Over past few years, there has been a dramatic increase in studying
physiological mechanisms of the activity of various signaling low-molecular
molecules that directly or indirectly initiate adaptive changes in the
cardiovascular system cells (CVSC) to hypoxia. These molecules include
biologically active endogenous gases or gasotransmitters (HS, NO and CO)
that influence on many cellular processes, including mitochondrial biogenesis,
oxidative phosphorylation, K/Ca exchange, contractility of
cardiomyocytes (CM) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) under conditions of
oxygen deficiency. The present review focuses on the mechanistic role of the
gasotransmitters (NO, HS, CO) in cardioprotection. The structural
components of these mechanisms involve mitochondrial enzyme complexes and redox
signal proteins, K and Ca channels, and mitochondrial permeability
transition pore (MPTP) that have been considered as the final molecular targets
of mechanisms underlying antioxidant and mild mitochondrial uncoupling effects,
preconditioning, vasodilatation and adaptation to hypoxia. In this article, we
have reviewed recent findings on the gasotransmitters and proposed a unifying
model of mitochondrial mechanisms of cardioprotection.