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Tracy Hampton, PhD

JAMA. 2007;297:1870.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 104 words of the full text and any section headings.

Scientists from Harvard University, in Cambridge, Mass, and the University of Pittsburgh have shown that carbon monoxide can exert potentially useful anti-inflammatory effects by acting on mitochondria within cells (Zuckerbraun BS et al. FASEB J. doi:10.1096/fj.06-6644com [published online February 28, 2007]).

The investigators found that low carbon monoxide levels cause mitochondria to release chemicals that dampen the body's inflammatory response. Specifically, this gas inhibits the enzyme cytochrome c oxidase, leading to the generation of reactive oxygen species that, in turn, activate anti-inflammatory responses.

The findings suggest that low levels of inhaled carbon monoxide could be a potentially effective anti-inflammatory therapy.

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