Hydrogen sulfide downregulates the aortic l-arginine/nitric oxide pathway in rats

2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (4) ◽  
pp. R1608-R1618 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Geng ◽  
Yuying Cui ◽  
Jing Zhao ◽  
Fang Yu ◽  
Yi Zhu ◽  
...  

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) signaling by nitric oxide (NO) in isolated rat aortas and cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Both administration of H2S and NaHS, as well as endogenous H2S, reduced NO formation, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity, eNOS transcript abundance, and l-arginine (l-Arg) transport (all P < 0.01). The kinetics analysis of eNOS activity and l-Arg transport showed that H2S reduced Vmax values (all P < 0.01) without modifying Km parameters. Use of selective NOS inhibitors verified that eNOS [vs. inducible NOS (iNOS) and neuronal NOS (nNOS)] was the specific target of H2S regulation. H2S treatment (100 μmol/l) reduced Akt phosphorylation and decreased eNOS phosphorylation at Ser1177. H2S reduced l-Arg uptake by inhibition of a system y+ transporter and decreased the CAT-1 transcript. H2S treatment reduced protein expression of eNOS but not of nNOS and iNOS. Pinacidil (KATP channel opener) exhibited the similar inhibitory effects on the l-Arg/NOS/NO pathway. Glibenclamide (KATP channel inhibitor) partly blocked the inhibitory effect of H2S and pinacidil. An in vivo experiment revealed that H2S downregulated the vascular l-Arg/eNOS/NO pathway after intraperitoneal injection of NaHS (14 μmol/kg) in rats. Taken together, our findings suggest that H2S downregulates the vascular l-Arg/NOS/NO pathway in vitro and in vivo, and the KATP channel could be involved in the regulatory mechanism of H2S.

Nutrients ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Byung Han ◽  
Chang Seo ◽  
Jung Yoon ◽  
Hye Kim ◽  
You Ahn ◽  
...  

Atherosclerosis is closely related to vascular dysfunction and hypertension. Ojeoksan (OJS), originally recorded in an ancient Korean medicinal book named “Donguibogam”, is a well-known, blended herbal formula. This study was carried out to investigate the beneficial effects of OJS on atherosclerosis in vitro and in vivo. Western-diet-fed apolipoprotein-E gene-deficient mice (ApoE −/−) were used for this study for 16 weeks, and their vascular dysfunction and inflammation were analyzed. OJS-treated ApoE −/− mice showed lowered blood pressure and glucose levels. The levels of metabolic parameters with hyperlipidemia attenuated following OJS administration. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining revealed that treatment with OJS reduced atherosclerotic lesions. OJS also suppressed the expression of adhesion molecules and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) compared to Western-diet-fed ApoE −/− mice and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Expression levels of MicroRNAs (miRNA)-10a, -126 3p were increased in OJS-fed ApoE −/− mice. OJS significantly increased the phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and protein kinase B (Akt), which are involved in nitric oxide (NO) production. OJS also regulated eNOS coupling by increasing the expression of endothelial GTP Cyclohydrolase-1 (GTPCH). Taken together, OJS has a protective effect on vascular inflammation via eNOS coupling-mediated NO production and might be a potential therapeutic agent for both early and advanced atherosclerosis.


2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 231
Author(s):  
I. Lebedeva ◽  
G. Singina ◽  
E. Shedova ◽  
A. Lopukhov ◽  
N. Zinovieva

Aging of mammalian oocytes is the time-dependent process of cytological and molecular transformations leading to a decline in the ovum quality and developmental capacity. We have previously shown that 2 related pituitary hormones, prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH), may decelerate abnormal changes in the morphology of metaphase II (MII) chromosomes in bovine cumulus-enclosed oocytes (CEO) aging in vitro. The goal of the present research was to examine the involvement of different isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the actions of PRL and GH on MII chromosomes in aging bovine oocytes. Bovine CEO were matured for 20 h in TCM 199 containing 10% FCS, 10 μg mL–1 porcine FSH, and 10 μg mL–1 ovine LH. After IVM, CEO or denuded oocytes (DO) were cultured for 24 h in the aging medium of TCM 199 supplemented with 10% FCS (control). In experimental groups, the medium contained either 50 ng mL–1 bovine PRL or 10 ng mL–1 bovine GH and/or NOS inhibitors. The following inhibitors were applied: (1) N-propyl-l-arginine (NPLA; an inhibitor of neuronal NOS (nNOS), 5 μM) and (2) L-NAME (an effective inhibitor of both endothelial NOS (eNOS) and nNOS, 20 μM). Destructive changes of MII chromosomes in oocytes were assessed by the following morphological signs: decondensation, partial adherence, chromosome clumping into a single mass, and fragmentation. The total activity of NOS in oocytes was determined by NADPH-diaphorase staining. The data from 4–5 replicates were analysed by ANOVA. During CEO aging in the control medium, the rate of MII oocytes with destructive changes of chromosomes rose from 16.8 ± 2.1% to 58.5 ± 1.4% (P < 0.001), whereas both PRL and GH reduced this rate up to 42.0 ± 1.3% and 46.5 ± 1.6%, respectively (P < 0.001). The nNOS inhibitor NPLA abolished (P < 0.001) the inhibitory effect of PRL on abnormal modifications of chromosomes in CEO but did not affect the frequency of these modifications in the control or GH-treated groups. In the absence of the hormones, L-NAME (the eNOS+nNOS inhibitor) decreased the rate of aging CEOs with chromosome abnormalities from 58.5 ± 1.4% to 41.2 ± 2.5% (P < 0.001), acting unidirectionally with PRL and GH. Meanwhile, L-NAME enhanced (P < 0.05) the suppressing effect of PRL on destructive changes of MII chromosomes but did not influence the similar effect of GH. At the same time the chromosome morphology in senescent DOs was unaffected by the hormones or NOS inhibitors. Furthermore, the total activity of NOS in oocytes separated of cumulus after 24 h of aging was similar in the control and experimental groups. Thus, the inhibitory effect of GH on abnormal modifications of MII chromosomes in aging bovine oocytes may be related to a reduction of the eNOS activity in cumulus cells, whereas the respective effect of PRL is likely to be achieved by both inactivation of eNOS and activation of nNOS. This research was supported by RFBR (No. 13–04–01888).


1995 ◽  
Vol 69 (11) ◽  
pp. 7001-7005 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Akarid ◽  
M Sinet ◽  
B Desforges ◽  
M A Gougerot-Pocidalo

1992 ◽  
Vol 262 (4) ◽  
pp. G695-G702 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. D. Allescher ◽  
G. Tougas ◽  
P. Vergara ◽  
S. Lu ◽  
E. E. Daniel

Antropyloroduodenal motility was recorded in seven anesthetized dogs to assess the role of nitric oxide and L-arginine metabolites in nonadrenergic noncholinergic (NANC) mediation of pyloric relaxation. Pyloric activity induced by duodenal field stimulation was inhibited by antral field stimulation and electrical vagal stimulation. Intra-arterial NG-L-arginine-methyl-ester (L-NAME) reduced the inhibition from antral or vagal stimulation (P less than 0.05). Intravenous infusion of L-NAME also blocked the inhibitory effect of vagal and antral stimulation but left the tetrodotoxin-insensitive action of intra-arterial vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and sodium nitroprusside unchanged. L-Arginine reversed the effect of L-NAME whereas D-arginine did not. L-NAME enhanced pyloric contractions to intra-arterial acetylcholine. The NANC inhibition of the substance P-stimulated pyloric response in vitro was blocked by L-NAME and reversed by addition of L-arginine. Sodium nitroprusside was effective as a relaxant in vitro but VIP was not. These data suggest that metabolites of L-arginine mediate neural inhibition of canine pyloric motor activity.


1997 ◽  
Vol 272 (1) ◽  
pp. H176-H185 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. He ◽  
B. Liu ◽  
F. E. Curry

To investigate the mechanism whereby nitric oxide (NO) signaling pathways regulate microvessel permeability in vivo, we measured changes in microvessel hydraulic conductivity (Lp) and endothelial cytoplasmic calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in response to calcium ionophore, ionomycin (5 microM), and ATP (10 microM) before and after the use of NO synthase (NOS) inhibitors in single perfused frog mesenteric venular microvessels. Ionomycin induced a transient increase in endothelial [Ca2+]i and an associated increase in Lp. The NOS inhibitors N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (10 and 300 microM) and N omega-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA; 10, 50, and 100 microM) significantly attenuated the peak increase in Lp induced by ionomycin. A similar inhibitory effect was also observed with the increase in Lp mediated by ATP. In contrast, D-NMMA, a biologically inactive isomer of L-NMMA, showed no effect on ionomycin-induced increase in Lp L-Arginine (3 mM) reversed the inhibitory effect of L-NMMA (10 microM) on Lp. However, the NOS inhibitors did not alter the magnitude and time course of the biphasic increase in endothelial [Ca2+]i induced by both ionomycin and ATP. These data suggest that 1) calcium-dependent NO release is a necessary step to increase microvessel permeability, and 2) the action of NOS inhibitors in attenuating the permeability increase in response to ionomycin and ATP occurs down-stream from calcium entry and does not involve modification of the initial increase in endothelial [Ca2+]i.


2014 ◽  
Vol 306 (11) ◽  
pp. L996-L1005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sachiko Kuriyama ◽  
Yoshiteru Morio ◽  
Michie Toba ◽  
Tetsutaro Nagaoka ◽  
Fumiyuki Takahashi ◽  
...  

Upregulation of the erythropoietin (EPO)/EPO receptor (EPOR) system plays a protective role against chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension (hypoxic PH) through enhancement of endothelial nitric oxide (NO)-mediated signaling. Genistein (Gen), a phytoestrogen, is considered to ameliorate NO-mediated signaling. We hypothesized that Gen attenuates and prevents hypoxic PH. In vivo, Sprague-Dawley rats raised in a hypobaric chamber were treated with Gen (60 mkg/kg) for 21 days. Pulmonary hemodynamics and vascular remodeling were ameliorated in Gen-treated hypoxic PH rats. Gen also restored cGMP levels and phosphorylated endothelial NO synthase (p-eNOS) at Ser1177 and p-Akt at Ser473 expression in the lungs. Additionally, Gen potentiated plasma EPO concentration and EPOR-positive endothelial cell counts. In experiments with hypoxic PH rats' isolated perfused lungs, Gen caused NO- and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt-dependent vasodilation that reversed abnormal vasoconstriction. In vitro, a combination of EPO and Gen increased the p-eNOS and the EPOR expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells under a hypoxic environment. Moreover, Gen potentiated the hypoxic increase in EPO production from human hepatoma cells. We conclude that Gen may be effective for the prevention of hypoxic PH through the improvement of PI3K/Akt-dependent, NO-mediated signaling in association with enhancement of the EPO/EPOR system.


2010 ◽  
Vol 298 (3) ◽  
pp. C665-C678 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yixin Tang ◽  
Elizabeth A. Scheef ◽  
Zafer Gurel ◽  
Christine M. Sorenson ◽  
Colin R. Jefcoate ◽  
...  

We have recently shown that deletion of constitutively expressed CYP1B1 is associated with attenuation of retinal endothelial cell (EC) capillary morphogenesis (CM) in vitro and angiogenesis in vivo. This was largely caused by increased intracellular oxidative stress and increased production of thrombospondin-2, an endogenous inhibitor of angiogenesis. Here, we demonstrate that endothelium nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression is dramatically decreased in the ECs prepared from retina, lung, heart, and aorta of CYP1B1-deficient (CYP1B1−/−) mice compared with wild-type (CYP1B1+/+) mice. The eNOS expression was also decreased in retinal vasculature of CYP1B1−/− mice. Inhibition of eNOS activity in cultured CYP1B1+/+ retinal ECs blocked CM and was concomitant with increased oxidative stress, like in CYP1B1−/− retinal ECs. In addition, expression of eNOS in CYP1B1−/− retinal ECs or their incubation with a nitric oxide (NO) donor enhanced NO levels, lowered oxidative stress, and improved cell migration and CM. Inhibition of CYP1B1 activity in the CYP1B1+/+ retinal ECs resulted in reduced NO levels and attenuation of CM. In contrast, expression of CYP1B1 increased NO levels and enhanced CM of CYP1B1−/− retinal ECs. Furthermore, attenuation of CYP1B1 expression with small interfering RNA proportionally lowered eNOS expression and NO levels in wild-type cells. Together, our results link CYP1B1 metabolism in retinal ECs with sustained eNOS activity and NO synthesis and/or bioavailability and low oxidative stress and thrombospondin-2 expression. Thus CYP1B1 and eNOS cooperate in different ways to lower oxidative stress and thereby to promote CM in vitro and angiogenesis in vivo.


2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitrios Tsikas

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA, NG, NG-dimethyl-L-arginine) is endogenously produced by asymmetric dimethylation of the guanidine group of L-arginine residues. ADMA is generally considered a powerful cardiovascular risk factor, an Übermarker, due to its inhibitory action on the activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms. In the endothelium, the constitutively expressed and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent NOS (eNOS) catalyzes the conversion of L-arginine to nitric oxide (NO). NO is one of the most potent endogenous activators of soluble guanylyl cyclase which produces the second messenger cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). There is experimental evidence from in vitro and in vivo experiments that challenges the extraordinary importance of ADMA as the culprit of NO-related cardiovascular diseases in the human circulation. Most notably, we present data showing that ADMA is a weak competitive inhibitor of recombinant endothelial NOS (eNOS) activity (Ki 3.9 μM, IC50 12 μM). Thus, at its relatively low concentrations of 0.4 to 0.5 μM in the human blood, ADMA is unlikely to inhibit NO synthesis in the endothelium to an extent sufficient enough to cause endothelium dysfunction. Furthermore, ADMA does not “uncouple” eNOS and does not diminish the bioavailability of NO through its reaction with superoxide radical anions produced by “uncoupled” eNOS. Consequently, the particular importance assigned to ADMA in the human circulation is likely to be due to other not yet recognized biological actions beyond inhibition of eNOS activity. This “ADMA paradox” remains to be solved.


2017 ◽  
Vol 95 (6) ◽  
pp. 625-633 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong-Bo Xiao ◽  
Guo-Guang Sui ◽  
Xiang-Yang Lu

Impaired endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)/nitric oxide (NO) pathway induces atherogenesis. The present study examined whether icariin improves the eNOS/NO pathway to prohibit the atherogenesis of apolipoprotein E-null (ApoE−/−) mice. In vitro, primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were randomly divided into 7 groups: control; vehicle; icariin 10; lyphosphatidylcholine (LPC) group; LPC + icariin 1; LPC + icariin 3; and LPC + icariin 10. In vivo, 80 mice were separated randomly into 4 groups (n = 20): control, ApoE−/−, ApoE−/− + icariin 10, and ApoE−/− + icariin 30. ApoE−/− mice had significantly more atherosclerosis in the aortic root together with increased aortic ROS production, body mass, plasma triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) concentration, decreased aortic eNOS expression, and plasma NO concentration. LPC (10 μg/mL) treatment induced a big decline in NO level in the conditioned medium and eNOS expression, and an increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in HUVECs. Icariin treatment decreased atherogenesis, ROS production, body mass, plasma TG concentration, and plasma TC concentration, and increased NO concentration and eNOS expression. These findings suggested icariin could improve eNOS/NO-pathway to prohibit the atherogenesis of apolipoprotein E-null mice by restraining oxidative stress.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Víteček ◽  
Antonín Lojek ◽  
Giuseppe Valacchi ◽  
Lukáš Kubala

In the past three decades, nitric oxide has been well established as an important bioactive molecule implicated in regulation of cardiovascular, nervous, and immune systems. Therefore, it is not surprising that much effort has been made to find specific inhibitors of nitric oxide synthases (NOS), the enzymes responsible for production of nitric oxide. Among the many NOS inhibitors developed to date, inhibitors based on derivatives and analogues of arginine are of special interest, as this category includes a relatively high number of compounds with good potential for experimental as well as clinical application. Though this group of inhibitors covers early nonspecific compounds, modern drug design strategies such as biochemical screening and computer-aided drug design have provided NOS-isoform-specific inhibitors. With an emphasis on major advances in this field, a comprehensive list of inhibitors based on their structural characteristics is discussed in this paper. We provide a summary of their biochemical properties as well as their observed effects bothin vitroandin vivo. Furthermore, we focus in particular on their pharmacology and use in recent clinical studies. The potential of newly designed specific NOS inhibitors developed by means of modern drug development strategies is highlighted.


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