scholarly journals Nitric oxide loading of the salivary nitric-oxide-carrying hemoproteins (nitrophorins) in the blood-sucking bug Rhodnius prolixus.

1995 ◽  
Vol 198 (5) ◽  
pp. 1093-1098
Author(s):  
R H Nussenzveig ◽  
D L Bentley ◽  
J M Ribeiro

The salivary glands of the blood-sucking bug Rhodnius prolixus are formed by a single layer of binucleated epithelial cells surrounded by a double layer of transversely oriented smooth muscle cells. The epithelial cells are rich in rough endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria and have abundant microvillar projections towards the gland lumen. This cell layer surrounds a relatively large cavity where abundant secretory material is stored. Epithelial cells produce an intense and generalized NADPH diaphorase reaction, in contrast to other tissues such as brain, Malpighian tubules and skeletal muscle. Ultrastructural analysis of the osmiophilic reaction product indicates that it is localized within cytoplasmic vacuoles, a similar location to that of NADPH diaphorase (NO synthetase) activity in neuronal cells of vertebrates. Measurements of the time course of protein accumulation, NADPH diaphorase activity and the degree of nitrosylation of hemoproteins (nitrophorins) in the salivary glands of Rhodnius prolixus nymphs after a blood meal indicate that the nitrophorins are synthesized and accumulate when NO production is low (with a 25% loading of the nitrophorins during the fourth- to fifth-instar molt). NO loading of the nitrophorins increases to 90% after the molt, concomitant with a large increase in the salivary NADPH diaphorase activity. It is concluded that synthesis of NO occurs within the epithelial cells while the nitrophorins are stored extracellularly. It is hypothesized that the luminally oriented microvilli may serve as a diffusion bridge to direct intracellularly produced NO into the luminal cavity, where the nitrophorins are stored.

1995 ◽  
Vol 308 (1) ◽  
pp. 243-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
J M C Ribeiro ◽  
M Schneider ◽  
J A Guimarães

The salivary anticoagulant of the blood-sucking bug Rhodnius prolixus was purified to homogeneity using a protocol consisting of weak cation-exchange, DEAE, hydrophobic-interaction and octadecyl reverse-phase chromatography, yielding a protein with the same N-terminal sequence as nitrophorin 2, one of the four NO haem protein carriers present in the salivary glands of Rhodnius with a molecular mass of 19689 Da [D. Champagne, R.H. Nussenzveig and J.M.C. Ribeiro, (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, in the press]. To exclude the possibility of the nitrophorin being a contaminant, another chromatographic protocol was performed, consisting of chromatofocusing followed by strong-cation-exchange chromatography. Again the anticoagulant was eluted with nitrophorin 2. Nitrophorin 2 inhibits coagulation Factor VIII-mediated activation of Factor X and accounts for all the anti-clotting activity observed in Rhodnius salivary glands.


2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (1) ◽  
pp. L212-L221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shilpa Vyas-Read ◽  
Philip W. Shaul ◽  
Ivan S. Yuhanna ◽  
Brigham C. Willis

Patients with interstitial lung diseases, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), suffer from lung fibrosis secondary to myofibroblast-mediated excessive ECM deposition and destruction of lung architecture. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of alveolar epithelial cells (AEC) to myofibroblasts both in vitro and in vivo. Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) attenuates ECM accumulation, enhances lung growth, and decreases alveolar myofibroblast number in experimental models. We therefore hypothesized that NO attenuates TGF-β1-induced EMT in cultured AEC. Studies of the capacity for endogenous NO production in AEC revealed that endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) are expressed and active in AEC. Total NOS activity was 1.3 pmol·mg protein−1·min−1 with 67% derived from eNOS. TGF-β1 (50 pM) suppressed eNOS expression by more than 60% and activity by 83% but did not affect iNOS expression or activity. Inhibition of endogenous NOS with l-NAME led to spontaneous EMT, manifested by increased α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression and a fibroblast-like morphology. Provision of exogenous NO to TGF-β1-treated AEC decreased stress fiber-associated α-SMA expression and decreased collagen I expression by 80%. NO-treated AEC also retained an epithelial morphology and expressed increased lamellar protein, E-cadherin, and pro-surfactant protein B compared with those treated with TGF-β alone. These findings indicate that NO serves a critical role in preserving an epithelial phenotype and in attenuating EMT in AEC. NO-mediated regulation of AEC fate may have important implications in the pathophysiology and treatment of diseases such as IPF and BPD.


1997 ◽  
Vol 273 (5) ◽  
pp. G1160-G1167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward N. Janoff ◽  
Hiroshi Hayakawa ◽  
David N. Taylor ◽  
Claudine E. Fasching ◽  
Julie R. Kenner ◽  
...  

Vibrio cholerae induces massive intestinal fluid secretion that continues for the life of the stimulated epithelial cells. Enhanced regional blood flow and peristalsis are required to adapt to this obligatory intestinal secretory challenge. Nitric oxide (NO) is a multifunctional molecule that modulates blood flow and peristalsis and possesses both cytotoxic and antibacterial activity. We demonstrate that, compared with those in asymptomatic control subjects, levels of stable NO metabolites ([Formula: see text]/[Formula: see text]) are significantly increased in sera from acutely ill Peruvian patients with natural cholera infection as well as from symptomatic volunteers from the United States infected experimentally with V. cholerae. In a rabbit ileal loop model in vivo, cholera toxin (CT) elicited fluid secretion and dose-dependent increases in levels of[Formula: see text]/[Formula: see text]in the fluid ( P < 0.01). In contrast, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) elicited no such effects when applied to the intact mucosa. NO synthase (NOS) catalytic activity also increased in toxin-exposed tissues ( P< 0.05), predominantly in epithelial cells. The CT-induced NOS activity was Ca2+dependent and was not suppressed by dexamethasone. In conclusion, symptomatic V. cholerae infection induces NO production in humans. In the related animal model, CT, but not LPS, stimulated significant production of NO in association with increases in local Ca2+-dependent NOS activity in the tissues.


2005 ◽  
Vol 289 (3) ◽  
pp. C717-C726 ◽  
Author(s):  
My N. Helms ◽  
Ling Yu ◽  
Bela Malik ◽  
Dean J. Kleinhenz ◽  
C. Michael Hart ◽  
...  

Several studies have shown that nitric oxide (NO) inhibits Na+ transport in renal and alveolar monolayers. However, the mechanisms by which NO alters epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) activity is unclear. Therefore, we examined the effect of applying the NO donor drug l-propanamine 3,2-hydroxy-2-nitroso-1-propylhidrazino (PAPA-NONOate) to cultured renal epithelial cells. A6 and M1 cells were maintained on permeable supports in medium containing 1.5 μM dexamethasone and 10% bovine serum. After 1.5 μM PAPA-NONOate was applied, amiloride-sensitive short-circuit current measurements decreased 29% in A6 cells and 44% in M1 cells. This differed significantly from the 3% and 19% decreases in A6 and M1 cells, respectively, treated with control donor compound ( P < 0.0005). Subsequent application of PAPA-NONOate to amiloride-treated control (no NONOate) A6 and M1 cells did not further decrease transepithelial current. In single-channel patch-clamp studies, NONOate significantly decreased ENaC open probability ( Po) from 0.186 ± 0.043 to 0.045 ± 0.009 ( n = 7; P < 0.05) without changing the unitary current. We also showed that aldosterone significantly decreased NO production in primary cultures of alveolar type II (ATII) epithelial cells. Because inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) coimmunoprecipitated with the serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase (SGK1) and both proteins colocalized in the cytoplasm (as shown in our studies in mouse ATII cells), SGK1 may also be important in regulating NO production in the alveolar epithelium. Our study also identified iNOS as a novel SGK1 phosphorylated protein (at S733 and S903 residues in miNOS) suggesting that one way in which SGK1 could increase Na+ transport is by altering iNOS production of NO.


1997 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 789 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Wiszniewska ◽  
Rafal Kurzawa ◽  
Andrzej Ciechanowicz ◽  
Boguslaw Machalinski

The expression of mRNA for inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in rat epithelial cells of epididymis was investigated with reverse transcription followed by polymerase chain reaction. Immunocytochemical reaction for iNOS was performed to confirm the enzyme’ s localization in the epididymal epithelium. Additionally, an indirect spectrophotometric method for nitric oxide (NO) determination was applied for measurement of nitrite production by cultured epididymal epithelial cells. Inducible NOS mRNA was detected in freshly isolated epithelial cells, in cultured cells without stimulation as well as in cultured cells after stimulation by lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma. Inducible NOS immunoreactivity was observed in the apical part of epithelial cells of epididymal sections and in the cytoplasm of cells in culture. Release of nitrite was observedin vitro in both the unstimulated and stimulated cells of caput (1·44 ± 0·94 v. 4·37 ± 2·42 µM) and cauda (0·69 ± 1·21 v. 5·21 ± 2·76 µM) epididymis (P < 0·001). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate iNOS in the epididymal epithelial cells of the rat. Nitric oxide released by epididymal epithelial cells may act on cells and tissues located nearby. The results may help explain epididymal function: sperm storage, passage and maturation. Excessive epididymal NO production may also play a role in the inflammatory infertility of the male. Extra keyword: iNOS


1997 ◽  
Vol 273 (3) ◽  
pp. L581-L587 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Ali ◽  
W. J. Metzger ◽  
H. A. Olanrewaju ◽  
S. J. Mustafa

In this study, we investigated the relaxant effect of adenosine receptor agonists on KCl-precontracted airway smooth muscle from rabbits and characterized the type of receptor involved in bronchorelaxation in the presence and absence of epithelium. We further defined the role of epithelium-derived relaxing factor, i.e., nitric oxide (NO), on these responses. In both epithelium-intact and -denuded tertiary airway rings from rabbits, the adenosine receptor agonists 2-[p-(2-carboxyethyl)]phenylethylamino-5-N'-ethylcarboxamidoadenos ine (CGS-21680), 5'-(N-ethyl-carboxamido)adenosine (NECA), 2-chloroadenosine (CAD), and (-)-N6-(2-phenylisopropyl)adenosine (R-PIA) relaxed airway smooth muscle with a potency order of CGS-21680 > NECA > CAD > R-PIA. A 98.5, 89.7, 73.2, and 64.7% relaxation was observed at 10(-5) M by CGS-21680, NECA, CAD, and R-PIA in the epithelium-intact bronchial rings, respectively. The 50% maximum effective concentration (EC50; x 10(-7) M) values for CGS-21680, NECA, CAD, and R-PIA were 2, 4, 9, and 80, respectively. Denuded rings, however, showed much less relaxant responses to various adenosine agonists compared with epithelium-intact rings. The adenosine receptor antagonist 8-(sulfophenyl)theophylline significantly attenuated the relaxant responses to all the agonists in the epithelium-intact and -denuded rings. The epithelium-dependent relaxant effect of the agonists in airway rings was inhibited by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA; 30 microM). The EC50 (x 10(-6) M) values for CGS-21680, NECA, CAD, and R-PIA in the presence of inhibitor were 5.5, 8, 30, and 200, respectively. The L-NMMA produced an insignificant inhibitory effect in the epithelium-denuded rings. L-Arginine but not D-arginine (100 microM) reversed the inhibitory effect of L-NMMA on adenosine agonist-induced relaxation. In primary epithelial cells in culture, CGS-21680 (10(-5) M) induced a fourfold increase in NO production over the control. The CGS-21680-induced NO production in epithelial cells was significantly inhibited by NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). Moreover, L-arginine reversed the inhibitory effect of L-NAME in the epithelial cells. The data suggest that adenosine relaxes rabbit airway smooth muscle through an A2 adenosine receptor and the epithelium serves as a source of NO.


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