A tale of two gases: NO and H(2)S, foes or friends for life?()

Nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) have emerged as dominant redox regulators of numerous aspects of cellular and physiological functions within several organ systems included cardiovascular, immune and neurological tissues. Recent studies have begun to reveal that these two gaseous molecules may have redundant or overlapping pathophysiological functions often involving similar molecular targets. However, it remains less clear when and how NO and H(2)S may interact under biological and disease processes. In this graphical review, we discuss the current understanding of NO and H(2)S interactions and how they may functionally influence each other and what this may mean for biology and mechanisms of disease.