Nitric oxide in the human respiratory cycle.
Interactions of nitric oxide (NO) with hemoglobin (Hb) could regulate the uptake and delivery of oxygen (O(2)) by subserving the classical physiological responses of hypoxic vasodilation and hyperoxic vasconstriction in the human respiratory cycle. Here we show that in in vitro and ex vivo systems as well as healthy adults alternately exposed to hypoxia or hyperoxia (to dilate or constrict pulmonary and systemic arteries in vivo), binding of NO to hemes (FeNO) and thiols (SNO) of Hb varies as a function of HbO(2) saturation (FeO(2)). Moreover, we show that red blood cell (RBC)/SNO-mediated vasodilator activity is inversely proportional to FeO(2) over a wide range, whereas RBC-induced vasoconstriction correlates directly with FeO(2). Thus, native RBCs respond to changes in oxygen tension (pO2) with graded vasodilator and vasoconstrictor activity, which emulates the human physiological response subserving O(2) uptake and delivery. The ability to monitor and manipulate blood levels of NO, in conjunction with O(2) and carbon dioxide, may therefore prove useful in the diagnosis and treatment of many human conditions and in the development of new therapies. Our results also help elucidate the link between RBC dyscrasias and cardiovascular morbidity.
McMahon
Timothy J
TJ
Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Moon
Richard E
RE
Luschinger
Ben P
BP
Carraway
Martha S
MS
Stone
Anne E
AE
Stolp
Bryant W
BW
Gow
Andrew J
AJ
Pawloski
John R
JR
Watke
Paula
P
Singel
David J
DJ
Piantadosi
Claude A
CA
Stamler
Jonathan S
JS
D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000502:physiology; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D018496:Hyperoxia / Q000503:physiopathology; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000098:blood supply*; D014661:Vasoconstriction; D014664:Vasodilation
D006454:Hemoglobins; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D010100:Oxygen