Pathological Conditions Involving Extracellular Hemoglobin: Molecular Mechanisms, Clinical Significance, and Novel Therapeutic Opportunities for alpha(1)-Microglobulin
Hemoglobin is the major oxygen-carrying system of the blood, but has many potentially dangerous side effects due to oxidation and reduction reactions of the heme-bound iron and oxygen. Extracellular hemoglobin, resulting from hemolysis or exogenous infusion, is shown to be an important pathogenic factor in a growing number of diseases. This review briefly outlines the oxidative/reductive toxic rea