Enhanced expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and caveolin‐1 in human cirrhosis

Abstract: Background/aims: Nitric oxide is synthesized in diverse mammalian tissues by a family of calmodulin‐dependent nitric oxide synthases (NOS). Caveolin, the principal structural protein in caveolae, interacts with endothelial NOS (eNOS) leading to enzyme inhibition by a reversible process modulated by Ca⁺⁺ ‐calmodulin. The aim of the present study was to examine the localizations of eNOS and caveolin‐1 at protein level in normal human liver tissue, and how the expressions are altered in cirrhotic liver. Methods: Fresh liver specimens were obtained from hepatic surgeries. Normal portions resected from cases of carcinoma metastasized to the liver were used as control specimens, and cirrhotic portions resected from cases of hepatocellular carcinoma with hepatitis C‐related cirrhosis were used as cirrhotic specimens. Anti‐eNOS and anticaveolin‐1 antibodies were used for immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Immunoelectron microscopy was conducted on ultra thin sections using immunoglobulin–gold combined with silver staining. Results: Immunohistochemistry revealed that both eNOS and caveolin‐1 were sparsely expressed on hepatic sinusoidal lining in normal liver specimens, and these findings were confirmed by Western blot. Both immunohistochemistry and Western blotting demonstrated over‐expression of eNOS and caveolin‐1 in cirrhotic liver specimens. Morphometric analysis of immunogold particle labeling for eNOS and caveolin‐1 was performed on immunoelectron micrographs. In normal liver tissue, hepatic stellate cells and sinusoidal endothelial cells (SEC) expressed low levels of caveolin‐1, and SEC expressed a very low level of eNOS. In cirrhotic liver, both caveolin‐1 and eNOS expressions were significantly increased by approximately four‐fold on SEC compared to normal liver. Conclusion: In cirrhotic human liver, marked increase of caveolin‐1 in perisinusoidal cells may promote caveolin‐eNOS binding and reduce the activity of eNOS despite an increased eNOS expression, leading to impaired NO production and increased hepatic microvascular tone.     

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase and caveolin-1 are co-localized in sinusoidal endothelial fenestrae.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Nitric oxide is synthesized in diverse mammalian tissues by a family of calmodulin-dependent nitric oxide synthases (NOS). Caveolin, the principal structural protein in caveolae, interacts with endothelial NOS leading to enzyme inhibition in a reversible process modulated by Ca++-calmodulin. The aim of the present study was to clarify the ultrastructural localization of eNOS and caveolin-1 in hepatic sinusoidal endothelium by an electron immunogold method. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were used. Liver tissues and hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells isolated from rat livers by collagenase infusion were studied. For immunohistochemistry, liver specimens were reacted with anti-eNOS or anti-caveolin-1 antibody. The ultrastructural localization of eNOS or caveolin-1 was identified by electron microscopy using an immunogold post-embedding method. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical studies using liver tissues localized endothelial NOS in hepatic sinusoidal lining cells, portal veins and hepatic arteries; and caveolin-1 in sinusoidal lining cells, bile canaliculi, portal vein and hepatic arteries. Immunogold particles indicating the presence of eNOS and caveolin-1 were demonstrated on the plasma membrane of sinusoidal endothelial fenestrae in liver tissue and also in isolated sinusoidal endothelial cells. CONCLUSION: Endothelial NOS and caveolin are co-localized on sinusoidal endothelial fenestrae, suggesting that interaction of the two may modulate cellular regulation of NO synthesis.     

小凹蛋白-1与内皮型一氧化氮合成酶活性变化在大鼠门静脉高压形成中的作用

目的 探讨肝硬化发生发展过程中小凹蛋白-1的动态变化及与其肝纤维化程度、门静脉压力的关系,探讨小凹蛋白-1对内皮型一氧化氮合成酶(eNOS)作用的可能调控机制.方法 构建二甲基亚硝胺致肝硬化大鼠模型,分别在造模后的1、2、3、4、6周,病理组织学观察肝纤维化程度及测定门静脉压力(PVP),放射强度测定法检测肝硬化组织中eNOS活性,免疫沉淀与Western blot检测小凹蛋白-1和eNOS蛋白变化及其相互作用.结果 造模过程中肝纤维化程度逐渐加重,至第4周已形成典型的肝硬化,其后逐渐减轻;免疫沉淀与Western blot实验结果表明eNOS和小凹蛋白-1可免疫共沉淀,且小凹蛋白-1与eNOS的结合可随造模时间延长而增加;小凹蛋白-1表达与肝纤维化程度、PVP呈显著正相关(r=0.967,P＜0.01;r=0.922,P＜0.01);NOS与肝纤维化程度、PVP呈显著负相关(r=-0.973,P＜0.01;r=-0.947,P＜0.01).结论 小凹蛋白-1作为eNOS的一个负调控因子,参与肝硬化门静脉高压的形成.     

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.     

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。     

cGMP-mediated negative-feedback regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression by nitric oxide

Earlier studies have demonstrated that nitric oxide (NO) exerts a fast-acting inhibitory influence on endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) enzymatic activity in isolated vascular tissue preparations. The present study was designed to examine the possible effect of NO on eNOS protein expression in cultured endothelial cells and intact animals. Human coronary endothelial cells were incubated with S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP, an NO donor), oxyhemoglobin (HGB, an NO trapping agent), SNAP plus HGB, or inactive vehicle (control). In other experiments, cells were treated with 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (a phosphodiesterase inhibitor), 1H-[1,2, 4]oxadiazolo-[4,3-2]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, a guanylate cyclase inhibitor), SNAP plus ODQ, 8-bromo-cGMP (8-Br-cGMP, a cell-permeable cGMP compound), 8-Br-cGMP plus HGB, or inactive vehicle in order to discern the effect of cGMP. The incubations were conducted for 24 hours, and total nitrate plus nitrite production and eNOS protein abundance (Western analysis) were measured. To determine the effect of NO on eNOS expression in vivo, rats were treated with either the NO donor isosorbide dinitrate or placebo by gastric gavage for 48 hours, and aortic eNOS protein expression was examined. The NO donor SNAP markedly depressed, whereas the NO scavenger HGB significantly raised, eNOS protein expression. The downregulatory action of SNAP was completely abrogated by HGB. Phosphodiesterase inhibitor and 8-Br-cGMP downregulated, whereas the guanylate cyclase inhibitor ODQ upregulated eNOS protein expression. The downregulatory action of SNAP was completely overcome by the guanylate cyclase inhibitor ODQ, and the upregulatory action of the NO scavenger HGB was abrogated by 8-Br-cGMP. Administration of NO donor resulted in a marked downregulation of aortic eNOS protein expression in intact animals, thus confirming the in vitro findings. NO serves as a negative-feedback regulator of eNOS expression via a cGMP-mediated process.     

Enhanced intrahepatic inducible nitric oxide synthase expression and nitrotyrosine accumulation in primary biliary cirrhosis and autoimmune hepatitis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Nitrosative stress resulting from increased nitric oxide (NO) synthesis contributes to the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases, including chronic viral hepatitis. Our goal was to assess the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and the formation of nitrotyrosine (NTY), as a marker of nitrosative stress, in liver biopsies from primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) patients. METHODS: Intrahepatic expression of iNOS and NTY was measured immunohistochemically and compared to histological scores of the severity of liver disease. RESULTS: Hepatocellular iNOS expression was observed in liver sections from PBC patients (with a diffuse lobular distribution) and from AIH patients (marked staining in areas of pronounced inflammation and necrosis), but not in control liver sections, including non-autoimmune cholestatic liver disease. Liver samples from PBC and AIH patients, but not from controls, showed NTY accumulation in clusters of hepatocytes and Kupffer cells. Increased iNOS expression and NTY accumulation correlated with the histological severity of PBC or AIH, especially with the degree of inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with PBC and AIH showed an enhanced intrahepatic iNOS expression and NTY accumulation, related to the histological severity of liver disease, consistent with NO-mediated nitration of hepatocellular proteins contributing to liver damage in both diseases.     

内吗啡肽对糖基化终末产物致人脐静脉内皮细胞表达一氧化氮、一氧化氮合酶、内皮素1的影响

目的探讨内吗啡肽（EMs）对糖基化终末产物（AGEs）培养条件下人脐静脉内皮细胞（HUVEC）合成分泌一氧化氮（NO）、内皮型一氧化氮合酶（eNOS）、内皮素1（ET-1）的影响。方法体外制备AGEs修饰的牛血清白蛋白（AGEs—BSA）;分别用AGEs—BSA、EMs（1×10-5、1×10-6、1×10-7、1×10-8mol／LEM1或EM2）＋AGEs—BSA及EMs（1×10-5mol／LEMl或EM2）＋纳洛酮＋AGEs．BSA共同干预HUVEC,同时以只加BSA的HUVEC作为阴性对照。噻唑蓝（MTT）法检测各组HUVEC存活率;放射免疫法检测各组NO、eNOS水平;酶联免疫吸附实验（ELISA）法测定各组ET-1表达量;实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应（RT—PCR）法检测各组eNOS、ET-1mRNA的表达。采用单因素方差分析及t检验进行数据统计。结果与AGEs—BSA组相比,1×10-5mol／LEM1干预组HUVEC存活率增加,NO分泌量减少[分别为0．89±0．05VS0．67±0．02和（14．8±1．4）VS（23．0±0．7）μmol／L,t值分别为9．86、13．18,均P〈0．05],ET-1产生及其mRNA表达降低[分别为（0．85±0．01）VS（0．99±0．01）μg/L和10．6±0．7VS25．6±1．6,t值分别为31．36、50．18,均P〈0．05],eNOS活性及其mRNA表达增加[分别为（2．53±0．20）VS（0．61±0．09）U／ml和0．35±0．00VS0．05±0．00,t值分别为21．50、16．80,均P〈0．05],EM1其他浓度组和EM2各浓度组上述各指标与AGEs—BSA组比较结果相似,差异亦均有统计学意义（t值为2．24～102．4,均P〈0．05）;纳洛酮组上述指标与AGEs—BSA组差异无统计学意义（t值为0．56—2．05,均P〉0．05）,而与各浓度EM1或EM2干预组差异有统计学意义（t值为2．24～64．96,均P〈0．05）。结论EMs可提高AGEs—BSA条件下HUVEC的存活率,降低NO、ET-1浓度,提高eNOS浓度;纳洛酮可阻断EMs的上述作用,提示EMs是通过μ阿片受体发挥作用的。     

Reversal of endothelial nitric oxide synthase uncoupling and up-regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression lowers blood pressure in hypertensive rats.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to examine the hypothesis that a pharmacologic up-regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) combined with a reversal of eNOS uncoupling provides a protective effect against cardiovascular disease. BACKGROUND: Many cardiovascular diseases are associated with oxidant stress involving protein kinase C (PKC) and uncoupling of eNOS. METHODS: Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression was analyzed with RNase protection assay or quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, vascular nitric oxide (NO) with spin trapping, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) with dihydroethidium fluorescence. RESULTS: Aortas of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) showed an elevated production of ROS when compared with aortas of Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). The aortic expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase subunits (Nox1, Nox2, Nox4, and p22phox) was higher in SHR compared with WKY. In SHR, aortic production of ROS was reduced by the NO synthase inhibitor N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), indicating eNOS "uncoupling" in hypertension. Oral treatment with the PKC inhibitor midostaurin reduced aortic Nox1 expression, diminished ROS production, and reversed eNOS uncoupling in SHR. Aortic levels of (6R)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-L-biopterin (BH4) were significantly reduced in SHR compared with WKY. Midostaurin normalized BH4 levels in SHR. In both WKY and SHR, midostaurin increased aortic expression of eNOS mRNA and protein, stimulated bioactive NO production, and enhanced relaxation of the aorta to acetylcholine. Midostaurin lowered blood pressure in SHR and, to a lesser extent, in WKY; the compound did not change blood pressure in WKY made hypertensive with L-NAME. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacologic interventions that combine eNOS up-regulation and reversal of eNOS uncoupling can markedly increase bioactive NO in the vasculature and produce beneficial hemodynamic effects such as a reduction of blood pressure.     

Temporal expression of hepatic inducible nitric oxide synthase in liver cirrhosis

AIM: Nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of liver cirrhosis. We have found inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) can be induced in hepatocytes of cirrhotic liver. This study further investigated the temporal expression and activity of hepatic iNOS in cirrhosis development. METHODS: Cirrhosis was induced in rats by chronic bile duet ligatjon (BDL). At different time points after the operation, samples were collected to examine NO concentration, liver function, and morphological changes. Hepatocytes were isolated for determination of iNOS mRNA, protein and enzymatic activity. RESULTS: Histological examination showed early cirrhosis 1-2 wk after BDL, with advanced cirrhosis at 3-4 wk. Bilirubin increased dramatically 3 d after BDL, but decreased by 47% on d 14. Three weeks after BDL, it elevated again. Systemic NO concentration did not increase significantly until 4 wk after BDL, when ascites developed. Hepatocyte iNOS mRNA expression was identified 3 d after BDL, and enhanced with time to 3 wk, but reduced thereafter. iNOS protein showed a similar pattern to mRNA expression. iNOS activity decreased from d 3 to d 7, but increased again thereafter till d 21. CONCLUSION: Hepatic iNOS can be induced in the early stage, which increases with time as cirrhosis develops. lts enzymatic activity is significantly correlated with protein expression and histological alterations of the liver, but not with systemic NO levels, nor with absolute values of liver function markers.