Red blood cells loaded with s-nitrosothiol and uses therefor

Abstract

Red blood cells can be loaded with low molecular weight nitrosylating agents, such as S-nitrosothiols, to act as a delivery system for NO + groups to tissues. Loaded red blood cells can be used in methods of therapy for conditions which are characterized by abnormal O 2 metabolism of tissues, oxygen-related toxicity, abnormal vascular tone, abnormal red blood cell adhesion, or abnormal O 2 delivery by red blood cells. Such treatment of red blood cells can be extended to in vivo therapies, with the object to achieve an increase in the ratio of red blood cell S-nitrosothiol to hemoglobin.

1 . A method of treating a hypoxic condition in a mammal, comprising administering to the human a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising NO, a composition comprising an inorganic nitrite, a composition comprising an organic nitrite, or a composition comprising a donor of biologically active NO. 
     
     
         2 . A method for potentiating NO-mediated bioactivity of red blood cells, said method comprising administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising a thiol. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the thiol is glutathione. 
     
     
         4 . A method for raising NO:hemoglobin as SNO in red blood cells in a mammal to a desirable value, comprising administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising NO, a composition comprising an inorganic nitrite, a composition comprising an organic nitrite, or a composition comprising a donor of biologically active NO.