Myeloperoxidase up-regulates the catalytic activity of inducible nitric oxide synthase by preventing nitric oxide feedback inhibition

Kinetic and structure analysis of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) revealed that, in addition to the increase of iNOS expression in inflamed areas, the major pathway causing overproduction of NO is destabilization of the iNOS-nitrosyl complex(es) that form during steady-state catalysis. Formation of such a complex allows iNOS to operate at only a fraction (20-30%) of its maximum activity. Thus, bioavailability of NO scavengers at sites of inflammation may play an essential role in up-regulation of the catalytic activity of iNOS, by preventing the catalytic activity inhibition that is attributed to nitrosyl complex formation. Myeloperoxidase (MPO), a major NO scavenger, is a pivotal enzyme involved in leukocyte-mediated host defenses. It is thought to play a pathogenic role under circumstances such as acute inflammatory tissue injury and chronic inflammatory conditions. However, a detailed understanding of the interrelationship between iNOS and MPO at sites of inflammation is lacking. We used direct spectroscopic, HPLC, and selective NO-electrode measurements to determine the interdependent relationship that exists between iNOS and MPO and the role of the MPO/H2O2 system in up-regulating the catalytic activity of iNOS that occurs at sites of inflammation. Scavenging free NO from the iNOS milieu by the MPO/H2O2 system subsequently restores the full capacity of iNOS to convert L-arginine to product (NO), as judged by the increase in the rates of citrulline and nitrite/nitrate production. Studies of iNOS catalytic mechanisms and function are essential to a more fundamental understanding of these factors, which govern iNOS-dependent processes in human health and disease.     

Reduction of myocardial infarct size by inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase

The inducible nitric oxide synthase isoform (iNOS) is upregulated by cytokines and endotoxins in many types of cells, including cardiac myocytes. Nitric oxide (NO) induced by cytokines can be cytotoxic, and has been implicated in the pathophysiology of myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy, and septic shock. To examine the role of iNOS in the ischemic myocardium, we studied: 1) the time course of expression of iNOS mRNA after myocardial infarction (MI) in male Sprague-Dawley rat hearts and expression of iNOS protein in the infarcted region; 2) whether hypoxia in vitro is a potential mediator of the induction of iNOS mRNA; and 3) whether inhibition of iNOS by two different selective inhibitors (aminoguanidine and S-methylisothiourea sulfate) in vivo influences infarct size. Myocardial infarction was induced by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), and tissue was collected at selected times thereafter from both ligated and sham-operated rats. iNOS mRNA was induced in the infarcted region of the left ventricle for 7 days; iNOS protein was also detected in the infarcted area. We next tested whether hypoxia would induce iNOS in vitro. In cultured neonatal ventricular myocytes, iNOS mRNA was slightly induced by 6 to 24 h of hypoxia; however, iNOS protein was only detected when the cytokine interleukin-1β was present. To study whether iNOS activity contributed to myocardial damage (eg, infarct size), we administered the first dose of the NOS inhibitors 24 h before LAD occlusion and then a second dose after surgery. Inhibition of iNOS activity with aminoguanidine reduced infarct size by 20% but had no effect on infiltration by neutrophils, whereas the more selective inhibitor S-methylisothiourea sulfate reduced infarct size by 41%. These data suggest that NO derived from the iNOS isoform contributes to some of the myocardial injury following MI, possibly by causing myocardial cell death in areas bordering the ischemic region of the heart.     

Expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and inducible nitric oxide synthase in synovium of rheumatoid arthritis]

OBJECTIVES: To examine the localization and distribution of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), which participate in nitric oxide (NO) production, in synovium of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Immunohistochemical analysis for eNOS and iNOS in synovial tissues obtained from 10 patients with RA who were underwent total knee replacement. Synovial tissues of osteoarthritis (OA) were used as control. The percentage of cells that were positive for eNOS and iNOS was estimated in five hundred endothelial cells, synovial lining cells and interstitial cells, respectively. And mRNA expression of NOS was confirmed by in situ hybridization. In addition, to test NO production, nitration of tyrosines was assessed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Not only endothelial cells but also synovial lining cells and interstitial cells exhibited immune-reactive both eNOS and iNOS. Cells which were seemed immune-reactive eNOS and iNOS expressed nitrotyrosin. By in situ hybridization, we detected mRNA expression for eNOS and iNOS. CONCLUSIONS: Endothelial cells, synovial lining cells and interstitial cells expressed both eNOS and iNOS with high frequency in RA synovium compared with OA synovium. It seemed to correlate with NO production. These results suggest that expression of iNOS may be involved in the induction of arthritis and eNOS may be participated in augmentation of inflammation in RA.     

Role of neuronal nitric oxide synthase and inducible nitric oxide synthase in intestinal injury in neonatal rats

AIM: To investigate the dynamic change and role of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in neonatal rat with intestinal injury and to define whether necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is associated with the levels of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the mucosa of the affected intestine tissue. METHODS: Wistar rats less than 24 h in age received an intraperitoneal injection with 5 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide (IPS). Ileum tissues were collected at 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h following LPS challenge for histological evaluation of NEC and for measurements of nNOS and iNOS. The correlation between the degree of intestinal injury and levels of NOS was determined. RESULTS: The LPS-injected pups showed a significant increase in injury scores versus the control. The expression of nNOS protein and mRNA was diminished after LPS injection. There was a negative significant correlation between the nNOS protein and the grade of median intestinal injury within 24 h. The expression of iNOS protein and mRNA was significantly increased in the peak of intestinal injury. CONCLUSION: nNOS and iNOS play different roles in LPS-induced intestinal injury. Caution should be exerted concerning potential therapeutic uses of NOS inhibitors in NEC.     

Peroxisomal localization of inducible nitric oxide synthase in hepatocytes

Shock states induce the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in both Kupffer cells and hepatocytes in the liver, but little is known about its subcellular localization in these cells. Studies were undertaken to characterize the subcellular location of iNOS in hepatocytes in response to sepsis. By immunofluorescence analysis, intraperitoneal challenge with bacterial lipopolysaccharide induced cytosolic iNOS in Kupffer cells but punctate labeling in hepatocytes. Cultured rat hepatocytes exposed to interferon gamma, interleukin 1, and tumor necrosis factor alpha showed iNOS protein expression within peroxisomes as early as 4 hours after stimulation, as determined by colabeling for catalase or PMP70. To a lesser extent, iNOS was also observed associated with the plasma membrane and in undefined intracellular aggregates. The nitric oxide synthase (NOS) antagonist L-N-imino-ornithine (L-NIO) did not affect the expression of iNOS within peroxisomes, cytoplasmic aggregates, or cytosol but increased plasma membrane localization of iNOS. Human iNOS transduced into iNOS-null mouse hepatocytes using an adenoviral vector also localized to peroxisomes. The expression of iNOS often resulted in the disappearance of detectable catalase in many hepatocytes. In conclusion, these studies establish the peroxisome as a site of iNOS localization in hepatocytes and show a relationship between iNOS up-regulation and decreased expression of catalase.     

Regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase by aggresome formation

Misfolding and aggregation of proteins play an important part in the pathogenesis of several genetic and degenerative diseases. Recent evidence suggests that cells have evolved a pathway that involves sequestration of aggregated proteins into specialized "holding stations" called aggresomes. Here we show that cells regulate inducible NO synthase (iNOS), an important host defense protein, through aggresome formation. iNOS aggresome formation depends on a functional dynein motor and the integrity of the microtubules. The iNOS aggresome represents a "physiologic aggresome" and thus defines a new paradigm for cellular regulation of protein processing. This study indicates that aggresome formation in response to misfolded proteins may merely represent an acceleration of an established physiologic regulatory process for specific proteins whose regulation by aggresome formation is deemed necessary by the cell.     

Nebivolol induces nitric oxide release in the heart through inducible nitric oxide synthase activation

Nebivolol is a beta1-adrenergic receptor antagonist that also reduces blood pressure by evoking endothelial NO production and vasodilation. We aimed at assessing whether nebivolol induces NO production also in the heart and delineating the molecular mechanisms involved. Using the fluorescent probe diaminofluorescein, we found that nebivolol induces a dose-dependent NO production in the heart, statistically significant already at 10(-7) mol/L. It is not an effect because of the blockade of beta1-adrenergic receptor, because this effect is not shared by another drug of the same class, atenolol. Because nebivolol has been reported to act as an agonist on other beta-adrenergic receptors, we tested NO production in the presence of receptor antagonists. Nebivolol was not able to induce NO production in presence of the beta3-antagonist SR59230A, indicating a fundamental role for beta3-adrenergic receptors in cardiac NO production by nebivolol. Moreover, inducible NO synthase inhibition abolishes NO release in the heart, indicating that nebivolol induces NO production by acting on the inducible isoform of the enzyme. The action of nebivolol on inducible NO synthase was confirmed by real-time PCR experiments, showing cardiac overexpression of inducible NO synthase but not neuronal NO synthase or endothelial NO synthase, after 5 hours of treatment with nebivolol. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that nebivolol also stimulates NO production in the heart. This action of nebivolol is exerted via a signaling pathway starting from the activation of beta3-adrenergic receptors and leading to overexpression of inducible NO synthase. Cardiac NO production by nebivolol could participate in the cardiovascular effects of nebivolol treatment in patients affected by hypertension and heart failure.     

Localization of inducible nitric oxide synthase and endothelial constitutive nitric oxide synthase in airway mucosa of toluene diisocyanate-induced asthma.

Endogenous exhaled nitric oxide (NO) is increased in asthma patients, especially in the exacerbated state. To evaluate the role of NO in airway mucosa of toluene diisocyanate (TDI)-induced asthma in relation to clinical and immunologic findings, 20 TDI-induced asthma patients were enrolled and classified into two groups: 9 newly diagnosed patients (group I) and 11 patients having persistent asthma symptoms for > 5 years despite work withdrawal (group II). Immunohistocytochemistry was applied to compare the expression of endothelial constitutive NOS (c-NOS) and induced NOS (i-NOS) in airway mucosa of both groups. They were observed in four areas: epithelium (EP), smooth muscle (SM), vascular endothelium (VE), and mucous gland (MG). The intensity of expression was graded on a scale of one to four and mean values were presented from blind readings observed by two experts. Serum-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to TDI-human serum albumin conjugate were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. e-NOS was found most frequently in VE (5/6 [83.3] versus 7/10 [70%]) followed by MG, EP, and SM in both groups, i-NOS was found most frequently in EP (7/9 [77.8%] versus 7/11 [63.6%]), followed by MG, VE, and SM in both groups. The intensities of i-NOS and c-NOS of MG were significantly higher in group I than in group II (p < 0.05) with no significant differences in other areas (p > 0.05, respectively). There were no significant correlations between i-NOS or c-NOS expression and exposure or asthma symptom duration (p > 0.05). No associations were found between i-NOS or c-NOS expression and the presence of specific IgE or IgG to TDI-human serum albumin conjugate (p > 0.05, respectively). In conclusion, i-NOS and c-NOS expressions were noted in EP, SM, VE, and MG in airway mucosa of TDI-induced asthma patients, which may contribute to airway inflammation.     

醛固酮对血管外膜诱导型一氧化氮合酶/一氧化氮通路影响的实验研究

目的观察醛固酮对血管外膜诱导型一氧化氮合酶（iNOS）／一氧化氮（NO）通路的影响及作用机制。方法取sD大鼠胸主动脉外膜,分别给予不同浓度醛固酮（ALD）10^-8～10^-6mol／L、ALl）＋螺内酯以及ALD＋RU486进行孵育,此外在给予脂多糖激活血管外膜iNOS／NO的情况下,观察以上各组药物刺激后iNOS／NO系统的变化。与上述药物共同孵育6h后通过Griess法测定相对稳定的代谢产物硝酸盐和亚硝酸盐（NOx）代表NO的产生量,采用[^3H]-L-精氨酸标记的同位素法测定外膜iNOS活性。结果（1）NOx产生的变化：ALD刺激后血管外膜NOx生成无明显变化。用螺内酯拮抗盐皮质激素受体后,高浓度ALD组（10～～10^-6mol／L）血管外膜NOx产生呈下降趋势（P〈0．05）。用RU486拮抗糖皮质激素受体后随ALD浓度增加NOx生成量也呈浓度依赖性增加（P〈0．01）。脂多糖刺激后上述趋势更为明显。（2）iNOS活性的变化：ALD刺激后iNOS活性无明显变化,螺内酯刺激后血管外膜iNOS活性有下降趋势,但无统计学意义。而RU486刺激后血管外膜iNOS活性显著增加（P〈0．05）。同时给予脂多糖刺激后,螺内酯＋ALD组血管外膜iNOS活性显著下降（P〈0．01）,ALD＋RU486组血管外膜iNOS活性显著增加（p〈0．05）。结论ALD主要通过盐皮质激素受体和糖皮质激素受体通路两种途径直接影响血管外膜iNOS／NO系统,醛固酮作用于盐皮质激素受体能够诱导iNOS激活、刺激NO产生,作用于糖皮质激素受体抑制iNOS／NO激活。     

Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in human gastric cancer

INTRODUCTIONInduciblenitricoxidesynthase(iNOS)isanenzymethatcatalyzestheformationofnitric0xide(N0)fromL-arginine.iNOSexpressionandactivityresultsintheproduction0fhighlevelsofNO[1].ThegenerationofphysiologicallevelsofNOisimp0rtantformucosalfunctionanditalsoexertsacytoprotectiveeffectonthegastr0intestinalmucosa.However,increasediNOSexpressionhasbeenobservedinpatientswithchronicinflammatorydiseasesofthegastr0intestinaltract,suchasulcerativec0litis[2'3],andgastritis['Jandithasbeenspecul…     

Overexpression of hepatic inducible nitric oxide synthase in biliary atresia

Aims: Biliary atresia (BA) is a rare and serious liver disease in infants characterized by progressive inflammatory cholangiopathy. The aims of this study were to investigate hepatic expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in BA and to associate the iNOS expression with their early therapeutic outcome. Methods: Hepatic iNOS expression was determined using immunohistochemistry from liver biopsies of 24 BA patients, and 16 non‐BA patients whose liver tissues were needed in the treatment process. Six months after surgery, the BA patients were categorized into two groups;good and poor outcome. The iNOS expression of hepatocyte areas was evaluated based on its intensity using ImageJ software. Unpaired t‐tests were used for the comparisons of iNOS expression between groups. Results: Hepatic iNOS expression of BA patients was significantly stronger than that of non‐BA patients (P < 0.0001). The largest area of hepatic iNOS expression was the area of hepatocytes. Subgroup analysis of BA patients at 6 months post‐op revealed that there was no difference in iNOS expression between the patients with good outcome and those with poor outcome (P = 0.732). Conclusions: Overexpression of hepatic iNOS in BA patients was demonstrated. Within liver tissues, hepatocytes were the major source of hepatic iNOS production. However, the expression was not associated with the early therapeutic outcome. These results suggest that iNOS plays a role in the liver pathology of BA but its expression cannot be used as a predictor for therapeutic outcome.