罗红霉素通过诱导型一氧化氮合酶/一氧化氮途径抑制哮喘大鼠气道炎症

目的探讨罗红霉素对哮喘大鼠支气管诱导型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)及一氧化氮(NO)的影响。方法24只成年哮喘大鼠随机分成对照组、哮喘组以及罗红霉素组。对支气管肺泡灌洗液(BALF)细胞总数及嗜酸性粒细胞计数,免疫组织化学检测大鼠支气管上皮细胞iNOS蛋白表达,RT-PCR检测肺组织iNOS mRNA表达,分光光度计检测肺组织iNOS活性及NO含量。双抗体夹心法检测肺组织白细胞介素-4(IL-4)及干扰素-γ(IFN-γ)。结果哮喘组大鼠BALF细胞总数及嗜酸性粒细胞分类分别为(7.28±1.65)×108.L-1、(7.73±1.54)%,均高于对照组(3.76±0.97)×108.L-1、(1.27±0.60)%;罗红霉素组BALF细胞总数及嗜酸性粒细胞分类分别为(5.68±0.95)×108.L-1、(5.54±1.53)%,明显低于哮喘组,差异有统计学意义。哮喘组肺组织IL-4浓度、iNOS活性及NO含量高于对照组,罗红霉素组肺组织IL-4浓度、iNOS活性及NO含量低于哮喘组。哮喘组肺组织IFN-γ浓度低于对照组,罗红霉素组肺组织IFN-γ浓度高于哮喘组。哮喘大鼠支气管上皮细胞iNOS蛋白及肺组织iN-OSmRNA表达分布吸光度值分别为(0.25±0.06)、(0.52±0.14),较对照组[(0.14±0.05),(0.33±0.05)]明显增强;但罗红霉素组iNOS蛋白及mRNA表达为(0.15±0.03)、(0.35±0.07),均明显较哮喘组减弱。结论罗红霉素通过干预哮喘大鼠气道IL-4、IFN-γ以及iNOS/NO体系,抑制哮喘气道炎症反应。     

诱导型一氧化氮合酶抑制剂的研究进展

人体内NO由L-精氨酸在一氧化氮合酶(NOS)催化下产生,其中由诱导型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)产生的NO与炎症关系密不可分,是炎症作用机制中重要的细胞内信使和分子标志物。与此同时NO又是重要的细胞内和细胞间的信号调节分子,维系着人体多种生理功能。因此安全有效的iNOS选择性抑制剂的研究开发备受关注。随着药物设计技术的发展,新型iNOS抑制剂不断涌现,现对近年来iNOS抑制剂的研究进展作一综述。     

Role of inducible nitric oxide synthase in transplant arteriosclerosis

1. Transplant arteriosclerosis is a major obstacle to long-term allograft survival. Nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated as a mediator in the development of this disease. 2. We and others have shown that inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is up-regulated in allografts with transplant arteriosclerosis. Despite the acute cytotoxic effects produced by high levels of NO, a chronic increase in NO availability is protective against neointimal hyperplasia, mainly by suppressing the inflammatory cell recruitment and neointimal smooth muscle cell accumulation. 3. Currently, we have the technology to directly transfer the iNOS gene to allografts. We have demonstrated that this exciting strategy is feasible and therapeutic and may improve the long-term survival and function of allografts. Future challenges include optimizing the methods and the vectors of gene delivery.     

Aminoguanidine selectively inhibits inducible nitric oxide synthase.

1. Endotoxin induces nitric oxide synthase in vascular tissue, including rat main pulmonary artery. Currently available agents that cause inhibition of nitric oxide synthase are relatively non-selective between the constitutive and inducible forms of the enzyme. 2. Aminoguanidine caused a dose-dependent increase in phenylephrine-induced tension in intact and endothelium-denuded pulmonary artery rings from endotoxin-treated rats, but had no effect on sham-treated controls. 3. Contraction caused by aminoguanidine in endothelium-denuded vessels from endotoxin-treated rats was unaffected by indomethacin (10 microM), and by cimetidine and mepyramine (both 10 microM), excluding an effect of aminoguanidine mediated by arachidonic acid metabolites or histamine. 4. Contraction caused by aminoguanidine in endothelium-denuded vessels from endotoxin-treated rats was abolished by L-arginine (2 mM) and L-NG-monomethyl arginine (300 microM), but unaffected by D-arginine and D-NG-monomethyl arginine, suggesting that its action is mediated by the L-arginine/nitric oxide pathway.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Gender-specific vascular effects elicited by chronic ethanol consumption in rats: a role for inducible nitric oxide synthase

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Epidemiological data suggest that the risk of ethanol-associated cardiovascular disease is greater in men than in women. This study investigates the mechanisms underlying gender-specific vascular effects elicited by chronic ethanol consumption in rats. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Vascular reactivity experiments using standard muscle bath procedures were performed on isolated thoracic aortae from rats. mRNA and protein for inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and for endothelial NOS (eNOS) was assessed by RT-PCR or western blotting, respectively. KEY RESULTS: In male rats, chronic ethanol consumption enhanced phenylephrine-induced contraction in both endothelium-intact and denuded aortic rings. However, in female rats, chronic ethanol consumption enhanced phenylephrine-induced contraction only in endothelium denuded aortic rings. After pre-incubation of endothelium-intact rings with L-NAME, both male and female ethanol-treated rats showed larger phenylephrine-induced contractions in aortic rings, compared to the control group. Acetylcholine-induced relaxation was not affected by ethanol consumption. The effects of ethanol on responses to phenylephrine were similar in ovariectomized (OVX) and intact (non-OVX) female rats. In the presence of aminoguanidine, but not 7-nitroindazole, the contractions to phenylephrine in rings from ethanol-treated female rats were greater than that found in control tissues in the presence of the inhibitors. mRNA levels for eNOS and iNOS were not altered by ethanol consumption. Ethanol intake reduced eNOS protein levels and increased iNOS protein levels in aorta from female rats. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Gender differences in the vascular effects elicited by chronic ethanol consumption were not related to ovarian hormones but seemed to involve the upregulation of iNOS.     

Lack of inducible nitric oxide synthase prevents lipid-induced skeletal muscle insulin resistance without attenuating cytokine level

We examined whether deletion of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) could prevent lipid infusion-induced insulin resistance in iNOS-knockout and wild-type mice with the in vivo euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp technique. Plasma NO metabolites were increased in lipid-infused wild-type mice, while they were not increased in iNOS-knockout mice. Plasma tumor necrosis factor-α levels were increased in both wild-type and iNOS-knockout by lipid-infusion. Lipid infusion reduced glucose infusion rate (GIR) and whole body glucose uptake in wild-type mice, whereas iNOS-knockout mice displayed comparable GIR and whole body glucose uptake compared with the control. In the gastrocnemius, lipid infusion decreased glucose uptake and glycolysis that were accompanied with increased phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase and reduced phosphorylation of phosphoinositide 3-kinases and serine/threonine kinase Akt. However, lipid infusion did not affect glucose uptake or phosphorylation of these proteins in iNOS-knockout mice. The mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines were also increased in the gastrocnemis of wild-type and iNOS-knockout mice by lipid infusion. Nitrotyrosine level in the gastrocnemius was increased in lipid-infused wild-type mice but it was not increased in iNOS-knockout mice. These results suggest that lack of iNOS prevents lipid infusion-induced skeletal muscle insulin resistance without attenuating cytokine levels.     

Selective inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase attenuates renal ischemia and damage in experimental heatstroke

The aim of the present study was to determine whether the possible occurrence of renal ischemia and damage during heatstroke can be suppressed by prior administration of L-N6-(1-iminoethyl) lysine (L-NIL), a selective inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitor. Urethane-anesthetized rats were exposed to heat stress (43 degrees C) to induce heatstroke. Control rats were exposed to 24 degrees C. Mean arterial pressure and renal blood flow after the onset of heatstroke both were significantly lower in vehicle-treated heatstroke rats than in normothermic controls. However, both the body temperature and renal damage scores were greater in vehicle-treated heatstroke rats compared with normothermic controls. Plasma nitric oxide (NO), creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), as well as the renal immunoreactivity of iNOS and peroxynitrite all were significantly higher in vehicle-treated heatstroke rats compared with their normothermic controls. Pretreatment with L-NIL (3 mg/kg, administered intravenously and immediately at the onset of heat stress) significantly attenuated heatstroke-induced hyperthermia, arterial hypotension, renal ischemia and damage, increased renal levels of immunoreactivity of iNOS and peroxynitrite, and increased plasma levels of NO, creatinine, and BUN. Accordingly, pretreatment with L-NIL significantly improved survival during heatstroke. The results suggest that selective inhibition of iNOS-dependent NO and peroxynitrite formation protects against renal ischemia and damage during heatstroke by reducing hyperthermia and arterial hypotension.     

Evidence against a role of inducible nitric oxide synthase in the endothelial protective effects of delayed preconditioning

Preconditioning the heart with brief periods of ischaemia induces delayed endothelial protection against reperfusion injury, but the precise mechanisms involved in this endogenous protein are still unclear. Induction of the type II-nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) acts as a mediator of the preconditioning against myocardial infarction and stunning. The present study was designed to assess whether iNOS also contributes to the delayed endothelial protective effects of preconditioning. Rats were subjected to 20 min ischaemia followed by 60 min reperfusion 24 h after sham surgery or preconditioning (one cycle or 2 min ischaemia/5 min reperfusion and two cycles of 5 min ischaemia/5 min reperfusion). At the end of the reperfusion, coronary segments were removed distal to the site of occlusion and mounted in wire myographs. Ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R) decreased the endothelium-dependent relaxations to acetylcholine (maximal relaxations: sham, 66+/-5%; I/R, 40+/-1%; P<0.05) and this impairment was prevented by preconditioning (maximal relaxation: 61+/-6%). Administration of N-(3-aminomethyl)benzyl)acetaminide (1400W), a highly selective inhibitor for iNOS, 10 min before prolonged ischaemia did not modify the beneficial effect of preconditioning (maximal relaxation: 66+/-5%). These data show that preconditioning induces delayed protection against reperfusion-injury. However, in contrast to the myocytes, these endothelial protective effects of delayed preconditioning do not involve iNOS.     

Heroin modulates the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase

The use of heroin (diacetylmorphine) is associated with a high incidence of infectious disease, and the immunologic alterations responsible for heroin-induced changes in resistance to infection have not been well characterized. The present study tests the hypothesis that expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is modulated by the administration of heroin. The initial study using rats showed that heroin administration (0, 0.01, 0.1, or 1.0 mg/kg s.c.) results in a pronounced reduction in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced expression of iNOS mRNA in spleen, lung, and liver tissue as measured by RT-PCR. Heroin also produced a reduction in the level of plasma nitrite/nitrate, the more stable end-product of nitric oxide degradation. In a subsequent study, administration of the opioid receptor antagonist, naltrexone (0.1 mg/kg) prior to the injection of heroin (1.0 mg/kg) blocked the heroin-induced reduction of iNOS expression and plasma nitrite/nitrate levels indicating that the effect is mediated via the opioid-receptor. This study provides the first evidence that heroin induces an alteration of iNOS expression, and suggests that a reduction in nitric oxide production may be involved in the increased incidence of infectious diseases amongst heroin users.     

Discovery of novel inhibitors of inducible nitric oxide synthase

We have discovered three compounds, 5-chloro-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazol-2-one (FR038251), 1,3(2H,4H)-isoquinolinedione (FR038470) and 5-chloro-2,4(1H,3H)-quinazolonedione (FR191863), which show inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The iNOS inhibitory activity of the compounds was examined in comparison with that of aminoguanidine, a representative iNOS inhibitor. FR038251, FR038470 and FR191863 inhibited mouse iNOS, with IC50 values of 1.7, 8.8 and 1.9 microM, respectively, in an in-vitro enzyme assay. These inhibitory activities are comparable with that of aminoguanidine (IC50 = 2.1 microM). The three compounds had iNOS selectivity 38- and 8-times, > 11- and 3-times, and 53- and 3-times compared with rat neuronal NOS and bovine endothelial NOS, respectively. These compounds concentration-dependently inhibited NO production in intact RAW264.7 mouse macrophages stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/interferon-gamma. At 100 microM, FR038251, FR038470, FR191863 and aminoguanidine showed 81, 44, 54 and 78% inhibition of NO production, respectively. In an in-vivo experiment, FR038251, FR038470, FR191863 and aminoguanidine inhibited NO production in LPS-treated mice by 68, 40, 5 and 68% at an oral dose of 100 mg kg-1. The in-vivo inhibitory activity of FR038251 was almost identical to that of aminoguanidine. In conclusion, the three FR compounds are iNOS inhibitors with novel structures and may be candidate compounds leading to discovery of more iNOS inhibitors in the future.     

诱导型一氧化氮合酶抑制剂的研究进展

一氧化氮(NO)是一种信号分子及自由基,参与哺乳动物体内许多重要生理过程,而且它在炎症和肿瘤疾病中发挥着重要作用。内源性的NO由一氧化氮合酶(NOSs)催化氧化L-精氨酸产生,人类一氧化氮合酶分为三种主要类型,包括神经元型(nNOS)、内皮型(eNOS)和诱导型(iNOS)。其中诱导型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)是钙离子非依赖型的并且会被外部刺激如炎性细胞因子和氧化应激(如TNF-α、IL-1β、PS、γ-射线、氧化物)激活。由i NOS产生的过量的NO会导致多种疾病。而且证据表明,对iNOS有效的抑制在预防和治疗炎症和肿瘤疾病、免疫紊乱、组织损伤、败血性休克、糖尿病和辐射诱导的血管内皮细胞损伤等方面都是有效的。因此iNOS抑制剂作为一个新的靶点及治疗途径,具有重要的医疗价值,本文综述了当前i NOS抑制剂的研究进展。     

S-甲基异硫脲抑制梗塞兔心肌诱导型一氧化氮合酶的表达

目的　研究S 甲基异硫脲 (SMT)对梗塞兔心肌组织内诱导型一氧化氮合酶 (iNOS)活性的抑制作用。方法　对左房心耳和心尖中间弯曲的冠状动脉前外侧枝进行结扎 ,建立心肌梗塞模型。应用L 精氨酸转换为L 胍氨酸法测定家兔心肌梗塞区和非梗塞区诱导型一氧化氮合酶的活性 ,同时观察S 甲基异硫脲和NW 硝基 L 精氨酸 (L NNA)对诱导型一氧化氮合酶活性的抑制作用。结果　冠状动脉结扎后 48h、72h和 96h ,心肌梗塞区诱导型一氧化氮合酶活性比非手术组显著增加 (P <0 0 1) ,并在 72h达到峰值 ;梗塞后 72h左室壁cGMP含量也明显增加 (P <0 0 1) ;同时SMT能明显降低梗塞区心肌诱导型一氧化氮合酶的活性 (P<0 0 1)。结论　SMT能明显抑制梗塞兔心肌iNOS的活性 ,提示SMT对改善心脏功能和治疗急性心肌梗塞具有一定的临床效果。     

诱生型一氧化氮合酶在骨关节炎发病机制中的作用探讨

目的 探讨骨关节炎(OA)患者关节滑膜中诱生型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)的表达及在OA发病机制中的作用.方法 采用免疫组织化学方法检测OA患者关节滑膜组织中iNOS的表达.结果 OA滑膜HE染色显示滑膜细胞由单细胞层变成多细胞层并有炎症细胞浸润和血管增生与扩张;滑膜免疫组织化学染色显示滑膜细胞质内有棕黑色颗粒沉积.结论 iNOS及其产生的NO可能参与了OA的病变过程,是OA病程发展的机制之一.     

Influence of simultaneous inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase in experimental colitis in rats

The inflamed mucosa in ulcerative colitis produces high amount of prostaglandin (PG) and nitric oxide (NO) through inducible enzymes: cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), respectively, implicating them as potential anti-inflammatory drug targets. COX-2 or iNOS-related treatments in different models of colitis have yielded ambiguous results ranging from exacerbation of disease to abolition of inflammation. iNOS and COX-2 induction is blocked by potent anti-inflammatory glucocorticoids, however, serious side effects including relapses limit their usefulness in colitis for long time. Simultaneous inhibition of iNOS and COX-2 was investigated in the current study in 2, 4, 6 trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in rats. Treatment group received rofecoxib, aminoguanidine hydrochloride or their combination at different doses at 48, 36, 24, 12 and 1 h prior to induction of colitis and 12 h later. Colonic myeloperoxidase (MPO), COX-2, nitrate and nitrite, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and lipid peroxidation were maximally reduced by combination of 10 mg/kg rofecoxib and 30 mg/kg of aminoguanidine hydrochloride in TNBS-induced colitis in rats. However, maximum increase in SOD and catalase was noted by this combination. Rats treated with rofecoxib, aminoguanidine hydrochloride and their combinations reduced the inflammation, acute colonic damage produced by TNBS as verified by macroscopic changes in colon. Combination of rofecoxib (10 mg/kg) and aminoguanidine hydrochloride (30 mg/kg) has maximal protective effect on colonic injury induced by TNBS enema which is probably, via mechanism of local inhibition of iNOS and COX-2 activity in colonic mucosa and support the idea that simultaneous inhibition of iNOS and COX-2 inhibitors have a promising potential in the treatment of colitis.     

Regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase by cAMP-elevating phospho-diesterase inhibitors

Among the numerous genes controlled by cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A signalling machinery is the gene encoding the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), an enzyme catalyzing the synthesis of a highly reactive free radical nitric oxide (NO). While being a major microbicidal and tumoricidal molecule, iNOS-derived NO has also been implicated in tissue destruction, as well as in regulation of inflammatory/immune cell function in various disorders associated with excessive inflammation. A feasible way for cAMP-dependent therapeutic control of inflammation, including iNOS-mediated NO synthesis, could involve the administration of drugs that block the enzymatic activity of cAMP-degrading phosphodiesterases (PDE). Indeed, cAMP-elevating PDE inhibitors can influence iNOS activation in different cell types in vitro, and their potent anti-inflammatory effects in experimental disease models and clinical studies were frequently accompanied with profound modulation of NO production. A set of conflicting data has been generated over the years, ranging from strong suppression to marked enhancement of NO release by cAMP-increasing PDE inhibitors, depending on cell-type, iNOS stimuli, and/or the agents used. The present review summarizes the data on iNOS modulation by cAMP-elevating PDE inhibitors and possible mechanisms behind it, speculating on its contribution to the therapeutic effects of these drugs.