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Editorial
. 2017 Jan;69(1):13-14.
doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.116.08222. Epub 2016 Oct 31.

Acid Test for Nitrite Pharmacology

Barbora Piknova  1 , Alan N Schechter  2
Affiliations
Editorial

Acid Test for Nitrite Pharmacology

Barbora Piknova et al. Hypertension. 2017 Jan.
No abstract available

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

ANS is a co-inventor on a patent to the NIH for therapeutic uses of nitrite ions. BP has no conflict of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure
Figure. Overview of Nitric Oxide (NO) Metabolism in Humans
This schematic diagram illustrates current understanding of major pathways of NO formation and consumption in mammals, including human beings. In the last decade pathways for reduction of nitrate to nitrite and nitrite to form NO have been extensively studied, in addition to the more classical NO formation from arginine by the three groups of nitric oxide synthase (NOS I, II, and III) enzymes. Some of the major mechanisms of these reductive pathways, as well as the oxidative pathways, are shown. Nitrate reductase enzymes in salivary and possibly gut bacteria can reduce oral nitrate (both from immediate ingestion and that secreted into the mouth from blood by the salivary glands) to nitrite and stomach acid reduces some of this to NO, which is absorbed into the bloodstream along with the remaining nitrite and nitrate. The current paper reports that gastric acidification is important for the therapeutic goal of lowering systolic blood pressure with oral nitrite but that this ion has no affect on blood pressure if given intravenously, although the mechanism for this difference is not clear. XOR: xanthine oxidoreductase enzyme; oxyHb: oxyhemoglobin; oxyMb: oxymyoglobin.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment on

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