Applying gases for microcirculatory and cellular oxygenation in sepsis: effects of nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen sulfide

TY - JOUR

T1 - Applying gases for microcirculatory and cellular oxygenation in sepsis: effects of nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen sulfide

AU - Baumgart, Katja

AU - Radermacher, Peter

AU - Wagner, Florian

PY - 2009/4

Y1 - 2009/4

N2 - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) are gases that have received attention as signaling molecules regulating many biological processes. All of them were reported to have beneficial effects in inflammatory states, in particular for microcirculatory perfusion and tissue energy balance. Thus, this review will highlight the most important results with a focus on resuscitated, clinically relevant experimental models and, if available, human studies.RECENT FINDINGS: There is ample evidence that nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, and H2S may exert cytoprotective effects in shock states due to their vasomotor, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties as well as their potential to induce a hibernation-like metabolic state called 'suspended animation' resulting from inhibition of cytochrome-c-oxidase. It must be emphasized, however, that the three molecules may also be cytotoxic, not only because of their inhibition of cellular respiration but also because of their marked pro-inflammatory effects.SUMMARY: It is still a matter of debate whether manipulating nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, or H2S tissue concentrations, either by using the inhaled gas itself or by administering donor molecules or inhibitors of their endogenous production, is a useful therapeutic approach to improve microcirculatory blood flow, tissue oxygenation, and cellular respiration. This is mainly due to their 'friend and foe character' documented in various experimental models, but also to the paucity of data from long-term, resuscitated large animal experiments that fulfil the criteria of clinically relevant models.

AB - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) are gases that have received attention as signaling molecules regulating many biological processes. All of them were reported to have beneficial effects in inflammatory states, in particular for microcirculatory perfusion and tissue energy balance. Thus, this review will highlight the most important results with a focus on resuscitated, clinically relevant experimental models and, if available, human studies.RECENT FINDINGS: There is ample evidence that nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, and H2S may exert cytoprotective effects in shock states due to their vasomotor, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties as well as their potential to induce a hibernation-like metabolic state called 'suspended animation' resulting from inhibition of cytochrome-c-oxidase. It must be emphasized, however, that the three molecules may also be cytotoxic, not only because of their inhibition of cellular respiration but also because of their marked pro-inflammatory effects.SUMMARY: It is still a matter of debate whether manipulating nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, or H2S tissue concentrations, either by using the inhaled gas itself or by administering donor molecules or inhibitors of their endogenous production, is a useful therapeutic approach to improve microcirculatory blood flow, tissue oxygenation, and cellular respiration. This is mainly due to their 'friend and foe character' documented in various experimental models, but also to the paucity of data from long-term, resuscitated large animal experiments that fulfil the criteria of clinically relevant models.

KW - Animals

KW - Carbon Monoxide/pharmacology

KW - Hydrogen Sulfide/pharmacology

KW - Microcirculation/drug effects

KW - Nitric Oxide/pharmacology

KW - Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/antagonists & inhibitors

KW - Oxygen Consumption

KW - Sepsis/metabolism

KW - Shock/therapy

U2 - 10.1097/ACO.0b013e328328d22f

DO - 10.1097/ACO.0b013e328328d22f

M3 - SCORING: Review article

C2 - 19390245

VL - 22

SP - 168

EP - 176

JO - CURR OPIN ANESTHESIO

JF - CURR OPIN ANESTHESIO

SN - 0952-7907

IS - 2

ER -