Carbon monoxide and vascular cell function (review).

  • Authors:
    • W Durante
    • A I Schafer
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: September 1, 1998     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2.3.255
  • Pages: 255-317
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Abstract

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an endogenously generated gas that may play an important physiological role in the circulation. CO is generated by vascular cells as a byproduct of heme catabolism, in which heme oxygenase (HO) catalyzes the degradation of heme to biliverdin, iron and CO. Two distinct isoforms of HO have been identified in vascular tissue. The HO-2 isoform is constitutively expressed and likely mediates the release of CO under normal physiologic conditions. In contrast, the HO-1 isoform is strongly induced in vascular cells by various stress-associated agents and markedly increases CO synthesis during pathological conditions. The release of CO by vascular cells exerts both paracrine and autocrine effects on vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) and circulating blood cells. CO regulates blood flow and blood fluidity by inhibiting vasomotor tone, SMC proliferation, and platelet aggregation. These vascular effects of CO are mediated via the activation of soluble guanylate cyclase and the consequent rise in intracellular guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate levels in target tissues. CO may also play a role in various cardiovascular disorders, including endotoxin shock, ischemia-reperfusion, hypertension, and subarachnoid hemorrhage. This review will focus on the recent progress made in understanding the regulation and function of CO in the vasculature.

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Sep 1998
Volume 2 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

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Spandidos Publications style
Durante W and Durante W: Carbon monoxide and vascular cell function (review).. Int J Mol Med 2: 255-317, 1998
APA
Durante, W., & Durante, W. (1998). Carbon monoxide and vascular cell function (review).. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 2, 255-317. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2.3.255
MLA
Durante, W., Schafer, A."Carbon monoxide and vascular cell function (review).". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 2.3 (1998): 255-317.
Chicago
Durante, W., Schafer, A."Carbon monoxide and vascular cell function (review).". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 2, no. 3 (1998): 255-317. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2.3.255