[HTML][HTML] Hemoglobin α in the blood vessel wall

JT Butcher, T Johnson, J Beers, L Columbus… - Free Radical Biology …, 2014 - Elsevier
Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 2014Elsevier
Hemoglobin has been studied and well characterized in red blood cells for over 100 years.
However, new work has indicated that the hemoglobin α subunit (Hbα) is also found within
the blood vessel wall, where it appears to localize at the myoendothelial junction (MEJ) and
plays a role in regulating nitric oxide (NO) signaling between endothelium and smooth
muscle. This discovery has created a new paradigm for the control of endothelial nitric oxide
synthase activity, nitric oxide diffusion, and, ultimately, vascular tone and blood pressure …
Abstract
Hemoglobin has been studied and well characterized in red blood cells for over 100 years. However, new work has indicated that the hemoglobin α subunit (Hbα) is also found within the blood vessel wall, where it appears to localize at the myoendothelial junction (MEJ) and plays a role in regulating nitric oxide (NO) signaling between endothelium and smooth muscle. This discovery has created a new paradigm for the control of endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity, nitric oxide diffusion, and, ultimately, vascular tone and blood pressure. This review discusses the current knowledge of hemoglobin׳s properties as a gas exchange molecule in the bloodstream and extrapolates the properties of Hbα biology to the MEJ signaling domain. Specifically, we propose that Hbα is present at the MEJ to regulate NO release and diffusion in a restricted physical space, which would have powerful implications for the regulation of blood flow in peripheral resistance arteries.
Elsevier