Carbon monoxide: vascular therapeutic for the future.

In the past decade, carbon monoxide has lost its reputation as a toxic gas and has gained a following of scientists who now appreciate its potential therapeutic utility as an anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective agent. Its vasoprotective properties have also gained a tremendous amount of attention, especially its ability to inhibit intimal hyperplasia. This review will provide a historical perspective of carbon monoxide biology and summarize its function in disease modulation with a special focus on its potential role as a vascular therapeutic.