Focus
Nitrite research has reached the point of breakthroughs in the understanding of its role as a "hypoxic buffer" regulating vasodilation, cellular biology, and mitrochrondrial respiration, and modulating ischemic tissue injury. In addition, nitrite-based therapeutics offer promise in the treatment of a wide variety of human diseases characterized by tissue ischemia and regional or systemic hypoxia. It is now appreciated that the nitrite anion, found in plasma, erythrocytes, and other tissues, is converted to nitric oxide (NO) during physiological hypoxia and acidosis through a variety of mechanisms spanning the entire spectrum of low-oxygen states. This may modulate vasodilation, metabolism, and oxygen use during hypoxia. The central question has been whether this reaction occurs under physiological conditions, i.e., whether nitrite found in the body is a bioavailable pool for graded conversion to NO under hypoxic conditions. Evidence of nitrite's abundance in relevant tissues, its relative stability, and, particularly, its selective reaction with deoxyhemoglobin, deoxymyoglobin and other oxygen-binding heme proteins suggests that it is indeed a major vascular storage pool of NO. This possibility opens the door to novel applications of nitrite for the treatment of a number of diseases that despite their fairly high incidence have been relegated to the "orphan" category. These include sickle cell disease, pulmonary hypertension in newborns, skin infections, ischemia and reperfusion injury caused by organ transplantation, and vasospasm following brain aneurysmal hemorrhage.
Many groups, here and abroad, have been working on disparate aspects of nitrite research. As the number of studies grows and results raise new possibilities and questions, the ever-present need for exchange of information and expertise among researchers in the field becomes more pressing.
Past Meeting
September 8-9, 2005
Role of Nitrite in Physiology, Pathophysiology, and Therapeutics
Website: www.strategicresults.com/nitrite
Nature Chemical Biology Vol. 1, No. 6, November 2005 article—news story