Abstract: Sex steroid potentiated disorders including, prostate cancer and breast cancer, in a patient in need of treatment thereof, are treated with an amount of nitric oxide donating compound and/or nitrosoglutathione reductase inhibitor and/or cysteine binder different from that provided by nitric oxide donating compound effective to inhibit activation of steroid receptor. Variations include using only nitric oxide donating agent as treating agent; using only nitrosoglutathione reductase inhibitors as treating agent, using nitric oxide donating agent plus nitrosoglutathione reductase inhibiting agent; for prostate cancer treatment using prostate cancer drug modified to contain nitric oxide donating moiety or FDA approved nitric oxide donating agent and FDA approved prostate cancer treating agent. Also disclosed is an assay for assessing mutagenic potential of prostate cancer in a patient.

Abstract: A C-nitroso compound having a molecular weight ranging from 225 to 1,000 (from 225 to 600 for oral administration) on a monomeric basis wherein a nitroso group is attached to a tertiary carbon, which is obtained by nitrosylation of a carbon acid having a pKa less than about 25, is useful as an NO donor. When the compound is obtained from a carbon acid with a pKa less than about 10, it provides vascular relaxing effect when used at micromolar concentrations and this activity is potentiated by glutathione to be obtained at nanomolar concentrations. When the compound is obtained from a carbon acid with a pKa ranging from about 15 to about 20, vascular relaxing effect is obtained at nanomolar concentrations without glutathione. In another embodiment, a biocompatible polymer incorporates a C-nitroso moiety.

Abstract: This invention provides a modified yeast two-hybrid system in order to identify NO-dependent protein-protein interactions. Bait proteins implicated in apoptotic signaling pathways were used to identify NO-dependent interactions. The physiological relevance of these interactions is demonstrated by their occurrence and dependence on endogenous NO in mammalian cells, and by the functional interrelatedness of bait and prey.

Abstract: Nitrosylhemoglobin can be produced by introducing gaseous NO into an aqueous solution of hemoglobin. It has been demonstrated that nitrosylhemoglobin in aqueous solution can be converted to SNO-hemoglobin upon introduction of oxygen to the solution, as is postulated to occur in the lungs. Nitrosylhemoglobin can be used in methods to produce the physiological effects of NO, for example, to reduce vasoconstriction and to inhibit platelet aggregation.

Abstract: Patients needing NO donor therapy or inhibition of pathologically proliferating cells or increased NO bioactivity are treated with a therapeutically effective amount of an inhibitor of glutathione-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenase.

Abstract: Herein it is shown that hemoproteins (e.g., Ascaris hemoglobin, myoglobin, flavohemoglobins) have NO-consuming and deoxygenase activities. The invention provides a method of reducing the concentration of oxygen and/or nitric oxide in a mammal. The method of the invention comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a hemoprotein having NO-activated deoxygenase activity or an enzymatically active fragment thereof to a mammal. The method can be used to treat a mammal having pathologically proliferating cells, such as a tumor. In one embodiment, the hemoprotein is administered to reduce the oxygen concentration of a tumor. In another embodiment, the hemoprotein is administered together with a cytotoxic agent to treat a mammal having a tumor. The invention also provides a method of enzymatically generating toxic reactive oxygen species in a mammal for therapeutic purposes. The method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a hemoprotein to a mammal.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel polymers derivatized with at least one —NOx group per 1200 atomic mass unit of the polymer. X is one or two. In one embodiment, the polymer is an S-nitrosylated polymer and is prepared by reacting a polythiolated polymer with a nitrosylating agent under conditions suitable for nitrosylating free thiol groups. The polymers of the present invention can be used to coat medical devices to deliver nitric oxide in vivo to treatment sites.

Abstract: A reactive oxygen generating enzyme inhibitor with NO donor bioactivity, e.g., nitrated allopurinol, e.g., 1,5-bis(3-nitrooxypropyyl)-1,5-dihydro-4H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine-4-one is useful to treat heart failure, stable angina, ischemic disorder, ischemic reperfusion injury, atherosclerosis, sickle cell disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, ALS and asthma and to obtain proper contraction of heart, skeletal and smooth muscle. Where the disorder is heart failure, administration of the enzyme inhibitor mediates amelioration of acute coronary symptoms and/or myocardial infarction.

Abstract: A C-nitroso compound having a molecular weight ranging from 225 to 1,000 (from 225 to 600 for oral administration) on a monomeric basis wherein a nitroso group is attached to a tertiary carbon, which is obtained by nitrosylation of a carbon acid having a pKa less than about 25, is useful as an NO donor. When the compound is obtained from a carbon acid with a pKa less than about 10, it provides vascular relaxing effect when used at micromolar concentrations and this activity is potentiated by glutathione to be obtained at nanomolar concentrations. When the compound is obtained from a carbon acid with a pKa ranging from about 15 to 20, vascular relaxing effect is obtained at nanomolar concentrations without glutathione. In another embodiment, a biocompatible polymer incorporates a C-nitroso moiety.

Abstract: Pulmonary disorders in which the GSNO pool or glutathione pool in the lung is depleted and where reactive oxygen species in lung are increased, are treated by delivering into the lung as a gas, agent causing repletion or increase of the GSNO pool or protection against toxicity and does so independently of reaction with oxygen. Agents include ethyl nitrite, NOCl, NOBr, NOF, NOCN, N2O3, HNO, and H2S. Optionally, N-acetylcysteine, ascorbate, H2S or HNO is administered in addition to other GSNO repleting agent to potentiate the effect of said agent.

Abstract: A C-nitroso compound having a molecular weight ranging from about 225 to about 1,000 (from about 225 to about 600 for oral administration) on a monomeric basis wherein a nitroso group is attached to a tertiary carbon, which is obtained by nitrosylation of a carbon acid having a pKa less than about 25, is useful as an NO donor. When the compound is obtained from a carbon acid with a pKa less than about 10, it provides vascular relaxing effect when used at micromolar concentrations and this activity is potentiated by glutathione to be obtained at nanomolar concentrations. When the compound is obtained from a carbon acid with a pKa ranging from about 15 to about 20, vascular relaxing effect is obtained at nanomolar concentrations without glutathione. The compound is preferably water-soluble and preferably contains a carbon alpha to the nitrosylated carbon which is part of a ketone group.

Abstract: Mammals are treated for infections or for conditions associated with pathologically proliferating mammalian cell growth by administration of a manipulator of nitrosative stress to selectively kill or reduce the growth of the microbes or helminths causing the infection or of host cells infected with the microbes or of the pathologically proliferating mammalian cells. Novel agents include ?-alkyl-S-alkyl-homocysteine sulfoximines wherein the ?-alkyl contains 2 to 8 carbon atoms, and the S-alkyl contains 1 to 10 carbon atoms. Mammals in need of increased nitrosative stress defenses are treated, e.g., humans at risk for a stroke because of having had a transient ischemic attack, are treated. Treatments to increase nitrosative stress defenses include repeated administrations of low doses of manipullators of nitrosative stress so that subject treated has increased tolerance to nitrosative stress.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel NO-releasing compounds which comprise a stabilized S-nitrosyl group and a free alcohol or a free thiol group. Also disclosed is a method of preparing the NO-releasing compounds. The method comprises reacting a polythiol or a thioalcohol with a nitrosylating agent. Also disclosed are medical devices coated with the disclosed compounds, methods of delivering NO to treatments sites in a subject by utilizing the medical devices and methods of sterilizing surfaces.

Abstract: Desensitization of receptors that control disease is prevented by inhibiting G-protein receptor kinases. This has applicability, e.g., for patients with heart failure or on a left ventricular heart device or a heart pump after surgery or about to undergo surgery and at high risk for a cardiac event or on an opiate or addicted to opiate or with cystic fibrosis or rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract: Treatment of pulmonary disorders associated with hypoxemia and/or smooth muscle constriction and/or inflammation comprises administering into the lungs as a gas compound with an NO group which does not form NO2/NOx in the presence of oxygen or reactive oxygen species at body temperature. Treatment of cardiac and blood disorders, e.g., angina, myocardial infarction, heart failure, hypertension, sickle cell disease and clotting disorders, comprises administering into the lungs as a gas, a compound which reacts with cysteine in hemoglobin and/or dissolves in blood and has an NO group which is bound in said compound so that it does not form NO2/NOx in the presence of oxygen or reactive oxygen species at body temperature. Exemplary of the compound administered in each case is ethyl nitrite.

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 O2 metabolism of tissues, oxygen-related toxicity, abnormal vascular tone, abnormal red blood cell adhesion, or abnormal O2 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.

Abstract: S-nitrosohemoglobin (SNO-Hb) can be formed by reaction of Hb with S-nitrosothiol and by other methods described herein which do not result in oxidation of the heme Fe. Other methods can be used which are not specific only for thiol groups, but which nitrosate Hb more extensively, and may produce polynitrosated metHb as a product or intermediate product of the method. SNO-Hb in its various forms and combinations thereof (oxy, deoxy, met; specifically S-nitrosylated, or nitrosated or nitrated to various extents) can be administered to an animal or human where it is desired to oxygenate, to scavenge free radicals, or to release NO+ groups to tissues. Thiols and/or NO donating agents can also be administered to enhance the transfer of NO+ groups. Examples of conditions to be treated by SNO-Hbs or other nitrosated or nitrated forms of Hb include ischemic injury, hypertension, angina, reperfusion injury and inflammation, and disorders characterized by thrombosis.

Abstract: A C-nitroso compound having a molecular weight ranging from about 225 to about 1,000 (from about 225 to about 600 for oral administration) on a monomeric basis wherein a nitroso group is attached to a tertiary carbon, which is obtained by nitrosylation of a carbon acid having a pKa less than about 25, is useful as an NO donor. In another case, the C-nitroso compound contains the moiety —C—N(O)X— where X is S, O or NR. One embodiment is directed to COX-2 inhibitors where a tertiary carbon atom and/or an oxygen atom and/or a sulfur atom is nitrosylated.

Abstract: Diseases which can be ameliorated by delivery of NO to tissues affected by the disease can be treated by administration of nitrosyl-heme-containing donors of NO, including nitrosylhemoglobin. Nitrosylhemoglobin can be made by the reaction of NO with hemoglobin under certain conditions in which the NO:hemoglobin ratio is critical, and is converted to SNO-Hb under physiological conditions.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel polymers derivatized with at least one —NOx group per 1200 atomic mass unit of the polymer. X is one or two. In one embodiment, the polymer is an S-nitrosylated polymer and is prepared by reacting a polythiolated polymer with a nitrosylating agent under conditions suitable for nitrosylating free thiol groups. The polymers of the present invention can be used to coat medical devices to deliver nitric oxide in vivo to treatment sites.