title: Bronchodilator S-nitrosothiol deficiency in asthmatic respiratory failure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nitric oxide (NO) gas concentrations are high in the expired air of individuals with asthma, but not consistently so in the expired air of people with pneumonia. S-nitrosothiols are naturally occurring bronchodilators, the concentrations of which are raised in the airways of patients with pneumonia. Airway S-nitrosothiols have not been studied in asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tracheal S-nitrosothiol concentrations from eight asthmatic children in respiratory failure were compared with those of 21 children undergoing elective surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean S-nitrosothiol concentrations in asthmatic children were lower than in normal children (65 [SD 45] nmol/L vs 502 [SD 429] nmol/L) and did not vary with inspired oxygen concentration or airway thiol concentration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Severe asthma is associated with low concentrations of airway S-nitrosothiols. This is the first reported deficiency of an endogenous bronchodilator in the human asthmatic airway lining fluid. We suggest that S-nitrosothiol metabolism may be a target for the development of new asthma therapies.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Division, Department of Pediatrics, Naval Medical Center, San Diego, CA, USA. bmg3g@virginia.edu
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gaston
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sears
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ponaman
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Stamler
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008623:Mercaptoethanol; D009603:Nitroso Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology; D026403:S-Nitrosothiols; D014132:Trachea / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009603:Nitroso Compounds; D026403:S-Nitrosothiols; D008623:Mercaptoethanol; C032635:S-nitrosomercaptoethanol