggests the direction of future researches that can be recommended for Japanese pediatricians.
