NO forms an adduct with serum albumin that has endothelium-derived relaxing factor-like properties

Abstract

Recent evidence suggests that sulf hydryl species can react with oxides of nitrogen under physiologic conditions and thereby stabilize endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) activity, but the presence of a specific in vivo thiol carrier for nitric oxide (NO) remains controversial. The single free sulf hydryl of serum albumin is the most abundant thiol species in plasma (≈ 0.5 mM) and is particularly reactive towards NO. To examine the potential role of serum albumin in endogenous nitric oxide metabolism, we synthesized S-nitroso-BSA (S-NO-BSA), a model S-nitroso-protein, and examined its effects on platelet function and coronary and systemic vascular tone in 16 mongrel dogs. Intravenous bolus S-NO-BSA markedly reduced mean arterial pressure in a dose-dependent manner and proved seven and a half-fold less potent than intravenous nitroglycerin and 10-fold less potent than intravenous S-nitroso-cysteine (half-maximal response of 75 nmol/kg compared to 10 and 7.5 nmol/kg, respectively; P < 0.05); when given by intravenous infusion (half-maximal response = 10 nmol/kg per min), however, S-NO-BSA and nitroglycerin were equipotent. Intravenous bolus S-NO-BSA had a greater duration of action than either nitroglycerin or S-nitroso-cysteine and produced marked prolongation of the template bleeding time associated with dose-dependent inhibition of ex vivo platelet aggregation (half-maximal response ∼70 nmol/kg). Intracoronary S-NO-BSA increased coronary blood flow (mean±SEM) less effectively than nitroprusside, acetylcholine, or S-nitroso-cysteine (165%±24% vs. 315%±82%, 483%±55%, or 475%±66%, respectively; P < 0.05) although with much longer duration of action. On a molar basis, S-nitroso-cysteine proved more effective than S-nitroso-BSA, nitroprusside, or acetylcholine as an epicardial coronary vasodilator. Thus, serum albumin reacts with oxides of nitrogen to form a stable S-nitrosothiol with properties reminiscent of authentic EDRF supporting the view that protein associated thiol may participate in the action and metabolism of EDRF.