The potential role of the red blood cell in nitrite-dependent regulation of blood flow. Cardiovasc Res 2011 Feb 15;89(3):507-15
Date
10/19/2010Pubmed ID
20952416Pubmed Central ID
PMC3028972DOI
10.1093/cvr/cvq323Scopus ID
2-s2.0-79551483455 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 53 CitationsAbstract
Nitrite was once thought to have little physiological relevance. However, nitrite is now being increasingly recognized as a therapeutic or possibly even physiological precursor of nitric oxide (NO) that is utilized when needed to increase blood flow. It is likely that different mechanisms for nitrite bioconversion occur in different tissues, but in the vascular system, there is evidence that erythrocyte haemoglobin (Hb) is responsible for the oxygen-dependent reduction of nitrite to modulate blood flow. Here, we review the complex chemical interactions of Hb and nitrite and discuss evidence supporting its role in vasodilation. We also discuss ongoing work focused on defining the precise mechanisms for export of NO activity from red blood cells and of other pathways that may mediate nitrite-dependent vasodilation.
Author List
Patel RP, Hogg N, Kim-Shapiro DBAuthor
Neil Hogg PhD Senior Associate Dean, Professor in the Biophysics department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AnimalsErythrocytes
Humans
Nitrites
Regional Blood Flow
Vasodilation
