ABSTRACT
Mitochondrial metabolism is essential for aerobic organisms and as such is a potential target for the removal of either cancerous cells or parasites. The cell most frequently employed in this role is the macrophage and as part of its cyto toxic armamentarium it produces free radicals, notably nitric oxide (NO), and superoxide (0 2“). A theme we will explore in this article is how the independent and cooperative interaction of these two free radicals plays a role in cell death and inflammation. An interesting aspect that only now is emerging is that the effects of NO on mitochondria may not be restricted to the pathological interac tions of inflammatory cells but may also extend to the physiology of respiration.
