HO-1对糖尿病大鼠早期肾损伤的影响

目的探讨血红素加氧酶-1(HO-1)水平的变化对糖尿病肾损伤时肾脏内皮功能及肾损伤的影响。方法链脲佐菌素诱导糖尿病大鼠模型,分成4组:对照组、糖尿病(DM)组、Hemin(HO-1诱导剂)+DM组、ZnPP(HO-1抑制剂)+DM组。在5、10、15周时收集标本;IHC及RT-PCR法观察肾组织HO-1的表达,检测MDA含量、SOD活性、NO及iNOS、eNOS水平的变化。同时收集各组大鼠24 h尿液测尿白蛋白排泄率(UAER)指标。结果与对照组比较,DM时大鼠肾脏局部MDA增加,HO-1的表达在5周时即增强,10周时有显著性差异(P<0.05)。在对照组肾组织中iNOS高于eNOS、DM时,iNOS下降而eNOS明显升高;与DM5周组比较,Hemin+DM组HO-1表达明显增强(P<0.05),MDA含量下降,eNOS升高受抑制,UAER减少(P<0.05);ZnPP+DM组HO-1表达减弱,MDA含量升高(P<0.01),eNOS增加,NO、UAER明显增加(P<0.05)。结论提高肾脏HO-1表达水平可减缓DM早期肾脏损伤。     

大鼠肢体缺血-再灌注后肾脏iNOS表达的变化及意义

目的:探讨大鼠肢体缺血-再灌注(I-R)致肾脏损伤时肾内iNOS表达的变化及意义。方法:夹闭、再开放大鼠双侧股动脉,复制肢体I-R模型。RT-PCR检测肾组织iNOSmRNA表达的变化;免疫组化染色法观察iNOS蛋白及硝基酪氨酸(NT)在肾内的生成及分布;比色法测定肾组织MDA含量及SOD活性;应用氨基胍抑制大鼠体内iNOS活性后观察其肾组织的病理学变化。结果:肢体I-R后肾内iNOSmRNA表达显著高于对照组(P<0.01),肾小管上皮细胞内出现大量iNOS及NT阳性产物;肢体I-R后肾组织MDA含量显著升高,SOD活性显著降低(P<0.01);应用氨基胍后肾组织损伤减轻。结论:肢体I-R后肾内iNOS表达显著上调,由其诱生的高浓度NO可能参与介导了肾脏损伤。     

肢体缺血预适应的小肠保护作用及与一氧化氮/内皮素-1的关系

目的：观察一氧化氮/内皮素-1(NO/ET-1)失衡与肢体缺血再灌注(I/R)后小肠损伤的关系，以及缺血预适应(IPC)对NO/ET-1系统的调节作用。 方法： 雄性Wistar大鼠18只，随机分为对照（control）组，缺血再灌注（IR）组和缺血预适应（IPC+IR）组，每组6只，分别测定血浆和小肠组织二氨氧化酶(DAO)、一氧化氮(NO)、内皮素-1(ET-1)、NO/ET-1比值的含量变化及小肠组织的髓过氧化物酶(MPO)、DNA双链百分率(ratio of DNA chain %)、总一氧化氮合酶（tNOS）、诱导型一氧化氮合酶（iNOS）、结构型一氧化氮合酶（cNOS）的水平；免疫组化法检测小肠组织的诱导型一氧化氮合酶（iNOS）、内皮型一氧化氮合酶（eNOS）的表达。 结果： IR组血浆和小肠组织NO、ET-1，血浆DAO及组织MPO均明显高于对照组，而 NO/ET-1的比值，组织DAO及DNA双链百分率明显少于对照组；小肠粘膜iNOS的表达及总NOS活性高于对照组，cNOS（主要为eNOS）的表达少于对照组。IPC+IR组血浆和小肠组织NO、ET-1，血浆DAO及组织MPO均明显少于IR组，而 NO/ET-1的比值，组织DAO及DNA双链百分率却明显高于IR组；小肠粘膜iNOS的表达及总NOS活性少于IR组，cNOS（主要为eNOS）的表达高于IR组。 结论： 肢体I/R后小肠损伤与NO/ET-1失衡有关，IPC对肢体IR继发的小肠粘膜损伤的拮抗作用可能通过对NO/ET-1系统的调节作用而介导，此时内皮源的NO产生增加，非内皮源的NO产生减少。     

从氧自由基、一氧化氮探讨四逆汤抗急性失血性休克的肝脏机制

目的:从氧自由基、一氧化氮探讨四逆汤抗急性失血性休克的肝脏机制。方法:复制急性失血性休克大鼠模型, 分为假手术对照组;单纯休克模型组;休克+生理盐水复苏组;休克+四逆注射液复苏组。四逆注射液(浓度1000g生药/L), 剂量0.1mL/200g大鼠。用生理盐水或四逆注射液治疗3h后处死动物并取组织。测定各组肝脏超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、丙二醛(MDA)水平, 一氧化氮(NO)水平。采用免疫组化染色法, 观察诱导型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)在肝细胞中的变化特点。RT-PCR观测肝细胞iNOS和内皮源性一氧化氮合酶(eNOS)基因表达的变化。结果:模型组在休克1h后SOD活性明显低于对照组(P＜0.01)、MDA水平明显高于对照组(P＜0.01)。四逆汤组复苏3h后肝组织SOD明显高于生理盐水组(P＜0.01)、MDA低于生理盐水组(P＜0.01)、NO水平明显高于生理盐水组(P＜0.01)。生理盐水组iNOS在肝细胞中染色阳性单位明显高于四逆汤组(P＜0.05)。生理盐水组促进iNOSmRNA的表达。四逆汤组eNOSmRNA的表达增强。结论:四逆汤通过清除氧自由基, 升高NO, 改善肝组织微循环, 减少诱导型iNOS表达的各种因素, 理论上减轻了NO与氧自由基生成的ONOO的细胞毒作用和血管的低反应性, 并对肝脏起到保护作用。     

一氧化氮及一氧化氮合酶在急性吸入高浓度氧大鼠肺泡上皮细胞凋亡中的作用

目的: 观察一氧化氮及其合酶在急性吸入高浓度氧大鼠肺泡上皮细胞凋亡中的作用。方法: 60只大鼠随机分为空气对照组(21%O₂)和高氧实验组4 h组、8 h 组、12 h组和16 h组(85%~100%O₂),每组12只,雌雄各半。比色法测定血浆、肺组织匀浆中丙二醛(MDA)、一氧化氮(NO)和一氧化氮合酶(NOS)活性。Western blotting检测肺组织中eNOS和iNOS蛋白表达。采用TUNEL染色法检测肺泡表面凋亡细胞,HE染色观察肺组织病理改变。结果: 与对照组比较,高氧各时相组血浆及肺组织匀浆MDA、NO、NOS均升高,差异显著(P<0.01)。对照组eNOS明显表达,高氧4 h组表达开始升高,8 h组eNOS蛋白质表达升高明显。对照组iNOS蛋白微量表达,但表达量远低于eNOS,16 h组表达略增强。与对照组(2.17%±1.80%)比较,4 h组肺泡上皮细胞凋亡数量增加9.13%±3.20%,8 h组、12 h组及16 h组凋亡细胞的数量增加达17.47%±3.50%、19.22%±4.50%和11.03%±2.80%。高氧各组血浆及肺组织各指标与细胞凋亡呈明显的正相关。结论: NO及eNOS在急性高氧诱导的肺泡上皮细胞凋亡的过程中可能发挥介导作用。     

Renal expression of endothelial and inducible nitric oxide synthase, and formation of peroxynitrite-modified proteins and reactive oxygen species in Wegener's granulomatosis

To investigate the role of nitric oxide (NO) in glomerular inflammation, the expression of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and inducible NOS (iNOS) was studied in conjunction with inflammatory cell influx, H2O2 production, and the formation of nitrotyrosines in renal biopsies from patients with Wegener's granulomatosis (WG). Renal cryostat sections from patients with WG (n=15) were stained by immunohistochemistry for eNOS, iNOS, endothelial cells (CD31), nitrotyrosines, polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs, CD15), and monocytes/macrophages (CD14, CD68). Production of H2O2 was identified by enzyme cytochemistry using diaminobenzidine. In control tissues, strong staining for eNOS was found in glomerular and interstitial tubular capillaries and cortical vessels. A significant reduction in eNOS expression was found in WG biopsies, which was associated with a reduction in CD31 expression. Expression of iNOS was found in infiltrating inflammatory cells, mainly located in the interstitium. H2O2-producing cells were detected in glomeruli and were abundantly present in the interstitium. Nitrotyrosine-positive cells, however, were almost exclusively found in the interstitium. It is concluded that renal inflammation in WG is associated with the induction of iNOS in inflammatory cells and the formation of nitrotyrosines. Expression of eNOS in glomerular capillaries is lost, most likely due to endothelial cell damage. These results suggest that decreased NO production by endothelial cells, in conjunction with increased NO production by iNOS-positive inflammatory cells, is involved in renal tissue injury in WG.     

The expression and activity of renal nitric oxide synthase and circulating nitric oxide in polycystic kidney disease rats

Nitric oxide (NO) influences tubular fluid and electrolyte transport, and hence possibly also fluid accumulation in renal cysts. The expression and activity of intrarenal constitutive NO synthase (cNOS) [neuronal NOS, nNOS and endothelial NOS, eNOS] and inducible NOS (iNOS) and plasma nitrite/nitrate (PNOx) concentration were assessed in homozygous Han:SPRD polycystic kidney disease (PKD) rats (cy/cy), heterozygous Han:SPRD PKD rats (cy/+), homozygous normal Han:SPRD littermates (+/+) and Sprague Dawley rats (sd). The results showed: 1) nNOS expression was decreased in proximal tubules and thick ascending limbs of the loop of Henle in cy/cy and cy/+ rats compared to +/+ and sd rats (p<0.05). nNOS was weakly expressed in the epithelium of small cysts and unexpressed in epithelium of large cysts. 2) iNOS expression was increased in proximal tubular epithelial cells in cy/+ rats compared to +/+ rats and sd rats (p<0.01). iNOS expression in cyst epithelium was decreased in cy/+ rats (p<0.05) and absent in cy/cy rats. 3) eNOS expression was similar in the endothelium of intrarenal arteries in all groups. 4) The activity of renal cNOS was decreased in cy/cy and cy/+ rats; the activity of iNOS was decreased only in cy/cy rats, with no significant difference among the other three groups. 5) PNOx concentration was higher in cy/cy rats than in the other three groups, and correlated positively with plasma creatinine and urea. In conclusion, NOS expression and activity decreased as cysts developed, suggesting that NO downregulation is involved in the pathogenesis of PKD.     

Effect of green tea on iron status and oxidative stress in iron-loaded rats

Plasma non-transferrin bound iron (NTBI) is potentially toxic and contributes to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), consequently leading to tissue damage and organ dysfunction. Iron chelators and antioxidants are used for treatment of thalassemia patients. Green tea (GT) contains catechins derivatives that have many biological activities. The purpose of this study was to investigate the iron-chelating and free-radical scavenging capacities of green tea extract in vivo. Rats were injected ip with ferric citrate together with orally administered GT extract (GTE) for 4 months. Blood was collected monthly for measurement of iron overload and oxidative stress indicators. Plasma iron (PI) and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) were quantified using bathophenanthroline method. Plasma NTBI was assayed with NTA chelation/HPLC. Plasma malonyldialdehyde (MDA) was determined by using the TBARS method. Erythrocyte oxidative stress was assessed using flow cytometry. Levels of PI, TIBC, NTBI and MDA, and erythrocyte ROS increased in the iron-loaded rats. Intervention with GT extract markedly decreased the PI and TIBC concentrations. It also lowered the transferrin saturation and effectively inhibited formation of NTBI. It also decreased the levels of erythrocyte ROS in week 4, 12 and 16. Therefore, green tea extract can decrease iron in plasma as well as eliminate lipid peroxidation in plasma, and destroy formation of erythrocyte ROS in the rats challenged with iron. The bifunctional effects could be beneficial in alleviating the iron and oxidative stress toxicity. In prospective, these GTE activities should be further examined in thalassemic animals or humans.     

NG-硝基-L-精氨酸对大鼠内毒素性肺线粒体损伤的影响

目的： 观察非选择性一氧化氮合酶(NOS)抑制剂NG-硝基-L-精氨酸(L-NA)对急性肺损伤大鼠肺线粒体功能的影响，并探讨其改善急性肺损伤的作用机制。方法: 将SD大鼠随机分为空白对照组、急性肺损伤组、L-NA治疗组，采用舌静脉注射脂多糖(LPS)复制大鼠急性肺损伤模型，于大鼠急性肺损伤3h后给L-NA治疗3h，断头放血处死大鼠，迅速取出肺脏，匀浆器混匀后，低温差速离心法提取肺线粒体，测定线粒体总ATP酶、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH-Px）、总一氧化氮合酶（T-NOS）、诱生型一氧化氮合酶（iNOS）、结构型一氧化氮合酶（cNOS）的活性，以及线粒体肿胀度、膜流动性和线粒体一氧化氮（NO）、丙二醛（MDA）含量；电镜观察大鼠肺线粒体超微结构的改变及治疗药对此改变的影响。结果: 在大鼠内毒素性急性肺损伤后，肺脏组织中线粒体表现为肿胀、膜流动性降低，线粒体中的T-NOS和iNOS活性显著升高，线粒体NO生成明显增加，而cNOS活性无明显变化；线粒体总ATP酶、SOD、GSH-Px活性均明显下降，线粒体MDA含量明显升高。急性肺损伤3h给予L-NA治疗3h,与急性肺损伤组相比，一氧化氮合酶活性有所改变，NO生成显著下降，总ATP酶、SOD、GSH-Px活性均显著升高，MDA含量下降。电镜结果显示内毒素性急性肺损伤后肺脏组织细胞水肿，线粒体肿胀、嵴断裂、溶解、消失；L-NA能改善内毒素性急性肺损伤引起的细胞水肿、线粒体肿胀和空泡化。结论: L-NA能明显抑制急性肺损伤后线粒体一氧化氮合酶活性，减少NO生成，改善线粒体能量供应，增加线粒体抗氧化作用，从而减轻急性肺损伤。     

The effect of spermatic vessel ligation on testicular nitric oxide levels and germ cell-specific apoptosis in rat testis

Management of high testis may vary but the most popular method in surgical treatment is the Fowler-Stephens maneuver. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of spermatic vessel ligation on testicular nitric oxide (NO) levels, expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and germ cell-specific apoptosis in both ipsilateral and contralateral testes in rats. Twenty-eight animals were randomly allocated into four groups (n=7 each). The spermatic vessels were ligated as a simulation of the Fowler-Stephens maneuver. The groups of animals were sacrificed at 2 h (group 1), 4 h (group 2) and 24 h (group 3) after ligation, respectively. Sham-operated animals served as controls (group 4). Biochemical assessment of testicular NO levels was performed by the Griess method. iNOS and eNOS expression and apoptosis were studied in ipsilateral and contralateral testes. Testicular NO levels at 24 h after the simulated Fowler-Stephens maneuver were found to be significantly increased in both ipsilateral and contralateral testes when compared with the sham-operated group. eNOS expression was clearly increased in ipsilateral testes, whereas moderate expression was detected in the contralateral seminiferous tubules at 24 h after ligation. Mild focal iNOS immunostaining was also observed in seminiferous tubules of the ipsilateral testis at 24 h after the simulated Fowler-Stephens maneuver. Apoptosis was dramatically increased in ipsilateral testes; however, it was only detected in single cells in the contralateral side at 24 h after ligation. In conclusion, the simulated Fowler-Stephens maneuver induces testicular nitric oxide synthesis and germ cell-specific apoptosis in the ipsilateral testis. These results suggest that high levels of NO induce apoptosis and may impair spermatogenesis thus explaining the unsuccessful outcome of the Fowler-Stephens maneuver.     

Mifepristone-induced nitric oxide release and expression of nitric oxide synthases in the human cervix during early pregnancy

BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide (NO) is a factor in cervical ripening, perhaps under the control of progesterone. We studied the effects of the antiprogesterone mifepristone on the release of NO and on the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) in the uterine cervix of women in early pregnancy. METHODS: Thirteen women were treated with oral mifepristone (200 mg), and 15 women were studied as controls. Cervical fluid samples were collected before treatment then hourly up to 3 h, and the samples were assayed for the concentration of nitric oxide metabolites (NOx). In addition, cervical biopsy samples from six women treated with mifepristone and from six controls were assessed for iNOS and eNOS by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. RESULTS: In 1-3 h, mifepristone induced 7.4- to 17.2-fold elevations in cervical fluid NOx concentrations; no change was seen in the controls. The expression of both iNOS and eNOS was detected in the cervical cells. The expression of cervical iNOS was strong in five of the six women treated with mifepristone but was not strong in any of the six control women. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to show that mifepristone stimulates the release of NO and the expression of iNOS in cervical cells of women in early pregnancy. This may be one mechanism by which mifepristone initiates cervical ripening.     

Expression of nitric oxide synthases and formation of nitrotyrosine and reactive oxygen species in inflammatory bowel disease

Nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are important mediators in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). NO in IBD can be either harmful or protective. NO can react with superoxide anions (O2.-), yielding the toxic oxidizing agent peroxynitrite (ONOO-). Peroxynitrite induces nitration of tyrosine residues (nitrotyrosine), leading to changes of protein structure and function. The aim of this study was to identify the cellular source of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and to localize superoxide anion-producing cells in mucosal biopsies from patients with active IBD. Additional studies were performed to look at nitrotyrosine formation as a measure of peroxynitrite-mediated tissue damage. For this, antibodies against iNOS, endothelial NOS (eNOS), and nitrotyrosine were used. ROS-producing cells were detected cytochemically. Inflamed mucosa of patients with active IBD showed intense iNOS staining in the epithelial cells. iNOS could not be detected in non-inflamed mucosa of IBD patients and control subjects. eNOS was present in blood vessels, without any difference in the staining intensity between IBD patients and control subjects. ROS-producing cells were increased in the lamina propria of IBD patients; a fraction of these cells were CD15-positive. Nitrotyrosine formation was found on ROS-positive cells. These results show that iNOS is induced in epithelial cells from patients with active ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. Nitration of proteins was detected only on the ROS-producing cells at some distance from the iNOS-producing epithelial cells. These findings indicate that tissue damage during active inflammation in IBD patients is probably more related to ROS-producing cells than to NO. One may speculate that NO has a protective role when during active inflammation other mucosal defence systems are impaired.     

Expression of nitric oxide synthases and nitrotyrosine during blood-brain barrier breakdown and repair after cold injury

This study was undertaken to determine whether the blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown and cerebral edema occurring post-trauma are associated with overexpression of the endothelial (e) and inducible (i) nitric oxide synthases (NOS), enzymes responsible for nitric oxide (NO) biosynthesis. These enzymes were determined quantitatively at the mRNA level and qualitatively at the protein level in the rat cerebral cortical cold injury model, during a period up to 6 days post-injury. In addition, peroxynitrite generation at the lesion site was detected by immunolocalization of nitrotyrosine as a marker of NO-superoxide interactions. These studies were correlated with the permeability status of the BBB by immunohistochemical detection of endogenous fibronectin extravasation in the same brains. BBB breakdown was immediate in lesion vessels, it was present as early as 10 minutes post-lesion and delayed in perilesional vessels that showed maximal BBB breakdown between 2-4 days. The BBB was restored to normal at 6 days post-lesion. An increase in both eNOS and iNOS mRNA was observed at the lesion site as compared with the contralateral hemisphere at 12 hours, 2 days, and 4 days. The mRNA returned to resting levels by 6 days. Increased eNOS protein was observed in the endothelium of permeable perilesional vessels and neovessels and in the endothelium of the hyperplastic pial vessels overlying the lesion site. iNOS protein was observed initially in polymorphonuclear leukocytes at the lesion site and later in macrophages, endothelial cells, and the smooth muscle cells of the overlying pial vessels. Furthermore, nitrotyrosine was demonstrated at the lesion site up to 5 days. Up-regulation of the NO synthases at both the mRNA and protein level accompanied by presence of nitrotyrosine during BBB breakdown and angiogenesis suggests that NO has a role in the pathogenesis of these processes.     

Immunolocalization of Kim-1, RPA-1, and RPA-2 in kidney of gentamicin-, mercury-, or chromium-treated rats: relationship to renal distributions of iNOS and nitrotyrosine

Immunohistochemical studies for kidney injury molecule-1 (Kim-1), renal papillary antigen-1 (RPA-1), and renal papillary antigen-2 (RPA-2) were conducted to explore their relationship to inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nitrotyrosine expression. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to gentamicin (100 mg/kg/day Gen, sc, for 3 days), mercury (0.25 mg Hg/kg, iv, single dose), or chromium (5 mg Cr/kg, sc, single dose) and kidney tissue was examined 24 hours or 72 hours after the last dose of the nephrotoxicant. Another group of kidneys was evaluated 24 hours after rats were administered 3 daily doses (50, 100, 150, 200, or 300 mg/kg/day) of Gen. Gen- and Cr-treated rats exhibited increased immunoreactivity of Kim-1, RPA-1, and RPA-2 largely in the S1/S2 segments and to a lesser extent in the S3 segments of the proximal tubule of the kidney, whereas Hg-treated rats showed increased immunoreactivity of Kim-1, RPA-1, and RPA-2 in the S3 segments. Up-regulation of Kim-1, RPA-1, and RPA-2 expression correlated with injured tubular epithelial cells and also correlated with immunoreactivity of iNOS and nitrotyrosine. It is possible that iNOS activation with nitrotyrosine production in injured nephron segments may be involved in the induction of Kim-1, RPA-1, and RPA-2 following exposure to nephrotoxicants.     

吸烟大鼠一氧化氮合酶和一氧化氮的变化

目的:观察吸烟对大鼠肺组织iNOS、eNOSmRNA和蛋白表达以及支气管肺泡灌洗液(BALF)中NO的影响, 探讨不同类型的NOS在吸烟所致慢性气道炎症中的作用。方法:选用Wistar大鼠80只随机分为对照组, 被动吸烟组, iNOS抑制剂L-NIL干预组及NOS抑制剂L-NAME干预组。用免疫组化法检测iNOS及eNOS的蛋白表达, 用RT-PCR检测iNOS及eNOSmRNA的表达, 用Griess法测定BALF中的NO^-₂/NO^-₃含量。结果:吸烟大鼠肺组织中iNOSmRNA及其蛋白表达增加, eNOSmRNA及蛋白表达下降, BALF中细胞总数及NO^-₂/NO^-₃显著增加(P＜0.05)。在体实验发现, L-NIL使BALF中细胞总数及NO^-₂/NO^-₃下降(P＜0.05);L-NAME对BALF中细胞总数及NO^-₂/NO^-₃无显著影响(P＞0.05)。结论:吸烟大鼠肺组织iNOSmRNA和蛋白表达增加, eNOSmRNA和蛋白表达减少。活化的iNOS产生大量NO促进炎症发展。     

Plasma protein haptoglobin modulates renal iron loading

Haptoglobin is the plasma protein with the highest binding affinity for hemoglobin. The strength of hemoglobin binding and the existence of a specific receptor for the haptoglobin-hemoglobin complex in the monocyte/macrophage system clearly suggest that haptoglobin may have a crucial role in heme-iron recovery. We used haptoglobin-null mice to evaluate the impact of haptoglobin gene inactivation on iron metabolism. Haptoglobin deficiency led to increased deposition of hemoglobin in proximal tubules of the kidney instead of the liver and the spleen as occurred in wild-type mice. This difference in organ distribution of hemoglobin in haptoglobin-deficient mice resulted in abnormal iron deposits in proximal tubules during aging. Moreover, iron also accumulated in proximal tubules after renal ischemia-reperfusion injury or after an acute plasma heme-protein overload caused by muscle injury, without affecting morphological and functional parameters of renal damage. These data demonstrate that haptoglobin crucially prevents glomerular filtration of hemoglobin and, consequently, renal iron loading during aging and following acute plasma heme-protein overload.     

Regulation of iNOS-Derived ROS Generation by HSP90 and Cav-1 in Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus-Infected Swine Lung Injury

In the lungs, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is usually expressed in endothelial cells and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is mainly expressed in alveolar macrophages and epithelial cells. Both eNOS and iNOS are involved in lung inflammation. While they play several roles in lung inflammation formation and resolution, their expression and activity are also regulated by inflammatory factors. Their expression relationship in virus infection-induced lung injury is not well addressed. In this report, we analyzed expression of both eNOS and iNOS, the production of nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), and expression of their associated regulatory proteins, heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) and caveolin-1 (Cav-1), in a swine lung injury model induced by porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection. The combination of upregulation of iNOS and downregulation of eNOS was observed in both natural and experimental PRRSV-infected lungs, while the combination is much enhanced in natural infected lungs. While NO production is much reduced in both infections, ROS was enhanced only in natural infected lungs. Moreover, HSP90 is increased in both natural and experimental infection and less Cav-1 expressed was observed only in the natural PRRSV-infected lungs. Therefore, the increased ROS generation is likely due to the increased iNOS and its unbalanced regulation by HSP90 and Cav-1, and it also likely causes higher endothelial dysfunction in clinical PRRSV-infected lungs.     

Cyclophosphamide Decreases Nitrotyrosine Formation and Inhibits Nitric Oxide Production by Alveolar Macrophages in Mycoplasmosis

We previously reported that congenic C57BL/6 inducible nitric oxide synthase(-/-) (iNOS(-/-)) mice infected with Mycoplasma pulmonis developed higher bacterial numbers and lung lesion scores than C57BL/6 iNOS(+/+) controls but had similar lung nitrotyrosine levels. The present studies investigated the role of inflammatory cells in nitrotyrosine formation during mycoplasmal infection. iNOS(+/+) and iNOS(-/-) mice were injected with cyclophosphamide (CYP) and inoculated with 10(7) CFU of M. pulmonis. CYP pretreatment of M. pulmonis-infected iNOS(+/+) and iNOS(-/-) mice reduced polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) within bronchoalveolar lavages (BALs) by 88 and 72%, respectively, and whole-lung myeloperoxidase levels by 80 and 78%, respectively, at 72 h postinfection but did not alter the number of alveolar macrophages (AMs) in BALs. CYP treatment also significantly decreased nitrate and nitrite (NOx) levels in BALs and plasma of infected iNOS(+/+) mice, whereas neither CYP nor mycoplasmal infection altered NOx in iNOS(-/-) mice. CYP reduced lung nitrotyrosine levels in both iNOS(+/+) and iNOS(-/-) mice to uninfected-control levels as shown by immunohistochemical staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and inhibited mycoplasmal killing by iNOS(+/+) mice in vivo. CYP inhibited the production of gamma interferon-inducible NOx by iNOS(+/+) AMs in vitro but did not alter the number of iNOS-positive AMs, as detected by immunocytochemistry. In addition, AMs from CYP-treated iNOS(+/+) mice had significantly decreased ability to kill mycoplasmas in vitro. These results demonstrate that reactive species generated by inflammatory cells as well as PMN myeloperoxidase are important contributors to nitrotyrosine formation during mycoplasmal infection and that treatment with CYP decreases NO* production by AMs and inhibits mycoplasmal killing.     

Effect of Pneumoperitoneum on Oxidative Stress and Inflammation via the Arginase Pathway in Rats

Purpose

Oxidative stress during CO₂ pneumoperitoneum is reported to be associated with decreased bioactivity of nitric oxide (NO). However, the changes in endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and arginase during CO₂ pneumoperitoneum have not been elucidated.

Materials and Methods

Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into three groups. After anesthesia induction, the abdominal cavities of the rats of groups intra-abdominal pressure (IAP)-10 and IAP-20 were insufflated with CO₂ at pressures of 10 mm Hg and 20 mm Hg, respectively, for 2 hours. The rats of group IAP-0 were not insufflated. After deflation, plasma NO was measured, while protein expression levels and activity of eNOS, iNOS, arginase (Arg) I, and Arg II were analyzed with aorta and lung tissue samples.

Results

Plasma nitrite concentration and eNOS expression were significantly suppressed in groups IAP-10 and IAP-20 compared to IAP-0. While expression of iNOS and Arg I were comparable between the three groups, Arg II expression was significantly greater in group IAP-20 than in group IAP-0. Activity of eNOS was significantly lower in groups IAP-10 and IAP-20 than in group IAP-0, while iNOS activity was significantly greater in group IAP-20 than in groups IAP-0 and IAP-10. Arginase activity was significantly greater in group IAP-20 than in groups IAP-0 and IAP-10.

Conclusion

The activity of eNOS decreases during CO₂ pneumoperitoneum, while iNOS activity is significantly increased, a change that contributes to increased oxidative stress and inflammation. Moreover, arginase expression and activity is increased during CO₂ pneumoperitoneum, which seems to act inversely to the NO system.     

Nitric oxide synthases modulate progenitor and resident endothelial cell behavior in galactosemia

We used knockout animals of either inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS(/)) or endothelial NOS (eNOS(/)) to characterize the role of NOS in galactosemia, a model of diabetic retinopathy. NADH oxidase and nitrotyrosine were used as biomarkers of oxidative stress and vascular dysfunction. These animals were engrafted with hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) expressing green fluorescence protein (gfp(+)) to characterize the contribution of HSC and endothelial progenitor cells to neovascularization. Increased NADH oxidase activity and superoxide generation occurred in all galactose-fed mice. eNOS(/) mice demonstrated increased iNOS immunoreactivity in their retinal vasculature. Nitrotyrosine levels were low at baseline in the wild-type (WT) mice, eNOS(/) and iNOS(/) mice, and the galactose-fed iNOS mice and increased following galactose feeding in eNOS(/) and WT. Galactose-fed WT.gfp and iNOS(/).gfp chimeric animals had areas of perfused new vessels composed of gfp(+) cells. In contrast, galactose-fed eNOS(/).gfp mice produced copious, unbranched, nonperfused tubes. Thus, nitric oxide modulates HSC behavior and vascular phenotype in the retina. Although there is increased NADH oxidase and superoxide in galactosemic mice of all isoforms, iNOS is the source of nitric oxide responsible for peroxynitrite and nitrotyrosine formation that leads to the pathology observed in galactosemic mice.