Carbon monoxide, another gaseous messenger of the body / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

Endogenous carbon monoxide (CO) is proposed to be an intracellular signaling molecule. As a new gaseous messenger, CO shares with nitric oxide (NO) the ability of modulating neuroendocrine function and inducing vasorelaxation, mainly by stimulating soluble guanylate cyclase and regulating the level of cGMP. This review emphasized the endogenous source of CO and the interaction of CO- and NO-generating systems. It also discussed the biological effects of CO and the underlying mechanisms.