Scientists at Cleveland Medical Center have discovered that an altered version of hemoglobin can restore oxygen supply to tissues. Research published in the journal PNAS.
The study’s authors explained that there is an unsolved mystery in medicine: People die from “low oxygen content” despite having enough oxygen in the blood. At the same time, drugs that increase blood flow do not improve oxygen delivery to tissues.
The researchers studied S-nitrosohemoglobin, a special form of hemoglobin in mice and humans. This molecule carries nitric oxide instead of oxygen, dilates blood vessels and significantly increases oxygenation (oxygen supply) to tissues.
Scientists have found that in patients with peripheral artery disease, sickle cell anemia, heart failure, stroke and emphysema, impaired tissue oxygen supply is associated with low levels of S-nitrosohemoglobin.
Scientists have already begun to develop drugs that can convert hemoglobin to S-nitrosohemoglobin. The discovery could soon lead to the creation of the first drugs against insufficient tissue oxygenation.