title: Vasoactive properties of CORM-3, a novel water-soluble carbon monoxide-releasing molecule.
abstract: 1 Carbon monoxide (CO), one of the end products of heme catabolism by heme oxygenase, possesses antihypertensive and vasodilatory characteristics. We have recently discovered that certain transition metal carbonyls are capable of releasing CO in biological fluids and modulate physiological functions via the delivery of CO. Because the initial compounds identified were not water soluble, we have synthesized new CO-releasing molecules that are chemically modified to allow solubility in water. The aim of this study was to assess the vasoactive properties of tricarbonylchloro(glycinato)ruthenium(II) (CORM-3) in vitro and in vivo. 2 CORM-3 produced a concentration-dependent relaxation in vessels precontracted with phenylephrine, exerting significant vasodilatation starting at concentrations of 25-50 microm. Inactive CORM-3, which does not release CO, did not affect vascular tone. 3 Blockers of ATP-dependent potassium channels (glibenclamide) or guanylate cyclase activity (ODQ) considerably reduced CORM-3-dependent relaxation, confirming that potassium channels activation and cGMP partly mediate the vasoactive properties of CO. In fact, increased levels of cGMP were detected in aortas following CORM-3 stimulation. 4 The in vitro and in vivo vasorelaxant activities of CORM-3 were further enhanced in the presence of YC-1, a benzylindazole derivative which is known to sensitize guanylate cyclase to activation by CO. Interestingly, inhibiting nitric oxide production or removing the endothelium significantly decreased vasodilatation by CORM-3, suggesting that factors produced by the endothelium influence CORM-3 vascular activities. 5 These results, together with our previous findings on the cardioprotective functions of CORM-3, indicate that this molecule is an excellent prototype of water-soluble CO carriers for studying the pharmacological and biological features of CO.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Biology Unit, Department of Surgical Research, Northwick Park Institute for Medical Research, Harrow, Middlesex. r.foresti@imperial.ac.uk
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Foresti
authors.forename: Jehad
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hammad
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Tony R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Brian E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Friebe
authors.forename: Colin J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Motterlini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; C476530:tricarbonylchloro(glycinato)ruthenium(II); D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase; D006152:Cyclic GMP; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester