Polynitroxylated hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier: inhibition of free radical-induced microcirculatory dysfunction.

Reactive oxygen species have been identified as key mediators of leukocyte/endothelial cell interaction under various pathological conditions and diseases such as ischemia/reperfusion injury, inflammation, and after exposure to cigarette smoke. Consequently, antioxidants have been shown to successfully prevent the sequelae of these conditions, ranging from tissue infarction to atherogenesis. In this study we investigated whether, via its established superoxide dismutase-like activity, a novel polynitroxyl hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier (PNH), could affect the stimulation of leukocyte rolling and adhesion to endothelial cells in response to cigarette smoke. Using the dorsal skin fold chambe…