Inducible NO synthase: role in cellular signalling

1999 ◽  
Vol 202 (6) ◽  
pp. 645-653 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.F. Beck ◽  
W. Eberhardt ◽  
S. Frank ◽  
A. Huwiler ◽  
U.K. Messmer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
No Synthase ◽  
Signalling Pathways ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
Activated Macrophages ◽  
The Past ◽  
Relaxing Factor ◽  
Endothelium Derived Relaxing Factor ◽  
Intercellular Messenger

The discovery of endothelium-derived relaxing factor and its identification as nitric oxide (NO) was one of the most exciting discoveries of biomedical research in the 1980s. Besides its potent vasodilatory effects, NO was found under certain circumstances to be responsible for the killing of microorganisms and tumour cells by activated macrophages and to act as a novel, unconventional type of neurotransmitter. In 1992, Science picked NO as the ‘Molecule of the Year’, and over the past years NO has become established as a universal intercellular messenger that acutely affects important signalling pathways and, on a more long-term scale, modulates gene expression in target cells. These actions will form the focus of the present review.

Acute compensation to abrupt occlusion of rat femoral artery is prevented by NO synthase inhibitors

1994 ◽  
Vol 267 (6) ◽  
pp. H2523-H2530 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Unthank ◽  
J. C. Nixon ◽  
M. C. Dalsing
Keyword(s):  
Femoral Artery ◽  
Arterial Occlusion ◽  
Artery Occlusion ◽  
No Synthase ◽  
Artery Blood Flow ◽  
Relaxing Factor ◽  
Femoral Artery Occlusion ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Endothelium Derived Relaxing Factor ◽  
Oxide Synthase

The hemodynamic significance of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF)-mediated mechanisms in vascular responses to abrupt rat femoral artery occlusion was investigated. Temporary arterial occlusion was produced before and after inhibition of nitric oxide synthase by N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) or NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA). Iliac artery blood flow and arterial pressures proximal and distal to the occlusion were measured. Normal vascular compensation included a return of resistance to preocclusion levels and a rise in distal pressure to a plateau within 5 min postocclusion. After treatment with L-NAME and L-NMMA, postocclusion resistance remained elevated by 53 and 36%, respectively. Collateral dilation after occlusion, as indicated by the rise in distal pressure, was prevented by L-NAME but not L-NMMA. Increases in adrenergic tone and mean arterial pressure by phenylephrine did not prevent compensation, suggesting the effects of L-NAME and L-NMMA did not result from elevated sympathetic activation or pressure. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the stimulated release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor mediates the acute vascular compensation to abrupt arterial occlusion.

scholarly journals Induction of long-term facilitation in Aplysia sensory neurons by local application of serotonin to remote synapses

1993 ◽  
Vol 90 (23) ◽  
pp. 11411-11415 ◽  
Author(s):  
G A Clark ◽  
E R Kandel
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Sensory Neurons ◽  
Cell Body ◽  
Sensory Cells ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
Synaptic Terminals ◽  
Dissociated Cell Culture ◽  
Synaptic Changes ◽  
Long Term Facilitation

Long-term synaptic facilitation at the connections of Aplysia sensory neurons onto their target cells involves alterations in gene expression. How then are the relevant cellular signals for the induction and expression of long-term synaptic changes conveyed between the nucleus and remote synaptic terminals? We have explored this question using a set of remote, peripheral terminals of siphon sensory cells, which are approximately 3 cm from the sensory cell body in the abdominal ganglion. We found that these remote synapses, like the proximal synapses previously studied in dissociated cell culture, can exhibit long-term facilitation 24 hr after cell-wide serotonin application. Furthermore, serotonin applications restricted to the remote synaptic terminals nevertheless produced long-term facilitation, indicating that signals generated in synaptic regions can trigger the long-term process, perhaps via retrograde signals to the nucleus to modify gene expression, followed by anterograde signals back to the terminal. Serotonin applications restricted to the cell body and proximal synapses of the sensory neuron also produced long-term facilitation at remote synapses, although to a lesser extent, suggesting that long-term facilitation is expressed cell-wide, but that superimposed on this cell-wide facilitation there appears to be a component that is synapse-specific.

Effects of NG-substituted arginines on coronary vascular function after endotoxin

1993 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 424-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Winn ◽  
B. Vallet ◽  
N. K. Asante ◽  
S. E. Curtis ◽  
S. M. Cain
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Vascular Function ◽  
Endotoxic Shock ◽  
No Synthase ◽  
Relaxing Factor ◽  
Nos Inhibitors ◽  
Nos Inhibitor ◽  
Endothelium Derived Relaxing Factor ◽  
Constrictor Response

We investigated the responses of canine coronary rings to endothelium-derived relaxing factor-nitric oxide- (EDRF-NO) dependent agonists and NO synthase (NOS) inhibitors 3 h after endotoxic shock was induced in dogs by lipopolysaccharide infusion (LPS; 2 mg/kg). EDRF-NO-dependent relaxation to thrombin [control maximum response produced after administration of thrombin (Emax) was -85.2 +/- 7.0% of the constrictor response produced by the thromboxane analogue U-46619], acetylcholine (control Emax -88.4 +/- 3.4%), or bradykinin (control Emax -80.5 +/- 2.2%) was not inhibited by LPS (Emax thrombin -75.9 +/- 9.5%; Emax acetylcholine -90.2 +/- 2.4%; Emax bradykinin -91.6 +/- 3.4%). The NOS inhibitor NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) (10(-6)-3 x 10(-4) M) caused constriction of rings with endothelium (Emax 36.3 +/- 5.6%), an effect that was greater after LPS (Emax 59.2 +/- 4.1%; P < 0.05). D-NMMA had no effect in control, but it increased tension after LPS (Emax 20.8 +/- 9.7%). Contrary to expectations, L- and D-NMMA relaxed endothelium-denuded rings (-30.4 +/- 8.7% L-NMMA; -45.1 +/- 11.7% D-NMMA; P < 0.05). However, neither agent caused relaxation after in vivo LPS (10.2 +/- 3.4% L-NMMA; 8.9 +/- 5.2% D-NMMA). N omega-nitro-L-arginine-methylester (L-NAME) and nitro-L-arginine (10(-6)-3 x 10(-4) M) increased tension (Emax 82.3 +/- 23.9 and 73.1 +/- 8.8%, respectively) but only when endothelium was present, and the increases were no greater in LPS-treated groups than in controls (with LPS: Emax L-NAME 87.3 +/- 16.5%; Emax nitro-L-arginine 65.7 +/- 3.3%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Endothelium-derived contracting and relaxing factors contribute to hypoxic responses of pulmonary arteries

1993 ◽  
Vol 265 (4) ◽  
pp. H1139-H1148 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. Kovitz ◽  
T. D. Aleskowitch ◽  
J. T. Sylvester ◽  
N. A. Flavahan
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Pulmonary Arteries ◽  
Initial Response ◽  
Isometric Tension ◽  
No Synthase ◽  
Moderate Hypoxia ◽  
Relaxing Factor ◽  
Endothelium Derived Relaxing Factor ◽  
Increased Activity ◽  
Endothelium Dependent Relaxation

The response of porcine pulmonary arteries to hypoxia depended on their location in the vasculature and the degree and duration of the hypoxic challenge. In rings of pulmonary artery suspended for isometric tension recording (37 degrees C, 16% O2 and 5% CO2), moderate hypoxia (10% and 4% O2) caused endothelium-dependent relaxation in distal arteries but transient endothelium-dependent contraction in proximal arteries. In both proximal and distal arteries, the initial response to anoxia (0% O2) was a transient endothelium-dependent contraction. This was followed by a slowly developing, sustained endothelium-dependent contraction in proximal arteries, or by an endothelium-independent relaxation in distal arteries. The endothelium-dependent relaxation to moderate hypoxia in distal arteries was inhibited only by combined inhibition of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF)-nitric oxide (NO) synthase [N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)] and cyclooxygenase (indomethacin), suggesting mediation by EDRF-NO and prostacyclin. Transient endothelium-dependent contractions to moderate hypoxia (proximal arteries) or anoxia (all arteries) were abolished by L-NAME, but the late endothelium-dependent anoxic contraction observed in proximal arteries was not reduced by L-NAME and/or indomethacin. Therefore, hypoxia/anoxia may initiate contraction of pulmonary arteries by decreasing the activity of EDRF-NO, but the contractions appear to be maintained by an increased activity of an endothelium-derived contracting factor.

Role of nitric oxide (EDRF) in radiocontrast acute renal failure in rats

1994 ◽  
Vol 267 (3) ◽  
pp. F374-F379 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Schwartz ◽  
M. Blum ◽  
G. Peer ◽  
Y. Wollman ◽  
A. Maree ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Renal Failure ◽  
Acute Renal Failure ◽  
Therapeutic Approach ◽  
No Synthase ◽  
Relaxing Factor ◽  
Endothelium Derived Relaxing Factor ◽  
Synthase Inhibitor ◽  
Novel Therapeutic

This study was undertaken to examine the possible role of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF), identified as nitric oxide (NO), in the pathogenesis of radiocontrast-induced acute renal failure in rats. Normal and salt-depleted rats were monitored for 60 min or 24 h after radiocontrast administration. The administration of L-arginine to normal rats abolished the immediate decrease in p-aminohippurate clearance (CPAH) and attenuated the decrease in inulin clearance (CIn). The administration of NO synthase inhibitor to the salt-depleted animals resulted in a significantly more pronounced decrease in CPAH compared with both the control and the L-arginine-treated animals. The recovery of CIn 24 h after radiocontrast administration to the salt-depleted rats was significantly better in the L-arginine-treated rats than in either the control or inhibitor-treated groups. The administration of radiocontrast material resulted in a significant decrease in urinary guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate as well as NO2 + NO3 excretion. This decrease was significantly attenuated by L-arginine. Our results 1) suggest that NO plays a major role in the pathogenesis of radiocontrast-induced acute renal failure and 2) suggest a novel therapeutic approach, i.e., the use of L-arginine in this form of acute renal failure.

Impaired EDRF production by endothelial cells exposed to fibrin monomer and FDP

1995 ◽  
Vol 268 (2) ◽  
pp. C520-C526 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Freedman ◽  
A. Fabian ◽  
J. Loscalzo
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Degradation Products ◽  
Vascular Dysfunction ◽  
No Synthase ◽  
Northern Analysis ◽  
Aortic Endothelial Cells ◽  
Relaxing Factor ◽  
Bovine Aortic Endothelial Cells ◽  
Fibrin Monomer ◽  
Endothelium Derived Relaxing Factor

Fibrin and fibrinogen and their proteolytic degradation products, found within the atheroma, may contribute to vascular dysfunction. We monitored the production of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) by bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC) after exposure to fibrinogen, fibrin monomer (FM), and fibrin and fibrinogen degradation products (FDP). Cells incubated with FM and FDP, compared with cells incubated with fibrinogen, were less able to inhibit platelet aggregation, and this effect correlated with a concentration-dependent decrease in EDRF production: BAEC incubated with FM or FDP, but not fibrinogen, produced significantly less nitric oxide (NO), as determined using a photolysis-chemiluminescence system. Northern analysis of BAEC incubated with fibrinogen, FM, or FDP and probed for constitutive bovine endothelial NO synthase mRNA demonstrated decreased expression in cells exposed to FDP or FM. These data show that FM and FDP reduce EDRF produced by BAEC and attenuate constitutive NO synthase expression. These effects may represent a mechanism by which thrombotic determinants adversely affect endothelial function and thereby potentially impair vasomotor responses and contribute to atherothrombogenesis.

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