Superoxide and superoxide dismutase in pulmonary hypoxic vasoconstriction

Milliken, P.H. and Wadsworth, R.M. (2002) Superoxide and superoxide dismutase in pulmonary hypoxic vasoconstriction. Thorax, 57 (Supp.3). p. 75. ISSN 0040-6376 (https://doi.org/10.1136/thorax.57.suppl_3.iii48)

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Abstract

Superoxide is known to cause vascular damage and can consume protective NO that maintains a low pulmonary pressure. There is evidence suggesting that hypoxia upregulates NADH/NADPH oxidase and xanthine oxidase in the smooth muscle and endothelial cells of the pulmonary artery, increasing superoxide production. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is widely distributed in the cells of the vasculature, destroying superoxide, however, the role of SOD in hypoxic vasoconstriction is unknown.1 Therefore, the effect of endogenous SOD inhibition and superoxide generation on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction was investigated.