Effects of Diabetes on Salivary Gland Protein Expression of Tetrahydrobiopterin and Nitric Oxide Synthesis and Function

The initial inactivation of prostaglandins (PGs) is mediated by 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH). PGs are potent mediators of several biological processes, including inflammation and reproduction. In uterus, PGs play a key role in infection-induced pregnancy loss, in which concentration of this mediator increased. This process is accompanied with the induction of nitric oxide synthase expression and a marked increase in uterine levels of nitric oxide. There is no information concerning nitric oxide contribution to potential changes in PG catabolism, but experimental evidence suggests that nitric oxide modulates PG pathways. The specific objectives of the study were to evaluate the protein expression of HPGD (15-PGDH) and to characterize the nitric oxide-dependent regulation of this enzyme in a model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced embryonic resorption. Results show that LPS decreased HPGD protein expression and augmented PGE synthase activity; therefore, PGE2 levels increased in uterus in this inflammatory condition. Just as LPS, the treatment with a nitric oxide donor diminished HPGD protein expression in uterine tissue. In contrast, the inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis both in control and in LPS-treated mice increased 15-PGDH levels. Also, we have found that this enzyme and PGE2 levels are not modulated by peroxynitrite, an oxidant agent derived from nitric oxide. This study suggests that LPS and nitric oxide promote a decrease in the ability of the uterus for PG catabolism during bacterially triggered pregnancy loss in mice.

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HMG-CoA reductase inhibition improves anti-aging klotho protein expression and arteriosclerosis in rats with chronic inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis

International Journal of Cardiology ◽

10.1016/j.ijcard.2007.02.029 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 123 (2) ◽

pp. 84-90 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Noriko Kuwahara ◽

Susumu Sasaki ◽

Miyuki Kobara ◽

Tetsuo Nakata ◽

Tetsuya Tatsumi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nitric Oxide ◽

Protein Expression ◽

Nitric Oxide Synthesis ◽

Hmg Coa Reductase ◽

Klotho Protein ◽

Coa Reductase

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Lipids: potential regulators of nitric oxide generation

AJP Endocrinology and Metabolism ◽

10.1152/ajpendo.00106.2004 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 287 (3) ◽

pp. E386-E389 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Gentle Chikani ◽

Weifei Zhu ◽

Eric J. Smart

Keyword(s):

Nitric Oxide ◽

Functional Role ◽

Biologically Active ◽

Nitric Oxide Synthesis ◽

Growth And Remodeling ◽

Protein Carriers ◽

Pathological Conditions ◽

Vessel Growth ◽

And Function ◽

Active Substances

The endothelium is a dynamic organ that secretes several biologically active substances and plays a major functional role in the health of an organism in both physiological and pathological conditions. For instance, the endothelium is involved in control of the exchange of plasma and tissue biomolecules, regulation of vessel tone, inflammation, lipid metabolism, vessel growth and remodeling, and modulation of coagulation and fibrinolysis ( 6 , 12 , 15 ). The endothelium generates nitric oxide, which is a key regulator of vasodilation and plays important roles in preventing, or in some cases promoting, numerous cardiovascular diseases ( 41 ). Several recent studies have examined the interplay between lipids and nitric oxide generation, especially in relation to atherosclerosis ( 14 , 29 , 34 , 36 , 40 ). The endothelium is continuously exposed to circulating lipids in the form of lipoproteins and protein carriers that may have a direct impact on nitric oxide synthesis and function. The purpose of this review is to illustrate some of the recent findings that link lipids (plasma and cellular) to nitric oxide generation (see Fig. 1 ).

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Successful interrupted feeding of adult Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (Ixodidae) is accompanied by re-programming of salivary gland protein expression

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182099004540 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 119 (2) ◽

pp. 143-149 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

H. WANG ◽

P. J. HENBEST ◽

P. A. NUTTALL

Keyword(s):

Salivary Gland ◽

Protein Expression ◽

Protein Profile ◽

Rhipicephalus Appendiculatus ◽

Pathogen Transmission ◽

Ixodid Ticks ◽

Egg Mass ◽

New Host ◽

Body Weights ◽

Salivary Gland Protein

Ixodid female ticks take one comparatively large bloodmeal which they convert to a single large egg mass and then they die. To examine the outcome of interrupted feeding, equal numbers of male and female Rhipicephalus appendiculatus adult ticks were fed on guinea pigs (host 1) for either 2, 4, or 6 days, or to engorgement (8 days). All of the fully engorged (D8) females laid a single large egg mass (80–160 mg/tick), while 85% of the day 6-fed (D6) female ticks (n=20) each laid a small egg mass (6·1 mg/tick). None of the females that had fed for 2 or 4 days oviposited. Ninety percent (n=20) of the day 2-fed (D2) females survived for 4 weeks after their feeding was interrupted, whereas 65% (n=20) of the day 4-fed (D4) females survived. All of the surviving partially fed female ticks (D2 and D4) attached to a second guinea pig (host 2) and attained engorged body weights that were not significantly different from those of the control females (P<0·05). Female ticks that engorged following interrupted feeding layed egg masses comparable to the controls, indicating that engorgement on host 2 was successful. The salivary gland protein profile of female ticks changed constantly during feeding. However, when feeding was interrupted, the protein expression pattern switched back to that of the non-parasitic state, presumably to enable the partially fed ticks to survive and reattach on the new host. This observation indicates that female ixodid ticks have a natural ability to survive and re-establish successful feeding on a new host if the first attempt at feeding is unsuccessful. Such an interrupted feeding mechanism supports the hypothesis that partially engorged ticks may play a role in tick-borne pathogen transmission.

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