Effects of pulsatile shear stress on signaling mechanisms controlling nitric oxide production, endothelial nitric oxide synthase phosphorylation, and expression in ovine fetoplacental artery endothelial cells.

During gestation, placental blood flow, endothelial nitric oxide (NO) production, and endothelial cell nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression are elevated dramatically. Shear stress can induce flow-mediated vasodilation, endothelial NO production, and eNOS expression. Both the activity and expression of eNOS are closely regulated because it is the rate-limiting enzyme essential for NO synthesis. The authors adapted CELLMAX artificial capillary modules to study the effects of pulsatile flow/shear stress on ovine fetoplacental artery endothelial (OFPAE) cell NO production, eNOS expression, and eNOS phosphorylation. This model allows for the adaptation of endothelial cells to low physiological flow environments and thus prolonged shear stresses. The cells were grown to confluence at 3 dynes/cm2, then were exposed to 10, 15, or 25 dynes/cm2 for up to 24 h and NO production, eNOS mRNA, and eNOS protein expression were elevated by shear stress in a graded fashion (p < .05). Production of NO by OFPAE cells exposed to pulsatile shear stress was de novo; i.e., inhibited by L-NMMA (N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine) and reversed by excess NOS substrate L-arginine. Rises in NO production at 25 dynes/cm2 (8-fold) exceeded (p < .05) that seen for eNOS protein (3.6-fold) or eNOS mRNA (1.5-fold). Acute rises in NO production with shear stress occurred by eNOS activation, whereas prolonged NO rises were via elevations in both eNOS expression and enzyme activation. The authors therefore used Western analysis to investigate the signaling mechanisms underlying pulsatile shear stress-induced increases in eNOS phosphorylation and protein expression by "flow-adapted" OFPAE cells. Increasing shear stress from 3 to 15 dynes/cm2 very rapidly increased eNOS Ser1177, ERK1/2 (extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2) and Akt, but not p38 MAPK (p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase) phosphorylation by Western analysis. Phosphorylation of eNOS Ser1177 under shear stress was elevated by 20 min, a response that was blocked by PI-3K (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase) inhibitors wortmannin and LY294002, but not the MEK (MAPK kinase) inhibitor UO126. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) enhanced eNOS protein levels in static culture via a MEK-mediated mechanism, but it could not further augment the elevated eNOS protein levels induced by 15 dynes/cm2 shear stress. Blocking of either signaling pathways or p38 MAPK did not change the shear stress-induced increase in eNOS protein levels. Therefore, shear stress induced rapid eNOS phosphorylation on Ser1177 in OFPAE cells through a PI-3K-dependent pathway. The bFGF-induced rise in eNOS protein levels in static culture was much less than those observed under flow and was blocked by inhibiting MEK. Prolonged shear stress-stimulated increases in eNOS protein levels were not affected by inhibition of MEK- or PI-3K-mediated pathways. In conclusion, pulsatile shear stress greatly induces NO production by OFPAE cells through the mechanisms of both PI-3K-mediated eNOS activation and elevations in eNOS protein levels; bFGF does not further stimulate eNOS expression under flow condition.     

PI3K/Akt/eNOS信号通路在葛根素抑制ox-LDL诱导的血管内皮细胞组织因子表达中的作用

目的:探讨磷脂酰肌醇3-激酶/蛋白激酶B/内皮型一氧化氮合酶(PI3K/Akt/eNOS)信号通路在葛根素(puerarin)抑制氧化型低密度脂蛋白(oxidized low-density lipoprotein,ox-LDL)诱导的血管内皮细胞组织因子(tissue factor,TF)表达中的作用。方法:实时荧光定量PCR检测TF的mRNA表达,Western blot检测TF和Akt的蛋白表达,硝酸盐还原酶法检测一氧化氮(nitric oxide,NO)含量。结果:与对照组相比,ox-LDL孵育内皮细胞后,内皮细胞TF的mRNA和蛋白表达升高,Akt蛋白磷酸化水平降低,细胞内NO产生减少;而葛根素预孵育内皮细胞1 h后,再用ox-LDL孵育,内皮细胞TF mRNA和蛋白表达下降,Akt蛋白磷酸化升高,细胞内NO产生增多;PI3K抑制剂LY294002和葛根素共同预孵育内皮细胞1 h后,再用ox-LDL孵育,内皮细胞TF的mRNA和蛋白表达升高,Akt蛋白磷酸化降低,细胞内NO产生减少;eNOS抑制剂NG-硝基-L-精氨酸甲酯(L-NAME)和葛根素共同预孵育内皮细胞,也明显阻断葛根素对ox-LDL诱导的内皮细胞TF mRNA和蛋白表达、细胞Akt蛋白磷酸化和细胞内NO产生的作用。结论:葛根素可通过上调PI3K/Akt/eNOS信号通路抑制ox-LDL诱导的人脐静脉内皮细胞TF mRNA和蛋白表达。     

脑动脉内皮细胞缺氧时内皮型一氧化氮合酶基因表达的变化及蛋白激酶C的作用

目的：研究缺氧时脑动脉内皮细胞(CAECs)内皮型一氧化氮合酶(eNOS)基因表达的变化，并探讨可能的分子机制。方法： 分别采用RT-PCR和蛋白质免疫印迹技术检测原代培养的猪脑动脉内皮细胞缺氧2、6、12、24、48 h后eNOS mRNA和蛋白质表达的变化，并观察蛋白激酶C(PKC)抑制剂对缺氧24 h引起的eNOS mRNA和蛋白质变化的影响。加入转录抑制剂放线菌素D后观察缺氧24 h对eNOS mRNA稳定性的影响。结果：缺氧2 h后脑动脉内皮细胞eNOS mRNA和蛋白质表达均增加，12 h达到高峰，约分别为常氧组的2.5倍和2.0倍，缺氧48 h仍高于常氧组。缺氧对eNOS mRNA稳定性无明显影响。选择性PKC抑制剂BIM I(1 μmol/L)、G6983(1 μmol/L)均能降低缺氧24 h所引起的eNOS基因表达的上调。结论： 脑动脉内皮细胞缺氧时可通过PKC信号途径上调eNOS基因的表达，并可能由此介导缺氧时脑血管的扩张反应，发挥其神经保护作用。     

Expression and regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase by vascular endothelial growth factor in ECV 304 cells

Nitric oxide (NO) seems to play a pivotal role in the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced endothelial cell proliferation. This study was designed to investigate the role and intracellular signal pathway of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activation induced by VEGF. ECV 304 cells were treated with VEGF(165) and then cell proliferation, eNOS protein and mRNA expression levels were analyzed to elucidate the functional role of eNOS in cell proliferation induced by VEGF. After exposure of cells to VEGF(165), eNOS activity and cell growth were increased by approximately two-fold in the VEGF(165) -treated cells compared to the untreated cells. In addition, VEGF stimulated eNOS expression at both the mRNA and protein levels in a dose-dependent manner. Phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI-3K) inhibitors were used to assess PI-3K involvement in eNOS regulation. LY294002 was found to attenuate VEGF-stimulated eNOS expression. Wortmannin was not as effective as LY294002, but the reduction effect was detectable. Cells activated by VEGF showed increased ERK1/2 levels. Moreover, the VEGF-induced eNOS expression was reduced by the PD98059, MAPK pathway inhibitor. This suggests that eNOS expression might be regulated by PI-3K and the ERK1/2 signaling pathway. In conclusion, VEGF(165) induces ECV 304 cell proliferation via the NO produced by eNOS. In addition, eNOS may be regulated by the PI-3K or mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway.     

Src kinase mediates angiotensin II-dependent increase in pulmonary endothelial nitric oxide synthase

We have previously demonstrated that angiotensin II (Ang II) stimulates nitric oxide (NO) production in bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells (BPAECs) by increasing NO synthase (NOS) expression via the type 2 receptor. The purpose of this study was to identify the Ang II-dependent signaling pathway that mediates this increase in endothelial NOS (eNOS). The Ang II-dependent increase in eNOS expression is prevented when BPAECs are pretreated with the tyrosine kinase inhibitors, herbimycin A and 4-amino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-(t-butyl)pyrazolo[3,4-D]pyrimidine, which also blocked Ang II-dependent mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase/extracellular-regulated protein kinase (MEK)-1 and MAPK phosphorylation, suggesting that Src is upstream of MAPK in this pathway. Transfection of BPAECs with an Src dominant negative mutant cDNA prevented the Ang II-dependent Src activation and increase in eNOS protein expression. PD98059, a MEK-1 inhibitor, prevented the Ang II-dependent phosphorylation of extracellular-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 and increase in eNOS expression. Neither AG1478, an epidermal growth factor receptor kinase inhibitor, nor AG1295, a platelet derived growth factor receptor kinase inhibitor, had any effect on Ang II-stimulated Src activity, MAPK activation, or eNOS expression. Pertussis toxin prevented the Ang II-dependent increase in Src activity, MAPK activation, and eNOS expression. These data suggest that Ang II stimulates Src tyrosine kinase via a pertussis toxin-sensitive pathway, which in turn activates the MAPK pathway, resulting in increased eNOS protein expression in BPAECs.     

HLA class II molecule-mediated signal transduction mechanism responsible for the expression of interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α genes induced by a staphylococcal superantigen

Superantigens including staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE) bind to major histocompatibility complex class II molecules and interact with T cells bearing particular vβ chains. SEB was shown to induce the expression of interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α genes in human peripheral blood monocytes bearing HLA class II molecules. Monoclonal antibodies directed against HLA-DR and -DQ abolished the SEB-induced expression of both the EL-1β and TNF-α genes, suggesting that the HLA class II molecules mediated the gene expression. Therefore, we investigated the signal transduction mechanism responsible for the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α genes induced by binding of SEB to the HLA class II molecules. Three protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitors, genistein, herbimycin A., and tyrphostin, each of which has a different mechanism of action, strongly inhibited the expression of the monokine mRNA induced by SEB. Analyses of PTK activity revealed that SEB induced a rapid increase of membrane-associated PTK activity and this was blocked by tyrphostin. Furthermore, H-7 inhibited the expression of the monokine mRNA induced by SEB, suggesting the involvement of protein kinase C (PKC) in the signaling pathway. The involvement of PKC was confirmed by the observations that phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a direct activator of PKC, induced the expression of the monokine mRNA and that SEB evoked the activation of membrane-associated PKC. Both activation of PKC and expression of the monokine mRNA induced by SEB appeared to be inhibited by tyrphostin, but those induced by PMA were not. Taken together, these findings indicate that both PTK and PKC play essential roles in HLA class II molecule-mediated signal transduction elicited by SEB and that PTK activation may precede PKC activation in the signaling pathway.     

HB-EGF stimulates eNOS expression and nitric oxide production and promotes eNOS dependent angiogenesis

Heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) is a member of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family of ligands that is expressed by many cell types including endothelial cells. We have previously shown that HB-EGF stimulates angiogenesis in vitro in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Nitric oxide (NO) derived from endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is an important regulator of angiogenesis. However, the role of HB-EGF in regulation of eNOS has not yet been investigated. Whether HB-EGF-induced endothelial cell migration and vascular network formation are mediated via production of NO from eNOS is also unknown. To address these questions, we stimulated HUVEC with HB-EGF and evaluated the expression of eNOS at the mRNA and protein levels. HB-EGF significantly upregulated expression of eNOS mRNA, stimulated eNOS protein production, and increased NO release from HUVEC. HB-EGF phosphorylated eNOS in a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) dependent fashion, and stimulated in vitro angiogenesis. eNOS siRNA inhibited HB-EGF-stimulated HUVEC migration in a scratch assay. NG-nitro-L-arginine-methyl-ester (L-NAME) and L-N5-(1-lminoethyl)ornithine,dihydochloride (L-NIO) (specific inhibitors of eNOS) also abolished HB-EGF-induced HUVEC migration and angiogenesis. More importantly, we found that HB-EGF also promotes angiogenesis in vivo in the Marigel plug assay. Lastly, inhibition of the p38 MAPK pathway enhanced HB-EGF-induced EC migration and angiogenesis. We conclude that HB-EGF, through its interaction with EGF receptors (EGFR), stimulates eNOS activation and NO production via a PI3K-dependent pathway. Thus, activation of eNOS appears to be one of the key signaling pathways necessary for HB-EGF mediated angiogenesis. These novel findings highlight an important role for HB-EGF as a regulator of endothelial cell function.     

肌球蛋白轻链激酶介导内皮细胞屏障功能变化的研究进展

<正>血管内皮细胞是连续被覆于全身血管内膜的一层细胞群,不仅构成一道半选择通透性屏障,还合成和分泌多种生物活性物质,维持正常的心血管功能。血管内皮细胞的完整和屏障功能完好对于维持心血管稳态有至关重要的作用。内皮细胞受损所致屏障功能下降是血管病变的始动环节,如脑血管内皮连接受损导致的脑水肿[1]。肌球蛋白轻链激酶(myosin light chain kinase,MLCK)是第1个被发现的依赖     

HLA class-II-mediated homotypic aggregation: involvement of a protein tyrosine kinase and protein kinase C.

Homotypic aggregation of B-lymphocytes, B-cell lines and class-II-positive T cells via HLA class II molecules was examined. Signaling via DR antigens induced rapid aggregation in a dose- and time-dependent manner, maximum and stable aggregation was induced within 20 minutes. On the contrary, rapid signaling via DP or DQ required prestimulation with either PMA or anti-sIg. Aggregation was temperature and energy dependent. [Ca2+] and [Mg2+] concentrations and an intact cytoskeleton were required while neither mRNA or protein synthesis were required. Furthermore, FACS analysis revealed that aggregation was not directly correlated with cell surface expression of HLA class II molecules. Our results demonstrate that aggregation was mediated through a protein tyrosine kinase (PTK)-dependent pathway that preceded activation of protein kinase C (PKC) and failure to generate either the PTK signal or the PKC signal prevented aggregation. The contribution of a tyrosine kinase was further demonstrated by the total inhibition of aggregation following treatment with an anti-CD45 mAb.     

切应力通过Pim1/eNOS途径调节人脐静脉内皮细胞NO分泌

目的:探讨层流切应力是否可通过Pim1调节内皮型一氧化氮合酶(eNOS)活性,从而调节血管内皮细胞一氧化氮(NO)分泌。方法:体外原代培养人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVECs),运用平行平板流动腔系统给HUVECs加载层流切应力(15 dyn/cm^2)。采用Western blot法检测Pim1蛋白表达及eNOS-Ser1177磷酸化水平;硝酸还原酶法检测NO分泌量;利用特异性小干扰RNA(siRNA)转染技术沉默Pim1基因后再检测上述指标的变化。结果:切应力作用HUVECs 15 min,可以显著上调Pim1蛋白表达(P<0.05),同时显著增强eNOS-Ser1177磷酸化水平(P<0.05),伴随HUVECs NO分泌显著增多(P<0.05)。转染siPim1可以抑制切应力诱导的Pim1表达(P<0.05),同时抑制eNOS-Ser1177磷酸化(P<0.05),NO分泌随之显著降低(P<0.05)。结论:流体切应力可能通过Pim1/eNOS途径调节血管内皮细胞NO分泌。     

SIRT1/eNOS/NO通路在人参皂苷Rb1抗内皮细胞复制性衰老中的作用

目的:观察人参皂苷Rb1延缓人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVECs)复制性衰老的作用,并探讨SIRT1/e NOS/NO通路在其中的作用机制。方法:建立原代HUVECs复制性衰老模型,根据细胞形态的变化、衰老相关β-半乳糖苷酶(SA-β-Gal)染色阳性率和纤溶酶原激活物抑制剂1(PAI-1)的表达水平评估HUVECs衰老情况;采用real-time PCR方法和Western blot法检测沉默SIRT1前后衰老细胞中e NOS和PAI-1的mRNA和蛋白表达,并检测细胞上清NO的含量。结果:累积细胞群体倍增水平(CPDL)为16的HUVECs可作为复制性衰老模型; 80μmol/L人参皂苷Rb1处理后衰老细胞内SIRT1和eNOS的mRNA及蛋白表达水平增加,NO含量增加(P 0. 05),而PAI-1的mRNA和蛋白表达水平下降(P 0. 05);沉默SIRT1后,衰老细胞内e NOS的mRNA及蛋白表达减少,PAI-1的mRNA及蛋白表达增加,NO含量减少(P 0. 05);与SIRT1沉默组比较,在沉默SIRT1基础上加用人参皂苷Rb1后,e NOS和PAI-1表达水平及NO的含量未见明显变化。结论:人参皂苷Rb1可通过调控SIRT1/e NOS/NO通路延缓HUVECs复制性衰老。     

雌激素激活血管eNOS的机制

大量临床和基础研究证实雌激素具有显著的心血管保护效应,且该效应至少部分是通过增加血管内皮型一氧化氮合酶（eNOS）的表达和活性进而释放NO产生的。雌激素既可通过基因效应调节eNOS的表达,也可通过位于内皮细胞质膜微囊（caveolae）的ERα的一个亚群介导的非基因效应调节eNOS的活性。非基因效应与MAPK,PI3K/Akt等信号通路及内皮细胞质膜微囊密切相关,雌激素也可直接通过调节微囊蛋白-1表达而对eNOS的激活起负性调节作用。     

HB-EGF stimulates eNOS expression and nitric oxide production and promotes eNOS dependent angiogenesis

Heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) is a member of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family of ligands that is expressed by many cell types including endothelial cells. We have previously shown that HB-EGF stimulates angiogenesis in vitro in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Nitric oxide (NO) derived from endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is an important regulator of angiogenesis. However, the role of HB-EGF in regulation of eNOS has not yet been investigated. Whether HB-EGF-induced endothelial cell migration and vascular network formation are mediated via production of NO from eNOS is also unknown. To address these questions, we stimulated HUVEC with HB-EGF and evaluated the expression of eNOS at the mRNA and protein levels. HB-EGF significantly upregulated expression of eNOS mRNA, stimulated eNOS protein production, and increased NO release from HUVEC. HB-EGF phosphorylated eNOS in a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) dependent fashion, and stimulated in vitro angiogenesis. eNOS siRNA inhibited HB-EGF-stimulated HUVEC migration in a scratch assay. NG-nitro-L-arginine-methyl-ester (L-NAME) and L-N5-(1-lminoethyl)ornithine,dihydochloride (L-NIO) (specific inhibitors of eNOS) also abolished HB-EGF-induced HUVEC migration and angiogenesis. More importantly, we found that HB-EGF also promotes angiogenesis in vivo in the Marigel plug assay. Lastly, inhibition of the p38 MAPK pathway enhanced HB-EGF-induced EC migration and angiogenesis. We conclude that HB-EGF, through its interaction with EGF receptors (EGFR), stimulates eNOS activation and NO production via a PI3K-dependent pathway. Thus, activation of eNOS appears to be one of the key signaling pathways necessary for HB-EGF mediated angiogenesis. These novel findings highlight an important role for HB-EGF as a regulator of endothelial cell function.     

Hypoxia increases Hsp90 binding to eNOS via PI3K-Akt in porcine coronary artery endothelium

This study examines the molecular mechanisms by which hypoxia regulates phosphorylated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity and NO production in porcine coronary artery endothelial cells (PCAEC). Exposure to hypoxia (pO(2)=10 mmHg) for periods up to 3 h resulted in a time-dependent increase in eNOS protein expression and an early (15 min) and sustained increase in eNOS phosphorylation at Ser-1177. Exposure to hypoxia for 30 min led to a doubling in eNOS activity (control=6.2+/-4.4 vs hypoxia=14.1+/-5.0 fmol cGMP/microg protein, P<0.05) and NO release (control=5.9+/-0.8 vs hypoxia=11.8+/-1.2 nM/microg protein, P<0.05). Hypoxia also led to a significant increase in Akt phosphorylation and upregulation of Hsp90 binding to eNOS. Pretreatment of cells with either 1 microg/ml geldanamycin (a specific inhibitor of Hsp90) or 500 nM wortmannin (a specific PI3 kinase inhibitor) suppressed hypoxia-stimulated Akt and eNOS phosphorylation and significantly attenuated hypoxia-stimulated Hsp90 binding to eNOS. Both eNOS activity and NO production were inhibited by geldanamycin and wortmannin. Although hypoxia led to early activation of p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), inhibition of their pathway by PD98059 did not suppress hypoxia-stimulated eNOS phosphorylation and eNOS activity. These data demonstrate that hypoxia leads to increased eNOS phosphorylation via stimulated Hsp90 binding to eNOS and activation of the PI3-Akt pathway. We conclude that a coordinated interaction between Hsp90 and PI3-Akt may be an important mechanism by which eNOS activity and NO production is upregulated in hypoxic heart.     

体外反搏对心肌梗死犬一氧化氮系统的影响

目的:探讨体外反搏对心肌梗死犬一氧化氮(NO)、一氧化氮合酶(NOS)和其基因表达的影响。方法:19只健康杂种犬随机分为对照组、缺血组和缺血+反搏组(反搏组)3组,采用开胸结扎冠状动脉左前降支的方法建立心肌缺血模型,用改良硝酸还原酶法测定心肌缺血前后血清NO含量、以及心肌组织的NO含量和NOS比活性,采用免疫组化方法检测缺血区心肌组织的NOS亚型即诱导型NOS(iNOS)和内皮型NOS(eNOS)的蛋白合成,用原位杂交方法检测构成型NOS(cNOS)信使核糖核酸(mRNA)的基因表达。结果:在冠状动脉结扎前和结扎后60min,3组犬血清NO含量均无明显差异(P＞0.05);结扎后120min和180min时,反搏组犬血清NO含量明显高于缺血组(P＜0.05)。正常组和反搏组犬心肌组织NO含量和NOS比活性均大于缺血组(P＜0.05)。免疫组化结果表明心肌缺血时iNOS蛋白合成增多,而eNOS蛋白合成减少;体外反搏对iNOS有抑制作用,对eNOS有促进作用。此外心肌缺血时cNOSmRNA的表达明显减少,反搏可促进cNOSmRNA的表达。结论:体外反搏促进NO的产生可能是其抗心肌缺血性损伤的重要机制之一。     

高原低氧对大鼠下丘脑谷氨酸、天门冬氨酸和NOS的影响

目的:观察高原低氧大鼠下丘脑谷氨酸(Glu)、天门冬氨酸(Asp)和一氧化氮合酶(NOS)的变化。方法:应用氨基酸测定和NADPH-d组化法,检测高原低氧模型大鼠下丘脑Glu、Asp含量和NADPH-d阳性神经元的数量。结果:高原低氧大鼠下丘脑Glu、Asp含量明显增多,室旁核、视上核可见密集深染的NADPH-d阳性神经元;用NMDA受体拮抗剂氯氨酮(Ketamine)和AP-V对高原低氧大鼠进行预处理后置于低压氧舱,观察到大鼠下丘脑室旁核、视上核NADPH-d阳性神经元数明显少于相应时间的高原低氧组(P＜0.01)。结论:NMDA受体可能参与了高原低氧引起的下丘脑NOS的表达。     

PPARs激动剂上调内皮细胞表达eNOS并增加NO生成

目的： 观察PPARα激动剂非诺贝特及PPARγ激动剂赛格列酮对人脐静脉内皮细胞（HUVECs）血管紧张素Ⅱ（AngⅡ）抑制NO生成的作用。 方法： 体外培养HUVECs，用1×10-7-1×10-4mol/L赛格列酮和10-5、10-4mol/L非诺贝特预处理HUVECs 24 h，再与10-6mol/L AngⅡ 共同孵育12 h，通过RT-PCR和Western blotting分别检测eNOS mRNA和蛋白表达水平；通过Griees反应测定NO2－/NO3－浓度。 结果： 与对照组相比，10-7mol/L AngⅡ刺激HUVEC 12 h下调eNOS mRNA（0.38±0.19 vs 0.13±0.18，P<0.01）和蛋白（35.90±3.18 vs 6.95±2.19，P<0.01）表达，减少NO生成（50.21 μmol/L vs 21.33 μmol/L，P<0.01）。用10-7、10-6、10-5、10-4 mol/L赛格列酮预处理24 h，上调eNOS mRNA表达（分别为0.36±0.03、0.36±0.14、0.37±0.16、0.43±0.06，与AngⅡ组比较，均P<0.01）和蛋白表达（分别为11.60±3.31、11.78±5.45、13.93±2.46、22.93±3.17，与AngⅡ组相比，均P<0.01），增加细胞培养液NO2-/NO3-浓度。非诺贝特也上调eNOS mRNA和蛋白表达，增加细胞培养液NO2-/NO3-浓度（P<0.01）。 结论： AngⅡ减少eNOS表达，从而减少NO生成。赛格列酮和非诺贝特预处理24 h，可拮抗AngⅡ对HUVECs eNOS mRNA和蛋白表达的抑制作用，增加NO的释放。     

Differential regulation of monocytic tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-10 expression

Activation of human monocytes by bacterial endotoxin (LPS) results in an initial burst of inflammatory cytokines like tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α which is followed by the secretion of anti-inflammatory mediators like interleukin (IL)-10. The signaling pathways in IL-10 induction are unknown. Here, we show that the regulation of IL-10 expression is more complex than that of TNF-α. LPS-induced TNF-α and IL-10 expression requires early activation of protein tyrosine kinases (PTK). Moreover, delayed addition of PTK inhibitors blocked IL-10, but not TNF-α, suggesting the impact of a late PTK activity. Two inducers of PTK activity are the downstream mediators of LPS activation, TNF-α and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). Both mediators synergistically up-regulate IL-10 expression. Downstream of PTK activation, they use distinct pathways. TNF-α, but not cAMP-induced IL-10 gene expression was inhibited by pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, suggesting the involvement of reactive oxygen species. Inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) suppressed LPS-induced TNF-α and IL-10 expression as well, but, unlike TNF-α, direct activation of PKC by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) did not induce IL-10 expression. Furthermore, PKC is not involved in late events of IL-10 activation, as delayed addition of PKC inhibitors did not suppress LPS-induced IL-10 expression and did not influence cAMP- or TNF-α-induced IL-10. The modulation of IL-10 expression by inflammatory mediators suggests a regulatory circuit of the inflammatory response.     

Hyperglycaemia inhibits thymidine incorporation and cell growth via protein kinase C,mitogen-activated protein kinases and nitric oxide in human umbilical vein endothelium

An elevated extracellular concentration of D-glucose (i.e. hyperglycaemia) inhibits cell proliferation and incorporation of the endogenous nucleoside thymidine into DNA in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Cells in their log-phase of growth (3.7 +/- 0.3 days, n = 27) incubated for 30 min with 25 mM D-glucose, but not with equimolar concentrations of L-glucose or D-mannitol, exhibited reduced [3H]thymidine incorporation and cell growth rate, with no change in cell viability (> 98 %), total DNA, protein content or cell volume. Incubation with D-glucose activated protein kinase C (PKC), endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), p42 and p44 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p42/44(mapk)), but inhibited superoxide dismutase (SOD). Incubation with D-glucose also increased cGMP and cAMP levels. The effect of D-glucose was blocked by the PKC inhibitor calphostin C, the MAP kinase kinase 1/2 (MEK1/2) inhibitor PD-98059, the eNOS inhibitor L-NAME, the protein kinase G (PKG) inhibitor KT-5823 and the protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor KT-5720. In the presence of 5 mM D-glucose, [3H]thymidine incorporation and cell growth were reduced by the PKC activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), the NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetyl-L,D-penicillamine (SNAP), dibutyryl cGMP, dibutyryl cAMP and the Ca2+ ionophore A-23187. The effect of A-23187 was blocked by calphostin C and PD-98059. D-Glucose-dependent inhibition of thymidine incorporation and cell proliferation is associated with increased PKC, eNOS, and MEK1/2, but decreased SOD activity, and higher intracellular levels of cGMP, cAMP and Ca2+ in HUVECs. These are cellular mechanisms which may reduce endothelial cell growth in pathological conditions such as in diabetes mellitus or hyperglycaemia.