Nitric oxide expression in airway epithelial cells in response to tubercle bacilli stimulation

Abstract In order to investigate the role of airway epithelial cells in pulmonary tuberculosis, inducible nitric oxide synthetase (iNOS) expression and nitric oxide (NO) production were studied in A549 cells. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from normal volunteers were separated and cultured for 24h with LPS or tubercle bacilli (H37Rv, H37Ra). Thereafter, A549 cells were stimulated for another 24h with culture supernatant fluids of PBMC. iNOS messenger RNA (mRNA) expression was measured with Northern blot analysis and NO production was measured with the Griess reaction, which can measure nitrite concentration. iNOS mRNA expression and NO production were minimal in the control cells. iNOS mRNA expression and NO production were significantly increased with LPS ( P < 0.05) or tubercle bacilli ( P < 0.01) stimulation. However, there was no difference in iNOS mRNA expression and NO production between H37Rv and H37Ra stimulations. Interestingly, iNOS mRNA expression and NO production were greater in A549 cells stimulated with tubercle bacilli-conditioned media than in the cells stimulated with LPS-conditioned media. IL-1β, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interferon gamma concentrations were increased in culture supernatant fluids of PBMC stimulated with tubercle bacilli. These findings suggest that airway epithelial cells may play a certain role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary tuberculosis by producing NO. However, the role of airway epithelial cells, regarding the virulence of tubercle bacilli, was not clear in this study.     

诱生型一氧化合酶在肝癌中表达的意义

为证实诱生型一氧化氮合酶（iNOS）在肝癌发生、发展中的作用,采用免疫组化方法对50例原发性肝细胞癌（HCC）及癌旁组织（PCHT）中的iNOS表达情况进行了检测。结果显示,iNOS位于肝细胞细胞浆／膜中,在HCC中的表达强度变化较大,在PCHT中呈强表达;正常肝组织中呈弱表达;淋巴细胞中无表达。证实iNOS的异常表达可导致HCC患者体内NO生成异常及机体对癌细胞的免疫异常。提示提高体内NO合成,可望提高HCC患者的抗癌能力。     

Suppressive effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 on interferon-gamma-induced nitric oxide production in insulin-producing cells is mediated by inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-alpha production

During the development of Type 1 diabetes, inflammatory cytokines are known to induce the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in pancreatic islets, and subsequent production of nitric oxide (NO) contributes to beta cell destruction. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) has been shown to reduce cytokine-induced apoptosis of beta cells. In this study, we investigated whether GLP-1 affects cytokine-induced NO production, resulting in the inhibition of beta-cell apoptosis. We treated MIN6N8a mouse beta cells with interferon (IFN)-gamma in the presence or absence of GLP-1 and found that IFN-gamma treatment induced iNOS mRNA expression and NO production, which was significantly inhibited by treatment with GLP-1. Blocking of GLP-1 receptor signaling via the cyclic AMP and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway did not directly affect the suppressive effect of GLP-1 on IFN- gamma-induced iNOS mRNA expression. Further studies revealed that IFN-gamma induced the expression of TNF-alpha mRNA and protein, which synergistically induced NO production, and GLP-1 treatment inhibited this induction of TNF-alpha. To examine whether the reduction of TNF-alpha by GLP-1 treatment plays a role in suppressing NO production, we treated MIN6N8a cells with IFN-gamma in the presence of anti-TNF-alpha neutralizing antibody and found that NO production was reduced. In addition, treatment of mouse islets with GLP-1 inhibited the expression of iNOS and TNFmRNA. These results suggest that GLP-1 inhibits IFN-gamma-induced NO production by suppression of TNF-alpha production.     

Glucocorticoid treatment reduces exhaled nitric oxide in cystic fibrosis patients.

In cystic fibrosis (CF), low concentrations of exhaled nitric oxide (NO) and reduced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in airway epithelium have been reported. However, abundant iNOS expression has been found in the subepithelial tissues and elevated concentrations of NO metabolites in breath condensate and sputum. These conflicting results may be explained by increased scavenging of NO by superoxide radicals, resulting in rapid conversion to peroxynitrite, so that only a small proportion of the NO produced in the lung tissue reaches the airway lumen. If iNOS were active in the CF lung, exhaled NO would be further reduced by glucocorticoid treatment. CF patients (n = 13) were recruited to a double-blind, placebo-controlled study with crossover. Treatment comprised prednisolone or placebo for 5 days with a 9 day washout. After each treatment, exhaled NO was measured, spirometry performed and blood collected for measurement of serum nitrogen dioxide/nitrous oxide (NO2/NO3). Ten patients (8 male) completed the study. Following prednisolone treatment (mean +/- SD) exhaled NO concentration (3.1 +/- 1.6 parts per billion (ppb)) was significantly reduced versus placebo treatment (4.9 +/- 4.2 ppb; p<0.05, Wilcoxon signed-rank test). Spirometric indices and serum NO2/NO3 concentration were unchanged. These findings support the hypothesis that glucocorticoids suppress nitric oxide production in cystic fibrosis airways by reducing inducible nitric oxide synthase expression or by inhibiting recruitment of neutrophils, cells which express inducible nitric oxide synthase.     

Low levels of nitric oxide (NO) in systemic sclerosis: inducible NO synthase production is decreased in cultured peripheral blood monocyte/macrophage cells

OBJECTIVE: To investigate nitric oxide (NO) production and inducible NO synthase expression by cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS: Eighteen patients with SSc were compared with two control groups: 16 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 23 patients with mechanical sciatica. Nitrate was determined by fluorimetry in plasma and by spectrophotometry in supernatants. Inducible NO synthase (iNOS) was detected in cultured PBMC by immunofluorescence, immunoblotting and flow cytometry with or without treatment of the cells with interleukin (IL) 1beta+ tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-4 or interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) from day 1 to day 5. RESULTS: NO metabolite concentrations were lower in SSc patients (mean+/-s.e.m. 34.3+/-2.63 micromol/l) than in RA (48.3+/-2.82 micromol/l; P<0.02) and sciatica (43.3+/-5.24 micromol/l; P<0.03) patients. iNOS was detected in cultured monocytes in all three groups but induction occurred on day 1 in RA, day 2 in sciatica and only on day 3 in SSc, whatever the stimulus. CONCLUSIONS: The concentrations of NO metabolites are decreased in SSc patients and the metabolism of these compounds in PBMC is altered. Low levels of NO, a vasodilator, may be involved in vasospasm, which is critical in SSc. This may have therapeutic implications.     

Hepatocyte growth factor-induced endothelial cell motility is mediated by the upregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase expression

OBJECTIVES: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is an angiogenic mitogen which stimulates migration in various cell types and has been shown to induce the production of nitric oxide (NO) in epithelial cells. Conflicting data exist on the effect of NO on endothelial cell migration. The aim of this study was to investigate a possible role for NO in HGF-stimulated endothelial cell motility. METHODS: The study was performed primarily using an endothelial cell line derived from adult human saphenous vein. Transient transfection experiments were additionally performed using an adult human coronary artery endothelial cell line. Nitric oxide synthase expression was examined by western blot analysis. Time-lapse digital image microscopy was used to measure cell motility. A DNA construct was used in transient transfections to over-express inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) as an N-terminal fusion to enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). RESULTS: HGF upregulated the expression of iNOS but not constitutive endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). Treatment of cells with the specific iNOS inhibitor 1400 W revealed that functional iNOS was required for HGF-stimulated endothelial cell motility. HGF-induced iNOS expression was partially abrogated in the presence of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) inhibitor LY294002, but not the Src kinase inhibitor, PP1. Endothelial cell motility increased significantly (P<0.0001) in the presence of the exogenous NO donor spermine-NO and cells expressing the iNOS-EGFP fusion protein exhibited significantly greater (P=0.0038) motility than those expressing EGFP alone. CONCLUSIONS: These combined data show that elevated NO production is sufficient to stimulate endothelial cell motility and link HGF and NO, both previously implicated in modulating motility, in a common signalling pathway.     

Airway nitric oxide output is reduced in bronchiectasis

BACKGROUND: Increased concentrations of exhaled nitric oxide (NO) have been detected in inflammatory lung diseases including asthma and have been attributed to increased expression and activity of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) within the airways. However, previous studies of exhaled NO in patients with bronchiectasis have yielded conflicting results, with reports of both increased and normal NO values. Recent evidence from animal models suggests that chronic airway infection reduces NO production within the lung, despite causing increased iNOS expression. We tested the hypothesis that, in human subjects with bronchiectasis, chronic airway infection reduces NO output from the conducting airways. METHODS: Using a recently described two-compartment model, we measured separately the contributions of the conducting airways and the alveoli to exhaled NO in nine patients with stable bronchiectasis and eight control subjects before and after inhaled glucocorticoid therapy. RESULTS: We found that airway NO output was significantly lower in bronchiectasis than in normal airways whereas NO output from the alveoli was similar to that of control subjects. High-dose inhaled glucocorticoid therapy did not alter airway or alveolar NO production. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that, in patients with bronchiectasis, airway NO output is reduced and that iNOS does not contribute significantly to airway NO production.     

Role of NF-kappaB activation and nitric oxide expression during PGE protection against d-galactosamine-induced cell death in cultured rat hepatocytes.

Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) reduces cell death in experimental and clinical liver dysfunction. Nitric oxide (NO) mediates PGE1 protection against D-galactosamine (D-GalN)-induced cell death. Nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kappaB) plays a protective role in different experimental models of cell death. We investigated if NF-kappaB was responsible for inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and cytoprotection induced by PGE1 against D-GalN cell death in cultured hepatocytes. Rat hepatocytes were isolated following the classical method of collagenase perfusion of liver. A kinetic study of cell death, NF-kappaB activation, mRNA and protein iNOS expression, and NO production was carried in hepatocytes treated with D-GalN (5 mM) in the presence or absence of PGE1 (1 microM) administered 2 h before the hepatotoxin. A proteasome inhibitor was used to evaluate the role of NF-kappaB activation in our experimental conditions. PGE1 protection against D-GalN-induced cell death was associated with its capacity to rapidly enhance NF-kappaB activation, mRNA and protein iNOS expression, and NO production in D-GalN-treated hepatocytes. The inhibition of NF-kappaB activation abolished iNOS expression and cell protection by PGE1 in hepatocytes treated with the hepatotoxin. The present study shows that the cytoprotection by PGE1 against D-GalN-induced apoptosis was related to NF-kappaB-dependent iNOS expression.     

Immunologic role of nitric oxide in acute rejection of golden hamster to rat liver xenotransplantation

AIM：To evaluate the immunologic role and expression significances of nitric oxide(NO),nitric oxide synthase(NOS),and its isoenzyme in acute erjection to liver xenografts from golden hamster in rat.METHODS:Liver transplantations were randomly divided into five groups(n=6-9):isografts(groupⅠ）;xenografts(groupⅡ）;xenografts plus cyclosporing teatment(groupⅢ）,xenografts plus cyclophosphamide treatment combined with splenectomy(groupⅣ）,and xenografts using cyclophosphamide in combination with splenectomy(groupⅣ）and xenografts using splenectomy in addition to cyclophosphamide and cyclosporine treatments(groupⅤ）.The levels of ALT,TNF-α,and nitric oxide production(NOx)in serum of reciprents were examined,and expressions of typeⅡ（iNOS)and typeⅢ（nitric oxide synthase(NOS)-inducibleNOS(iNOS)and constitutive NOS(cNOS)were observe by NADPH digphorase histochemical and immunohistochemical staining.RESULTS:The level of serum ALT,activity of serum TNF-αand systemic levels of NO metabolite in groups ⅡandⅣwere higher than those of groupsⅠandⅤ(serumALT,2416&#177;475,2540&#177;82.5)nkat&#183;L^-1vs（556.8&#177;43.5,677.30&#177;38.2)nkat&#183;L^-1,P&lt;0.01,(serumTNF-α,353.5&#177;16.1,444.6&#177;28.1)ng&#183;L^-1,vs38.5&#177;5.2,52.0&#177;5.7)ng&#183;L^-1,P&lt;0.01,(serum NOx514.6&#177;18.1,336.0&#177;43.0)nmol&#183;g^-1,vs26.1&#177;5.7,27.7&#177;6.0)nmol&#183;g^-1,P&lt;0.01.Cyclosporine in groupⅢcan repress the cellular immune response and the synthesis of nitric oxide and the expression of NO synthase,but not prolong the lives xenograft survival.The over-expression of NOS,iNOS and cDNA in liver xenograft rejection in groupsⅡandⅣwere detected by NADPH diaphorase histochemical and immunohistochemical staining.CONCLUSION:The degrees of acute rejection can be effectively repressed in golden hamster to rat liver xenografts with splenectomy and cyclosporin,Nitric oxide metabolites,and nitric oxide synthase and its isoenzymes,above all inducibleNOS(iNOS)can be used as potential diagnostic markers for acute rejection in liver transplantation.The cellular localization of nit6ric oxide varies according to the immunologic status of liver xenografts.thus thinking that hepatocyte derived nitric oxide may be protective in the hyporesponsive state,but hepatic injury is likely triggered by centrilobular iNOS expression in the superresponsive state.     

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。     

三种抗风湿药物对类风湿关节炎病人关节软骨细胞NO合成及iNOS活性抑制作用

目的：比较雷公藤和地塞米松以及双氯芬酸钠对类风湿关节炎（RA）病人软骨细胞合成一氧化氮（NO）及诱导型一氧化氮合酶（iNOS)表达的抑制作用。探讨三种抗风湿药物在治疗RA中对关节软骨的保护作用。方法：用胶原酶消化RA病人膝关节置换术后的离体软骨，并分离出软骨细胞进行体外培养，用白细胞介素（IL）－1刺激，同时加用不同浓度的雷公藤、地塞米松及双氯芬酸钠培养过夜，收集细胞培养上清，用Griess试剂测定NO含量。收集培养中的软骨细胞，利用L－14C－精氨酸向L－14C－瓜氨酸的转换，测定iNOS活性，提取细胞总RNA，采用Northern blot方法分析iNOS-mRNA的表达。结果：不同浓度的雷公藤（2、4、8、16mg/L)对关节软骨细胞NO的合成和iNOS活性均有抑制作用，最大抑制率可达81．1％和84．3％，而且抑制程度与药物剂量成正相关，雷公藤对iNOS-mRNA的表达也有相应的抑制作用。地塞米松对人软骨细胞NO合成，iNOS活性及iNOS-mRNA表达也有表明抑制作用，最大抑制率只能达50％，但无剂量相关，而双氯芬酸钠抑制作用只有12．9％，结论：雷公藤和地塞米松都对软骨细胞合成NO有抑制作用，但地塞米松的抑制作用有限，而双氯芬酸钠只有微弱的抑制作用。     

呼吸道合胞病毒诱导一氧化氮产生的机制

目的探讨呼吸道合胞病毒(RSV)感染时一氧化氮(NO)的水平变化及其产生的调控机制,为临床治疗RSV疾病提供有益的思路。方法以RSV感染人肺上皮细胞A549细胞,并设立不同的感染时间(4h、8h、16h和24h),同时分别给予PDTC(核转录因子NF-κB的特异性抑制剂)或AG(诱导型一氧化氮合酶i NOS的特异性抑制剂)处理。收集各组细胞和细胞培养上清,用Western blot法检测细胞核内活性NF-κBp65蛋白的表达,半定量RT-PCR和免疫细胞化学法检测i NOS mR-NA和蛋白表达,硝酸还原酶法检测细胞培养上清中NO含量。结果RSV感染4h后,核内活性NF-κBp65蛋白、i NOS mR-NA和蛋白、细胞培养上清中NO含量均升高,各指标的变化与正常对照相比,差异均有显著性,并且与RSV感染存在时间依赖关系。加入PDTC后可明显抑制NF-κB活化,同时下调i NOS mRNA和蛋白表达。加入AG后,则明显降低细胞培养上清中NO含量。结论RSV感染可诱导产生大量的NO,其主要受i NOS的调节。NF-κB活化对i NOS基因表达具有重要的正调控作用。提示RSV诱导NO生成可能通过活化NF-κB所致。     

Local production of nitric oxide in patients with tuberculosis.

Nitric oxide (NO), produced by the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), is important in host defence against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in rodents, but the presence of high-output NO production in human tuberculosis has been controversial. We investigated iNOS and nitrotyrosine (Ntyr) expression in pleural (n = 7), pulmonary (n = 5) and lymph node biopsies (n = 5) from untreated, newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients. Many iNOS and Ntyr reactive macrophages were observed in granulomas, including Langhans giant cells, indicating high-output NO production at the primary site of disease in tuberculosis.     

Nitric oxide production of rat Leydig and Sertoli cells is stimulated by round spermatid factor(s)

In this study, we provide evidence of cell-to-cell interaction between rat germ cells and Leydig or Sertoli cells in relation to nitric oxide (NO) production and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) messenger RNA (mRNA) expression. As a result of being cultured in a round spermatid-conditioned medium (RSd-CM), NO production in both Leydig and Sertoli cells increased in proportion to the length of the culture period. iNOS mRNA expression in both types of cells also increased in a dose-dependent manner as a result of being cultured with RSd-CM. This increase was detected as early as 3 h and was maintained up to 24 h. In contrast, neither NO production nor iNOS mRNA increased in either type of cell following culture in a pachytene spermatocyte-conditioned medium (PS-CM). Our findings suggest that RSd may control NO production of Leydig and Sertoli cells. This cell-to-cell interaction may be an important mechanism of regulation of testicular function.     

Nitric oxide levels in exhaled air and inducible nitric oxide synthase immunolocalization in pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interferon gamma are associated with active pulmonary inflammation in sarcoidosis and they upregulate inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The objectives of this study were to examine iNOS upregulation in sarcoidosis by showing raised exhaled nitric oxide and increased iNOS activity in lung biopsy specimens of these patients utilizing immunohistochemistry. Exhaled NO was measured by a chemiluminescence analyser in 12 patients with newly diagnosed biopsy-proven sarcoidosis before and after 6 weeks of corticosteroid therapy. Lung biopsy specimens from these patients were subjected to immunohistochemical staining with a specific iNOS antibody. Exhaled NO was raised in newly diagnosed sarcoidosis (mean+/-SEM): 9.8+/-0.4 versus 4.1+/-0.2 parts per billion (ppb) in 21 healthy controls, p<0.001; and fell significantly after 6 weeks treatment with corticosteroids to 5.9+/-1.4 ppb; p<0.01. There was no correlation between exhaled NO and other markers of disease activity. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated iNOS activity in respiratory epithelium and granulomas in patients with sarcoidosis. Exhaled nitric oxide is raised in patients with active pulmonary sarcoidosis and may be a result of inducible nitric oxide synthase upregulation. The fall in exhaled nitric oxide following corticosteroid therapy may reflect inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase in the respiratory epithelium and granulomas.     

Effect of mycophenolate mofetil on severity of nephritis and nitric oxide production in lupus-prone MRL/lpr mice

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), an immunosuppressive drug commonly used in organ transplantation, is increasingly being used to treat autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Excessive production of nitric oxide (NO) by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis. We evaluated the effect of MMF on the severity of nephritis and the production of NO in lupus-prone MRL/lpr mice. Eight-week-old female MRL/lpr mice (n = 20) were treated with MMF (100 mg/kg/day) by oral gavage for 12 weeks. Control mice (n = 20) received vehicle on the same schedule. The mice were killed after 12 weeks of treatment. Treatment with MMF significantly decreased the amount of proteinuria, prolonged survival and reduced the histological severity of glomerulonephritis. Urinary nitrite/nitrate excretion in the MMF-treated mice was significantly reduced during the first 8 weeks of treatment. However, by the end of the 12 weeks' treatment period, there was no significant difference between vehicle and MMF-treated mice in terms of urinary nitrite/nitrate excretion, intra-renal production of NO, expression of iNOS protein and induction of iNOS mRNA. We conclude that MMF is effective in attenuating the severity of nephritis in MRL/lpr mice. The beneficial effects of MMF on lupus nephritis during the early phase of the disease might be partly attributed to the inhibition of NO production. The inhibitory effect of MMF on NO production diminishes as the disease progresses. MMF probably has additional, as yet undefined mode of actions to fully account for its beneficial effects on lupus nephritis.     

The therapeutic effect of natriuretic peptides in heart failure; differential regulation of endothelial and inducible nitric oxide synthases

The abnormal regulation of nitric oxide synthase activity represents an underlying feature of heart failure. Increased peripheral vascular resistance, and decreased renal function may be in part related to impaired endothelium-dependent nitric oxide (NO) synthesis. Paradoxically, the chronic production of NO by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in heart failure exerts deleterious effects on ventricular contractility, and circulatory function. Consequently, pharmacologically improving endothelium-dependent NO synthesis and the concomitant inhibition of iNOS activity would be therapeutically advantageous. Interestingly, natriuretic peptides have been shown to differentially regulate endothelial NOS (eNOS) and iNOS activity. Moreover, in both patients and animal models of heart failure, pharmacologically increasing plasma natriuretic peptide levels ameliorated vascular tone, renal function, and ventricular contractility. Based on these observations, the following review will explore whether the therapeutic benefit of the natriuretic peptide system in heart failure may occur in part via the amelioration of endothelium-dependent NO synthesis, and the concomitant inhibition of cytokine-mediated iNOS expression.