scholarly journals Active and inactive pools of nNOS in the nerve terminals in mouse gut: implications for nitrergic neurotransmission

2008 ◽  
Vol 294 (3) ◽  
pp. G627-G634 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Manjula Rao ◽  
Arun Chaudhury ◽  
Raj K. Goyal

Nitric oxide (NO) is responsible for nitrergic neurotransmission in the gut, and its release is dependent on its de novo synthesis by neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). The magnitude of NO synthesis and release during neurotransmission may be related to the fraction of catalytically active nNOS out of a larger pool of inactive nNOS in the nerve terminals. The purpose of the present study was to identify catalytically active and inactive pools of nNOS in the varicosities from mouse gut. Enteric varicosities were confirmed as nitrergic by colocalization of nNOS with the nerve varicosity marker synaptophysin. Low-temperature SDS-PAGE of these varicosity extracts showed 320-, 250-, and 155-kDa bands when blotted with anti-nNOS1422–1433 and 320- and 155-kDa bands when blotted with anti-nNOS1–20 antibodies, respectively. The 320- and 155-kDa bands represent dimers and monomers of nNOSα; the 250- and 135-kDa bands represent dimers and monomers of nNOSβ. Immunoprecipitation with calmodulin (CaM) showed that a portion of nNOSα dimer was bound with CaM. On the other hand, a portion of nNOSα dimer, nNOSβ dimer, and all monomers lacked CaM binding. The CaM-lacking nNOS fractions reacted with anti-serine 847-phospho-nNOS. In vitro assays of NO production revealed that only the CaM-bound dimeric nNOSα was catalytically active; all other forms were inactive. We suggest that the amount of catalytically active nNOSα dimers may be regulated by serine 847 phosphorylation and equilibrium between dimers and monomers of nNOSα.

2008 ◽  
Vol 295 (3) ◽  
pp. G442-G451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arun Chaudhury ◽  
Y. Manjula Rao ◽  
Raj K. Goyal

This investigation demonstrates the presence and binding of the protein LC8 (described as “protein inhibitor of nNOS” or PIN in some reports) to different components of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in nitrergic varicosities of mice gut. Whole varicosity extracts showed three (320-, 250-, and 155-kDa) nNOS bands with anti-nNOS1422–1433 antibody and a 10-kDa band with anti-LC8 antibody. The LC8 immunoprecipitate (IP) showed three nNOS bands, suggesting that LC8 was bound with all three forms of nNOS but dissociated from them during SDS-PAGE. Studies using LC8 IP and supernatant and probed with anti-CaM showed that LC8 was not associated with CaM-bound 320-kDa nNOS but was present in the CaM-lacking fraction. Probing these fractions with anti-serine847-P-nNOS showed that 320-kDa serine847-phosphorylated-nNOS consisted of LC8-bound and LC8-lacking components. Subsequent studies with varicosity membrane and cytosolic fractions separately showed that membrane contained CaM-bound and CaM-lacking, serine847-phosphorylated 320-kDa nNOS; both these fractions lacked LC8. On the other hand, the cytosolic fraction contained CaM-lacking, serine847-phosphorylated 320-kDa, 250-kDa, and 155-kDa nNOS bands that were all associated with LC8. These studies, along with in vitro nitric oxide assays, show that in gut nitrergic nerve varicosities 1) all cytosolic serine847-phosphorylated nNOS was catalytically inactive and bound with LC8, and 2) membrane-associated nNOS consisted of catalytically active, CaM-bound and catalytically inactive, CaM-lacking, serine847-phosphorylated nNOSα dimers, both of which lacked LC8. These results suggest that LC8 may dissociate from the 320-kDa nNOSα dimer upon binding to membrane, thus supporting the view that LC8 may transport nNOSα dimer to the varicosity membrane for participation in nitrergic neurotransmission.


2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (No. 8) ◽  
pp. 359-366
Author(s):  
J. Li ◽  
B. Shi ◽  
S. Yan ◽  
L. Jin ◽  
Y. Guo ◽  
...  

The effects of chitosan on nitric oxide (NO) production and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity and gene expression in vivo or vitro were investigated in weaned piglets. In vivo, 180 weaned piglets were assigned to five dietary treatments with six replicates. The piglets were fed on a basal diet supplemented with 0 (control), 100, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg chitosan/kg feed, respectively. In vitro, the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from a weaned piglet were cultured respectively with 0 (control), 40, 80, 160, and 320 µg chitosan/ml medium. Results showed that serum NO concentrations on days 14 and 28 and iNOS activity on day 28 were quadratically improved with increasing chitosan dose (P < 0.05). The iNOS mRNA expressions were linearly or quadratically enhanced in the duodenum on day 28, and were improved quadratically in the jejunum on days 14 and 28 and in the ileum on day 28 (P < 0.01). In vitro, the NO concentrations, iNOS activity, and mRNA expression in unstimulated PBMCs were quadratically enhanced by chitosan, but the improvement of NO concentrations and iNOS activity by chitosan were markedly inhibited by N-(3-[aminomethyl] benzyl) acetamidine (1400w) (P < 0.05). Moreover, the increase of NO concentrations, iNOS activity, and mRNA expression in PBMCs induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were suppressed significantly by chitosan (P < 0.05). The results indicated that the NO concentrations, iNOS activity, and mRNA expression in piglets were increased by feeding chitosan in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, chitosan improved the NO production in unstimulated PBMCs but inhibited its production in LPS-induced cells, which exerted bidirectional regulatory effects on the NO production via modulated iNOS activity and mRNA expression.


1997 ◽  
Vol 322 (2) ◽  
pp. 477-481 ◽  
Author(s):  
John S. HOTHERSALL ◽  
Fernando Q. CUNHA ◽  
Guy H. NEILD ◽  
Alberto A. NOROHNA-DUTRA

Under pathological conditions, the induction of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in macrophages is responsible for NO production to a cytotoxic concentration. We have investigated changes to, and the role of, intracellular glutathione in NO production by the activated murine macrophage cell line J774. Total glutathione concentrations (reduced, GSH, plus the disulphide, GSSG) were decreased to 45% of the control 48 h after cells were activated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide plus interferon γ. This was accompanied by a decrease in the GSH/GSSG ratio from 12:1 to 2:1. The intracellular decrease was not accounted for by either GSH or GSSG efflux; on the contrary, rapid export of glutathione in control cells was abrogated during activation. The loss of intra- and extracellular glutathione indicates either a decrease in synthesis de novo, or an increase in utilization, rather than competition for available NADPH. All changes in activated cells were prevented by pretreatment with the NOS inhibitor l-N-(1-iminoethyl)ornithine. Basal glutathione levels in J774 cells were manipulated by pretreatment with (1) buthionine sulphoximine (glutathione synthase inhibitor), (2) acivicin (γ-glutamyltranspeptidase inhibitor), (3) bromo-octane (glutathione S-transferase substrate) and (4) diamide/zinc (thiol oxidant and glutathione reductase inhibitor). All treatments significantly decreased the output of NO following activation. The degree of inhibition was dependent on (i) duration of treatment prior to activation, (ii) rate of depletion or subsequent recovery and (iii) thiol end product. The level of GSH did not significantly affect the production of NO, after induction of NOS. Thus, glutathione redox status appears to plays an important role in NOS induction during macrophage activation.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Tzu Chang ◽  
Chia-Ling Chen ◽  
Chiou-Feng Lin ◽  
Shiou-Ling Lu ◽  
Miao-Huei Cheng ◽  
...  

Group A streptococcus (GAS) imposes a great burden on humans. Efforts to minimize the associated morbidity and mortality represent a critical issue. Glycogen synthase kinase-3β(GSK-3β) is known to regulate inflammatory response in infectious diseases. However, the regulation of GSK-3βin GAS infection is still unknown. The present study investigates the interaction between GSK-3β, NF-κB, and possible related inflammatory mediators in vitro and in a mouse model. The results revealed that GAS could activate NF-κB, followed by an increased expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and NO production in a murine macrophage cell line. Activation of GSK-3βoccurred after GAS infection, and inhibition of GSK-3βreduced iNOS expression and NO production. Furthermore, GSK-3βinhibitors reduced NF-κB activation and subsequent TNF-αproduction, which indicates that GSK-3βacts upstream of NF-κB in GAS-infected macrophages. Similar to the in vitro findings, administration of GSK-3βinhibitor in an air pouch GAS infection mouse model significantly reduced the level of serum TNF-αand improved the survival rate. The inhibition of GSK-3βto moderate the inflammatory effect might be an alternative therapeutic strategy against GAS infection.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroshi Ishida ◽  
Radharaman Ray ◽  
Jack Amnuaysirikul ◽  
Keiko Ishida ◽  
Prabhati Ray

Sulfur mustard (SM) is a chemical warfare agent that causes extensive skin injury. Previously we reported that SM exposure resulted in suppression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression to inhibit the healing of scratch wounds in a cultured normal human epidermal keratinocyte (NHEK) model. Based on this finding, the present study was to use adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of iNOS to restore the nitric oxide (NO) supply depleted by exposure to SM and to evaluate the effect of NO on wound healing inhibited by SM in NHEKs. The effect of the iNOS gene transfer on iNOS protein expression and NO generation were monitored by Western blot and flow cytometry, respectively. Wound healing with or without the iNOS gene transfer after SM exposure was assessed by light and confocal microscopy. The iNOS gene transfer via adenovirus resulted in overexpression of the iNOS and an increase in NO production regardless of SM exposure in the NHEK model. The gene transfer was also effective in overcoming the inhibition of wound healing due to SM exposure leading to the promotion of wound closure. The findings in this study suggest that the iNOS gene transfer is a promising therapeutic strategy for SM-induced skin injury.


2005 ◽  
Vol 386 (3) ◽  
pp. 567-574 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunying LI ◽  
Wei HUANG ◽  
M. Brennan HARRIS ◽  
Jonathan M. GOOLSBY ◽  
Richard C. VENEMA

eNOS (endothelial nitric oxide synthase) catalyses the conversion of L-arginine into L-citrulline and NO. Evidence has been presented previously that eNOS is associated with the CAT (cationic amino acid transporter)-1 arginine transporter in endothelial caveolae, and it has been proposed that eNOS–CAT-1 association facilitates the delivery of extracellular L-arginine to eNOS. Definitive proof of a protein–protein interaction between eNOS and CAT-1 is lacking, however, and it is also unknown whether the two proteins interact directly or via an adaptor protein. In the present study, we raised a polyclonal antibody against CAT-1, and show using reciprocal co-immunoprecipitation protocols that eNOS and CAT-1 do indeed form a complex in BAECs (bovine aortic endothelial cells). In vitro binding assays with GST (glutathione S-transferase)–CAT-1 fusion proteins and eNOS show that the two proteins interact directly and that no single CAT-1 intracellular domain is sufficient to mediate the interaction. Overexpression of CAT-1 in BAECs by adenoviral-mediated gene transfer results in significant increases in both L-arginine uptake and NO production by the cells. However, whereas increased L-arginine transport is reversed completely by the CAT-1 inhibitor, L-lysine, increased NO release is unaltered, suggesting that NO production in this in vitro model is independent of CAT-1-mediated transport. Furthermore, eNOS enzymic activity is increased in lysates of CAT-1-overexpressing cells accompanied by increased phosphorylation of eNOS at Ser-1179 and Ser-635, and decreased association of eNOS with caveolin-1. Taken together, these data suggest that direct interaction of eNOS with CAT-1 enhances NO release by a mechanism not involving arginine transport.


1996 ◽  
Vol 184 (2) ◽  
pp. 557-567 ◽  
Author(s):  
N M Anstey ◽  
J B Weinberg ◽  
M Y Hassanali ◽  
E D Mwaikambo ◽  
D Manyenga ◽  
...  

Nitric oxide (NO)-related activity has been shown to be protective against Plasmodium falciparum in vitro. It has been hypothesized, however, that excess NO production contributes to the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria. The purpose of this study was to compare markers of NO production [urinary and plasma nitrate + nitrite (NOx)], leukocyte-inducible nitric oxide synthase type 2 (NOS2), and plasma TNF-alpha and IL-10 levels with disease severity in 191 Tanzanian children with and without malaria. Urine NOx excretion and plasma NOx levels (corrected for renal impairment) were inversely related to disease severity, with levels highest in subclinical infection and lowest in fatal cerebral malaria. Results could not be explained by differences in dietary nitrate ingestion among the groups. Plasma levels of IL-10, a cytokine known to suppress NO synthesis, increased with disease severity. Leukocyte NOS2 antigen was detectable in all control children tested and in all those with subclinical infection, but was undetectable in all but one subject with cerebral malaria. This suppression of NO synthesis in cerebral malaria may contribute to pathogenesis. In contrast, high fasting NOx levels and leukocyte NOS2 in healthy controls and asymptomatic infection suggest that increased NO synthesis might protect against clinical disease. NO appears to have a protective rather than pathological role in African children with malaria.


2001 ◽  
Vol 280 (5) ◽  
pp. C1242-C1254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ragnar Henningsson ◽  
Per Alm ◽  
Ingmar Lundquist

We investigated, by a combined in vivo and in vitro approach, the temporal changes of islet nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-derived nitric oxide (NO) and heme oxygenase (HO)-derived carbon monoxide (CO) production in relation to insulin and glucagon secretion during acute endotoxemia induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mice. Basal plasma glucagon, islet cAMP and cGMP content after in vitro incubation, the insulin response to glucose in vivo and in vitro, and the insulin and glucagon responses to the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin were greatly increased after LPS. Immunoblots demonstrated expression of inducible NOS (iNOS), inducible HO (HO-1), and an increased expression of constitutive HO (HO-2) in islet tissue. Immunocytochemistry revealed a marked expression of iNOS in many β-cells, but only in single α-cells after LPS. Moreover, biochemical analysis showed a time dependent and markedly increased production of NO and CO in these islets. Addition of a NOS inhibitor to such islets evoked a marked potentiation of glucose-stimulated insulin release. Finally, after incubation in vitro, a marked suppression of NO production by both exogenous CO and glucagon was observed in control islets. This effect occurred independently of a concomitant inhibition of guanylyl cyclase. We suggest that the impairing effect of increased production of islet NO on insulin secretion during acute endotoxemia is antagonized by increased activities of the islet cAMP and HO-CO systems, constituting important compensatory mechanisms against the noxious and diabetogenic actions of NO in endocrine pancreas.


2002 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 679-684 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Canthaboo ◽  
D. Xing ◽  
X. Q. Wei ◽  
M. J. Corbel

ABSTRACT The mechanism whereby whole-cell pertussis vaccines (WCV) confer protection against Bordetella pertussis is still not fully understood. We have previously reported that macrophage activation produced by vaccination with WCV is associated with induction of NO synthesis by macrophages in response to in vitro stimulation with B. pertussis antigens. To determine whether NO production is an effector of protection or simply a marker of activation, the susceptibility of inducible nitric oxide synthase (type II, iNOS) knockout mice to infection with B. pertussis was examined. We showed that iNOS knockout mice were more susceptible to B. pertussis respiratory challenge than wild-type mice. iNOS-deficient mice also developed a less effective protective response than wild-type mice after the same immunization with WCV. This suggests that NO plays an important role in effecting protection against B. pertussis challenge.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 2093
Author(s):  
Sara Miguel-Jiménez ◽  
Melissa Carvajal-Serna ◽  
Silvia Calvo ◽  
Adriana Casao ◽  
José Álvaro Cebrián-Pérez ◽  
...  

Nitric oxide (NO·), synthesized from L-arginine by nitric oxide synthase (NOS), is involved in sperm functionality. NOS isoforms have been detected in spermatozoa from different species, and an increment in NOS activity during capacitation has been reported. This work aims to determine the presence and localization of NOS isoforms in ram spermatozoa and analyse their possible changes during in vitro capacitation. Likewise, we investigated the effect of melatonin on the expression and localization of NOS and NO· levels in capacitated ram spermatozoa. Western blot analysis revealed protein bands associated with neuronal NOS (nNOS) and epithelial NOS (eNOS) but not with inducible NOS (iNOS). However, the three isoforms were detected by indirect immunofluorescence (IFI), and their immunotypes varied over in vitro capacitation with cAMP-elevating agents. NO· levels (evaluated by DAF-2-DA/PI staining) increased after in vitro capacitation, and the presence of L-arginine in the capacitating medium raised NO· production and enhanced the acrosome reaction. Incubation in capacitating conditions with a high-cAMP medium with melatonin modified the NOS distribution evaluated by IFI, but no differences in Western blotting were observed. Melatonin did not alter NO· levels in capacitating conditions, so we could infer that its role in ram sperm capacitation would not be mediated through NO· metabolism.


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