title: Myoglobin's novel role in nitrite-induced hypoxic vasodilation.
abstract: Hypoxic vasodilation represents a key physiological response of the cardiovascular system to low tissue oxygen tension, adjusting local blood flow to meet the metabolic requirements in tissue. Vasodilation occurs by nitric oxide (NO) activation of the cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signaling pathway in vascular smooth muscle cells. Under normoxia, NO is formed by the well-known endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) system while under hypoxia NO is generated from nitrite. We have unraveled the heme-protein myoglobin in vascular smooth muscle cells as a major source of NO generation by reduction of endogenous nitrite under hypoxia. This mediates hypoxic vasodilation under physiological conditions without direct involvement of eNOS and independently of effects on cardiac function.
authors: Medical Faculty, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Pulmonology and Vascular Medicine, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Moorenstrasse 5, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors: Ulrike B
authors: UB
authors: Hendgen-Cotta
authors: Medical Faculty, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Pulmonology and Vascular Medicine, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Moorenstrasse 5, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors: Malte
authors: M
authors: Kelm
authors: Medical Faculty, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Pulmonology and Vascular Medicine, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Moorenstrasse 5, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany. Electronic address: Tienush.Rassaf@med.uni-duesseldorf.de.
authors: Tienush
authors: T
authors: Rassaf
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009211:Myoglobin / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014664:Vasodilation
chemical_list: D009211:Myoglobin; D009573:Nitrites; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III