核因子κB在精氨酸血管升压素诱导大鼠心肌成纤维细胞一氧化氮合成中的作用

本文探讨了精氨酸血管升压素(AVP)刺激下体外培养的大鼠心肌成纤维细胞(CFs)内一氧化氮(NO)含量、一氧化氮合酶(NOS)活性、诱导型一氧化氮合酶基因表达的变化及其与核因子κB(NF-κB)的关系。用胰酶消化法分离培养Sprague Dawley仔鼠的CFs,分别采用硝酸还原酶法、分光光度法、逆转录-聚合酶链式反应(RT-PCR)、免疫荧光-共聚焦显微镜和蛋白质印迹检测AVP干预下CFs的NO含量、NOS活性、iNOS mRNA表达和NF-κB的活化。结果显示,AVP浓度依赖性(0．001—0．1μmol／L)地增加CFs的NO含量,提高NOS活性,增加iNOS mRNA表达;AVP能够活化NF—κB,使其由细胞浆转位于细胞核;NF-κB特异性抑制剂吡咯啉烷二甲基硫脲(PDTC)能够抑制AVP诱导的CFs NO含量增加、NOS活性提高和iNOS mRNA表达增加。上述结果提示,AVP干预下CFs iNOS mRNA表达增加、NOS活性增高、NO合成增多可能通过NF-κB激活途径,NF-κB激活参与心肌纤维化的发生和发展。     

解脲脲原体脂质相关膜蛋白通过激活核因子κB调控诱导性一氧化氮合酶在小鼠巨噬细胞中的表达

为探讨解脲脲原体(Uu)的脂质相关膜蛋白(LAMPs)诱导小鼠巨噬细胞表达诱导性一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)的分子机制,从解脲脲原体提取的脂质相关膜蛋白,刺激小鼠巨噬细胞,以RT_PCR、Western blot等方法分析iNOS的表达及NO的产生;用细胞免疫化学、间接免疫荧光及Western blot等方法检测核因子κB(NF_κB)的激活,另外检测了NF_κB的特异性抑制剂二硫代氨基甲酸吡咯烷(PDTC)和蛋白酶抑制剂放线菌酮(CHX)对iNOS的表达及NF_κB激活的影响。结果表明,解脲脲原体的LAMPs通过激活NF_κB诱导小鼠巨噬细胞表达iNOS的mRNA和蛋白,且能以时间和剂量依赖方式刺激小鼠巨噬细胞产生NO,NF_κB的抑制剂PDTC或蛋白酶抑制剂放线菌酮(CHX),可抑制NF_κB的激活及iNOS的表达。由于解脲脲原体的脂质相关膜蛋白通过激活NF_κB诱导小鼠巨噬细胞表达iNOS和产生NO,因而可能是一个重要的致病因素。     

Insulin-like growth factor-II, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, nuclear factor-kappaB and inducible nitric-oxide synthase define a common myogenic signaling pathway.

Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are potent inducers of skeletal muscle differentiation and phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase activity is essential for this process. Here we show that IGF-II induces nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and nitric-oxide synthase (NOS) activities downstream from PI 3-kinase and that these events are critical for myogenesis. Differentiation of rat L6E9 myoblasts with IGF-II transiently induced NF-kappaB DNA binding activity, inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, and nitric oxide (NO) production. IGF-II-induced iNOS expression and NO production were blocked by NF-kappaB inhibition. Both NF-kappaB and NOS activities were essential for IGF-II-induced terminal differentiation (myotube formation and expression of skeletal muscle proteins: myosin heavy chain, GLUT 4, and caveolin 3), which was totally blocked by NF-kappaB or NOS inhibitors in rat and human myoblasts. Moreover, the NOS substrate L-Arg induced myogenesis in the absence of IGFs in both rat and human myoblasts, and this effect was blocked by NOS inhibition. Regarding the mechanisms involved in IGF-II activation of NF-kappaB, PI 3-kinase inhibition prevented NF-kappaB activation, iNOS expression, and NO production. Moreover, IGF-II induced, through a PI 3-kinase-dependent pathway, a decrease in IkappaB-alpha protein content that correlated with a decrease in the amount of IkappaB-alpha associated with p65 NF-kappaB.     

Diphenyleneiodonium inhibits NF-kappaB activation and iNOS expression induced by IL-1beta: involvement of reactive oxygen species

AIMS: In this work, we studied the mechanisms by which diphenyleneiodonium chloride (DPI) inhibits nitric oxide (NO) synthesis induced by the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1beta (IL-1) in bovine articular chondrocytes. To achieve this, we evaluated the ability of DPI to inhibit the expression and activity of the inducible isoform of the NO synthase (iNOS) induced by IL-1. We also studied the ability of DPI to prevent IL-1-induced NF-kappaB activation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. RESULTS: Northern and Western blot analysis, respectively, showed that DPI dose-dependently inhibited IL-1-induced iNOS mRNA and protein synthesis in primary cultures of bovine articular chondrocytes. DPI effectively inhibited NO production (IC50=0.03+/-0.004 microM), as evaluated by the method of Griess. Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation, as evaluated by electrophoretic mobility shift assay, was inhibited by DPI (1-10 microM) in a dose-dependent manner. IL-1-induced ROS production, as evaluated by measurement of dichlorofluorescein fluorescence, was inhibited by DPI at concentrations that also prevented NF-kappaB activation and iNOS expression. CONCLUSIONS: DPI inhibits IL-1-induced NO production in chondrocytes by two distinct mechanisms: (i) by inhibiting NOS activity, and (ii) by preventing iNOS expression through the blockade of NF-kappaB activation. These results also support the involvement of reactive oxygen species in IL-1-induced NF-kappaB activation and expression of NF-kappaB-dependent genes, such as iNOS.     

生殖支原体脂质相关膜蛋白激活核因子κB诱导人单核细胞表达前炎症细胞因子及凋亡

为了解生殖支原体(Mg)潜在的致病性及其脂质相关膜蛋白(LAMPs)诱导人单核细胞(THP-1)凋亡及表达前炎症细胞因子(CKs)的分子机制,用Mg提取的LAMPs刺激THP-1细胞,以ELISA法和RT-PCR方法分析CKs产生和其mRNA的表达。不同试实验组的细胞经AnnexinV联合PI染色后通过流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡。采用EMSA方法检测LAMPs处理的THP-1细胞中核转录因子kappaB(NF-κB)的激活,并分析NF-κB抑制剂二硫代氨基甲酸吡咯烷(pyrrolidine dithiocoarbamate,PDTC)对LAMPs处理的THP-1细胞产生CKs的量和其mRNA表达及细胞凋亡的影响。LAMPs能以时间和剂量依赖方式刺激THP-1细胞产生TNF-α、IL-1β和IL-6,且能激活NF-κB诱导THP-1细胞表达CKs的mRNA及发生凋亡,PDTC能显著抑制CKs的mRNA表达水平和细胞凋亡。由于LAMPs能激活NF-κB诱导THP-1细胞表达CKs及产生细胞凋亡,因而可能是一个重要的致病因素。     

Differential effects of cyclic AMP on induction of nitric oxide synthase in 3T3-L1 cells and brown adipocytes

The aim of this study was to determine whether cyclic AMP (cAMP) pathways alter the nitric oxide (NO) production mediated by inducible NO synthase (iNOS) in adipocytes. The treatment of 3T3-L1 cells, a model of white adipocytes, with the combination of lipopolysaccharide (L), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (T), and interferon-gamma (I) synergistically induced iNOS, leading to the production of NO. Enhancers of intracellular cAMP (dibutyryl cAMP, forskolin, and IBMX) inhibited the NO production elicited by LTI, whereas H89, a specific inhibitor of PKA, stimulated the NO production in 3T3-L1 cells. In rat brown adipocyte cell line, the combined treatment with LT synergistically elicited the NO production, and the cAMP analogues further enhanced it. Forskolin inhibited the NO production in 3T3-L1 cells, but enhanced it in brown adipocytes, in a dose-dependent manner. The changes in NO production paralleled the change in iNOS mRNA and protein level in both cell types. The activation of NF-kappaB by LTI/LT was blocked in 3T3-L1 cells, but enhanced in brown adipocytes, by the co-treatment with cAMP analogues. The protein level of 1-kappaBalpha, a NF-kappaB stabilizer, changed reciprocally to that of NF-kappaB activity in each cell type. These results suggest that cAMP regulates iNOS expression in adipocytes through modulating NF-kappaB activity. The differential regulation of iNOS in 3T3-L1 cells from that in the brown adipocytes indicates that intracellular signal pathways activated by cAMP are different between the cell types.     

Induction of nitric oxide synthase by saponins of heat-processed ginseng

Total saponin of heat-processed ginseng (TSHG) stimulated the production of nitric oxide (NO) in interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-primed macrophages through the increased expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). However, TSHG by itself had a very weak effect on the NO synthesis without IFN-gamma priming. The saponins of white ginseng inhibited the NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/IFN-gamma activated macrophages rather than the stimulation of NO production found in IFN-gamma primed macrophages. The NO production by TSHG-stimulated macrophages was inhibited by the NOS inhibitor (N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA)) and nuclear factor-kappaB inhibitor (pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC)). TSHG showed different serum-dependence from LPS on the activation of IFN-gamma primed macrophages. This property of TSHG may explain the intensified anti-tumor properties of heat-processed ginseng through its immunostimulating activity.     

Nitric oxide activated by p38 and NF-kappaB facilitates apoptosis and cell cycle arrest under oxidative stress in evodiamine-treated human melanoma A375-S2 cells

Nitric oxide (NO) has been identified as a fundamental molecule that interplays with reactive oxygen species (ROS) in determining cell fate. As a previous study indicated that ROS was stimulated in evodiamine-induced human melanoma A375-S2 cell apoptosis, the goal of this study was to investigate the role of NO in the cells. In this study, it was found that evodiamine has a strong inductive effect on NO production synthesized by inducible NOS (iNOS) enzyme in a positive-feedback manner. The generated NO was further showed to induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest and linked to the activation of p53 and p21. After interruption of p38 and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) by pre-treatment with SB203580 and PDTC, iNOS expression, NO synthesis and cell damage were all significantly blocked. It was concluded that p38 and NF-κB were critical to the NO producing system, which contributed greatly to the apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in evodiamine-incubated cells.     

Chronic stimulation of D1 dopamine receptors in human SK-N-MC neuroblastoma cells induces nitric-oxide synthase activation and cytotoxicity

Elevated synaptic levels of dopamine may induce striatal neurodegeneration in l-DOPA-unresponsive parkinsonism subtype of multiple system atrophy (MSA-P subtype), multiple system atrophy, and methamphetamine addiction. We examined the participation of dopamine and D1 dopamine receptors in the genesis of postsynaptic neurodegeneration. Chronic treatment of human SK-N-MC neuroblastoma cells with dopamine or H2O2 increased NO production and accelerated cytotoxicity, as indexed by enhanced nitrite levels and cell death. The antioxidant sodium metabisulfite or SCH 23390, a D1 dopamine receptor-selective antagonist, partially blocked dopamine effects but together ablated dopamine-mediated cytotoxicity, indicating the participation of both autoxidation and D1 receptor stimulation. Direct activation of D1 dopamine receptors with SKF R-38393 caused cytotoxicity, which was refractory to sodium metabisulfite. Dopamine and SKF R-38393 induced overexpression of the nitric-oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms neuronal NOS, inducible NOS (iNOS), and endothelial NOS in a protein kinase A-dependent manner. Functional studies showed that approximately 60% of total NOS activity was due to activation of iNOS. The NOS inhibitor N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester and genistein, wortmannin, or NF-kappaB SN50, inhibitors of protein tyrosine kinases phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and NF-kappaB, respectively, reduced nitrite production by dopamine and SKF R-38393 but were less effective in attenuating H2O2-mediated effects. In rat striatal neurons, dopamine and SKF R-38393, but not H2O2, accelerated cell death through increased expression of neuronal NOS and iNOS but not endothelial NOS. These data demonstrate a novel pathway of dopamine-mediated postsynaptic oxidative stress and cell death through direct activation of NOS enzymes by D1 dopamine receptors and its associated signaling pathways.     

Oral administration of Crataegus flavonoids protects against ischemia/reperfusion brain damage in gerbils

Stroke is the third leading cause of death as dementia is a main symptom of Alzheimer's disease. One of the important mechanisms in the pathogeny of stroke is free radical production during the reperfusion period, therefore the effects of a type of natural antioxidant, i.e. Crataegus flavonoids (CF), on brain ischemic insults were investigated in Mongolian gerbil stroke model. Results showed that pretreatment of the animals with CF decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances content, and nitrite/nitrate concentration in brain homogenate, increased the brain homogenate-associated antioxidant level in a dose-dependent manner. CF pretreatment increased the amount of biologically available NO by scavenging of superoxide anion produced during reperfusion. At same time, in the process of ischemia/reperfusion brain damage, the content of nitrite/nitrate (the end product of NO) increased, and of NO detected by ESR decreased. Oral pretreatment with CF decreased the nitrite/nitrate content in the brain homogenate and increased the biologically available NO concentration in a dose-dependent manner. The increasing effect of antioxidant on NO might be due to its scavenging effect on superoxide anion, which could react with NO into peroxynitrite. iNOS was implied in delayed neuron death after brain ischemic damage and it was found that pretreatment with CF could decrease the protein level of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB), and increase the mRNA level of NOS estimated by western blotting and RT-PCR. More neurons survived and fewer cells suffered apoptosis in the hippocampal CA1 region of CF treated animal brain. These results suggest that oral administration of this antioxidant increases the antioxidant level in the brain and protects the brain against delayed cell death caused by ischemia/reperfusion injury.     

Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase inhibitors and lipopolysaccharide induced inducible NOS and cyclooxygenase-2 gene expressions by rutin, quercetin, and quercetin pentaacetate in RAW 264.7 macrophages

Several natural flavonoids have been demonstrated to perform some beneficial biological activities, however, higher-effective concentrations and poor-absorptive efficacy in body of flavonoids blocked their practical applications. In the present study, we provided evidences to demonstrate that flavonoids rutin, quercetin, and its acetylated product quercetin pentaacetate were able to be used with nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors (N-nitro-L-arginine (NLA) or N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)) in treatment of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) productions, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene expressions in a mouse macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7). The results showed that rutin, quercetin, and quercetin pentaacetate-inhibited LPS-induced NO production in a concentration-dependent manner without obvious cytotoxic effect on cells by MTT assay using 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide as an indicator. Decrease of NO production by flavonoids was consistent with the inhibition on LPS-induced iNOS gene expression by western blotting. However, these compounds were unable to block iNOS enzyme activity by direct and indirect measurement on iNOS enzyme activity. Quercetin pentaacetate showed the obvious inhibition on LPS-induced PGE2 production and COX-2 gene expression and the inhibition was not result of suppression on COX-2 enzyme activity. Previous study demonstrated that decrease of NO production by L-arginine analogs effectively stimulated LPS-induced iNOS gene expression, and proposed that stimulatory effects on iNOS protein by NOS inhibitors might be harmful in treating sepsis. In this study, NLA or L-NAME treatment stimulated significantly on LPS-induced iNOS (but not COX-2) protein in RAW 264.7 cells which was inhibited by these three compounds. Quercetin pentaacetate, but not quercetin and rutin, showed the strong inhibitory activity on PGE2 production and COX-2 protein expression in NLA/LPS or L-NAME/LPS co-treated RAW 264.7 cells. These results indicated that combinatorial treatment of L-arginine analogs and flavonoid derivates, such as quercetin pentaacetate, effectively inhibited LPS-induced NO and PGE2 productions, at the same time, inhibited enhanced expressions of iNOS and COX-2 genes.     

Epidermal growth factor and interleukin-1beta synergistically stimulate the production of nitric oxide in rat intestinal epithelial cells

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is one of the trophic factors for intestinal adaptation after small bowel transplantation (SBT). A recent report indicates that nitric oxide (NO) has cytoprotective effects on bacterial translocation (BT) after SBT. We hypothesized that EGF stimulates the expression of the inducible NO synthase (iNOS) gene in the graft after SBT, followed by increased production of NO, resulting in the decrease of BT. Intestinal epithelial cells (IEC)-6 were treated with EGF and/or IL-1beta in the presence and absence of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) and EGF receptor kinase inhibitors (LY-294002 and tyrphostin A25). The induction of NO production and iNOS and its signal molecules, including the inhibitory protein of NF-kappaB (IkappaB), NF-kappaB, and Akt, were analyzed. IL-1beta stimulated the degradation of IkappaB and the activation of NF-kappaB but had no effect on iNOS induction. EGF, which had no effect on the NF-kappaB activation and iNOS induction, stimulated the upregulation of type 1 IL-1 receptor (IL-1R1) through PI3-kinase/Akt. Simultaneous addition of EGF and IL-1beta stimulated synergistically the induction of iNOS, leading to the increased production of NO. Our results indicate that EGF and IL-1beta stimulate two essential signals for iNOS induction in IEC-6 cells: the upregulation of IL-1R1 through PI3-kinase/Akt and the activation of NF-kappaB through IkappaB kinase, respectively. Simultaneous addition of EGF and IL-1beta can enhance the production of NO, which may contribute to the cytoprotective effect of EGF against intestinal injury.