In vivo evaluation of hemerythrin-based oxygen carriers: Similarities with hemoglobin-based counterparts.

We have previously proposed the annelid-derived protein, hemerythrin, as a viable replacement for hemoglobin in the synthesis of semi-synthetic oxygen carriers ("blood substitutes"). Here, we report the first in vivo tests for potential hemerythrin-based oxygen carriers (HrBOC), using a battery of experiments involving Wistar rats and previously tested on a series of hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier candidates (HBOC). At the concentrations tested, hemerythrin appears to behave similarly to hemoglobin - including, importantly, immunological effects. The antioxidant strategies based on albumin as well as based on rubrerythrin appear to offer observable physiological advantages.