Eupartoium makinoi suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression

Inflammation is involved in numerous diseases including cancer. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) play important roles in the development of certain inflammatory diseases. Eupatorium makinoi, which belongs to a family of Asteraceae plants, is used medicinally in East Asia. We investigated the effects of an ethanol extract of E. makinoi (EEM) on nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation and the expression of iNOS and COX-2 with lipopolysaccharide (TLR4 agonist) in murine macrophages. EEM suppressed NF-κB activation and iNOS and COX-2 expression induced by LPS. These results suggest that EEM may regulate TLR4 signalling pathways and this may be a useful strategy for anti-inflammatory therapies.     

Aster yomena suppresses LPS-induced cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression

Inflammation is a pathological process that is known to be involved in numerous diseases. Microbial infection or tissue injury activates inflammatory responses, resulting in the induction of proinflammatory proteins including cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Aster yomena is used in traditional Korean remedies to treat cough, asthma, and insect bites. Here, we investigated the effects of A. yomena extract (EAY) on the expression of COX-2 and iNOS induced by LPS. EAY inhibited NF-κB activation and IκBα degradation induced by LPS. EAY suppressed LPS-induced COX-2 and iNOS expression which are the target genes regulated through NF-κB activation in macrophages. EAY also suppressed LPS-induced nitrite production. These results suggest that EAY has the potential to be developed as a potent anti-inflammatory drug.     

Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in rat pulmonary Cryptococcus neoformans granulomas.

Rats, like humans, have extremely effective immune mechanisms for controlling pulmonary Cryptococcus neoformans infection. The mechanism(s) responsible for efficient immunity in rat experimental infection is unknown. Recently, induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nitric oxide (NO) have been implicated as an important microbicidal mechanism by which activated macrophages effect cytotoxicity against microbes. In this report, we investigated the expression of iNOS in rat pulmonary cryptococcosis. Localization and regulation of NO production was studied by immunohistochemistry for iNOS in conjunction with immunohistochemistry for cell markers, cytokines, and cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide. iNOS immunoreactivity was detected in macrophages, neutrophils, vascular endothelium, and respiratory epithelium. Double-immunolabeling studies revealed that the most prominent iNOS immunoreactivity was localized to epithelioid macrophages (CD11b/c+) within granulomas; CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were numerous around granulomas but did not express iNOS. iNOS immunoreactivity was detected in a selective population of epithelioid macrophages within some granulomas but not others. iNOS- granulomas were identical to iNOS+ granulomas with respect to morphology and immunohistochemical profiles. Macrophage iNOS immunoreactivity was detected 1 week after infection in one out of four rats and was strongly expressed in all rats at 2 weeks (in up to 50 percent of the granulomas) but declined considerably by 25 days. iNOS expression coincided with granuloma formation and preceded a decrease in lung fungal burden, suggesting an anticryptococcal role for NO. By double labeling, cytokines that have been shown to promote (interferon-gamma, granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor) and inhibit (transforming growth factor-beta) macrophage iNOS expression were detected around iNOS+ granuloma. iNOS immunoreactivity was expressed in selected neutrophils (1 and 2 weeks) and endothelial cells (1 and 2 weeks and 25 days) in the inflamed lung. Airway iNOS immunoreactivity was limited to the luminal border of rare bronchiolar epithelial cells. iNOS immunoreactivity was not detected in uninfected rats. The present study provides the first evidence for association of iNOS expression with protective cellular responses to cryptococcal infection in vivo.     

Resveratrol inhibits inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression in beta-amyloid-treated C6 glioma cells

Resveratrol has been reported to exert a variety of important pharmacological effects including anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective and cancer chemopreventive properties; however, its mechanisms of action are not completely under-stood. beta-amyloid protein is considered to be responsible for the formation of senile plaques that accumulate in the brains of patients with Alzheimer disease. In the present study, we investigated the protective effect of resveratrol on beta-amyloid-induced cytoxicity in cultured rat astroglioma C6 cells. Preincubation of C6 cells with resveratrol concentration-dependently protected the cells from the growth inhibition induced by beta-amyloid treatment. beta-amyloid treatment led to increased nitric oxide (NO) synthesis and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression; however, cells pretreated with resveratrol showed a dose-dependent inhibition of NO production and iNOS expression following beta-amyloid treatment. Resveratrol also attenuated beta-amyloid-induced prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) release, which was associated with the inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression. Furthermore, beta-amyloid treatment induced nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB, which was suppressed by resveratrol pretreatment. Collectively, the present results indicate that modulation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activity is involved in the neuroprotective action of resveratrol against beta-amyloid-induced toxicity.     

LPS对大鼠雪旺氏细胞iNOS表达的影响

目的：探讨内毒素脂多糖（Lipopolysaccharide,LPS）对大鼠雪旺氏细胞（Schwann cells,Scs）诱导型一氧化氮合酶（Inducible nitric-oxide synthase,iNOS）基因表达及一氧化氮（Nitric oxide,NO）生成的影响。方法：用不同浓度（1、10、100μg/ml）和同一浓度不同时间（1、2、4、6小时）的LPS刺激雪旺氏细胞,分别用RT-PCR和亚硝酸盐含量测定观察细胞iNOS mRNA的表达量和细胞培养液中亚硝酸盐的水平,同时用免疫荧光细胞化学染色检测iNOS的细胞定位。结果：用LPS10μg/ml刺激2小时后,iNOS mRNA的表达增加,4小时表达活性最高。细胞上清中的亚硝酸盐含量高峰在6小时。免疫细胞化学证明LPS诱导雪旺氏细胞iNOS的表达定位在胞浆。结论：LPS可在转录水平上诱导雪旺氏细胞iNOS mRNA表达,促进NO的合成,提示雪旺氏细胞在周围神经系统炎症过程中可能发挥免疫调节作用。     

Cytokines and lipopolysaccharide induce nitric oxide synthase in cultured rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle.

In the current study, we describe cytokine and Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induction of nitric oxide (NO) synthase mRNA levels in cultured smooth muscle from rat pulmonary artery (RPASM). Exposure of RPASM to interleukin-1 beta, interferon-gamma, or LPS alone did not significantly affect NO synthesis, as determined by nitrite concentrations in media. Exposure to tumor necrosis factor-alpha caused a modest (2x) increase in nitrite production. In contrast, exposure to a combination of the above three cytokines and LPS caused a large increase in NO synthesis. Exposure of RPASM to this combination caused an increase in mRNA levels of NO synthase (as described by Northern blot analysis with 32P-cDNA probe to an inducible form of NO synthase present in murine macrophages) that was apparent as early as 4 h. Expression of the induced gene product after exposure to the cytokine and LPS mixture was evident by significant increases in nitrite production at 12 h. Production of nitrite was completely abolished in the presence of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (NMA), and this inhibition was reversible by the addition of excess L-arginine. NO synthase mRNA levels were not affected by NMA. The nitrite production induced by the combination of cytokines and LPS was abolished by pretreating cells with cycloheximide. These data indicate that a combination of cytokines and LPS affect expression of the gene for the inducible form of NO synthase in cultured RPASM.     

Localization of nitric oxide synthase in human trophoblast cells: role of nitric oxide in trophoblast proliferation and differentiation

PROBLEM: There are conflicting reports about the isoform of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) present in trophoblast cells. In this study, we have examined the presence of different NOS isoforms in trophoblast cells. In addition, the role of nitric oxide (NO) in trophoblast function has also been studied by investigating the possible role of nitric oxide in trophoblast proliferation and differentiation. METHOD OF STUDY: NOS isoforms in primary-term trophoblast and JEG-3 cells were identified by immunocytochemistry. The intracellular localization of this enzyme was determined by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Trophoblast proliferation was studied by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrasolium bromide (MTT) conversion assay and cellular differentiation was monitored by human chorionic gonodotropin (hCG) and progesterone secretion, measured by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: The immunoreactive NOS was present in human trophoblast cells of normal term placenta and JEG-3 cells (a choriocarcinoma cell line) maintained in culture. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-dependent diaphorase activity overlapped with the immunostaining of NOS. Specific antibodies against the different isoforms of NOS detected the presence of neuronal-type NOS (nNOS) only. The other two isoforms, i.e., eNOS (endothelial) and iNOS (macrophage specific) were completely absent. The nNOS was localized in cell cytoplasm. In culture, JEG-3 cells normally undergo proliferation and cytotrophoblast cells in primary culture differentiate to form hormone-secreting syncytial cells. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a nitric oxide donor, when added to the culture, significantly increased proliferation of JEG-3 cells and inhibited the differentiation of cytotrophoblast cells. The arrest by SNP in the formation of syncytial cells was further evidenced by the low secretion profile of hCG and progesterone. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest for the first time the presence of nNOS in the human trophoblast cells and a previously unrecognized role of NO in trophoblast proliferation and differentiation.     

Expression and regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase from human primary airway epithelial cells.

Elevated levels of exhaled nitric oxide are seen in inflammatory airway diseases such as asthma, but the cellular source remains unknown. This study investigated whether human airway epithelial cells express inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Human bronchial epithelial cells stimulated with 50 ng/ml interleukin-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interferon-gamma express iNOS mRNA, protein and increased nitrite in the cell culture media, which was inhibited by the selective iNOS inhibitor 1400W. Cells derived from subjects with asthma produced less nitrite than cells from normal subjects (6.59 +/- 0.99 microM nitrite, n = 15 versus 3.89 +/- 0.42 microM nitrite, n = 20; P < 0.05). This was not attributed to steroid treatment of subjects with asthma because there was no difference in the amount of nitrite released from steroid-naive and steroid-treated cells (3.51 +/- 0.46 versus 4.27 +/- 0.7 microM nitrite, n = 10). Neither dexamethasone nor budesonide inhibited iNOS mRNA induction, protein expression, or nitrite accumulation. The cells were not steroid insensitive because steroids inhibited GM-CSF release. Therefore, although these cells express iNOS under inflammatory conditions, they do not appear to be regulated directly by glucocorticosteroids.     

内皮型、诱导型一氧化氮合酶在乳腺癌中的表达

目的 :研究内皮型一氧化氮合酶 (eNOS)、诱导型一氧化氮合酶 (iNOS)在乳癌中表达及与淋巴结转移的关系。方法 :采用免疫组化S P法检测 60例乳癌中eNOS和iNOS的表达。结果 :eNOS和iNOS阳性在乳癌中表达率分别为 75 0 %和71 7%。在淋巴结转移组和无淋巴结转移组中eNOS阳性表达率分别为 66 7%和 83 3 % ,两组间差异无统计学意义 (χ2 =2 2 2 ,P >0 0 5) ,而iNOS在淋巴结转移和无转移组中阳性表达率分别为 53 3 %和 90 0 % ,两组间差异有统计学意义 (χ2 =9 93 ,P <0 0 1 )。结论 :内皮型、诱导型一氧化氮合酶在乳腺癌中高表达 ;iNOS的表达与乳腺癌的淋巴转移相关     

Up-regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 expression in lymphocytic thyroiditis and thyroid tumors: significant correlation with inducible nitric oxide synthase

To cast light on relations of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression to lymphocytic thyroiditis and thyroid tumorigenesis, protein levels were immunohistochemically assessed and compared with inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in a total of 181 cases: follicular adenoma, 23; well-differentiated papillary carcinoma, 85; poorly differentiated papillary carcinoma, 25; anaplastic carcinoma, 7; and follicular carcinoma, 41. In addition, 72 specimens of normal follicular epithelia and 36 of lymphocytic thyroiditis were used as control samples. Immunohistochemical results were confirmed in 2 cases each of normal thyroid, lymphocytic thyroiditis, and well-differentiated and poorly differentiated papillary carcinoma, by Western blotting assay. Stepwise increments in overexpression of COX-2 and iNOS were revealed in epithelial cells of lymphocytic thyroiditis, follicular adenoma, and papillary carcinoma; normal thyroid epithelium showed little expression. A significant positive correlation between the 2 enzymes was found with all cases. Enhanced expression of both COX-2 and iNOS suggests important roles in the inflammatory processes underlying lymphocytic thyroiditis and thyroid tumorigenesis.     

透骨消痛颗粒干预膝骨性关节炎早期环氧合酶2和诱导型一氧化氮合酶的表达

背景：由巴戟天、杭白芍、肿节风、川芎等组成的透骨消痛颗粒能有效改善膝骨性关节炎的症状,但其具体机制尚不清楚。 目的：观察透骨消痛颗粒对膝骨性关节炎早期环氧合酶2和诱导型一氧化氮合酶表达的影响。 方法：将90只新西兰大白兔随机等分为6组：除正常组外均采用改良Hulth法建立骨性关节炎动物模型,透骨消痛颗粒低、中、高剂量组及壮骨关节丸组分别在造模的基础上每天灌胃给予含透骨消痛颗粒5,10,20 g或壮骨关节丸10 g的水溶液。4周后,检测兔关节滑液中一氧化氮、一氧化氮合酶、前列腺素E2及关节软骨和滑膜组织中诱导型一氧化氮合酶、环氧合酶2的水平。 结果与结论：骨性关节炎早期,关节滑液中一氧化氮、一氧化氮合酶、前列腺素E2水平及滑膜和软骨中环氧合酶2、诱导型一氧化氮合酶表达均明显升高。透骨消痛颗粒及壮骨关节丸均可降低关节滑液中一氧化氮、一氧化氮合酶、前列腺素E2及滑膜和软骨中环氧合酶2、诱导型一氧化氮合酶的表达,以透骨消痛颗粒中、高剂量组作用更明显。提示透骨消痛颗粒可通过抑制环氧合酶2和诱导型一氧化氮合酶表达,从而抑制软骨降解,缓解临床症状,达到保护关节软骨、防治骨性关节炎的作用。     

人视网膜色素上皮细胞诱导型一氧化氮合酶和活性氧在高糖状态下的表达

背景：高血糖导致的自由基损伤是糖尿病视网膜病变发病机制的中心环节。 目的：观察高糖对体外培养的人视网膜色素上皮细胞的氧化损伤作用以及高糖对人视网膜色素上皮细胞诱导型一氧化氮合酶和活性氧表达的影响。 方法：将培养人视网膜色素上皮细胞,分为对照组、高糖组和甘露醇组,分别用含5.5 mmol/L葡萄糖,33 mmol/L葡萄糖及5.5 mmol/L葡萄糖和27.5 mmol/L甘露醇的DMEM培养液培养。采用相差倒置显微镜观察细胞生长形态,采用免疫荧光染色研究诱导型一氧化氮合酶和3-硝基酪氨酸蛋白表达的变化,用氯甲基二氯二氢荧光素二乙酯荧光染色检测视网膜色素上皮细胞中活性氧的产生量。 结果与结论：与对照组相比,应用含33 mmol/L葡萄糖的DMEM培养基处理视网膜色素上皮细胞48 h可见细胞胞体变薄,形态表现多样,不规则细胞增多;高糖培养的视网膜色素上皮细胞诱导型一氧化氮合酶和3-硝基酪氨酸蛋白表达增加,活性氧产生明显增多。说明高浓度葡萄糖培养可造成人视网膜色素上皮细胞氧化损伤,使细胞形态发生变化,并导致细胞中3-硝基酪氨酸产生增多。     

大鼠额叶皮质损害后诱导型iNOS阳性细胞的变化

目的：一氧化氮在脑内的许多生功能中起重要作用,并参与脑损伤的病理生理过程。本研究旨在探讨实验性脑损伤后的NOS阳性细胞的来源及成份。方法：利用机械油吸法制成大鼠额叶皮质损伤动物模型,应用NADPH-d组织化学及GFAP免疫组化法观察损伤后1、3、7、14、21、30及60d皮质损害区NOS阳性细胞的类型和变化。结果：损害后1d即见皮质损害区底部和两侧nNOS阳性细胞增加,损害底部出现诱导型胶质细胞,尤以胼胝体中更为密集。这种反应3-7d时逐渐增强,2周时最明显,以后随时间推移及损害的修复而降低,研究发现部分iNOS阳性细胞与GFAP者共存,提示系反应性胶质细胞,未见eNOS阳性细胞上调现象。结论：皮质受损时,出现2种不同表型的NOS阳性细胞且上调,即出现诱导型神经元nNOS和诱导型iNOS胶质细胞。究其来源各不相同,但均能合成NO,NO主要集中在损伤部位的周围。     

Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and its involvement in pulmonary granulomatous inflammation in rats.

Two types of pulmonary granulomatosis were produced in rats by intratracheal instillation of zymosan or silica. In both models, immunostaining with anti-rat monoclonal antibody for inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), ANOS11, showed that the intensity of iNOS immunoreactivity in the inflammatory lesions peaked at 3 days and declined thereafter. Immunohistochemical double staining and in situ hybridization demonstrated the expression of iNOS in neutrophils, monocyte-derived macrophages, and bronchiolar epithelial cells in the pulmonary lesions. Electron spin resonance spectroscopy revealed the production of an excessive amount of nitric oxide (NO) in the pulmonary lesions. Immunostaining with a polyclonal antibody against nitrotyrosine indicated the formation of nitrotyrosine residues in the granulomatous lesions, particularly in the periphery of the lesions, providing indirect evidence for the generation of peroxynitrite anion in the zymosan- or silica-instilled lungs. Administration of N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester or S-methylisothiourea sulfate, which significantly suppressed NO production, resulted in marked reduction of monocyte/macrophage infiltration as well as in inhibition of induction of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in the lesions. These data indicate that NO and its more reactive product peroxynitrite anion may be important mediators of granuloma formation in the lung.