Marie-Pierre Bourguignon

New Biologically Active Hydrogen Sulfide Donors

Generous donors: The dithioperoxyanhydrides (CH3 COS)2 , (PhCOS)2 , CH3 COSSCO2 Me and PhCOSSCO2 Me act as thiol-activated hydrogen sulfide donors in aqueous buffer solution. The most efficient donor (CH3 COS)2 can induce a biological response in cells, and advantageously replace hydrogen sulfide in ex vivo vascular studies.

Mechanisms of the vasorelaxing effects of CORM-3, a water-soluble carbon monoxide-releasing molecule: interactions with eNOS.

The purpose of the present work was to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent components of the vascular relaxation induced by a water-soluble and ruthenium-based carbon monoxide (CO)-releasing agent, tricarbonylchloro(glycinato)ruthenium(II) (CORM-3). Changes in isometric tension and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) production were measured in isolated aortic rings from normotensive Wistar–Kyoto rats. Nitric oxide (NO) generation was assessed in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) by electron spin resonance. In rat aortic rings, CORM-3, but not the inactivated compound, iCORM, induced relaxations. In rings with but not in those without endothelium relaxations were partially inhibited by l-nitro-arginine (L-NA), 1H-(1,2,4)-oxadiazolo(4,2-a)quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), or hydroxocobalamin, inhibitors of NO-synthase, soluble guanylyl cyclase, and scavenger of NO, respectively. In rings with and without endothelium, deoxyhemoglobin abolished the relaxations. A combination of potassium channel blockers (barium, glibenclamide, and iberiotoxin) blunted the relaxation in rings without endothelium. CORM-3 produced an endothelium-dependent generation of cGMP that was inhibited by L-NA. CORM-3, but not iCORM, inhibited the endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine without affecting the response to sodium nitroprusside. In HUVEC, CORM-3 produced a concentration-dependent release of NO. Therefore, CORM-3-induced relaxations involve the soluble guanylyl cyclase-independent activation of smooth muscle potassium channels. Additionally, CO can produce concomitantly activation and inhibition of NO synthase, the former being responsible for the endothelium- and cGMP-dependent effect of CORM-3, the latter for the inhibition of acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxations.