流体切应力对内皮祖细胞内皮型一氧化氮合酶基因表达和一氧化氮分泌的影响

目的本研究旨在观察不同切应力对内皮祖细胞内皮型一氧化氮合酶（eNOS）基因表达和一氧化氮（NO）分泌的影响,以探讨流体切应力对内皮祖细胞功能的调节作用。方法诱导健康成人外周血的单个核细胞分化为内皮祖细胞,分为静态组、低切应力组（5dyn／cm^2,1dyn／cm^2=0．1Pa）、中切应力组（15dyn／cm^2）和高切应力组（25dyn／cm^2）4个不同处理组,观察不同切应力对内皮祖细胞eNOS基因表达和NO分泌的影响。结果外周血单个核细胞分化成为内皮祖细胞,倒置荧光显微镜下呈典形的“纺锤样”梭形细胞,ac-LDL吞噬及lectin抗体荧光标记双阳性,FLK-1和vWF免疫荧光抗体染色均为阳性。切应力处理4h,低、中和高切应力组内皮祖细胞eNOS／β-肌动蛋白基因表达比值分别为0．364、0．505和0．548,较静态组（0．183）明显高（P〈0．05）。在切应力处理的各时间点,低、中和高切应力组内皮祖细胞NO分泌也较静态组明显升高（P〈0．05）。结论流体切应力提高明显上调内皮祖细胞eNOS基因表达和促进其NO分泌,提示流体切应力可改善内皮祖细胞的功能活性,是提高内皮祖细胞修复血管内皮损伤能力的有效方法之一。     

Tibolone activates nitric oxide synthesis in human endothelial cells

After the unexpected findings of the Women's Health Initiative trial, indicating that traditional cardiovascular risk markers fail to predict the effects of hormone replacement therapy, it is of interest to characterize how steroids act on vascular cells. This is particularly important for tissue-specific drugs such as tibolone, whose actions may differ from other preparations. Because nitric oxide (NO) is a key regulator of vascular tone and atherogenesis, we studied its regulation by tibolone and its metabolites on human endothelial cells. Tibolone and its estrogenic metabolites (3alpha- and 3beta-OH tibolone) activate NO synthesis by recruiting functional estrogen receptors, whereas the progestogenic/androgenic metabolite (Delta(4) isomer) has no effect. During prolonged exposures, tibolone and the estrogenic compounds enhance the expression of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS). In addition, tibolone is able to induce rapid activation of eNOS, leading to rapid increases in the release of NO. Relevant for its clinical effects, the sulfated metabolites of tibolone are also effective in activating eNOS. Different from estrogen, rapid activation of eNOS does not rely on recruitment of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase but rather on MAPK-dependent cascades. These results help to understand the mechanisms of action of tibolone on the cardiovascular system and have relevant clinical implications.     

姜黄素对内皮祖细胞功能及内皮型一氧化氮合酶的影响

目的观察姜黄素对体外培养的人外周血内皮祖细胞（EPCs）数量及功能的影响。方法采用贴壁选择法培养人外周EPCs,培养6 d后,收集贴壁细胞并加入姜黄素（0、5、10、15μmol/L）培养一定时间（6、12、24和48 h）。荧光显微镜鉴定EPCs,分别观察EPCs的体外增殖、黏附、迁移、体外血管生成能力。Griess法检测NO分泌量,并RT-PCR半定量测定eNOS基因表达。结果姜黄素增加外周血EPCs的数量,改善EPCs的体外增殖、黏附、迁移、体外血管生成能力（P<0.01）。并上调eNOS基因表达,促进EPCs来源的NO的释放（P<0.01）。结论姜黄素增加体外EPCs数量及改善其功能,上调eNOS基因表达并增加EPCs来源的NO分泌。     

Erythropoietin depresses nitric oxide synthase expression by human endothelial cells

We have recently shown that erythropoietin (EPO)-induced hypertension is unrelated to the rise in hematocrit and is marked by elevated cytosolic [Ca+2] and nitric oxide (NO) resistance. The present study was done to determine the effect of EPO on NO production and endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) expression by endothelial cells. Human coronary artery endothelial cells were cultured to subconfluence and then were incubated for 24 hours in the presence of either EPO (0, 5, and 20 U/mL) alone or EPO plus the calcium channel blocker felodipine. The experiments were carried out with quiescent (0.5% FCS) and proliferating (5% FCS) cells. Total nitrate and nitrite, eNOS protein, DNA synthesis (thymidine incorporation), and cell proliferation (cell count) were determined. In addition, NO production in response to acetylcholine stimulation was tested. EPO resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of basal and acetylcholine-stimulated NO production and eNOS protein expression and also led to a significant dose-dependent stimulation of DNA synthesis in endothelial cells. The inhibitory effects of EPO on NO production and eNOS expression were reversed by felodipine. Thus, EPO downregulates basal and acetylcholine-stimulated NO production, depresses eNOS expression, and stimulates proliferation in isolated human endothelial cells. The suppressive effects of EPO on NO production and on eNOS expression are reversed by calcium channel blockade.     

Interaction between nitric oxide and cyclooxygenase pathways in endothelial cells

Nitric oxide (NO) and cyclooxygenase (COX) derived prostaglandins (PGs) are involved in vascular homeostasis. Contradictory results have been obtained in previous studies on the putative 'cross-talk' between these two pathways. Our aim was to evaluate the interaction between NO and PG release in human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) and in umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). METHODS: Medium samples were assayed for nitrite/nitrate (NO(x)) and L-citrulline levels while lysed cells were assayed for endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), as markers of NO production. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1alpha (6-keto-PGF1alpha) were assessed as indicators of COX activity. RESULTS: The NO donor sodium nitroprusside and L-arginine increased PGs levels in both cell types. N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) significantly inhibited 6-keto-PGF1alpha release without significantly reducing PGE2)levels. Indomethacin increased both NO(x), eNOS and L-citrulline levels. PGE2 treatment did not modify NO(x) values. CONCLUSION: The stimulation of PGs by NO may represent an additional pathway used by exogenous nitrovasodilators to elicit vasodilation. Reduction of PGs by inhibition of COX was compensated by enhanced NO. Conversely, PGs()did not compensate()decreased NO following L-NMMA treatment. Treatment with the vasodilatator prostaglandin E2 did not modify NO(x) levels.     

Red blood cells express a functional endothelial nitric oxide synthase

The synthesis of nitric oxide (NO) in the circulation has been attributed exclusively to the vascular endothelium. Red blood cells (RBCs) have been demonstrated to carry a nonfunctional NO synthase (NOS) and, due to their huge hemoglobin content, have been assumed to metabolize large quantities of NO. More recently, however, RBCs have been identified to reversibly bind, transport, and release NO within the cardiovascular system. We now provide evidence that RBCs from humans express an active and functional endothelial-type NOS (eNOS), which is localized in the plasma membrane and the cytoplasm of RBCs. This NOS is regulated by its substrate L-arginine, by calcium, and by phosphorylation via PI3 kinase. RBC-NOS activity regulates deformability of RBC membrane and inhibits activation of platelets. The NOS-dependent conversion of L-arginine in RBCs is comparable to that of cultured human endothelial cells. RBCs in eNOS-/- mice in contrast to wild-type mice lack NOS protein and activity, strengthening the evidence of an eNOS in RBCs. These data show an eNOS-like protein and activity in RBCs serving regulatory functions in RBCs and platelets, which may stimulate new approaches in the treatment of NO deficiency states inherent to several vascular and hematologic diseases.     

Expression and function of recombinant endothelial nitric oxide synthase in human endothelial cells

Endothelial dysfunction is frequently involved in the pathogenesis of vascular disease. While nitric oxide (NO) inhibits smooth muscle cell proliferation, its effect on endothelial cell proliferation is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine if adenoviral-mediated gene transfer of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) would result in increased generation of NO and affect endothelial cell proliferation. HUVECs were transduced with adenoviral vectors encoding eNOS (AdeNOS) or beta-galactosidase (Ad beta gal) or exposed to diluent (control). AdeNOS-transduced cells showed increased eNOS expression as detected by Western blot analysis, and increased concentrations of cGMP (control 0.7 +/- 0.1; Ad beta gal 0.9 +/- 0.2; AdeNOS 3.1 +/- 0.5 pmol/mg protein; p < 0.001) and nitrite (control 11.8 +/- 1.2; Ad beta gal 13.3 +/- 1.7; AdeNOS 21.1 +/- 2.2 nmol/mg protein/hour; p < 0.01). DNA synthesis as assessed by [(3)H]thymidine incorporation and cell counts were significantly reduced (by approximately 30%) in AdeNOS-transduced HUVECs. Expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase was also decreased in AdeNOS-transduced cells. This study shows that adenoviral-mediated gene transfer of eNOS to HUVECs inhibits endothelial cell proliferation.     

Globular adiponectin upregulates nitric oxide production in vascular endothelial cells

Aims/hypothesis Adiponectin, also called ACRP30, is a novel adipose tissue-specific protein that has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and to exert anti-atherogenic effects. It is known that knockout mice lacking endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) develop hypertension, insulin resistance, hyperlipidaemia, and show augmented ischaemia-reperfusion damage. Thus, we examined whether globular adiponectin activates eNOS to produce NO.Methods To analyze NO production in bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAE), NOx (nitrite and nitrate) was measured in the medium with an automated NO detector/high-performance liquid chromatography system. eNOS activation was assessed by phosphorylation of the enzyme and its activity was evaluated by citrulline synthesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). eNOS mRNA and protein expressions in HUVEC were evaluated by Realtime PCR and Western blot analysis.Results Gobular adiponectin increased NO production in BAE. It also caused eNOS phosphorylation and potentiated eNOS activity in HUVEC. In addition, globular adiponectin up-regulated the eNOS gene to increase protein expression in HUVEC.Conclusion/interpretation Globular adiponectin increases NO production through two mechanisms, namely, by activation of eNOS enzyme activity and via an increase in eNOS expression. Activation and up-regulation of eNOS could explain some of the observed vasoprotective properties of globular adiponectin, as well as its beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system.Abbreviations NO nitric oxide - eNOS endothelial NO synthase - BAE bovine aortic endothelial cells - HUVEC human umbilical vein endothelial cells - ACRP30 adipocyte complement-related protein of 30 kDa - GAPDH glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase     

N-乙酰半胱氨酸对人脐静脉内皮细胞eNOS的保护作用

目的探讨N-乙酰半胱氨酸(NAC)预处理对人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVECs)中内皮型一氧化氮合酶(e NOS)的保护作用及可能的分子机制。方法 HUVECs随机分为正常对照组、血管紧张素(Ang)Ⅱ组、单纯NAC组和NAC预处理+AngⅡ组。用Western印迹法检测e NOS蛋白、eNOS Ser1177磷酸化水平、蛋白磷酸酶(PP)2A-Cα、PP2A-cY307磷酸化水平和I_2~(PP2A)表达水平,化学比色法检测细胞组成型一氧化氮合酶(c NOS)活性及培养基中一氧化氮(NO)含量。结果 AngⅡ刺激后eNOS Ser1177、PP2A-c Y307水平和I_2~(PP2A)表达水平降低(P0.05),cNOS活性、NO含量均降低(P0.05);NAC预处理后上述变化均被逆转。结论 NAC预处理可上调PP2A-c Y307和I_2~(PP2A)水平,从而降低PP2A活性,最终保护eNOS活性。     

Co-expression and modulation of neuronal and endothelial nitric oxide synthase in human endothelial cells

Despite originally identified in neurones, the neuronal type of nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) is present also in cardiac and skeletal myocytes. Whether nNOS is functionally expressed in human endothelial cells--as the endothelial enzyme (eNOS)--is unknown. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were studied under control culture conditions and after 48 h treatment with cytomix (human tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma and E. coli endotoxin). We tested: (i) localisation and expression of nNOS and eNOS proteins by immunostaining and immunoblotting; (ii) activity of nNOS and eNOS by measuring L-arginine to L-citrulline conversion with 1-(2-trifluoromethylphenyl)imidazole (TRIM), a specific nNOS antagonist, in sub-cellular fractions; (iii) intracellular cGMP levels, as a marker for nitric oxide production, after TRIM pre-treatment, by radioimmunoassay. nNOS protein was expressed in the cytosolic fraction and immunolocalised in cultured HUVEC, and co-localised with the eNOS protein in frozen sections of the human umbilical cord. nNOS protein contributed to total L-citrulline production as TRIM selectively and dose-dependently reduced L-citrulline synthesis in the cytosolic but not particulate fraction of HUVEC. Similarly, TRIM reduced intracellular cGMP content both at baseline and after stimulation with a calcium ionophore. Cytomix down-regulated the expression and function of both nNOS and eNOS while no inducible NOS (iNOS) was detected. In conclusion, a functional neuronal type of NOS is co-expressed with the endothelial NOS type in HUVEC, suggesting a possible role for nNOS in regulation of blood flow.