Nitroaspirins and Morpholinosydnonimine but Not Aspirin Inhibit the Formation of Superoxide and the Expression of gp91 ^phox Induced by Endotoxin and Cytokines in Pig Pulmonary Artery Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Endothelial Cells

Abstract

LPS and cytokines promote the formation of O2*- in PAVSMCs and PAECs through an augmentation of NADPH oxidase activity, which in turn is prevented by NO. Thus, NO may play a protective role in preventing excess O2*- formation, but its negation by O2*- may augment the progress of ARDS. The inhibitory effect of nitroaspirins suggests that they may be therapeutically useful in treating ARDS through the suppression of NADPH oxidase upregulation and O2*- formation.