scholarly journals eNOS uncoupling and endothelial dysfunction in aged vessels

2009 ◽  
Vol 297 (5) ◽  
pp. H1829-H1836 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang-Ming Yang ◽  
An Huang ◽  
Gabor Kaley ◽  
Dong Sun

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) uncoupling is a mechanism that leads to endothelial dysfunction. Previously, we reported that shear stress-induced release of nitric oxide in vessels of aged rats was significantly reduced and was accompanied by increased production of superoxide ( 18 , 27 ). In the present study, we investigated the influence of aging on eNOS uncoupling. Mesenteric arteries were isolated from young (3 mo) and aged (24 mo) C57 BL/6J mice. The expression of eNOS protein in young vs. aged mice was not significantly different. However, the aged mice had remarkable increases in the ratio of eNOS monomers to dimers and Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester-inhibitable superoxide formation. The level of nitrotyrosine in the total protein and precipitated eNOS of aged vessels was increased compared with that in young vessels. HPLC analysis indicated a reduced level of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), an essential cofactor for eNOS, in the mesenteric arteries of aged mice. Quantitative PCR results implied that the diminished BH4 may result from the decreased expressions of GTP cyclohydrolase I and sepiapterin reductase, enzymes involved in BH4 biosynthesis. When isolated and cannulated second-order mesenteric arteries (∼150 μm) from aged mice were treated with sepiapterin, acetylcholine-induced, endothelium-dependent vasodilation improved significantly, which was accompanied by stabilization of the eNOS dimer. These data suggest that eNOS uncoupling and increased nitrosylation of eNOS, decreased expressions of GTP cyclohydrolase I and sepiapterin reductase, and subsequent reduced BH4 bioavailability may be important contributors of endothelial dysfunction in aged vessels.

2012 ◽  
Vol 302 (5) ◽  
pp. E481-E495 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rinrada Kietadisorn ◽  
Rio P. Juni ◽  
An L. Moens

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) serves as a critical enzyme in maintaining vascular pressure by producing nitric oxide (NO); hence, it has a crucial role in the regulation of endothelial function. The bioavailability of eNOS-derived NO is crucial for this function and might be affected at multiple levels. Uncoupling of eNOS, with subsequently less NO and more superoxide generation, is one of the major underlying causes of endothelial dysfunction found in atherosclerosis, diabetes, hypertension, cigarette smoking, hyperhomocysteinemia, and ischemia/reperfusion injury. Therefore, modulating eNOS uncoupling by stabilizing eNOS activity, enhancing its substrate, cofactors, and transcription, and reversing uncoupled eNOS are attractive therapeutic approaches to improve endothelial function. This review provides an extensive overview of the important role of eNOS uncoupling in the pathogenesis of endothelial dysfunction and the potential therapeutic interventions to modulate eNOS for tackling endothelial dysfunction.


2012 ◽  
Vol 302 (6) ◽  
pp. R674-R681 ◽  
Author(s):  
An Huang ◽  
Yang-Ming Yang ◽  
Attila Feher ◽  
Zsolt Bagi ◽  
Gabor Kaley ◽  
...  

To test the deterioration of endothelial function during the progression of diabetes, shear stress-induced dilation (SSID; 10, 20, and 40 dyn/cm2) was determined in isolated mesenteric arteries (80–120 μm in diameter) of 6-wk (6W), 3-mo (3M), and 9-mo (9M)-old male db/db mice and their wild-type (WT) controls. Nitric oxide (NO)-mediated SSID was comparable in 6W WT and db/db mice, but the dilation was significantly reduced in 3M db/db mice and declined further in 9M db/db mice. Vascular superoxide production was progressively increased in 3M and 9M db/db mice, associated with an increased expression of NADPH oxidase. Inhibition of NADPH oxidase significantly improved NO-mediated SSID in arteries of 3M, but not in 9M, db/db mice. Although endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression was comparable in all groups, a progressive reduction in shear stress-induced eNOS phosphorylation existed in vessels of 3M and 9M db/db mice. Moreover, inducible NOS (iNOS) that was not detected in WT, nor in 6W and 3M db/db mice, was expressed in vessels of 9M db/db mice. A significantly increased expression of nitrotyrosine in total protein and immunoprecipitated eNOS was also found in vessels of 9M db/db mice. Thus, impaired NO bioavailability plays an essential role in the endothelial dysfunction of diabetic mice, which becomes aggravated when endothelial nitrosative stress is further activated via perhaps, an additional iNOS-mediated pathway during the progression of diabetes.


2011 ◽  
Vol 301 (6) ◽  
pp. H2227-H2234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Livius V. d'Uscio ◽  
Leslie A. Smith ◽  
Zvonimir S. Katusic

In the present study, we used the hph-1 mouse, which displays GTP-cyclohydrolase I (GTPCH I) deficiency, to test the hypothesis that loss of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) in conduit and small arteries activates compensatory mechanisms designed to protect vascular wall from oxidative stress induced by uncoupling of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). Both GTPCH I activity and BH4 levels were reduced in the aortas and small mesenteric arteries of hph-1 mice. However, the BH4-to-7,8-dihydrobiopterin ratio was significantly reduced only in hph-1 aortas. Furthermore, superoxide anion and 3-nitrotyrosine production were significantly enhanced in aortas but not in small mesenteric arteries of hph-1 mice. In contrast to the aorta, protein expression of copper- and zinc-containing superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) was significantly increased in small mesenteric arteries of hph-1 mice. Protein expression of catalase was increased in both aortas and small mesenteric arteries of hph-1 mice. Further analysis of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signaling demonstrated that protein expression of phosphorylated Ser1177-eNOS as well as basal cGMP levels and hydrogen peroxide was increased in hph-1 aortas. Increased production of hydrogen peroxide in hph-1 mice aortas appears to be the most likely mechanism responsible for phosphorylation of eNOS and elevation of cGMP. In contrast, upregulation of CuZnSOD and catalase in resistance arteries is sufficient to protect vascular tissue from increased production of reactive oxygen species generated by uncoupling of eNOS. The results of our study suggest that anatomical origin determines the ability of vessel wall to cope with oxidative stress induced by uncoupling of eNOS.


Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 978 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geum-Hwa Lee ◽  
The-Hiep Hoang ◽  
Eun-Soo Jung ◽  
Su-Jin Jung ◽  
Soo-Wan Chae ◽  
...  

Dyslipidemia is associated with endothelial dysfunction, which is linked to nitric oxide (NO) biology. The coupling of endothelial NO synthase with cofactors is a major step for NO release. This study is aimed to investigate the vascular pharmacology effects of mulberry in rat thoracic aorta and human vascular endothelial cells. In vitro, we investigated the protective effects of the mulberry extract and its main component cyanidin-3-rutinoside (C-3-R), against oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) uncoupling. Whereas ox-LDL significantly decreased NO levels in endothelial cells, mulberry extract, and C-3-R significantly recovered NO levels and phospho-eNOS Thr495 and Ser1177 expression. In vivo, mulberry was administered to 60% of high-fat diet (w/w)-fed Sprague Dawley (SD) rats for six weeks, in which endothelium-dependent relaxations were significantly improved in organ bath studies and isometric tension recordings. Consistently, aortic expressions of phospho-eNOS and nitrotyrosine were increased. Mulberry also raised serum NO levels, increased phosphorylation of eNOS, and reduced nitrotyrosine and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in aortas, showing that mulberry preserves endothelium-dependent relaxation in aortas from high-fat diet rats. We suggest that this effect is mediated through enhanced NO bioavailability, in which the regulation of ROS and its reduced eNOS uncoupling are involved.


2016 ◽  
Vol 310 (1) ◽  
pp. H39-H48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masashi Mukohda ◽  
Madeliene Stump ◽  
Pimonrat Ketsawatsomkron ◽  
Chunyan Hu ◽  
Frederick W. Quelle ◽  
...  

Loss of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ function in the vascular endothelium enhances atherosclerosis and NF-κB target gene expression in high-fat diet-fed apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. The mechanisms by which endothelial PPAR-γ regulates inflammatory responses and protects against atherosclerosis remain unclear. To assess functional interactions between PPAR-γ and inflammation, we used a model of IL-1β-induced aortic dysfunction in transgenic mice with endothelium-specific overexpression of either wild-type (E-WT) or dominant negative PPAR-γ (E-V290M). IL-1β dose dependently decreased IκB-α, increased phospho-p65, and increased luciferase activity in the aorta of NF-κB-LUC transgenic mice. IL-1β also dose dependently reduced endothelial-dependent relaxation by ACh. The loss of ACh responsiveness was partially improved by pretreatment of the vessels with the PPAR-γ agonist rosiglitazone or in E-WT. Conversely, IL-1β-induced endothelial dysfunction was worsened in the aorta from E-V290M mice. Although IL-1β increased the expression of NF-κB target genes, NF-κB p65 inhibitor did not alleviate endothelial dysfunction induced by IL-1β. Tempol, a SOD mimetic, partially restored ACh responsiveness in the IL-1β-treated aorta. Notably, tempol only modestly improved protection in the E-WT aorta but had an increased protective effect in the E-V290M aorta compared with the aorta from nontransgenic mice, suggesting that PPAR-γ-mediated protection involves antioxidant effects. IL-1β increased ROS and decreased the phospho-endothelial nitric oxide synthase (Ser1177)-to-endothelial nitric oxide synthase ratio in the nontransgenic aorta. These effects were completely abolished in the aorta with endothelial overexpression of WT PPAR-γ but were worsened in the aorta with E-V290M even in the absence of IL-1β. We conclude that PPAR-γ protects against IL-1β-mediated endothelial dysfunction through a reduction of oxidative stress responses but not by blunting IL-1β-mediated NF-κB activity.


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