The macrophage stimulating anti-cancer agent, RRx-001, protects against ischemia-reperfusion injury

ABSTRACTBackground: RRx-001, a clinical macrophage-stimulating anti-cancer agent that also produces nitric oxide (NO) was studied in a model of ischemia-reperfusion injury.Methods: The production of NO is dependent on the oxygen tension because nitric oxide synthases convert l-arginine to NO and l-citrulline in the presence of O2. Since the P450 enzymes, which metabolize nitrate esters such as nitroglycerin are dependent on oxygen, the generation of ‘exogenous’ NO is also sensitive to alterations in tissue PO2. I/R injury was studied in a hamster chamber window, with compression of the periphery of the window for 1 h to induce ischemia. Animals received RRx-001 (5 mg/kg) 24 h before ischemia and sodium nitrite (10 nmols/kg) was supplemented 10 min after the start of reperfusion. Vessel diameter, blood flow, adherent leukocytes, and functional capillary density were assessed by intravital microscopy at 0.5, 2, and 24 h following the release of the ischemia.Results: The results demonstrated that, compared t...