Inhibition of platelet aggregation by carbon monoxide-releasing molecules (CO-RMs): comparison with NO donors

Carbon monoxide (CO) and CO-releasing molecules (CO-RMs) inhibit platelet aggregation in vitro. Herein, we compare the anti-platelet action of CORM-3, which releases CO rapidly (t½ 1 min), and CORM-A1, which slowly releases CO (t½ = 21 min). The anti-platelet effects of NO donors with various kinetics of NO release were studied for comparison. The effects of CO-RMs and NO donors were analyzed in washed human platelets (WP), platelets rich plasma (PRP), or whole blood (WB) using aggregometry technique. CORM-3 and CORM-A1 inhibited platelet aggregation in human PRP, WP, or WB, in a concentration-dependent manner. In all three preparations, CORM-A1 was more potent than CORM-3. Inhibition of platelets aggregation by CORM-A1 was not significantly affected by a guanylate cyclase inhibitor (ODQ) and a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor, sildenafil. In contrast, inhibition of platelet aggregation by NO donors was more potent with a fast NO releaser (DEA-NO, t½ = 2 min) than slow NO releasers such as PAPA-NO (t½ = 15 min) or other slow NO donors. Predictably, the anti-platelet effect of DEA-NO and other NO donors was reversed by ODQ while potentiated by sildenafil. In contrast to NO donors which inhibit platelets proportionally to the kinetics of NO released via activation of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), the slow CO-releaser CORM-A1 is a superior anti-platelet agent as compared to CORM-3 which releases CO instantly. The anti-platelet action of CO-RMs does not involve sGC activation. Importantly, CORM-A1 or its derivatives representing the class of slow CO releasers display promising pharmacological profile as anti-platelet agents

Nitric oxide synthases in GtoPdb v.2023.1

Nitric oxide synthases (NOS, E.C. 1.14.13.39) are a family of oxidoreductases that synthesize nitric oxide (NO.) via the NADPH and oxygen-dependent consumption of L-arginine with the resultant by-product, L-citrulline. There are 3 NOS isoforms and they are related by their capacity to produce NO, highly conserved organization of functional domains and significant homology at the amino acid level. NOS isoforms are functionally distinguished by the cell type where they are expressed, intracellular targeting and transcriptional and post-translation mechanisms regulating enzyme activity. The nomenclature suggested by NC-IUPHAR of NOS I, II and III [12] has not gained wide acceptance, and the 3 isoforms are more commonly referred to as neuronal NOS (nNOS), inducible NOS (iNOS) and endothelial NOS (eNOS) which reflect the location of expression (nNOS and eNOS) and inducible expression (iNOS). All are dimeric enzymes that shuttle electrons from NADPH, which binds to a C-terminal reductase domain, through the flavins FAD and FMN to the oxygenase domain of the other monomer to enable the BH4-dependent reduction of heme bound oxygen for insertion into the substrate, L-arginine. Electron flow from reductase to oxygenase domain is controlled by calmodulin binding to canonical calmodulin binding motif located between these domains. eNOS and nNOS isoforms are activated at concentrations of calcium greater than 100 nM, while iNOS shows higher affinity for Ca2+/calmodulin with great avidity and is essentially calcium-independent and constitutively active. Efficient stimulus-dependent coupling of nNOS and eNOS is achieved via subcellular targeting through respective N-terminal PDZ and fatty acid acylation domains whereas iNOS is largely cytosolic and function is independent of intracellular location. nNOS is primarily expressed in the brain and neuronal tissue, iNOS in immune cells such as macrophages and eNOS in the endothelial layer of the vasculature although exceptions in other cells have been documented. L-NAME and related modified arginine analogues are inhibitors of all three isoforms, with IC50 values in the micromolar range

Hydrogen sulphide synthesis in GtoPdb v.2023.1

Hydrogen sulfide is a gasotransmitter, with similarities to nitric oxide and carbon monoxide. Although the enzymes indicated below have multiple enzymatic activities, the focus here is the generation of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and the enzymatic characteristics are described accordingly. Cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) and cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE) are pyridoxal phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzymes. 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3-MPST) functions to generate H2S; only CAT is PLP-dependent, while 3-MPST is not. Thus, this third pathway is sometimes referred to as PLP-independent. CBS and CSE are predominantly cytosolic enzymes, while 3-MPST is found both in the cytosol and the mitochondria. For an authoritative review on the pharmacological modulation of H2S levels, see Szabo and Papapetropoulos, 2017 [8]

Haem oxygenase in GtoPdb v.2023.1

Haem oxygenase (heme,hydrogen-donor:oxygen oxidoreductase (α-methene-oxidizing, hydroxylating)), E.C. 1.14.99.3, converts heme into biliverdin and carbon monoxide, utilizing NADPH as cofactor

Hydrogen sulphide synthesis (version 2019.4) in the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology Database

Hydrogen sulfide is a gasotransmitter, with similarities to nitric oxide and carbon monoxide. Although the enzymes indicated below have multiple enzymatic activities, the focus here is the generation of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and the enzymatic characteristics are described accordingly. Cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) and cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE) are pyridoxal phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzymes. 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3-MPST) functions to generate H2S; only CAT is PLP-dependent, while 3-MPST is not. Thus, this third pathway is sometimes referred to as PLP-independent. CBS and CSE are predominantly cytosolic enzymes, while 3-MPST is found both in the cytosol and the mitochondria. For an authoritative review on the pharmacological modulation of H2S levels, see Szabo and Papapetropoulos, 2017 [4]

Haem oxygenase (version 2019.4) in the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology Database

Haem oxygenase (heme,hydrogen-donor:oxygen oxidoreductase (α-methene-oxidizing, hydroxylating)), E.C. 1.14.99.3, converts heme into biliverdin and carbon monoxide, utilizing NADPH as cofactor

Nitric oxide synthases (version 2019.4) in the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology Database

Nitric oxide synthases (NOS, E.C. 1.14.13.39) are a family of oxidoreductases that synthesize nitric oxide (NO.) via the NADPH and oxygen-dependent consumption of L-arginine with the resultant by-product, L-citrulline. There are 3 NOS isoforms and they are related by their capacity to produce NO, highly conserved organization of functional domains and significant homology at the amino acid level. NOS isoforms are functionally distinguished by the cell type where they are expressed, intracellular targeting and transcriptional and post-translation mechanisms regulating enzyme activity. The nomenclature suggested by NC-IUPHAR of NOS I, II and III [11] has not gained wide acceptance, and the 3 isoforms are more commonly referred to as neuronal NOS (nNOS), inducible NOS (iNOS) and endothelial NOS (eNOS) which reflect the location of expression (nNOS and eNOS) and inducible expression (iNOS). All are dimeric enzymes that shuttle electrons from NADPH, which binds to a C-terminal reductase domain, through the flavins FAD and FMN to the oxygenase domain of the other monomer to enable the BH4-dependent reduction of heme bound oxygen for insertion into the substrate, L-arginine. Electron flow from reductase to oxygenase domain is controlled by calmodulin binding to canonical calmodulin binding motif located between these domains. eNOS and nNOS isoforms are activated at concentrations of calcium greater than 100 nM, while iNOS shows higher affinity for Ca2+/calmodulin with great avidity and is essentially calcium-independent and constitutively active. Efficient stimulus-dependent coupling of nNOS and eNOS is achieved via subcellular targeting through respective N-terminal PDZ and fatty acid acylation domains whereas iNOS is largely cytosolic and function is independent of intracellular location. nNOS is primarily expressed in the brain and neuronal tissue, iNOS in immune cells such as macrophages and eNOS in the endothelial layer of the vasculature although exceptions in other cells have been documented. L-NAME and related modified arginine analogues are inhibitors of all three isoforms, with IC50 values in the micromolar range

Vasorelaxing effects and inhibition of nitric oxide in macrophages by new iron-containing carbon monoxide-releasing molecules (CO-RMs)

Carbon monoxide-releasing molecules (CO-RMs) are a class of organometallo carbonyl complexes capable of delivering controlled quantities of CO gas to cells and tissues thus exerting a broad spectrum of pharmacological effects. Here we report on the chemical synthesis, CO releasing properties, cytotoxicity profile and pharmacological activities of four novel structurally related iron-allyl carbonyls. The major difference among the new CO-RMs tested was that three compounds (CORM-307, CORM-308 and CORM-314) were soluble in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), whereas a fourth one (CORM-319) was rendered water-soluble by reacting the iron-carbonyl with hydrogen tetrafluoroborate. We found that despite the fact all compounds liberated CO, CO-RMs soluble in DMSO caused a more pronounced toxic effect both in vascular and inflammatory cells as well as in isolated vessels. More specifically, iron carbonyls

Carbon monoxide-releasing antibacterial molecules target respiration and global transcriptional regulators

Carbon monoxide, a classical respiratory inhibitor, also exerts vasodilatory, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic effects. CO-releasing molecules have therapeutic value, increasing phagocytosis and reducing sepsis-induced lethality. Here we identify for the first time the bacterial targets of Ru(CO)(3)Cl(glycinate) (CORM-3), a ruthenium-based carbonyl that liberates CO rapidly under physiological conditions. Contrary to the expectation that CO would be preferentially inhibitory at low oxygen tensions or anaerobically, Escherichia coli cultures were also sensitive to CORM-3 at concentrations equimolar with oxygen. CORM-3, assayed as ruthenium, was taken up by bacteria and rapidly delivered CO intracellularly to terminal oxidases. Microarray analysis of CORM-3-treated cells revealed extensively modified gene expression, notably down-regulation of genes encoding key aerobic respiratory complexes. Genes involved in metal metabolism, homeostasis, or transport were also differentially expressed, and free intracellular zinc levels were elevated. Probabilistic modeling of transcriptomic data identified the global transcription regulators ArcA, CRP, Fis, FNR, Fur, BaeR, CpxR, and IHF as targets and potential CO sensors. Our discovery that CORM-3 is an effective inhibitor and global regulator of gene expression, especially under aerobic conditions, has important implications for administration of CO-releasing agents in sepsis and inflammatio