Single oral inoculation with Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) stimulates generalised production of nitric oxide in mice

2009 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Nemec ◽  
Zlatko Pavlica ◽  
David Crossley ◽  
Irena Zdovc ◽  
Damijan Eržen ◽  
...  

Nitric oxide (NO) production was investigated in the lungs, thoracic aorta, heart, liver, spleen, kidneys and brain of mice inoculated orally withEscherichia coliATCC 25922. Detection of NO was performed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) using diethyldithiocarbamate (DETC) spin trap. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors [nonselective: L-NAME and inducible NOS (iNOS) selective: 1400W] were used to determine the source of NO. Spin-trap only and untreated mice were included as controls. Within 2.5 hours (h) of a single oral inoculation withE. colihalf of the animals had increased NO levels in all investigated organs. Thereafter the signals dropped before increasing again to reach maximal median values by 25 h in all organs of all inoculated mice. The most intense response occurred in livers, followed by aorta and lungs. Early (2.5 h) inhibition of the signal was achieved using both NOS inhibitors. L-NAME was also effective at 25 h, while 1400W-treated mice had increased NO levels beyond 7 h. The generalised increase in NO production in the short and longer term indicates a host response toE. coliadministered by the oral route of infection.

2002 ◽  
Vol 282 (4) ◽  
pp. C762-C767 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatsuya Takizawa ◽  
Hiroshi Yoshikawa ◽  
Miho Yamada ◽  
Hidetoshi Morita

Nitric oxide (NO) production in the rat placenta was monitored and quantified by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy with hemoglobin and an Fe- N-(dithiocarboxy)sarcosine (DTCS) complex as NO-trapping reagents. Expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms was also examined by quantitative RT-PCR analysis. The EPR spectrum of the placenta with hemoglobin trapping showed a three-line hyperfine structure ( g = 2.008 and a = 1.66-mT). The EPR signal was diminished after the placenta was homogenized or the NOS inhibitor l-NAME was administered to pregnant rats. Therefore, the specific signal was definitely identified as being derived from endogenous NO spin-trapped by hemoglobin, and the EPR spectrum showed that the NO adduct existed as a pentacoordinate α-NO heme species. The EPR spectrum of the placenta with Fe-DTCS trapping showed a triplet signal ( g = 2.038) derived from an NO-Fe-DTCS complex. The height of the triplet signal did not vary significantly with gestational stage during the last few days of gestation. At the gestational stages examined, the level of NOS II mRNA expression was significantly higher than that of NOS III mRNA. NOS II expression in term ( day 21.5) placenta was significantly increased compared with that in preterm ( day 19.5) placenta ( P < 0.01, n = 4 or 5). These results suggest that NOS II is the predominant producer of NO in the placenta and that NOS II-generated NO plays significant roles in the maintenance of placental functions immediately before birth.


2008 ◽  
Vol 295 (1) ◽  
pp. L96-L103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viktor Brovkovych ◽  
Xiao-Pei Gao ◽  
Evan Ong ◽  
Svitlana Brovkovych ◽  
Marie-Luise Brennan ◽  
...  

The myeloperoxidase (MPO)-hydrogen peroxide-halide system is an efficient oxygen-dependent antimicrobial component of polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN)-mediated host defense. However, MPO deficiency results in few clinical consequences indicating the activation of compensatory mechanisms. Here, we determined possible mechanisms protecting the host using MPO−/−mice challenged with live gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli. We observed that MPO−/−mice unexpectedly had improved survival compared with wild-type (WT) mice within 5–12 h after intraperitoneal E. coli challenge. Lungs of MPO−/−mice also demonstrated lower bacterial colonization and markedly attenuated increases in microvascular permeability and edema formation after E. coli challenge compared with WT. However, PMN sequestration in lungs of both groups was similar. Basal inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression was significantly elevated in lungs and PMNs of MPO−/−mice, and NO production was increased two- to sixfold compared with WT. Nitrotyrosine levels doubled in lungs of WT mice within 1 h after E. coli challenge but did not change in MPO−/−mice. Inhibition of iNOS in MPO−/−mice significantly increased lung edema and reduced their survival after E. coli challenge, but iNOS inhibitor had the opposite effect in WT mice. Thus augmented iNOS expression and NO production in MPO−/−mice compensate for the lack of HOCl-mediated bacterial killing, and the absence of MPO-derived oxidants mitigates E. coli sepsis-induced lung inflammation and injury.


2004 ◽  
Vol 72 (5) ◽  
pp. 2907-2914 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Fang ◽  
Bogdan J. Nowicki ◽  
Petri Urvil ◽  
Pawel Goluszko ◽  
Stella Nowicki ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT We previously reported that inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) increases the rate of bacteremia and maternal mortality in pregnant rats with uterine infection by Escherichia coli expressing the Dr fimbria (Dr+). Epithelial binding and invasion by Dr+ E. coli has also been shown to be dependent upon the expression level of the cellular receptor decay-accelerating factor (DAF; CD55). Here, we hypothesize that NO-related severity of infection could be mediated by changes in DAF expression and in the rate of epithelial invasion. The cellular basis of NO effects on epithelial invasion with Dr+ E. coli was studied using Ishikawa endometrial carcinoma cells as an in vitro model of the human endometrial epithelium. Initially, we show that Ishikawa cells produce NO and express both NO synthase enzymes, NOS II and NOS III, and DAF protein. We next tested the abilities of both Dr+ E. coli and a Dr− E. coli mutant to invade Ishikawa cells, and invasion was seen only with Dr+ E. coli. Invasion by Dr+ E. coli was decreased by elevated NO production and increased by NO inhibition. Elevated NO production significantly decreased DAF protein and mRNA expression in Ishikawa cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Here, we propose that in vitro invasion of an epithelial cell line is directly related to NO-regulated expression of DAF. The significance of NO-regulated receptor-ligand invasion is that it may represent a novel unrecognized phenomenon of epithelial defense against infection.


2001 ◽  
Vol 280 (6) ◽  
pp. H2863-H2867 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie French ◽  
Cecilia Giulivi ◽  
R. S. Balaban

The capacity of isolated porcine heart mitochondria to produce nitric oxide (NO) via mitochondrial NO synthase (NOS) was evaluated. The mitochondrial NOS content and activity (0.2 nmol NO · mg mitochondrial protein−1 · min−1) were ∼10 times lower than previously reported for the rat liver. No evidence for mitochondrial NOS-generated NO was found in mitochondrial suspensions based on the lack of NO production and the lack of effect of eitherl-arginine or NOS inhibitors on the rate of respiration. The reason that even the low mitochondrial NOS activity did not result in net NO production and metabolic effects is because the mitochondrial metabolic breakdown of NO (1–4 nmol NO · mg mitochondrial protein−1 · min−1) was greater than the maximum rate of NO production measured in homogenates. These data suggest that NO production at the mitochondria via NOS is not a significant source of NO in the intact heart and does not regulate cardiac oxidative phosphorylation.


1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. 665-669 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Ross Tracey ◽  
Masaki Nakane ◽  
Fatima Basha ◽  
George Carter

Selective type II (inducible) nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors have several potential therapeutic applications, including treatment of sepsis, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases. The ability of two novel, selective inhibitors of type II NOS, S-ethylisothiourea (EIT) and 2-amino-5,6-dihydro-6-methyl-4H-1,3-thiazine (AMT), to inhibit type II NOS function in vivo was studied in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treated rats. Type II NOS activity was assessed by measuring changes in plasma nitrite and nitrate concentrations ([NOx]). Both EIT and AMT elicited a dose-dependent and >95% inhibition of the LPS-induced increase in plasma [NOx]. The ED50 values for EIT and AMT were 0.4 and 0.2 mg/kg, respectively. In addition, the administration of LPS and either NOS inhibitor resulted in a dose-dependent increase in animal mortality; neither compound was lethal when administered alone. Pretreatment with L-arginine (but not D-arginine) prevented the mortality, while not affecting the type II NOS-dependent NO production, suggesting the toxicity may be due to inhibition of one of the other NOS isoforms (endothelial or neuronal). Thus, although EIT and AMT are potent inhibitors of type II NOS function in vivo, type II NOS inhibitors of even greater selectivity may need to be developed for therapeutic applications.Key words: nitric oxide, nitrite, nitrate, sepsis, lipopolysaccharide.


2008 ◽  
Vol 295 (6) ◽  
pp. H2503-H2511 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. S. A. Capettini ◽  
S. F. Cortes ◽  
M. A. Gomes ◽  
G. A. B. Silva ◽  
J. L. Pesquero ◽  
...  

Endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in large vessels is mainly attributed to Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME)-sensitive endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS)-derived NO production. Endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) is the component of endothelium-dependent relaxations that resists full blockade of NO synthases (NOS) and cyclooxygenases. H2O2 has been proposed as an EDHF in resistance vessels. In this work we propose that in mice aorta neuronal (n)NOS-derived H2O2 accounts for a large proportion of endothelium-dependent ACh-induced relaxation. In mice aorta rings, ACh-induced relaxation was inhibited by l-NAME and Nω-nitro-l-arginine (l-NNA), two nonselective inhibitors of NOS, and attenuated by selective inhibition of nNOS with l-ArgNO2-L-Dbu-NH2 2TFA (L-ArgNO2-L-Dbu) and 1-(2-trifluoromethylphehyl)imidazole (TRIM). The relaxation induced by ACh was associated with enhanced H2O2 production in endothelial cells that was prevented by the addition of l-NAME, l-NNA, L-ArgNO2-L-Dbu, TRIM, and removal of the endothelium. The addition of catalase, an enzyme that degrades H2O2, reduced ACh-dependent relaxation and abolished ACh-induced H2O2 production. RT-PCR experiments showed the presence of mRNA for eNOS and nNOS but not inducible NOS in mice aorta. The constitutive expression of nNOS was confirmed by Western blot analysis in endothelium-containing vessels but not in endothelium-denuded vessels. Immunohistochemistry data confirmed the localization of nNOS in the vascular endothelium. Antisense knockdown of nNOS decreased both ACh-dependent relaxation and ACh-induced H2O2 production. Antisense knockdown of eNOS decreased ACh-induced relaxation but not H2O2 production. Residual relaxation in eNOS knockdown mouse aorta was further inhibited by the selective inhibition of nNOS with L-ArgNO2-L-Dbu. In conclusion, these results show that nNOS is constitutively expressed in the endothelium of mouse aorta and that nNOS-derived H2O2 is a major endothelium-dependent relaxing factor. Hence, in the mouse aorta, the effects of nonselective NOS inhibitors cannot be solely ascribed to NO release and action without considering the coparticipation of H2O2 in mediating vasodilatation.


2003 ◽  
Vol 284 (5) ◽  
pp. L834-L843 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Vaughan ◽  
Thomas V. Brogan ◽  
Mark E. Kerr ◽  
Steven Deem ◽  
Daniel L. Luchtel ◽  
...  

We investigated the source(s) for exhaled nitric oxide (NO) in isolated, perfused rabbits lungs by using isozyme-specific nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors and antibodies. Each inhibitor was studied under normoxia and hypoxia. Only nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME, a nonselective NOS inhibitor) reduced exhaled NO and increased hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV), in contrast to 1400W, an inhibitor of inducible NOS (iNOS), and 7-nitroindazole, an inhibitor of neuronal NOS (nNOS). Acetylcholine-mediated stimulation of vascular endothelial NOS (eNOS) increased exhaled NO and could only be inhibited by l-NAME. Selective inhibition of airway and alveolar epithelial NO production by nebulized l-NAME decreased exhaled NO and increased hypoxic pulmonary artery pressure. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated extensive staining for eNOS in the epithelia, vasculature, and lymphatic tissue. There was no staining for iNOS but moderate staining for nNOS in the ciliated cells of the epithelia, lymphoid tissue, and cartilage cells. Our findings show virtually all exhaled NO in the rabbit lung is produced by eNOS, which is present throughout the airways, alveoli, and vessels. Both vascular and epithelial-derived NO modulate HPV.


2007 ◽  
Vol 292 (6) ◽  
pp. L1480-L1487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akihito Sasaki ◽  
Shouzaburoh Doi ◽  
Shuki Mizutani ◽  
Hiroshi Azuma

Nitric oxide (NO) has been suggested to play a key role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension (PH). To determine which mechanism exists to affect NO production, we examined the concentration of endogenous nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors and their catabolizing enzyme dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH) activity and protein expression (DDAH1 and DDAH2) in pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs) of rats given monocrotaline (MCT). We also measured NOS and arginase activities and NOS protein expression. Twenty-four days after MCT administration, PH and right ventricle (RV) hypertrophy were established. Endothelium-dependent, but not endothelium-independent, relaxation and cGMP production were significantly impaired in pulmonary artery specimens of MCT group. The constitutive NOS activity and protein expression in PAECs were significantly reduced in MCT group, whereas the arginase, which shares l-arginine as a common substrate with NOS, activity was significantly enhanced in PAECs of MCT group. The contents of monomethylarginine (MMA) and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), but not symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), were increased in PAECs of MCT group. The DDAH activity and DDAH1, but not DDAH2, protein expression were significantly reduced in PAECs of MCT group. These results suggest that the impairment of cGMP production as a marker of NO production is possibly due to the blunted endothelial NOS activity resulting from the downregulation of endothelial NOS protein, accumulation of endogenous NOS inhibitors, and accelerated arginase activity in PAECs of PH rats. The decreased overall DDAH activity accompanied by the downregulation of DDAH1 would bring about the accumulation of endogenous NOS inhibitors.


2012 ◽  
Vol 80 (11) ◽  
pp. 3939-3951 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroyasu Tsutsuki ◽  
Kinnosuke Yahiro ◽  
Kotaro Suzuki ◽  
Akira Suto ◽  
Kohei Ogura ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTSubtilase cytotoxin (SubAB), which is produced by certain strains of Shiga-toxigenicEscherichia coli(STEC), cleaves an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperone, BiP/Grp78, leading to induction of ER stress and caspase-dependent apoptosis. SubAB alters the innate immune response. SubAB pretreatment of macrophages inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of both monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). We investigated here the mechanism by which SubAB inhibits nitric oxide (NO) production by mouse macrophages. SubAB suppressed LPS-induced NO production through inhibition of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) mRNA and protein expression. Further, SubAB inhibited LPS-induced IκB-α phosphorylation and nuclear localization of the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65/p50 heterodimer. Reporter gene and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays revealed that SubAB reduced LPS-induced NF-κB p65/p50 heterodimer binding to an NF-κB binding site on the iNOS promoter. In contrast to the native toxin, a catalytically inactivated SubAB mutant slightly enhanced LPS-induced iNOS expression and binding of NF-κB subunits to the iNOS promoter. The SubAB effect on LPS-induced iNOS expression was significantly reduced in macrophages from NF-κB1 (p50)-deficient mice, which lacked a DNA-binding subunit of the p65/p50 heterodimer, suggesting that p50 was involved in SubAB-mediated inhibition of iNOS expression. Treatment of macrophages with an NOS inhibitor or expression of SubAB byE. coliincreasedE. colisurvival in macrophages, suggesting that NO generated by macrophages resulted in efficient killing of the bacteria and SubAB contributed toE. colisurvival in macrophages. Thus, we hypothesize that SubAB might represent a novel bacterial strategy to circumvent host defense during STEC infection.


Reproduction ◽  
2002 ◽  
pp. 663-669 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Hurwitz ◽  
Z Finci-Yeheskel ◽  
A Milwidsky ◽  
M Mayer

This study explores interactions between the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and the cyclooxygenase (COX) pathways in the regulation of progesterone production in early corpus luteum cells of rats. Nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E (PGE) and progesterone production was analysed in luteal cells of the rat corpus luteum exposed to inhibitors of non-specific NOS, inhibitors of inducible NOS (iNOS) and inhibitors of COX. Equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG)/hCG-primed rat corpus luteum cells produced NO, PGE and progesterone in a linear manner during 66 h of culture. Exposure of the cells to the non-specific NOS inhibitor, N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine (0.15 mmol l(-1)) for 48 h reduced NO, PGE and progesterone production to 21, 32 and 60% of that of the controls, respectively (P < 0.05 to P < 0.01). Another non-specific NOS inhibitor, N(omega)-methyl-L-arginine, produced similar inhibitions. Exposure of the cultured cells to S-ethylisothiourea (1 mmol l(-1)), a selective inhibitor of iNOS, suppressed the production of NO by 63%, PGE by 69% and progesterone by 48%. These findings indicate that production of PGE is regulated partly by iNOS, and that progesterone is probably regulated indirectly by the secondary changes in PGE. The addition of arachidonic acid to N(omega)-methyl-L-arginine-treated cells resulted in a significant increase in PGE and progesterone production (273 and 186%, respectively) without stimulating NO production. In contrast to the regulation exerted by the NO system on COX activity, the COX system does not modulate NO production in this model. This notion stems from the observation that the COX inhibitors acetylsalicylic acid (5 mmol l(-1)) and indomethacin (5 micromol l(-1)) suppressed PGE by 86 and 89%, respectively, and progesterone by 34 and 57%, respectively, but failed to inhibit NO production. The results from the present study indicate that iNOS-mediated NO production is involved in stimulating PGE synthesis in rat luteal cells, which may upregulate progesterone production.


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