Discovery of nitric oxide delivery mechanism may point to new avenue for treating high blood pressure

Have your doctor put this together with these uses for nitric oxide here:
Or you could write a thesis on this stuff and get your doctoral degree.

1.  Inhaled Nitric Oxide Protects Males But not Females from Neonatal Mouse Hypoxia–Ischemia Brain Injury

2.  Regulation of Injury-Induced Neurogenesis by Nitric Oxide

3.  Nitric Oxide and the Biological Cascades Underlying Increased Neurogenesis, Enhanced Learning Ability, and Academic Ability as an Effect of Increased Bouts of Physical Activity

4. Inhalation of nitric oxide could help improve blood flow to ischemic brain

5.  Nitric oxide-induced calcium release via ryanodine receptors regulates neuronal function

6.  Cerebrovascular protection by various nitric oxide donors in rats after experimental stroke

7.   Efficacy of Nitric Oxide in Stroke (ENOS) study

The new one here:
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-discovery-nitric-oxide-delivery-mechanism.html
Selected paragraphs here:

Hemoglobin is best known for its role in transporting oxygen in the blood. But it also can bind nitric oxide, a powerful vasodilator. By relaxing smooth muscle cells, nitric oxide widens blood vessels, decreasing blood pressure. The new U.Va. research shows that there is a complete system within the myoendothelial junction – the "bridge" between the smooth muscle and the endothelial cells lining the blood vessel walls – that allows hemoglobin to regulate nitric oxide delivery, essentially controlling the size of the blood vessel. The U.Va. researchers were surprised to spot hemoglobin alpha in the myoendothelial junction. At first they thought it was a mistake. "We didn't believe it. We thought it was contamination," said researcher Brant Isakson, an associate professor of molecular physiology and biological physics. "Maybe we had a blood smear on our fingers? … Then we started to put two and two together." What they found has earned them a place in the pages of the prestigious journal Nature. The U.Va. team had seen reports of hemoglobin alpha from other researchers looking at myoendothelial junctions. But it would typically be one protein in a list of many, reported for the sake of completeness. The U.Va. researchers, however, realized hemoglobin alpha was actually regulating the binding of nitric oxide, directly affecting the size of the blood vessel.

Read more at: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-discovery-nitric-oxide-delivery-mechanism.html#jCp

Hemoglobin is best known for its role in transporting oxygen in the blood. But it also can bind nitric oxide, a powerful vasodilator. By relaxing smooth muscle cells, nitric oxide widens blood vessels, decreasing blood pressure. The new U.Va. research shows that there is a complete system within the myoendothelial junction – the "bridge" between the smooth muscle and the endothelial cells lining the blood vessel walls – that allows hemoglobin to regulate nitric oxide delivery, essentially controlling the size of the blood vessel. The U.Va. researchers were surprised to spot hemoglobin alpha in the myoendothelial junction. At first they thought it was a mistake. "We didn't believe it. We thought it was contamination," said researcher Brant Isakson, an associate professor of molecular physiology and biological physics. "Maybe we had a blood smear on our fingers? … Then we started to put two and two together." What they found has earned them a place in the pages of the prestigious journal Nature. The U.Va. team had seen reports of hemoglobin alpha from other researchers looking at myoendothelial junctions. But it would typically be one protein in a list of many, reported for the sake of completeness. The U.Va. researchers, however, realized hemoglobin alpha was actually regulating the binding of nitric oxide, directly affecting the size of the blood vessel.

Read more at: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-discovery-nitric-oxide-delivery-mechanism.html#jCp

Hemoglobin is best known for its role in transporting oxygen in the blood. But it also can bind nitric oxide, a powerful vasodilator. By relaxing smooth muscle cells, nitric oxide widens blood vessels, decreasing blood pressure. The new U.Va. research shows that there is a complete system within the myoendothelial junction – the "bridge" between the smooth muscle and the endothelial cells lining the blood vessel walls – that allows hemoglobin to regulate nitric oxide delivery, essentially controlling the size of the blood vessel. The U.Va. researchers were surprised to spot hemoglobin alpha in the myoendothelial junction. At first they thought it was a mistake. "We didn't believe it. We thought it was contamination," said researcher Brant Isakson, an associate professor of molecular physiology and biological physics. "Maybe we had a blood smear on our fingers? … Then we started to put two and two together." What they found has earned them a place in the pages of the prestigious journal Nature. The U.Va. team had seen reports of hemoglobin alpha from other researchers looking at myoendothelial junctions. But it would typically be one protein in a list of many, reported for the sake of completeness. The U.Va. researchers, however, realized hemoglobin alpha was actually regulating the binding of nitric oxide, directly affecting the size of the blood vessel.

Read more at: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-discovery-nitric-oxide-delivery-mechanism.html#jCp

 Hemoglobin is best known for its role in transporting oxygen in the blood. But it also can bind nitric oxide, a powerful vasodilator. By relaxing smooth muscle cells, nitric oxide widens blood vessels, decreasing blood pressure. The new U.Va. research shows that there is a complete system within the myoendothelial junction – the "bridge" between the smooth muscle and the endothelial cells lining the blood vessel walls – that allows hemoglobin to regulate nitric oxide delivery, essentially controlling the size of the blood vessel. The U.Va. researchers were surprised to spot hemoglobin alpha in the myoendothelial junction. At first they thought it was a mistake. "We didn't believe it. We thought it was contamination," said researcher Brant Isakson, an associate professor of molecular physiology and biological physics. "Maybe we had a blood smear on our fingers? … Then we started to put two and two together." What they found has earned them a place in the pages of the prestigious journal Nature. The U.Va. team had seen reports of hemoglobin alpha from other researchers looking at myoendothelial junctions. But it would typically be one protein in a list of many, reported for the sake of completeness. The U.Va. researchers, however, realized hemoglobin alpha was actually regulating the binding of nitric oxide, directly affecting the size of the blood vessel.

"In our case, we're very interested in how that nitric oxide regulates blood pressure and dilates the smooth muscle. But you can extrapolate that to neurons. Neurons use nitric oxide for their cell communication," he said. "Inflammatory responses, there's another big one. Nitric oxide is anti-inflammatory. We're really extrapolating here, but if we are correct, if you can regulate how much nitric oxide is released by this complex, then you can regulate the inflammatory response."

"In our case, we're very interested in how that nitric oxide regulates blood pressure and dilates the smooth muscle. But you can extrapolate that to neurons. Neurons use nitric oxide for their cell communication," he said. "Inflammatory responses, there's another big one. Nitric oxide is anti-inflammatory. We're really extrapolating here, but if we are correct, if you can regulate how much nitric oxide is released by this complex, then you can regulate the inflammatory response."

Read more at: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-discovery-nitric-oxide-delivery-mechanism.html#jCp

Hemoglobin is best known for its role in transporting oxygen in the blood. But it also can bind nitric oxide, a powerful vasodilator. By relaxing smooth muscle cells, nitric oxide widens blood vessels, decreasing blood pressure. The new U.Va. research shows that there is a complete system within the myoendothelial junction – the "bridge" between the smooth muscle and the endothelial cells lining the blood vessel walls – that allows hemoglobin to regulate nitric oxide delivery, essentially controlling the size of the blood vessel. The U.Va. researchers were surprised to spot hemoglobin alpha in the myoendothelial junction. At first they thought it was a mistake. "We didn't believe it. We thought it was contamination," said researcher Brant Isakson, an associate professor of molecular physiology and biological physics. "Maybe we had a blood smear on our fingers? … Then we started to put two and two together." What they found has earned them a place in the pages of the prestigious journal Nature. The U.Va. team had seen reports of hemoglobin alpha from other researchers looking at myoendothelial junctions. But it would typically be one protein in a list of many, reported for the sake of completeness. The U.Va. researchers, however, realized hemoglobin alpha was actually regulating the binding of nitric oxide, directly affecting the size of the blood vessel.

Read more at: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-discovery-nitric-oxide-delivery-mechanism.html#jCp

Hemoglobin is best known for its role in transporting oxygen in the blood. But it also can bind nitric oxide, a powerful vasodilator. By relaxing smooth muscle cells, nitric oxide widens blood vessels, decreasing blood pressure. The new U.Va. research shows that there is a complete system within the myoendothelial junction – the "bridge" between the smooth muscle and the endothelial cells lining the blood vessel walls – that allows hemoglobin to regulate nitric oxide delivery, essentially controlling the size of the blood vessel. The U.Va. researchers were surprised to spot hemoglobin alpha in the myoendothelial junction. At first they thought it was a mistake. "We didn't believe it. We thought it was contamination," said researcher Brant Isakson, an associate professor of molecular physiology and biological physics. "Maybe we had a blood smear on our fingers? … Then we started to put two and two together." What they found has earned them a place in the pages of the prestigious journal Nature. The U.Va. team had seen reports of hemoglobin alpha from other researchers looking at myoendothelial junctions. But it would typically be one protein in a list of many, reported for the sake of completeness. The U.Va. researchers, however, realized hemoglobin alpha was actually regulating the binding of nitric oxide, directly affecting the size of the blood vessel.

Read more at: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-discovery-nitric-oxide-delivery-mechanism.html#jCp

Hemoglobin is best known for its role in transporting oxygen in the blood. But it also can bind nitric oxide, a powerful vasodilator. By relaxing smooth muscle cells, nitric oxide widens blood vessels, decreasing blood pressure. The new U.Va. research shows that there is a complete system within the myoendothelial junction – the "bridge" between the smooth muscle and the endothelial cells lining the blood vessel walls – that allows hemoglobin to regulate nitric oxide delivery, essentially controlling the size of the blood vessel. The U.Va. researchers were surprised to spot hemoglobin alpha in the myoendothelial junction. At first they thought it was a mistake. "We didn't believe it. We thought it was contamination," said researcher Brant Isakson, an associate professor of molecular physiology and biological physics. "Maybe we had a blood smear on our fingers? … Then we started to put two and two together." What they found has earned them a place in the pages of the prestigious journal Nature. The U.Va. team had seen reports of hemoglobin alpha from other researchers looking at myoendothelial junctions. But it would typically be one protein in a list of many, reported for the sake of completeness. The U.Va. researchers, however, realized hemoglobin alpha was actually regulating the binding of nitric oxide, directly affecting the size of the blood vessel.

Read more at: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-discovery-nitric-oxide-delivery-mechanism.html#jCp

Hemoglobin is best known for its role in transporting oxygen in the blood. But it also can bind nitric oxide, a powerful vasodilator. By relaxing smooth muscle cells, nitric oxide widens blood vessels, decreasing blood pressure. The new U.Va. research shows that there is a complete system within the myoendothelial junction – the "bridge" between the smooth muscle and the endothelial cells lining the blood vessel walls – that allows hemoglobin to regulate nitric oxide delivery, essentially controlling the size of the blood vessel. The U.Va. researchers were surprised to spot hemoglobin alpha in the myoendothelial junction. At first they thought it was a mistake. "We didn't believe it. We thought it was contamination," said researcher Brant Isakson, an associate professor of molecular physiology and biological physics. "Maybe we had a blood smear on our fingers? … Then we started to put two and two together." What they found has earned them a place in the pages of the prestigious journal Nature. The U.Va. team had seen reports of hemoglobin alpha from other researchers looking at myoendothelial junctions. But it would typically be one protein in a list of many, reported for the sake of completeness. The U.Va. researchers, however, realized hemoglobin alpha was actually regulating the binding of nitric oxide, directly affecting the size of the blood vessel.

Read more at: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-discovery-nitric-oxide-delivery-mechanism.html#jCp

Hemoglobin is best known for its role in transporting oxygen in the blood. But it also can bind nitric oxide, a powerful vasodilator. By relaxing smooth muscle cells, nitric oxide widens blood vessels, decreasing blood pressure. The new U.Va. research shows that there is a complete system within the myoendothelial junction – the "bridge" between the smooth muscle and the endothelial cells lining the blood vessel walls – that allows hemoglobin to regulate nitric oxide delivery, essentially controlling the size of the blood vessel. The U.Va. researchers were surprised to spot hemoglobin alpha in the myoendothelial junction. At first they thought it was a mistake. "We didn't believe it. We thought it was contamination," said researcher Brant Isakson, an associate professor of molecular physiology and biological physics. "Maybe we had a blood smear on our fingers? … Then we started to put two and two together." What they found has earned them a place in the pages of the prestigious journal Nature. The U.Va. team had seen reports of hemoglobin alpha from other researchers looking at myoendothelial junctions. But it would typically be one protein in a list of many, reported for the sake of completeness. The U.Va. researchers, however, realized hemoglobin alpha was actually regulating the binding of nitric oxide, directly affecting the size of the blood vessel.

Read more at: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-discovery-nitric-oxide-delivery-mechanism.html#jCp

Hemoglobin is best known for its role in transporting oxygen in the blood. But it also can bind nitric oxide, a powerful vasodilator. By relaxing smooth muscle cells, nitric oxide widens blood vessels, decreasing blood pressure. The new U.Va. research shows that there is a complete system within the myoendothelial junction – the "bridge" between the smooth muscle and the endothelial cells lining the blood vessel walls – that allows hemoglobin to regulate nitric oxide delivery, essentially controlling the size of the blood vessel. The U.Va. researchers were surprised to spot hemoglobin alpha in the myoendothelial junction. At first they thought it was a mistake. "We didn't believe it. We thought it was contamination," said researcher Brant Isakson, an associate professor of molecular physiology and biological physics. "Maybe we had a blood smear on our fingers? … Then we started to put two and two together." What they found has earned them a place in the pages of the prestigious journal Nature. The U.Va. team had seen reports of hemoglobin alpha from other researchers looking at myoendothelial junctions. But it would typically be one protein in a list of many, reported for the sake of completeness. The U.Va. researchers, however, realized hemoglobin alpha was actually regulating the binding of nitric oxide, directly affecting the size of the blood vessel.

Read more at: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-discovery-nitric-oxide-delivery-mechanism.html#jCp