Chemistry (Jul 2021)

Carbon Monoxide Therapy Using Hybrid Carbon Monoxide-Releasing/Nrf2-Inducing Molecules through a Neuroprotective Lens

  • Flavia Cavicchioli,
  • Izzy M. Cesarotti,
  • Madison Fangman,
  • Josh Lua,
  • Raymond Hautamaki,
  • Sylvain Doré

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/chemistry3030057
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3, no. 3
pp. 800 – 817

Abstract

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Carbon monoxide (CO) has long been known for its toxicity. However, in recent decades, new applications for CO as a therapeutic compound have been proposed, and multiple forms of CO therapy have since been developed and studied. Previous research has found that CO has a role as a gasotransmitter and promotes anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, making it an avenue of interest for medicine. Such effects are possible because of the Nrf2/HO1 pathway, which has become a target for therapy development because its activation also leads to CO release. Currently, different forms of treatment involving CO include inhaled CO (iCO), carbon monoxide-releasing molecules (CORMs), and hybrid carbon monoxide-releasing molecules (HYCOs). In this article, we review the progression of CO studies to develop possible therapies, the possible mechanisms involved in the effects of CO, and the current forms of therapy using CO.

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