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.     

p53与一氧化氮的关系及其在肝癌发生中的作用

目的：研究p53与一氧化氮（NO）的关系及其在肝癌发生中的作用。方法：用免疫组化法对21全肝癌标本中p53、诱导型一氧化氮合酶（iNOS)及增殖细胞核抗原（PCNA）的表达进行原位检测和观察。结果：癌旁组织（距癌组织边缘＜1．5cm)iNOS表达多呈阳性,非癌组织（距离组织边缘＞1．5cm)多呈阴性或弥漫弱阳性;iNOS在周边癌组织及侵入纤维组织的癌细胞中呈阳性,癌组织核心多呈阴性或弥漫弱阳性。p53阳性率为47．6％。p53表达阳性区,iNOS表达也呈阳性。PCNA的表达与p53及iNOS一致。结论：肝癌旁组织中p53的表达与NO相关,与肝癌的发生、发展有关。     

肝癌组织中一氧化氮合酶及其基因表达的研究

目的研究肝癌组织中一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)及其基因表达与肝癌发生发展的关系。方法用免疫组化和原位杂交的方法对21例肝癌及癌旁组织中的诱导型一氯化氮合酶(iNOS)及其基因表达进行原位检测和观察。结果:NOS 阳性反应物质呈黄色或棕黄色,位于细胞浆中。非癌殖织(肉眼观距癌组织边缘>1.5)多呈阴性或弥漫弱阳性,但部分非癌组织中可见 iNOS 呈阳性的细胞呈点状分布;癌旁组织多呈阳性,提示 iNOS 表达与肝组织癌变有关。癌组织核心多呈阴性或弥漫弱阳性,但分化中和差的癌组织核心也分别有一例 NOS 呈强阳性;周边癌组织呈局灶阳性,侵入纤维组织中的弥敢癌细胞星强阳性,提示 NOS 的表达与肝癌组织的侵润能力有关。肝癌组织 iNOSmRNA 阳性细胞的分布与 iN-OS 蛋白的表达基本相似。结论 iNOS 蛋白及其基因表达与肝组织癌变及肝癌侵润能力有关。     

骨髓干细胞心肌内移植增加诱生型一氧化氮合酶的表达

目的:通过研究骨髓干细胞心肌内移植是否影响心脏血管内皮舒张功能相关的一氧化氮合酶(NOS)基因的表达,探讨骨髓干细胞心肌内移植对血管舒张功能的影响机制。 方法:对Lewis大鼠进行冠状动脉前降支结扎和骨髓干细胞梗死区域心肌内移植,术后梗死区域心脏取材。分为急性心肌梗死组、骨髓干细胞心肌内移植组各15只,及正常组3只。用逆转录多聚酶链反应(RT-PCR)方法检测诱生型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)和内皮源性一氧化氮合酶(eNOS)的表达。 结果:急性心肌梗死组心肌组织中iNOS的表达在1天时明显增高,3天后迅速减低;骨髓干细胞心肌内移植组,心肌组织中iNOS的表达进一步增高,可维持1个月(P<0.01)。急性心肌梗死组以及骨髓干细胞心肌内移植组,心肌组织eNOS的表达没有增加(P>0.05)。 结论:骨髓干细胞心肌内移植增加心肌组织iNOS的表达,延长其表达时间,但不影响心肌组织eNOS的表达。     

Expression of NOS and HIF-1α in human colorectal carcinoma and implication in tumor angiogenesis

AIM: To study CD34, CD105, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), endogenous nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) alpha expression in human colorectal carcinomas. METHODS: The tissue microarrays (TMAs) were made up of 80 cases of colorectal carcinoma and 80 cases of non-neoplasm colorectal mucosa. The expression of CD34, CD105, NOS and HIF-1alpha was detected by immunohistochemistry (S-P). RESULTS: iNOS and HIF-1alpha expression in colorectal carcinoma was significantly higher than in non-neoplasm colorectal mucosa (c2 = 43.166, P < 0.01; c2 = 10.4278, P < 0.01); eNOS expression in colorectal carcinoma was significantly lower than in non-neoplasm colorectal mucosa (c2 = 11.354, P < 0.01). The expression of iNOS correlated with differentiation (c2 = 18.141, P < 0.01), invasive depth (c2 = 4.748, P < 0.01), and Micro vessel density (MVD) (t = 2.327, P < 0.05). The expression of HIF-1alpha was correlated with infiltrating depth (c2 = 4.397, P < 0.05), Dukeos staging (c2 = 4.255, P < 0.05), and MVD (t = 2.272, P < 0.05). No correlation was found in eNOS expression. CONCLUSION: Over-expression of iNOS and HIF-1alpha in colorectal carcinoma is correlated with the biological character MVD.     

Expression of NOS and HIF-1α in human colorectal carcinoma and implication in tumor angiogenesis

AIM: To study CD34, CD105, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), endogenous nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HTF-1) α expression in human colorectal carcinomas.METHODS: The tissue microarrays (TMAs) were made up of 80 cases of colorectal carcinoma and 80 cases of non-neoplasm colorectal mucosa. The expression of CD34, CD105, NOS and HIF-1α was detected by immunohistochemistry (S-P).RESULTS: iNOS and HIF-1α expression in colorectal carcinoma was significantly higher than in non-neoplasm colorectal mucosa (χ2 = 43.166, P ＜ 0.01; χ2 = 10.4278,P ＜ 0.01); eNOS expression in colorectal carcinoma was significantly lower than in non-neoplasm colorectal mucosa (χ2 = 11.354, P ＜ 0.01). The expression of iNOS correlated with differentiation (χ2= 18.141, P ＜ 0.01),invasive depth (χ2= 4.748, P ＜ 0.01), and Micro vessel density (MVD) (t = 2.327, P ＜ 0.05). The expression of HIF-1α was correlated with infiltrating depth (χ2= 4.397,P ＜ 0.05), Duke's staging (χ2= 4.255, P ＜ 0.05), and MVD (t = 2.272, P ＜ 0.05). No correlation was found in eNOS expression.CONCLUSION: Over-expression of iNOS and HIF-1α in colorectal carcinoma is correlated with the biological character MVD.     

Distribution of nitric oxide synthase in normal and cirrhotic human liver

Chronic liver disorders represent a serious health problem, considering that 300 million people worldwide are hepatitis B virus carriers, and 8,000-10,000 patients per year, in the U.S. alone, die as a result of liver failure caused by hepatitis C infection. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) regulates hepatic vasculature; however, the patterns of expression and activity of NOS proteins in healthy and diseased human livers are unknown. Sections of diseased (n = 42) and control livers (n = 14) were collected during orthotopic liver transplants and partial hepatectomy. The diseased sections included alcoholic cirrhosis, viral hepatitis, cholestasis, acute necrosis, and uncommon pathologies including alpha(1)-anti-trypsin disorder. The endothelial NOS (eNOS), inducible NOS (iNOS), and neuronal NOS (nNOS) were studied by using the citrulline assay, Western immunoblot, immunohistochemistry, and in situ hybridization. The systemic generation of plasma NO metabolites was measured by HPLC. In control livers, Ca(2+)-dependent and -independent NOS activities were identified by Western analysis as eNOS and iNOS, respectively. The eNOS was uniformly distributed in the hepatocytes and also detected in the endothelium of hepatic arteries, terminal hepatic venules, sinusoids, and in biliary epithelium. The iNOS was detected in hepatocytes and localized mainly in the periportal zone of the liver acinus. This pattern of distribution of eNOS and iNOS in normal liver was confirmed by in situ hybridization. In diseased livers, there was a significant increase in Ca(2+)-independent NOS with the corresponding strong appearance of iNOS in the cirrhotic areas. The eNOS was translocated to hepatocyte nuclei. Thus, eNOS and iNOS proteins are differentially expressed in healthy human liver, and this expression is significantly altered in cirrhotic liver disorders.     

Ischemic preconditioning upregulates inducible nitric oxide synthase in cardiac myocyte.

Recent evidence has shown that the cardioprotection afforded by the late phase of ischemic preconditioning (PC) is mediated by upregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). However, the specific cardiac cell type(s) that express(es) iNOS in response to ischemic PC remains unknown. Thus, mice underwent a sequence of six cycles of 4-min coronary occlusion/4-min reperfusion, which induces late PC, and tissue samples were collected at serial times for measurement of mRNA (Northern) and protein levels (Western). In addition, whole heart samples were cryosectioned for in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. The steady-state levels of iNOS mRNA in the ischemic regions started to increase at 1 h after ischemic PC, peaked at 3 h (201+/-31% of sham, n=5 P<0.01) and remained elevated at 24 h (177+/-22% of sham, n=5 P<0.01). In accordance with these data, iNOS protein expression was increased at 24 h (219+/-41% of sham, n=5 P<0.01). In contrast, neither endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mRNA levels nor its protein expression changed at any time-point. The magnitude of iNOS upregulation after ischemic PC was mild compared with that noted 66 h after permanent coronary occlusion (360+/-53% of sham) or 8 h after endotoxin (3117+/-61% of control). After ischemic PC, diffuse iNOS signals were detected with in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry in the cytoplasmic space of cardiac myocytes and, to a lesser degree, in the wall of large vessels, but were absent in smooth muscle and endothelium of small vessels and in fibroblasts. This pattern contrasted with that observed in mouse hearts subjected to permanent coronary occlusion where strong iNOS signals were concentrated in inflammatory cells but absent in cardiac myocytes. Thus, not only the degree of iNOS expression but also its cellular distribution were profoundly different in reversibly injured (preconditioned) v infarcted myocardium. We conclude that iNOS is rapidly upregulated after ischemic PC and that cardiac myocytes are the main source of ischemic PC-induced iNOS expression. This study demonstrates, for the first time, a differential pattern of iNOS expression in sublethal (PC) v lethal ischemia, which may have important implication for the role of iNOS in these two settings.     

天麻酚类成分对脑缺血模型大鼠海马一氧化氮和一氧化氮合酶的影响

目的探讨天麻酚类成分对脑缺血大鼠海马NO和一氧化氮合酶(NOS)的影响。方法采用双侧颈总动脉永久性结扎法,造成大鼠脑缺血模型。造模6周后,SD大鼠40只随机分为5组,假手术组、模型组、尼莫地平组、天麻酚类成分高剂量组(高剂量组)和天麻酚类成分低剂量组(低剂量组),每组8只。给药3周后,比色法检测海马NO含量和NOS活性,免疫印记法检测大鼠海马NOS 3种亚型(nNOS,iNOS,eNOS)的表达。结果与假手术组比较,模型组大鼠海马NO含量、NOS活性及nNOS和iNOS表达明显升高,eNOS表达明显降低;与模型组比较,尼莫地平组和高剂量组大鼠海马NO含量、NOS活性及nNOS和iNOS表达明显降低,eNOS表达明显升高;低剂量组大鼠NOS活性和iNOS表达明显降低,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05,P<0.01)。结论天麻酚类成分对脑缺血大鼠海马NO损伤有保护作用。     

肝硬化大鼠内脏血管壁NOS分布的免疫组化研究

目的：观察肝硬化门静脉高压大鼠内脏动、静脉血管壁一氧化氮合酶（ＮＯＳ）的分布及染色强度变化,探讨ＮＯ在门静脉高压形成机制中的作用。方法：采用免疫组化染色法,应用两种ＮＯＳ特异性抗体,分别观察内皮型（ｅＮＯＳ）和诱生型（ｉＮＯＳ）ＮＯＳ的变化特点,并结合计算机图象分析系统对染色强度进行量化处理。结果：肝硬化大鼠肠系膜上动脉（ＳＭＡ）ｉＮＯＳ和ｅＮＯＳ染色强度与对照组相比均显著增加（Ｐ＜０．０１）,其中以ｅＮＯＳ增加更为明显。而两组门静脉（ＰＶ）ＮＯＳ染色强度则无明显差异（Ｐ＞０．０５）。肝硬化组ＳＭＡ的ＮＯＳ染色强度明显高于ＰＶ（Ｐ＜０．０５）。结论：ＮＯＳ在内脏血管表达增多,以及在ＳＭＡ的表达高于ＰＶ,提示ＮＯ可能主要通过扩张内脏动脉、增加内脏血流量而参与门静脉高压的形成。     

人脂联素重组腺病毒对内皮细胞增殖和一氧化氮合酶的影响

目的探讨人脂联素重组腺病毒(Ad-apM1)对人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVEC)的增殖和总一氧化氮合酶(NOS)、诱导型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)和结构型一氧化氮合酶(eNOS)活性的影响,为动脉粥样硬化的基因治疗奠定基础。方法将Ad-apM1感染HUVEC,观察细胞形态,绘制生长曲线,四甲基偶氮唑盐(MTT)法检测HUVEC的增殖。双抗体夹心ELISA法检测培养上清中人脂联素的表达水平,比色法检测总NOS、iNOS、eNOS活力。结果重组腺病毒感染后的HUVEC和未受感染的HUVEC形态无明显改变,体外增殖能力也无显著差异。用感染复数(MOI)为50的人脂联素基因重组腺病毒感染HUVEC,24、48、72h后取上清检测脂联素浓度分别为(125±12)ng/ml、(160±14)ng/ml、(150±8)ng/ml。感染了Ad-apM1的HUVEC总NOS和eNOS的活力显著升高,而iNOS的活力显著降低。结论我们制备的重组腺病毒能有效感染HUVEC并分泌表达人脂联素,对HUVEC的形态和增殖无明显影响,可增强HUVEC总NOS和eNOS活性,抑制iNOS活性,为Ad-apM1用于干预动脉粥样硬化奠定基础。     

Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression in fulminant hepatic failure

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) have important functions in inflammation and vasoregulation but their role in fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) is not well understood. METHODS: Intrahepatic in situ staining and semi-quantification of iNOS and eNOS by immunohistochemistry in 25 patients with FHF, in 40 patients with chronic liver diseases (CLD) and in ten normal controls (NC). RESULTS: Expression patterns of iNOS and eNOS differed. While in NC only faint iNOS expression was found in some Kupffer cells/macrophages and hepatocytes, eNOS was expressed constitutively in sinusoidal and vascular endothelial cells. In CLD, iNOS expression was induced in Kupffer cells/macrophages and hepatocytes, representing the main iNOS expressing cell types. Additionally, bile ducts, vascular endothelial cells and lymphocytes also expressed iNOS (P = 0.001). In contrast, no differences were found between eNOS expression in CLD and NC (P = 0.64). The same cell types expressed eNOS and iNOS in FHF but numbers of both were significantly enhanced, exceeding the levels seen in CLD (P < 0.001, P = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that iNOS and eNOS are differently regulated in physiologic conditions and in liver disease. While eNOS seems to be involved in the physiological regulation of hepatic perfusion, strong upregulation of iNOS might contribute to inflammatory processes in FHF.     

Endometrial and myometrial expression of nitric oxide synthase isoforms in pre- and postmenopausal women.

Expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) protein was examined by Western immunoblot analysis and immunohistochemistry in the endometrium and myometrium of 19 premenopausal and 18 postmenopausal women undergoing hysterectomy for benign gynecological reasons. The predominant isoform of NOS in the human uterus was endothelial NOS (eNOS). Using immunohistochemistry, eNOS was localized predominantly to the glandular epithelium and endometrial microvascular endothelium. eNOS was scant and inconsistently detected in endometrial stromal cells. In the myometrium, eNOS was predominantly found in smooth muscle cells (myocytes) and was also detected in the microvascular endothelium. Neuronal NOS was not detectable by immunohistochemical techniques, and inducible NOS (iNOS) was only detectable in occasional specimens, although more often in secretory specimens. iNOS, when present, was predominantly found in glandular epithelium and occasional stromal cells. Myometrial iNOS was scant and not consistently detected. By Western immunoblot analysis, neuronal NOS or iNOS was not detected. We observed a unique menstrual cycle-dependent expression of eNOS that was different in the endometrium compared to the myometrium and was independent of uterine pathology. In the endometrium, there was 62% higher expression of eNOS during the secretory phase (P = 0.00085) compared to the proliferative phase, whereas in the myometrium, there was 74% greater expression of eNOS in the proliferative phase (P = 0.03) compared to the secretory phase. Within the secretory phase, maximal endometrial eNOS expression was found in the midportion, whereas in the myometrium, highest eNOS expression occurred during the late secretory phase. In postmenopausal women not treated with hormones, a significant reduction in endometrial and myometrial expression of eNOS occurred, which was reversed by continuous hormone replacement therapy. In summary, both endogenous ovarian steroids and exogenous sex hormones influence uterine eNOS expression. Our results suggest that estrogen may regulate myometrial eNOS, whereas progesterone or a combination of estrogen and progesterone may be more important in regulating endometrial eNOS, and NO may be a critical mediator of sex steroid actions in the human uterus.     

Stimulated murine macrophages as a bioassay for H. pylori-related inhibition of nitric oxide production

BACKGROUND: Interference with the L-arginine/nitric oxide pathway may be a virulence strategy for the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori. This study evaluates a bioassay for such inhibitory actions on nitric oxide synthase. METHODS: Cultured murine macrophages were stimulated by lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma. Nitric oxide synthesis and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) at increasing concentrations of L-arginine were analysed using chemiluminescence and Western blotting, respectively. RESULTS: The bioassay was evaluated against nitrite accumulation and two established NOS inhibitors. Bacterial extracts or whole cells of one H. pylori strain inhibited nitric oxide production at low L-arginine concentrations (2-20 microM). A higher concentration of L-arginine (200 microM) was not associated with such inhibition. The iNOS expression was not affected by any of the additives compared to stimulated controls. CONCLUSIONS: This bioassay is a reliable and simple method for analysing iNOS inhibition, resolving effects on enzyme activity or enzyme expression. H. pylori water extract and whole cells exert an L-arginine-dependent NOS inhibition, not influencing iNOS expression.     

Expression of nitric oxide synthase protein and gene in the splanchnic organsof liver cirrhosis and portal hypertensive rats

AIM To investigate the expression of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), inducible NO synthase (iNOS)protein and eNOS mRNA gene in the splanchnic organs of liver cirrhosis and portal hypertensive rats.METHODS In control and CCl4-induced liver cirrhotic rats, the expression of eNOS and iNOS proteins wasdetected by immunohistochemical method, and eNOS mRNA was detected by in situ hybridization.RESULTS The expression of eNOS protein and eNOS mRNA increased in most organs of the cirrhotic rats,including bronchial and alveolar epithelial cells, renal tubular epithelial cells and mesenchyma, endothelialand adventitial cells of aorta and superior mesenteric artery, whereas no significant increase of iNOS proteinwas found. In the hepatic tissue, NOS protein and eNOS mRNA were present in mesenchymal cells and vesseladventitial cells, no difference was observed in the expression between control and cirrhotic rats.CONCLUSION The expression of NOS varied in region. In splanchnic organs and vasculars there was anincreased expression of eNOS which induced aplanchnic vasodilation and increased the inflow of portal vein,while in the liver tissue and blood vessel showed no increased expression, which may be associated withincreased intrahepatic vascular resistance.     

Increased vascular expression of iNOS at day but not at night in asthmatic subjects with increased nocturnal airway obstruction.

Nitric oxide production by endothelial cells may have important consequences for the development of airway inflammation as well as for airway obstruction. The present study investigated whether the expression of vascular inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in human bronchi differs between asthmatic and healthy subjects, and whether it shows a circadian rhythm, especially in subjects with increased nocturnal airway obstruction. Bronchial biopsy samples were taken at 16:00 and 04:00 h from 13 healthy and 25 asthmatic subjects, 18-45 yrs. Biopsy samples were snap-frozen and double-immunostained for iNOS and eNOS in combination with a common vascular antigen (CD31). The degree of immunopositivity was expressed as a percentage of CD31-positive vessels encountered in complete biopsy sections. Asthmatic subjects showed greater iNOS expression than healthy controls: 23+/-15 versus 7+/-17% (mean+/-SD) at 16:00 h (p<0.001) and 19+/-15 versus 8+/-11% at 04:00 h (p<0.05). Asthmatic subjects with a fall in forced expiratory volume in one second of >10% of the predicted value between 16:00 and 04:00 h showed greater iNOS expression at 16:00 than at 04:00 h: 32+/-16 versus 20+/-13% (p<0.05). eNOS expression did not differ between healthy controls and asthmatic patients, nor did it differ between 16:00 and 04:00 h. It is suggested that asthmatic subjects with increased nocturnal airway obstruction demonstrate increased activation of inducible nitric oxide synthase during the day. The resulting nitric oxide production might protect against airway obstruction during the day. However, at night, nitric oxide production is probably insufficient to counterbalance the bronchoconstricting forces.