Aims: Once dismissed as an inert byproduct of nitric oxide (NO) auto-oxidation, nitrite (NO2-) is now accepted as an endocrine reservoir of NO that elicits biological responses in major organs. While it is known that tissue nitrite is derived from NO oxidation and the diet, little is known about how nitrite is metabolized by tissue, particularly at intermediate oxygen tensions. We investigated the rates and mechanisms of tissue nitrite metabolism over a range of oxygen concentrations. Results: We show that the rate of nitrite consumption differs in each organ. Further, oxygen regulates the rate and products of nitrite metabolism. In anoxia, nitrite is reduced to NO, with significant formation of iron–nitrosyl proteins and S-nitrosothiols. This hypoxic nitrite metabolism is mediated by different nitrite reductases in each tissue. In contrast, low concentrations (∼3.5 μM) of oxygen increase the rate of nitrite consumption by shifting nitrite metabolism to oxidative pathways, yielding nitrate. While cytochrome P450 and myoglobin contribute in the liver and heart, respectively, mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase plays a significant role in nitrite oxidation, which is inhibited by cyanide. Using cyanide to prevent artifactual nitrite decay, we measure metabolism of oral and intraperitoneally administered nitrite in mice. Innovation: These data provide insight into the fate of nitrite in tissue, the enzymes involved in nitrite metabolism, and the role of oxygen in regulating these processes. Conclusion: We demonstrate that even at low concentrations, oxygen is a potent regulator of the rate and products of tissue nitrite metabolism. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 17, 951–961.
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