连翘脂素对LPS诱导RAW264.7细胞炎症反应的影响

为研究连翘脂素的抗炎效应及其抗炎机制,以地塞米松作为阳性对照,建立脂多糖(LPS)诱导小鼠巨噬细胞RAW264.7炎症模型,检测炎症因子的释放及相关蛋白和mRNA的表达,以期提高对连翘脂素抗炎作用的全面认识并为连翘脂素临床开发提供有力的科学依据。实验采用Griess法检测细胞上清液中NO含量,ELISA法检测TNF-α和IL-6的含量,Westernblot法检测iNOS、COX-2蛋白的表达,RT-qPCR法检测iNOS、COX-2mRNA的表达。与LPS组比较,连翘脂素组和地塞米松组可以明显降低LPS诱导的RAW264.7细胞释放NO、TNF-α和IL-6的量,并呈现浓度依赖关系。Westrenblot和RT-qPCR结果显示连翘脂素能抑制LPS诱导的iNOS、COX-2的蛋白表达以及mRNA的表达,并呈浓度依赖关系。实验研究表明连翘脂素能够明显抑制LPS诱导的RAW264.7细胞炎症因子的释放,iNOS、COX-2蛋白及mRNA的表达从而抑制炎症反应。     

神经肽CRH对原代大鼠皮层小胶质细胞NO、TNF-α和IL-6释放的影响

目的:探讨神经肽促肾上腺皮质激素释放激素(CRH)参与调节原代大鼠皮层小胶质细胞的激活。方法:取原代大鼠皮层细胞,体外培养10 d,纯化24 h后得小胶质细胞,采用ELISA和NO测试盒检测小胶质细胞激活后促炎症介质一氧化氮(NO)、肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)和白介素6(IL-6)的释放。结果:10-15mol/L CRH明显促进原代大鼠小胶质细胞的促炎症介质NO,TNF-α和IL-6的释放。CRHR1特异性拮抗剂CP154,526可以阻断CRH诱导的小胶质细胞促炎症反应。结论:神经肽CRH通过CRHR1调节原代大鼠小胶质细胞的促炎症反应,CRH联合细菌脂多糖(Lipopolysaccharides,LPS)可以增强LPS诱导的小胶质细胞NO,TNF-α和IL-6的释放。     

EGb761对LPS诱导THP-1细胞释放HMGB1蛋白表达的调节

目的:探讨EGb761对LPS诱导THP-1细胞释放HMGB1蛋白表达的调节,为EGb761的临床运用提供可行的依据。方法:LPS(1μg/m L)诱导不同时间后,western blotting检测THP-1细胞上清液中HMGB1蛋白含量变化及不同浓度EGb761对LPS诱导THP-1细胞释放HMGB1蛋白的表达和NF-κB的活性;酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)检测细胞中IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α的含量。共聚焦显微镜观察EGb761对LPS诱导THP-1细胞释放HMGB1蛋白核转位变化。结果:(1)LPS组IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α的含量在刺激6-12 h后明显高于空白对照组,而EGb761+LPS组IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α的含量均显著低于LPS组(P0.05)。(2)EGb761处理LPS诱导THP-1细胞6 h后细胞上清液NF-κB活性表达量较空白对照组低,随着处理时间延长至12 h,NF-κB的活性表达量呈明显下降趋势(P0.05)。(3)LPS诱导THP-1细胞18 h后,细胞上清液中HMGB1蛋白含量呈明显升高趋势(P0.05)。(4)不同浓度EGb761对LPS诱导THP-1细胞18 h后,HMGB1蛋白含量较空白对照组有下降趋势,HMGB1蛋白含量随着EGB761浓度增加至100μg/m L呈下降趋势并呈浓度依赖效应(P0.05)。(5)LPS诱导THP-1细胞后,在共聚焦显微镜下可见胞浆中大量HMGB1蛋白标记分布,而EGb761+LPS共同诱导THP-1细胞后胞浆中可见少量HMGB1蛋白分布。结论:LPS可诱导THP-1细胞IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α表达增多及NF-κB活化,导致HMGB1蛋白表达增多及核转位,而EGB761能抑制THP-1细胞IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α表达及NF-κB活化,调节HMGB1蛋白的表达及核转位。     

黄芪甲苷Ⅳ对内毒素诱导RAW264.7细胞损伤的保护作用及机制研究

目的:研究黄芪皂苷Ⅳ对LPS诱导的巨噬细胞RAW264.7损伤的保护作用及机制.方法:测定细胞活力判断心肌细胞损伤的程度.TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,IL-10的释放以及NF-кB蛋白、Akt和磷酸化Akt表达用以研究作用机制.结果:黄芪皂苷Ⅳ对LPS引起的RAW264.7细胞损伤具有显著的抑制作用,1,3和10μM黄芪皂苷Ⅳ可显著降低LPS诱导的RAW264.7细胞TNF-α,IL-1β和IL-6的生成,促进IL-10的释放.黄芪皂苷Ⅳ剂量依赖性地增加了由LPS刺激而引起的RAW264.7细胞NF-kB蛋白的表达,抑制了LPS所致的p-Akt蛋白表达的升高.结论:黄芪皂苷Ⅳ可通过Akt-NF-kB途径调控促炎因子和抗炎因子表达的失衡,有效发挥对LPS诱导巨噬细胞RAW264.7损伤的保护作用.     

白术提取物苍术酮对脂多糖诱导的BV2细胞神经炎性影响及相关机制研究

研究旨在白术提取物苍术酮(AT)对脂多糖(LPS)诱导的BV2细胞抗炎作用,并探讨其相关机制。提取苍术酮并进行结构鉴定;以LPS诱导BV2细胞建立炎症模型;四甲基偶氮唑蓝(MTT)法检测细胞存活率;Griess反应检测细胞上清液中NO水平;ELISA法检测细胞上清中PGE2、IL-6、TNF-α水平;Western Blot法检测COX-2、iNOS、MAPK、NF-κB蛋白表达。结果表明LPS诱导BV2细胞后NO、PGE_2、IL-6、TNF-α水平和COX-2及iNOS蛋白表达显著增高,苍术酮预处理后均显著降低。进一步研究表明苍术酮可显著降低LPS诱导BV2细胞ERK、JNK、NF-κB蛋白表达。说明苍术酮能够有效预防LPS诱导BV2细胞神经炎性反应,机制与抑制炎症通路相关。     

余甘子不同溶剂提取物抗炎活性的研究

本试验旨在筛选出余甘子不同溶剂提取物的最佳抗炎活性部位。试验以水、乙醇、乙酸乙酯和石油醚为提取溶剂得到余甘子不同溶剂提取物(水提取物分成三个组分:水(1)组分分子量小于6000;水(2)组分分子量在6000到10000之间;水(3)组分分子量大于10000),采用LPS诱导RAW264.7巨噬细胞建立炎症模型;以NO分泌量和细胞因子(TNF-α、IL-1β、IL-6)释放量为指标,筛选出余甘子不同溶剂提取物最佳抗炎活性部位。余甘子不同溶剂提取物在浓度25~400μg/m L之间对细胞无明显细胞毒性(P0.05)。与模型组相比,水(1)、水(2)和乙醇提取物能显著抑制LPS诱导巨噬细胞分泌NO(P0.05)。在细胞因子实验中,乙醇提取物极显著抑制LPS诱导RAW264.7巨噬细胞分泌IL-1β和TNF-α(P0.01);乙酸乙酯提取物抑制LPS诱导RAW264.7巨噬细胞分泌IL-6的效果最佳。综合评价得出余甘子乙醇提取物作为筛选出的最佳抗炎活性部位,其极显著抑制LPS诱导RAW264.7巨噬细胞分泌NO和细胞因子(TNF-α、IL-1β、IL-6),可以作为后续分离鉴定抗炎活性物质单体的活性部位。     

牛杀菌/通透性增加蛋白对脂多糖介导的炎性细胞因子表达的影响

杀菌/通透性增加蛋白(Bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein,BPI)能结合并特异地中和来自革兰氏阴性菌外膜的脂多糖(Lipopolysaccharide,LPS)。为了研究牛源BPI蛋白及其N端结构域在LPS介导的免疫应答中的作用,本文将BPI全长1 449 bp编码区序列(BPI)和其N端714 bp的编码区序列(BPI714)分别导入m HEK293细胞,分析了稳定表达的BPI或BPI714对LPS介导的炎性细胞因子表达的影响。首先将构建的p LEX-BPI/p LEX-BPI714载体分别转染m HEK293细胞,获得稳定表达牛源BPI或BPI714的m HEK293细胞;然后用LPS刺激上述细胞,分别收集刺激前、刺激后1 h、3 h、6 h、12 h、24 h、36 h和48 h的细胞,并同时收集未表达BPI或BPI714的m HEK293细胞在各时间点的样品作为对照;采用定量RT-PCR检测上述细胞中炎性细胞因子IL-8、IL-1β、TNF-α、NF-κB-1、NF-κB-2的相对表达水平,比较LPS刺激前后表达BPI/BPI714和对照细胞中上述基因转录水平的变化规律。研究表明,LPS刺激后,对照细胞中IL-8、IL-1β、TNF-α、NF-κB-2表达水平在不同时间点均显著提高(P0.05),并呈现规律性变化;而稳定表达BPI/BPI714的细胞在同样刺激条件下,IL-8、IL-1β、TNF-α、NF-κB-2基因的转录水平均未发生显著变化(P0.05)。根据我们的实验结果,在m HKE293细胞模型中BPI或BPI714均能显著降低LPS介导的炎性细胞因子表达,抑制LPS介导的免疫应答。这不仅为进一步研究BPI抑菌机制和利用其抑菌功能提供了可靠的实验依据,也为分析抗菌蛋白的抗菌效果提供了一种可靠的实验方法。     

毛木耳Auricularia polytricha多糖APPIIA对巨噬细胞细胞因子和iNOS基因表达的影响

从毛木耳Auricularia polytricha子实体中分离得到了具有抗肿瘤作用的单一多糖组分APPIIA,采用SYBR Green I指示的Real-time RT-PCR技术研究了它对小鼠巨噬细胞RAW 264.7中IL-1β,IL-6,TNF-α和一氧化氮(NO)合成关键酶iNOS基因在mRNA转录水平上的作用。采用Western-Blot技术,研究了APPIIA对RAW 264.7细胞生成iNOS蛋白的能力。研究发现,APPIIA能增强IL-1β,IL-6,TNF-α和NO合成关键酶iNOS基因的转录水平,并能增加iNOS蛋白的生成。推测APPIIA可能通过上调相关基因的表达,增加IL-1β,IL-6,TNF-α分泌和NO生成,从而实现其抗肿瘤的重要作用。     

细菌脂多糖诱导人单核细胞株对细菌脂蛋白的耐受性及其与肌动蛋白骨架关系

细菌脂多糖(LPS)可诱导宿主对LPS的耐受,但对细菌脂蛋白(BLP)是否存在交叉耐受,目前报道不一。采用人单核细胞株(THP-1),建立小剂量LPS诱导THP-1对LPS耐受的细胞模型;观察细胞肌动蛋白骨架、炎症因子TNF-α、IL-1β、IL-6的浓度及NF-κB的DNA结合活力的变化情况;探讨BLP交叉耐受及细胞骨架在其中的作用。结果显示,THP-1细胞经小剂量(10ng/ml)LPS、大剂量(100ng/ml)LPS或BLP刺激后,细胞形态严重变形,肌动蛋白重组,细胞周边肌动蛋白丝带消失,出现明显的肌动蛋白收缩团块及伪足,细胞核内NF-κB的DNA结合活性显著升高,培养上清液中炎症因子(TNF-α、IL-1β及IL-6)的释放显著增加;而小剂量LPS预刺激12h后,再用大剂量的LPS或BLP刺激6h,上述指标明显改善;采用细胞骨架肌动蛋白聚集破坏剂鬼笔环肽预处理后的THP-1细胞,可取消由小剂量LPS诱导的自身耐受及对BLP的交叉耐受;可见,细菌LPS、BLP(100ng/ml)可诱导THP-1细胞肌动蛋白骨架的改变,激活NF-κB信号通路,诱导炎性细胞因子TNF-α、IL-1、IL-6过度释放,激活宿主炎症细胞的炎症反应;而小剂量LPS预刺激后可诱导出THP-1细胞对LPS的自身耐受和对BLP的交叉耐受;细胞骨架肌动蛋白参与了小剂量LPS诱导THP-1细胞对LPS自身耐受和对BLP交叉耐受的形成。     

亚硝基化谷胱甘肽还原酶: 一个调控炎症反应的新分子

炎症因子的表达调控是炎症反应的关键步骤,与自身免疫疾病以及癌症等密切相关．一氧化氮(nitric oxide,NO)在炎症因子表达调控中具有重要作用,但已有的研究多关注于NO合成对炎症因子的调控作用,而对NO代谢的作用知之甚少．亚硝基化谷胱甘肽还原酶(S-nitrosoglutathione reductase,GSNOR)是体内NO信号通路代谢调控的关键蛋白．本研究发现脂多糖(lipopolysaccharide,LPS)在RAW264.7细胞中上调诱导型一氧化氮合酶(inducible nitric oxide synthase,iNOS)的同时下调GSNOR的转录和蛋白质表达,该下调作用依赖MEK1/2、p38和PI3K信号通路．抑制GSNOR可促进LPS诱导的炎症因子IL-1β、IL-6和TNF-α表达,而过表达GSNOR作用相反．抗炎症药物曲古抑菌素A (trichostatin A,TSA)能够挽回LPS对GSNOR的下调作用,并且GSNOR抑制剂削弱了TSA对炎症因子IL-6和TNF-α转录的抑制效应．这些结果表明：GSNOR是一个新的重要炎症调控分子,它可能成为调控NO介导的炎症相关信号通路的新的潜在靶点,上调GSNOR可能是抑制炎症的新思路．本研究揭示了巨噬细胞通过上调iNOS和下调GSNOR共同增强免疫炎症反应的新机制,拓展了对NO代谢在炎症反应中作用机制的认识．     

Hydrogen sulfide potentiates interleukin-1beta-induced nitric oxide production via enhancement of extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation in rat vascular smooth muscle cells

Hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) and nitric oxide (NO) are endogenously synthesized from l-cysteine and l-arginine, respectively. They might constitute a cooperative network to regulate their effects. In this study, we investigated whether H(2)S could affect NO production in rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) stimulated with interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta). Although H(2)S by itself showed no effect on NO production, it augmented IL-beta-induced NO production and this effect was associated with increased expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and activation of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB. IL-1Beta activated the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), and this activation was also enhanced by H(2)S. Inhibition of ERK1/2 activation by the selective inhibitor U0126 inhibited IL-1beta-induced NF-kappaB activation, iNOS expression, and NO production either in the absence or presence of H(2)S. Our findings suggest that H(2)S enhances NO production and iNOS expression by potentiating IL-1beta-induced NF-kappaB activation through a mechanism involving ERK1/2 signaling cascade in rat VSMCs.     

Inhibition of Rho protein stimulates iNOS expression in rat vascular smooth muscle cells

Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is upregulated in arterial injury and plays a role in regulating VSMC proliferation and restenosis. Inflammatory cytokines [e.g., interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta)] released during vascular injury induce iNOS. Small GTP-binding proteins of the Ras superfamily play a major role in IL-1beta-dependent signaling pathways. In this study, we examined the role of Rho GTPases in regulating iNOS expression in VSMCs. Treatment of VSMCs with mevastatin, which inhibits isoprenylation of Rho and other small GTP-binding proteins, produced significantly higher amounts of IL-1beta-evoked NO and iNOS protein compared with control. Similarly, bacterial toxins [Toxin B from Clostridium difficile and C3 ADP-ribosyl transferase (C3) toxin from Clostridium botulinium] that specifically inactivate Rho proteins increased NOS products (NO and citrulline) and iNOS expression. Toxin B increased the activity of iNOS promoter-reporter construct in VSMCs. Both toxins enhanced IL-1beta-stimulated iNOS expression and NO production. These data demonstrate for the first time that inhibition of Rho induces iNOS and suggest a role for Rho protein in IL-1beta-stimulated NO production in VSMCs.     

A pyrrolidinone derivative inhibits cytokine-induced iNOS expression and NF-kappaB activation by preventing phosphorylation and degradation of IkappaB-alpha

We previously showed that 1-[3-(3-pyridyl)-acryloyl]-2-pyrrolidinone hydrochloride (N2733) inhibits lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha secretion and improves the survival of endotoxemic mice. Since overproduction of nitric oxide (NO) by inducible NO synthase (iNOS) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is largely responsible for the development of endotoxemic shock, and iNOS gene expression is mainly regulated by LPS and inflammatory cytokines, we studied whether or not N2733 affects interleukin (IL)-1beta-induced iNOS gene expression, NF-kappaB activation, and NF-kappaB inhibitor (IkappaB)-alpha degradation in cultured rat VSMCs. N2733 dose-dependently (10-100 microM) inhibited IL-1beta-stimulated NO production, and decreased IL-1beta-induced iNOS mRNA and protein expression, as found on Northern and Western blot analyses, respectively. Gel shift assay and an immunocytochemical study showed that N2733 inhibited IL-1beta-induced NF-kappaB activation and its nuclear translocation. Western blot analyses involving anti-IkappaB-alpha and anti-phospho IkappaB-alpha antibodies showed that IL-1beta induced transient degradation of IkappaB-alpha preceded by the rapid appearance of phosphorylated IkappaB-alpha, both of which were markedly blocked by N2733. N2733 blocked IL-1beta-induced phosphorylated IkappaB-alpha even in the presence of a proteasome inhibitor (MG115). Immunoblot analysis involving anti-IkappaB kinase (IKK)-alpha and anti-phosphoserine antibodies revealed that N2733 inhibited IL-1beta-induced IKK-alpha phosphorylation, whereas N2733 had no inhibitory effect on IL-1beta-stimulated p42/p44 MAP kinase or p38 MAP kinase activity. Our results suggest that the inhibitory action of N2733 toward IL-1beta-induced NF-kappaB activation and iNOS expression is due to its blockade of the upstream signal(s) leading to IKK-alpha activation, and subsequent phosphorylation and degradation of IkappaB-alpha in rat VSMCs.     

Inhibition of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase attenuates interleukin-1beta-induced thermal hyperalgesia and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in the spinal cord

We have reported recently that intrathecal (i.t.) injection of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), at a dose of 100 ng, induces inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and nitric oxide (NO) production in the spinal cord and results in thermal hyperalgesia in rats. This study further examines the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in i.t. IL-1beta-mediated iNOS-NO cascade in spinal nociceptive signal transduction. All rats were implanted with an i.t. catheter either with or without an additional microdialysis probe. Paw withdrawal latency to radiant heat is used to assess thermal hyperalgesia. The iNOS and MAPK protein expression in the spinal cord dorsal horn were examined by western blot. The [NO] in CSF dialysates were also measured. Intrathecal IL-1beta leads to a time-dependent up-regulation of phosphorylated p38 (p-p38) MAPK protein expression in the spinal cord 30-240 min following IL-1beta injection (i.t.). However, neither the phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK) nor phosphorylated c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (p-JNK) was affected. The total amount of p38, ERK, and JNK MAPK proteins were not affected following IL-1beta injection. Intrathecal administration of either selective p38 MAPK, or JNK, or ERK inhibitor alone did not affect the thermal nociceptive threshold or iNOS protein expression in the spinal cord. However, pretreatment with a p38 MAPK inhibitor significantly reduced the IL-1beta-induced p-p38 MAPK expression by 38-49%, and nearly completely blocked the subsequent iNOS expression (reduction by 86.6%), NO production, and thermal hyperalgesia. In contrast, both ERK and JNK inhibitor pretreatments only partially (approximately 50%) inhibited the IL-1beta-induced iNOS expression in the spinal cord. Our results suggest that p38 MAPK plays a pivotal role in i.t. IL-1beta-induced spinal sensitization and nociceptive signal transduction.     

Cobalt protoporphyrin inhibition of lipopolysaccharide or lipoteichoic acid-induced nitric oxide production via blocking c-Jun N-terminal kinase activation and nitric oxide enzyme activity

In the present study, low doses (0.5, 1, and 2 μM) of cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP), but not ferric protoporphyrin (FePP) or tin protoporphyrin (SnPP), significantly inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or lipoteichoic acid (LTA)-induced inducible nitric oxide (iNOS) and nitric oxide (NO) production with an increase in heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) protein in RAW264.7 macrophages under serum-free conditions. IC₅₀ values of CoPP inhibition of NO and iNOS protein individually induced by LPS and LTA were around 0.25 and 1.7 μM, respectively. This suggests that CoPP is more sensitive at inhibiting NO production than iNOS protein in response to separate LPS and LTA stimulation. NO inhibition and HO-1 induction by CoPP were blocked by the separate addition of fetal bovine serum (FBS) and bovine serum albumin (BSA). Decreasing iNOS/NO production and increasing HO-1 protein by CoPP were observed with CoPP pretreatment, CoPP co-treatment, and CoPP post-treatment with LPS and LTA stimulation. LPS- and LTA-induced NOS/NO productions were significantly suppressed by the JNK inhibitor, SP600125, but not by the ERK inhibitor, PD98059, through a reduction in JNK protein phosphorylation. Transfection of a dominant negative JNK plasmid inhibited LPS- and LTA-induced iNOS/NO production and JNK protein phosphorylation, suggesting that JNK activation is involved in LPS- and LTA-induced iNOS/NO production. Additionally, CoPP inhibition of LPS- and LTA-induced JNK, but not ERK, protein phosphorylation was identified in RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, CoPP significantly reduced NO production in a cell-mediated, but not cell-free, iNOS enzyme activity assay accompanied by HO-1 induction. However, attenuation of HO-1 protein stimulated by CoPP via transfection of HO-1 siRNA did not affect NO's inhibition of CoPP against LPS stimulation. CoPP effectively suppressing LPS- and LTA-induced iNOS/NO production through blocking JNK activation and iNOS enzyme activity via a HO-1 independent manner is first demonstrated herein.     

Tetrandrine suppresses LPS-induced astrocyte activation via modulating IKKs-IκBα-NF-κB signaling pathway

Astrocyte activation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of many neurological diseases. These reactive astrocytes are capable of producing a variety of proinflammatory mediators and potentially neurotoxic compounds, such as nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta). In this study, we examined the suppressive effects of Tetrandrine (TET) on astrocyte activation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vitro. We found that TET decreased the release of NO, TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-1beta in LPS-activated astrocytes. Also mRNA expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) were inhibited in TET pretreated astrocytes. Such suppressive effects might be resulted from the inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation through downregulating IkappaB kinases (IKKs) phosphoration, which decreased inhibitor of nuclear factor-kappaB-alpha (IkappaBalpha) phosphoration and degradation. Our results suggest that TET acted to regulate astrocyte activation through inhibiting IKKs-IkappaBalpha-NF-kappaB signaling pathway.     

Possible involvement of tyrosine kinase in the LPS-Promoted initiation of l-arginine-induced relaxation of rat aorta mediated by induction of no synthase

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors herbimycin A, genistein and erbstatin analog prevented endotoxin (LPS)-promoted initiation of l-arginine (Arg)-induced relaxations and cGMP formation in rat thoracic aorta, which appear to be mediated by nitric oxide synthase expressed by LPS in the vascular smooth muscle. Similarly, interleukin-1β (IL-1β) triggered initiation of Arg-induced relaxation of the arteries. In addition, in the aortic smooth muscle cells cultured in the presence of Arg, LPS- or IL-1β-triggered accumulation of nitrite was suppressed by the tyrosine kinase inhibitors. These results suggest that tyrosine kinase is involved in the LPS- and IL-1β-promoted induction of nitric oxide synthase in the vascular smooth muscle, which in turn mediates production of NO from added Arg, thus stimulating formation of cGMP and causing relaxation. Alternatively, it is possible that LPS acts indirectly through cytokines such as IL-1β.     

Induction of nitric oxide synthase in raw 264.7 macrophages by lipoteichoic acid from<Emphasis Type="Italic">Staphylococcus aureus:</Emphasis> Involvement of protein kinase C- and nuclear factor-kB-dependent mechanisms

This study investigates the signaling pathway involved in inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and nitric oxide (NO) release caused by Staphylococcus aureus lipoteichoic acid (LTA) in RAW 264.7 macrophages. A phosphatidylcholine-phospholipase C (PC-PLC) inhibitor (D-609) and a phosphatidylinositol-phospholipase C (PI-PLC) inhibitor (U-73122) attenuated LTA-induced iNOS expression and NO release. Two PKC inhibitors (Go 6976 and Ro 31-8220), an NF-kappaB inhibitor (pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate; PDTC), and long-term (24 h) 12-phorbol-13-myristate acetate (PMA) treatment each also inhibited LTA-induced iNOS expression and NO release. Treatment of cells with LTA caused an increase in PKC activity; this stimulatory effect was inhibited by D-609, U-73122, or Ro 31-8220. Stimulation of cells with LTA caused IkappaB-alpha phosphorylation and IkappaB-alpha degradation in the cytosol, and translocation of p65 and p50 NF-kappaB from the cytosol to the nucleus. Treatment of cells with LTA caused NF-kappaB activation by detecting the formation of NF-kappaB-specific DNA-protein complexes in the nucleus; this effect was inhibited by Go 6976, Ro 31-8220, long-term PMA treatment, PDTC, L-1-tosylamido-2-phenylethyl chloromethyl ketone (TPCK), and calpain inhibitor I. These results suggest that LTA might activate PC-PLC and PI-PLC to induce PKC activation, which in turn initiates NF-kappaB activation, and finally induces iNOS expression and NO release in RAW 264.7 macrophages.