Prediction of nitric oxide concentrations during inflammation and carcinogenesis

[摘要] (cont.) Our model may offer some insight into the role NO plays in the metastasis of cutaneous melanomas, which occurs primarily through lymphatic spread. At the melanoma edge, NO may inhibit melanoma cell apoptosis, contributing to abnormal tumor growth and invasion of local lymph vessels or NO may act as a lymphangiogenic factor. The colonic crypt model and the cutaneous melanoma model developed in this work provide the first NO concentration predictions for tissues during inflammation. Despite the different geometries and different cell types involved, the maximum values estimated in both cases were - 0.2 [mu]M. The results from this work can be used for predicting intracellular levels of other reactive nitrogen species, and should help guide further studies to understand the mechanisms by which NO contributes to carcinogenesis in IBD and in cutaneous melanomas.

[发布机构] Massachusetts Institute of Technology