Nitric Oxide Increases Mitomycin-C Cytotoxicity by Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species and Induces Cell Death by Apoptosis in FancC-/- Cells

Abstract

Fanconi Anemia (FA) is a rare genetic disorder and patients of FA exhibit progressive bone marrow failure, developmental defects and cancer predisposition. Mitochondrial dysfunction due to oxidative stress and higher levels of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) has been well documented in FA. Increase in the levels of Reactive Nitrogen Species (RNS) and Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS) activity is often correlated with OS- related disorders which have altered mitochondrial function. Biological effects of Nitric Oxide (NO) and nitrosative stress depend on the cell type, concentration of NO, the time of incubation and cellular homeostasis. NO is known to have both prooncogenic as well as tumour -suppressing effects which are a result of regulation of S- nitrosylation, genome wide epigenetic changes and posttranslational modification of protein. NO plays strategic roles in metabolic and signalling pathways, making NO metabolism a key mediator in pathways that are responsible for supporting tumorigenesis. NO is also known to have important regulatory roles in the process of autophagy, which is an important mediator in the cross-talk with ROS and RNS. In the present study, we examined the interaction between ROS and NO, induction of apoptosis by NO and the possible role of NO in the pathogenesis of FA. Investigating the involvement of NO and NS and their interactions with the known hallmarks of FA will give a more comprehensive understanding of pathogenesis of FA.