FIGURE 9.

Proposed pathway for the promotion of EPO of protein carbamylation and enhancement of asthma pathophysiology. Diet and tobacco smoke exposure are major determinants of plasma SCN⁻ concentration. Leukocyte EPO uses H₂O₂ and SCN⁻ as co-substrates to generate OCN⁻ and promote protein carbamylation at sites of eosinophilic inflammation. Carbamylated protein participates in multiple asthma-associated phenotypes including induction of mucin, cytokine expression, and epithelial cell apoptosis. Whether the induction is mediated by scavenger receptors such as SR-A1 and others need further investigation.