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。

Effects of hypoxia on endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression in cerebral artery endothelial cells

AIM: To investigate the molecular mechanism by which hypoxia affect the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression in cerebral artery endothelial cells (CAECs). METHODS: Primary cultured porcine CAECs were exposed to hypoxia for 2 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h and 48 h. The eNOS mRNA level was determined by RT-PCR. The level of eNOS protein was detected by Western blotting. After specific PKC inhibitors BIM Ⅰ(1 μmol/L) and G6983 (1 μmol/L) were added, CAECs were exposed to hypoxia for 24 h. The effect of hypoxia on eNOS mRNA stability was analyzed after actinomycin D was added. RESULTS: After exposure to hypoxia for 2 h, the levels of eNOS mRNA and protein in CAECs were increased. The levels of eNOS mRNA and protein reached peak after 12 h of hypoxia (about 2.5 fold and 2.0 fold, respectively, compared to control), and remained at higher level even after 48 h of hypoxia. Moreover, hypoxia did not change the stability of eNOS mRNA. The specific PKC inhibitors BIM Ⅰ and G6983 attenuated significantly the effects of hypoxia on eNOS gene expression. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that hypoxia may enhance the expression of eNOS gene in CAECs through PKC signaling pathway, which might be one of the mechanisms of cerebral artery dilation and neuroprotection during cerebral hypoxia.