Could carbon monoxide and bilirubin be friends as well as foes of the body?
Endogenous carbon monoxide (CO) production was first described 60 years ago. CO is a by-product of the metabolism of haeme to biliverdin. This, in turn, becomes bilirubin. During the past 15 years epidemiological studies and animal experiments have identified bilirubin as a molecule at the crossroads of the protection of the body against reactive oxygen species (ROS). The studies have focused on bilirubin as a biomarker of arterial disease. Recently the potential of CO as a therapeutic agent has been explored. This review assesses the current state of evidence and sets the data in the context of whether CO is an endogenous signalling molecule, a marker of vascular disease and, whether, together with bilirubin, CO could be a potential therapeutic agent.
Breimer
Lars H
LH
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry Unit, Orebro University Hospital, Orebro, Sweden. lars.breimer@orebroll.se
Mikhailidis
Dimitri P
DP
D000818:Animals; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000378:metabolism*; D001664:Biliverdine / Q000378:metabolism; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002249:Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism
D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D001664:Biliverdine; D001663:Bilirubin