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Cytoglobin (Cygb) has been identified as the major nitric oxide (NO) metabolizing protein in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and is crucial for the regulation of vascular tone. In the presence of its requisite cytochrome B5a (B5)/B5 reductase-isoform-3 (B5R) reducing system, Cygb controls NO metabolism through the oxygen-dependent process of NO dioxygenation. Tobacco cigarette smoking (TCS) induces vascular dysfunction; however, the role of Cygb in the pathophysiology of TCS-induced cardiovascular disease has not been previously investigated. While TCS impairs NO biosynthesis, its effect on NO metabolism remains unclear. Therefore, we performed studies in aortic VSMCs with tobacco smoke extract (TSE) exposure to investigate the effects of cigarette smoke constituents on the rates of NO decay, with focus on the alterations that occur in the process of Cygb-mediated NO metabolism. TSE greatly enhanced the rates of NO metabolism by VSMCs. An initial increase in superoxide-mediated NO degradation was seen at 4 h of exposure. This was followed by much larger progressive increases at 24 and 48 h, accompanied by parallel increases in the expression of Cygb and B5/B5R. siRNA-mediated Cygb knockdown greatly decreased these TSE-induced elevations in NO decay rates. Therefore, upregulation of the levels of Cygb and its reducing system accounted for the large increase in NO metabolism rate seen after 24 h of TSE exposure. Thus, increased Cygb-mediated NO degradation would contribute to TCS-induced vascular dysfunction and partial inhibition of Cygb expression or its NO dioxygenase function could be a promising therapeutic target to prevent secondary cardiovascular disease. • Cytoglobin controls nitric oxide (NO) metabolism through NO dioxygenation. • Tobacco smoking exposure induces loss of vascular NO; however, the cause was unknown. • Vascular smooth muscle cell exposure first triggered increased superoxide generation. • This was followed by induction of cytoglobin and the B5/B5R reducing system. • Together, this greatly increased the rate of NO decay in vascular smooth muscle cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]