Cited by 203Nitric Oxide and Endothelin EffectsHemoglobin structure and functionRedox biology and oxidative stress

Mechanisms Underlying Erythrocyte and Endothelial Nitrite Reduction to Nitric Oxide in Hypoxia: Role for Xanthine Oxidoreductase and Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase

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Webb, Andrew J., Milsom, Alexandra B., Rathod, Krishnaraj S., Chu, Wai Lum, Qureshi, Shehla, Lovell, Matthew J., Lecomte, Florence M.J., Perrett, David +7 more·2008·Circulation Research

Abstract

Reduction of nitrite (NO 2−) provides a major source of nitric oxide (NO) in the circulation, especially in hypoxemic conditions. Our previous studies suggest that xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) is an important nitrite reductase in the heart and kidney. Herein, we have demonstrated that conversion of nitrite to NO by blood vessels and RBCs was enhanced in the presence of the XOR substrate xanthine (10 μmol/L) and attenuated by the XOR inhibitor allopurinol (100 μmol/L) in acidic and hypoxic conditions only. Whereas endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) inhibition had no effect on vascular nitrite reductase activity, in RBCs L-NAME, L-NMMA, and l-arginine inhibited nitrite-derived NO production by >50% (P<0.01) at pH 7.4 and 6.8 under hypoxic conditions. Western blot and immunohistochemical analysis of RBC membranes confirmed the presence of eNOS and abundant XOR on whole RBCs. Thus, XOR and eNOS are ideally situated on the membranes of RBCs and blood vessels to generate intravascular vasodilator NO from nitrite during ischemic episodes. In addition to the proposed role of deoxyhemoglobin, our findings suggest that the nitrite reductase activity within the circulation, under hypoxic conditions (at physiological pH), is mediated by eNOS; however, as acidosis develops, a substantial role for XOR becomes evident.

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Crossref · 10.1161/circresaha.108.175810

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  • Other medications, including XOR inhibitors (e.g., allopurinol) and drugs that affect salivary flow or gastrointestinal motility, may further modify nitrate bioactivation.

    “Other medications, including xanthine oxidase (XOR) inhibitors (e.g., allopurinol) and drugs that affect salivary flow or gastrointestinal motility, may further modify nitrate bioactivation [17,272].”

    From Dietary Nitrate-Rich Vegetables as Natural Modulators of Health: Mechanisms and Benefits in Ageing Populations (2026) · cites this paper as [272]

    The Results (Blood vessel nitrite reductase activity; RBC nitrite reductase activity, pages unavailable) show that allopurinol inhibited nitrite-derived NO production under acidic, hypoxic experimental conditions, supporting the point about XOR inhibitors. The paper does not address drugs affecting salivary flow or gastrointestinal motility, or show their effects on nitrate bioactivation; its experiments concern nitrite reduction. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The process of nitrite limiting intimal hyperplasia was dependent on xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR).

    “Furthermore, the process was demonstrated to be dependent on xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR)”

    From Vascular effects of dietary nitrate (as found in green leafy vegetables and beetroot) via the nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide pathway (2013) · cites this paper as [125]

    The Discussion section on blood-vessel XOR-dependent nitrite reduction reports that inhibiting XOR reduced nitrite reductase activity, supporting a role for XOR in converting nitrite to nitric oxide. The paper does not address whether nitrite limits intimal hyperplasia or whether that effect depends on XOR; searches for intimal hyperplasia and neointimal proliferation found no such result. The indexed passages have no page numbers. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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  • eNOS can bioactivate nitrite under anoxic and/or acidic conditions.

    “eNOS can also bioactivate nitrite under anoxic and/or acidic conditions.102,103”
  • A similar pathway exists in the pulmonary vasculature in which mitochondria-generated oxidants signal hypoxic vasoconstriction.

    “A similar pathway exists in the pulmonary vasculature in which mitochondria-generated oxidants signal the conserved phenomenon of hypoxic vasoconstriction (995).”
  • Other proposed nitrite reductases catalyzing NO formation from nitrite under hypoxic conditions are carbonic anhydrase, xanthine oxidase, or eNOS, which are all present in RBCs.

    “Other proposed nitrite reductases catalyzing NO formation from nitrite under hypoxic conditions are carbonic anhydrase (1), xanthine oxidase (68), or eNOS (189), which are all present in RBCs.”

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Authors
Webb, A. J., Milsom, A. B., Rathod, K. S., Chu, W. L., Qureshi, S., Lovell, M. J., Lecomte, F. M. J., Perrett, D., Raimondo, C., Khoshbin, E., Ahmed, Z., Uppal, R., Benjamin, N., Hobbs, A. J., & Ahluwalia, A.
Affiliations
St Bartholomew's Hospital (GB)
Venue
Circulation Research
Published
2008-10-24
Volume
103
Issue
9
Pages
957-964
ISSN
  • 0009-7330 (ISSN-L)
  • 1524-4571
OpenAlex
W2158124791
Cited by
203
References
47
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 19
FWCI
8.12
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Circulation Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Wellcome Trust (067422)
  • British Heart Foundation
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nitric Oxide and Endothelin Effects
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Hemoglobin structure and function
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Redox biology and oxidative stress
Keywords
nitrite reduction, nitric oxide, hypoxia, xanthine oxidoreductase, erythrocytes, endothelial nitric oxide synthase, allopurinol, acidosis, L-arginine, L-NMMA, L-NAME, vasodilation, ischemia, deoxyhemoglobin, blood vessels
MeSH terms
Allopurinol, Animals, Aorta, Arginine, Cells, Cultured, Enzyme Inhibitors, Erythrocytes, Fluorometry, Humans, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Male, Nitric Oxide, Nitrite Reductases, Nitrites, Oxidation-Reduction, Xanthine Dehydrogenase, Cell Hypoxia, Rats, Wistar, omega-N-Methylarginine, NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester, Xanthine, Endothelial Cells, Rats, Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II, Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III

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