title: The physiology of S-nitrosothiols: carrier molecules for nitric oxide.
abstract: Recent work has demonstrated that inhalation of nitric oxide (NO) can impact the peripheral vasculature, suggesting that an NO-stabilizing moiety may exist in vivo. One possibility is the formation of S-nitrosothiols, which extend the half-life of NO manyfold. In this review, we provide evidence that S-nitrosothiols exist in the vasculature, particularly during NO inhalation. The potential biochemical pathways that have been proposed for the formation of these products are also summarized. Finally, we highlight the limited evidence for the role that these potent vasodilating molecules may play as physiologically and therapeutically important regulators of the vascular system.
authors.affiliation: Immunology Research Group, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Calgary, Health Sciences Center, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada.
authors.forename: Ella S M
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kubes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D026403:S-Nitrosothiols / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D026403:S-Nitrosothiols; D009569:Nitric Oxide