Cyclic GMP induced apoptosis via protein kinase G in oestrogen receptor-positive and -negative breast cancer cell lines

The activation of protein kinase G (PKG) by cyclic guanosine 3,5-monophosphate (cGMP) has become of considerable interest as a novel molecular approach for the induction of apoptosis in cancer cells. The present study was designed to examine the effects of cGMP and PKG on cell growth and apoptosis in the human breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468. To achieve this, 1-benzyl-3-(5P-hydroxymethyl-2P-furyl) indazole (YC-1), a soluble guanylyl cyclase activator, and 8-bromo-cGMP (8-br-cGMP), a membrane-permeant and phosphodiesterase-resistant analogue of cGMP, were employed in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468 cells. Then, the role of PKG in the induction of apoptosis was evaluated using KT5823 and Rp-8-pCPT-cGMP as specific inhibitors of PKG. The expression of PKG isoforms in these cell lines was also investigated. KT5823 and Rp-8-pCPT-cGMP significantly attenuated the loss of cell viability caused by YC-1 and 8-br-cGMP in these cells. This study provides direct evidence that the activation of PKG by cGMP induces growth inhibition and apoptosis in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cell lines.     

Essential roles of the nitric oxide (no)/cGMP/protein kinase G type-Iα (PKG-Iα) signaling pathway and the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)/cGMP/PKG-Iα autocrine loop in promoting proliferation and cell survival of OP9 bone marrow stromal cells

Inappropriate signaling conditions within bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) can lead to loss of BMSC survival, contributing to the loss of a proper micro-environmental niche for hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), ultimately causing bone marrow failure. In the present study, we investigated the novel role of endogenous atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and the nitric oxide (NO)/cGMP/protein kinase G type-Iα (PKG-Iα) signaling pathway in regulating BMSC survival and proliferation, using the OP9 BMSC cell line commonly used for facilitating the differentiation of HSCs. Using an ANP-receptor blocker, endogenously produced ANP was found to promote cell proliferation and prevent apoptosis. NO donor SNAP (S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine) at low concentrations (10 and 50 μM), which would moderately stimulate PKG activity, protected these BMSCs against spontaneous apoptosis. YC-1, a soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) activator, decreased the levels of apoptosis, similar to the cytoprotective effects of low-level NO. ODQ (1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3,-a]quinoxalin-1-one), which blocks endogenous NO-induced activation of sGC and thus lowers endogenous cGMP/PKG activity, significantly elevated apoptotic levels by 2.5- and three-fold. Pre-incubation with 8-Bromo-cGMP or ANP, which bypass the ODQ block, almost completely prevented the ODQ-induced apoptosis. A highly-specific PKG inhibitor, DT-3, at 20, and 30 μM, caused 1.5- and two-fold increases in apoptosis, respectively. ODQ and DT-3 also decreased BMSCs proliferation and colony formation. Small Interfering RNA gene knockdown of PKG-Iα increased apoptosis and decreased proliferation in BMSCs. The data suggest that basal NO/cGMP/PKG-Iα activity and autocrine ANP/cGMP/PKG-Iα are necessary for preserving OP9 cell survival and promoting cell proliferation and migration.     

Role of cGMP in carbon monoxide-induced cerebral vasodilation in piglets

The hypothesis was addressed that CO-induced cerebral vasodilation requires a permissive cGMP signal that can be produced by nitric oxide (NO). Anesthetized piglets were implanted with cranial windows for measurement of pial arteriolar responses to stimuli. Pial arterioles dilated in response to isoproterenol (Iso), sodium nitroprusside (SNP), and CO or the CO-releasing molecule Mn2(CO)10 [dimanganese decacarbonyl (DMDC)]. 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), a soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor, decreased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cGMP and selectively inhibited dilations to SNP and DMDC without affecting the dilation to Iso. However, DMDC did not cause an increase in cortical periarachnoid CSF cGMP concentration. cGMP clamp with a threshold dilator level of 8-bromo-cGMP (10(-4) M) and ODQ restored the dilation to DMDC that had been blocked by ODQ alone. Under these conditions, cGMP was present but could not increase. Inhibition of the pial arteriolar dilation to glutamate by N-nitro-l-arginine, which blocks NO synthase, was similar to that by heme oxygenase inhibitors, which block endogenous CO production. The dilation to glutamate, similar to dilation to DMDC, was partially restored by 8-bromo-cGMP and completely restored by SNP (5 x 10(-7) M). These data suggest that the permissive role of NO in CO- and glutamate-induced vasodilation involves maintaining the minimum necessary cellular level of cGMP to allow CO to cause dilation independently of increasing cGMP.     

Evidence for the involvement of cGMP and protein kinase G in nitric oxide-induced apoptosis in the pancreatic B-cell line, HIT-T15

Intracellular production of nitric oxide (NO) is thought to mediate the pancreatic B-cell-directed cytotoxicity of cytokines in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and recent evidence has indicated that this may involve induction of apoptosis. A primary effect of NO is to activate soluble guanylyl cyclase leading to increased cGMP levels and this effect has been demonstrated in pancreatic B-cells, although no intracellular function has been defined for islet cGMP. Here we demonstrate that the NO donor, GSNO, induces apoptosis in the pancreatic B-cell line HIT-T15 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. This response was significantly attenuated by micromolar concentrations of a specific inhibitor of soluble guanylyl cyclase, ODQ, and both 8-bromo cGMP (100 μM) and dibutyryl cGMP (300 μM) were able to fully relieve this inhibition. In addition, incubation of HIT-T15 cells with each cGMP analogue directly promoted cell death in the absence of ODQ. KT5823, a potent and highly selective inhibitor of cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG), abolished the induction of cell death in HIT cells in response to either GSNO or cGMP analogues. This effect was dose-dependent over the concentration range of 10–250 nM. Overall, these data provide evidence that the activation of apoptosis in HIT-T15 cells by NO donors is secondary to a rise in cGMP and suggest that the pathway controlling cell death involves activation of PKG.     

Generation and characterization of a stable soluble guanylate cyclase-overexpressing CHO cell line.

A stably transfected soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC, alpha1 and beta1 subunits of the rat lung enzyme)-overexpressing CHO cell line was generated for the characterization of different types of activators of the soluble guanylate cyclase. Polyclonal antibodies directed against both subunits of the rat enzyme were used to detect both subunits in the cytosol of the transfected CHO cells. We studied the effects of different nitric oxide (NO) donors like SNP and DEA/NO and, in particular, the direct, NO-independent stimulator of the soluble guanylate cyclase 3-(5'-hydroxymethyl-2'furyl)-1-benzyl indazole (YC-1), on intracellular guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) production. DEA/NO (0.01-3 microM), SNP (1-10 microM), and YC-1 (1-10 microM) induced a concentration-dependent intracellular cGMP increase with maximal effects of 16-fold (3 microM DEA/NO), 8-fold (10 microM SNP), and 6-fold (10 microM YC-1) stimulation compared to controls, respectively. In addition, a synergistic effect of the combination of the NO donor and YC-1 could be observed with a maximal stimulation of 64-fold by SNP (10 microM) and YC-1 (10 microM). 1H-(1,2,4)-Oxadiazolo-(4,3-a)-6-bromo-quinoxazin-1-one (ODQ, 10 microM), a potent and selective inhibitor of sGC, inhibited both the single effects of NO donors [DEA/NO (3 microM), 77%; SNP (3 microM), 83%] and YC-1 [YC-1 (3 microM), 82%], but moreover the synergistic effects between NO donors and YC-1 [DEA/NO (3 microM) + YC-1 (3 microM), 81%; SNP (3 microM) + YC-1 (3 microM),89%] on intracellular cGMP production. In summary,we have generated a simple, sensitive, and useful bioassay method to characterize all types of sGC activators on the cellular level without the need of primary cell culture, several transfections, or purifying enzyme from biological materials.     

Modulation of neuronal nitric oxide release by soluble guanylyl cyclase in guinea pig colon

Peripheral autonomic neurones release nitric oxide (NO) upon nerve activation. However, the regulation of neuronal NO formation is poorly understood. We used the cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP) analogue 8-Br-cGMP, the soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) stimulator YC-1, the phosphodiesterase inhibitor zaprinast and the sGC inhibitor ODQ to study whether the sGC/cGMP pathway is involved in regulation of neuronal NO release in nerve plexus-containing smooth muscle preparations from guinea pig colon. Electrical stimulation of the preparation evoked release of NO/NO(-)(2). In the presence of 8-Br-cGMP, YC-1 and zaprinast (all at 10(-4) M) the NO/NO(-)(2)-release increased to 152 +/- 16% (P < 0.05), 164 +/- 37% (P < 0.05) and 290 +/- 67% (P < 0.05) of controls, respectively. Conversely, ODQ (10(-5) M) decreased the evoked release of NO/NO(-)(2) to 49 +/- 7% (P < 0.05) of controls. Our data suggest that the sGC/cGMP pathway modulates NO release. Thus it is likely that NO exerts a positive feedback on its own release from peripheral autonomic neurones.     

Antioxidant activity of phenylethanoid glycosides on glutamate-induced neurotoxicity

ABSTRACT

Exposure of PC12 cells to 10 mM glutamate caused significant viability loss, cell apoptosis, decreased activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) as well as increased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA). In parallel, glutamate significantly increased the intracellular levels of ROS and intracellular calcium. However, pretreatment of the cells with acteoside and isoacteoside significantly suppressed glutamate-induced cellular events. Moreover, acteoside and isoacteoside reduced the glutamate-induced increase of caspase-3 activity and also ameliorated the glutamate-induced Bcl-2/Bax ratio reduction in PC12 cells. Furthermore, acteoside and isoacteoside significantly inhibited glutamate-induced DNA damage. In the mouse model, acteoside significantly attenuated cognitive deficits in the Y maze test and attenuated neuronal damage of the hippocampal CA1 regions induced by glutamate. These data indicated that acteoside and isoacteoside play neuroprotective effects through anti-oxidative stress, anti-apoptosis, and maintenance of steady intracellular calcium.     

The Role of Heat Shock Protein 70 in the Protective Effect of YC-1 on β-Amyloid-Induced Toxicity in Differentiated PC12 Cells

Neurodegenerative brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have been well investigated. However, significant methods for the treatment of the progression of AD are unavailable currently. Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) plays important roles in neural protection from stress by assisting cellular protein folding. In this study, we investigated the effect and the molecular mechanism of YC-1, an activator of guanylyl cyclase (GC), on Aβ_25–35-induced cytotoxicity in differentiated PC12 cells. The results of this study showed that Aβ_25–35 (10 µM) significantly increased p25 protein production in a pattern that was consistent with the increase in μ-calpain expression. Moreover, Aβ_25–35 significantly increased tau hyperphosphorylation and induced differentiated PC12 cell death. YC-1 (0.5–10 µM) prevented the cell death induced by Aβ_25–35. In addition, YC-1 (1, 10 µM) significantly blocked Aβ_25–35-induced μ-calpain expression and decreased the formation of p25 and tau hyperphosphorylation. Moreover, YC-1 (5–20 µM) alone or combined with Aβ_25–35 (10 µM) significantly increased the expression of Hsp70 in differentiated PC12 cells. The neuroprotective effect of YC-1 was significantly attenuated by an Hsp70 inhibitor (quercetin, 50 µM) or in PC12 cells transfected with an Hsp70 small interfering RNA. However, pretreatment of cells with the GC inhibitor ODQ (10 µM) did not affect the neuroprotective effect of YC-1 against Aβ_25–35 in differentiated PC12 cells. These results suggest that the neuroprotective effect of YC-1 against Aβ_25–35-induced toxicity is mainly mediated by the induction of Hsp70. Thus, YC-1 is a potential agent against AD.     

Effects of isatin on atrial natriuretic peptide-mediated accumulation of cGMP and guanylyl cyclase activity of PC12 cells

We have previously demonstrated that isatin (indole-2,3 dione), an endogenous compound widely distributed in mammalian tissues and body fluids, effectively inhibits atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) receptor binding and ANP-stimulated guanylyl cyclase activity of rat membrane preparations. In the present study the effects of isatin on ANP-mediated accumulation of cGMP and guanylyl cyclase (GC) activity of PC12 cells were studied. Isatin (0.1 mM) effectively inhibited ANP-stimulated GC-activity of broken cells but was nearly inactive in attenuating ANP-dependent accumulation of cGMP in intact PC12 cells. The ATP-analogue adenylylimidodiphosphate (AMP-PNP) slightly potentiated the ANP effect on GC activity in broken cell preparations and significantly reduced GC sensitivity to isatin. Isatin caused a more pronounced reduction of ANP-dependent cGMP accumulation in cells grown in the presence of 10% embryonal calf serum (ECS) than in 0.5% ECS. The data obtained suggest that, in intact cells, the manifestation of the isatin effect on ANP-mediated signal transduction may depend on intracellular factor(s), possibly interacting at the kinase domain.     

A-350619: a novel activator of soluble guanylyl cyclase

Nitric oxide (NO) is a key mediator in many physiological processes and one of the major receptors through which NO exerts its effects is soluble guanylyl cyclase. Guanylyl cyclase converts GTP to cyclic GMP as part of the cascade that results in physiological processes such as smooth muscle relaxation, neurotransmission, inhibition of platelet aggregation and immune response. The properties of A-350619, a novel soluble guanylyl cyclase activator, were examined to determine the modulatory effect on the catalytic properties of soluble guanylyl cyclase. A-350619 increased V(max) from 0.1 to 14.5 micromol/min/mg (145 fold increase), and lowered K(m) from 300 to 50 microM (6 fold decrease). When YC-1 (another sGC activator) and A-350619 were combined, a 156 fold increase in V(max) and a 5 fold decrease in Km were observed, indicating that the modulation of the enzyme brought about by YC-1 and A-350619 are not additive, suggesting a common binding site. Activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase by A-350619 was partially inhibited by ODQ, a specific inhibitor of soluble guanylyl cyclase by oxidation of the enzyme heme. YC-1 and A-350619 after pre-treatment with N-omega-nitro-L-arginine, an NO-synthase inhibitor, relaxed cavernosum tissue strips in a dose-dependent manner with EC(50) of 50 microM and 80 microM, respectively. Addition of SNP potentiated the relaxation effect of YC-1 and A-350619, shifting the dose-response curve to the left to 3 microM and 10 microM, respectively. Consistent with its biochemical activity, A-350619 (1 micromol/kg) alone induced penile erection in a conscious rat model. Activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase in cavernosum tissue as an alternate method of enhancing the effect of NO may provide a novel treatment of sexual dysfunction.     

1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HeLa cells by preventing microtubule polymerization

1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) is known as a specific inhibitor of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC). Previously, however, ODQ was reported to induce cell death via sGC-dependent and sGC-independent means in a variety of cell types. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism by which ODQ induces cell death in HeLa cells.Treatment of HeLa cells with ODQ induced a concentration-dependent decrease in cell viability over the range from 10 to 100 μM. DNA fragmentation and fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis using annexin V and propidium iodide staining revealed that ODQ triggered apoptosis at concentrations of 50 and 100 μM within 24 to 48 h. The addition of 8-Br-cGMP in the presence of ODQ failed to rescue HeLa cells from death, suggesting that the inhibition of sGC was not responsible for the pro-apoptotic action of ODQ. ODQ arrested the cell cycle at the G2/M phase and caused disassembly of the microtubule network. This process was reversed by dithiothreitol. In addition, ODQ was shown to inhibit the polymerization of purified tubulin, and this was also prevented by dithiothreitol. These results indicate that ODQ inhibits microtubule assembly by direct oxidation of tubulin, induces cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase, and triggers apoptosis in HeLa cells.     

Proteomic approach to studying the cytotoxicity of YC-1 on U937 leukemia cells and antileukemia activity in orthotopic model of leukemia mice

To evaluate the effects of YC-1 on leukemia cell lines, PI incorporation was used to determine cell viability. YC-1 induced a dose- and time-dependent decrease in viability and apoptosis in YC-1-treated U937 cells. YC-1-induced apoptosis is a cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-independent pathway. Proteomic analysis showed that the altered proteins include the significant regulation of HSP70, chaperonin, ATP synthase beta chains, and Chain F. Western blotting and immuno-cytochemistry stain showed that YC-1 treatment caused a time-dependent increase in cytosolic Cytochrome c, pro-caspase-9, Apaf-1, and the activation of caspase-9 and -3. Importantly, the in vivo antileukemia effects of YC-1 were evaluated in BALB/c mice inoculated with WEHI-3B orthotopic model. YC-1 enhanced survival rate and prevented the body weight loss in leukemia mice. The enlargement of spleen and lymph nodes were reduced in YC-1 treated than that in leukemia mice. H-E stain of spleen sections revealed that infiltration of immature myeloblastic cells into red pulp was reduced in YC-1-treated group. The apoptotic cells of splenocyte were significantly increased in YC-1 treated than that in leukemia mice by Tdt-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Taken together, we conclude that YC-1 acted against U937 cells in vitro via a mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis pathway, and in orthotopic leukemia model, YC-1 administered antileukemia activity.     

人参皂甙Rd预处理可减轻谷氨酸所致的PC12细胞损伤

目的:研究人参皂甙Rd(Ginsenoside Rd)预处理对谷氨酸所致PC12细胞损伤的影响。方法:将体外培养的PC12细胞分为3组,分别为对照组(Control)、谷氨酸损伤组(Glu)和人参皂甙Rd预处理组(Rd)。Control组细胞正常培养;Glu组细胞暴露于含10mM谷氨酸的DMEM培养基中损伤24 h;Rd组细胞经50μM的人参皂甙Rd预处理30 min后,在谷氨酸浓度为10 mM的DMEM培养基中损伤24 h。采用MTT检测细胞活力和乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)检测试剂盒检测LDH释放量;流式细胞仪检测胞内活性氧(ROS)水平;Western blot检测还原型谷胱甘肽蛋白(GSH)表达;专用试剂盒检测细胞内过氧化氢酶(CAT)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)含量,相差显微镜观测细胞形态。结果:50μM的人参皂甙Rd预处理30 min,可明显提高谷氨酸诱导的PC12细胞的活力,降低其LDH释放量、胞内ROS含量,并提高胞内GSH蛋白表达,增加CAT、SOD含量并改善细胞形态。结论:人参皂甙Rd预处理可减轻谷氨酸引起的PC12细胞损伤。     

Activation of particulate guanylyl cyclase by endothelins in cultured SV-40 transformed cat iris sphincter smooth muscle cells

We investigated the effects of endothelins (ETs) on cGMP production in cultured SV-40 transformed cat iris sphincter smooth muscle (SV-CISM-2) cells. ET-3 increased cGMP formation in a concentration-dependent manner (EC50 = 98nM), which was 2.5 times higher than that of ET-1. The ET(B)receptor agonists sarafotoxin-S6c and IRL 1620 also increased cGMP production, mimicking the effects of the ETs. The ET(B) receptor antagonist BQ 788, but not the ET(A) receptor antagonist BQ610, dose-dependently blocked ET-3-stimulated cGMP formation (IC50=10nM). The phorbol ester, Phorbol 12, 13-dibutyrate (PDBu), which inhibits particulate guanylyl cyclase in smooth muscle, dose-dependently inhibited ET-3-stimulated cGMP accumulation (IC50=66nM). LY83583 and ODQ, inhibitors of soluble guanylyl cyclases, as well as inhibitors of the nitric oxide cascade and of intracellular Ca2+ elevation had no appreciable effect on ET-3-induced cGMP production. ET-3 markedly inhibited carbachol-induced intracellular Ca2+ mobilization. We conclude that ET-3 increases intracellular cGMP levels in SV-CISM-2 cells through activation of the ET(B) receptor subtype and subsequent stimulation of the membrane-bound guanylyl cyclase. Elevation of cGMP by ET and the subsequent inhibition of muscarinic stimulation of intracellular Ca2+ mobilization by the cyclic nucleotide could serve to modulate the contractile effects of Ca2+-mobilizing agonists in the iris sphincter smooth muscle.     

Investigation of the vasorelaxant effects of 3-(5'-hydroxymethyl-2'-furyl)-1-benzyl indazole (YC-1) and diethylamine/nitric oxide (DEA/NO) on the human radial artery used as coronary bypass graft

The radial artery (RA) is used as a spastic coronary bypass graft. This study was designed to investigate the mechanism of vasorelaxant effects of YC-1 (3-(5'-hydroxymethyl-2'-furyl)-1-benzyl indazole), a nitric oxide (NO)-independent soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) activator, and DEA/NO (diethylamine/nitric oxide), a NO-nucleophile adduct, on the human RA. RA segments (n = 25) were obtained from coronary artery bypass grafting patients and were divided into 3-4 mm vascular rings.Using the isolated tissue bath technique, the endothelium-independent vasodilatation function was tested in vitro by the addition of cumulative concentrations of YC-1 (10-10 to 3 x 10-7 mol/L) and DEA/NO (10-8 to 3 x 10-5 mol/L) following vasocontraction by phenylephrine in the presence or absence of 10-5 mol/L ODQ (1H-(1,2,4)oxadiazole(4,3-a)quinoxalin-1-one), the selective sGC inhibitor, 10-7 mol/L iberiotoxin, a blocker of Ca2+-activated K+ channels, or 10-5 mol/L ODQ plus 10-7 mol/L iberiotoxin. We also evaluated the effect of YC-1 and DEA/NO on the cGMP levels in vascular rings obtained from human radial artery (n = 6 for each drug). YC-1 (10-10 to 3 x 10-7 mol/L) and DEA/NO (10-8 to 3 x 10-5 mol/L) caused the concentration-dependent vasorelaxation in RA rings precontracted with phenylephrine (10-5 mol/L) (n = 20 for each drug). Pre-incubation of RA rings with ODQ, iberiotoxin, or ODQ plus iberiotoxin significantly inhibited the vasorelaxant effect of YC-1, but the inhibitor effect of ODQ plus iberiotoxin was significantly more than that of ODQ and iberiotoxin alone (p < 0.05). The vasorelaxant effect of DEA/NO almost completely abolished in the presence of ODQ and iberiotoxin plus ODQ, but did not significantly change in the presence of iberiotoxin alone (p > 0.05). The pEC50 value of DEA/NO was significantly lower than those for YC-1 (p < 0.01), with no change Emax values in RA rings. In addition, YC-1-stimulated RA rings showed more elevation in cGMP than that of DEA/NO (p < 0.05). These findings indicate that YC-1 is a more potent relaxant than DEA/NO in the human RA. The relaxant effects of YC-1 could be due to the stimulation of the sGC and Ca2+-sensitive K+channels, whereas the relaxant effects of DEA/NO could be completely due to the stimulation of the sGC. YC-1 and DEA/NO may be effective as vasodilator for the short-term treatment of perioperative spasm of coronary bypass grafts.     

Guanylyl cyclase: NO hits its target

The NO receptor, NO-sensitive guanylyl cyclase, plays a key role in the NO/cGMP signal-transduction cascade. Two isoforms of the enzyme are currently known, the widely distributed vascular alpha1beta1 isoform and the neuronal alpha2beta1 isoform predominantly expressed in brain. Interaction with the PSD-95 (postsynaptic density protein-95) family of scaffolding proteins targets the neuronal alpha2beta1 isoform to synaptic membranes. The NO sensor of the guanylyl cyclase is formed by the prosthetic haem group, where NO binding takes place and induces the up to 200-fold activation of the enzyme. The haem group allows tight regulation of enzymic activity by NO and represents the most striking feature of the enzyme, as it differs in many aspects from the well-characterized haem groups of other haemoproteins. The new NO sensitizers such as YC-1 [3-(5'-hydroxymethyl-2'-furyl)-1-benzylindazole] affect activation by NO and CO by mechanisms that are currently subject to intense research.     

Immortalization of human melanocytes does not alter the de novo properties of nitric oxide to induce cell detachment from extracellular matrix components via cGMP

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important mediator in many (patho)physiological processes including inflammation and skin cancer. A key transducer in NO signaling is the soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) that catalyzes the formation of guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP). The basic mechanism of NO-cGMP signaling in melanocytic cells is, however, not well elucidated. A setback for such studies is the limited availability of patient-derived melanocytes. Here, we report that immortalized human normal and vitiliginous cell lines generated via cell transfection with human papilloma virus 16 genes E6 and E7 express NO synthase and guanylyl cyclase isoforms and the multidrug resistance-associated proteins 4 and 5 as selective cGMP exporters. Donors of NO (e.g., the NONOate (Z)-1-[N-(3-ammoniopropyl)-N-(n-propyl)amino]diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate (PAPA-NO) and reactive nitrogen oxygen species (RNOS) like 3-morpholino-sydnonimine (SIN-1) as a donor of peroxynitrite as well as YC-1 as a NO-independent sGC stimulator increased intracellular cGMP levels in immortalized melanocytes (up to eightfold over controls), indicating the expression of functional sGC in these cells. PAPA-NO and SIN-1 also reduced the attachment of immortalized melanocytes to extracellular matrix (ECM) components like fibronectin which was dependent on cellular melanin content and cGMP. Such effects on melanoma cells were positively related to metastatic potential and were cGMP independent. Intriguingly, nonpigmented metastatic melanoma cells were more sensitive to exogenous sources of RNOS than of NO. Thus, immortalized melanocytes can be used as a tool for further research on differences in cell signaling between the different melanocytic lineages in particular towards impairment of cell-ECM adhesion by NO or RNOS, which may be important in metastasis and vitiligo pathogenesis.     

Glutamate-induced Toxicity in Hippocampal Slices Involves Apoptotic Features and p38MAPK Signaling

Glutamate excitotoxicity may culminate with neuronal and glial cell death. Glutamate induces apoptosis in vivo and in cell cultures. However, glutamate-induced apoptosis and the signaling pathways related to glutamate-induced cell death in acute hippocampal slices remain elusive. Hippocampal slices exposed to 1 or 10 mM glutamate for 1 h and evaluated after 6 h, showed reduced cell viability, without altering membrane permeability. This action of glutamate was accompanied by cytochrome c release, caspase-3 activation and DNA fragmentation. Glutamate at low concentration (10 μM) induced caspase-3 activation and DNA fragmentation, but it did not cause cytochrome c release and, it did not alter the viability of slices. Glutamate-induced impairment of hippocampal cell viability was completely blocked by MK-801 (non-competitive antagonist of NMDA receptors) and GAMS (antagonist of KA/AMPA glutamate receptors). Regarding intracellular signaling pathways, glutamate-induced cell death was not altered by a MEK1 inhibitor, PD98059. However, the p38^MAPK inhibitor, SB203580, prevented glutamate-induced cell damage. In the present study we have shown that glutamate induces apoptosis in hippocampal slices and it causes an impairment of cell viability that was dependent of ionotropic and metabotropic receptors activation and, may involve the activation of p38^MAPK pathway.     

Chronic hyperammonemia in rats impairs activation of soluble guanylate cyclase in neurons and in lymphocytes: a putative peripheral marker for neurological alterations

Chronic hyperammonemia impairs the glutamate-nitric oxide-cGMP pathway in rat brain in vivo. The aims of this work were to assess whether hyperammonemia impairs modulation of soluble guanylate cyclase, and to look for a peripheral marker for impairment of this pathway in brain. We activated the pathway at different steps using glutamate, SNAP, or YC-1. In control neurons these compounds increased cGMP by 7.4-, 9.7- and 7.2-fold, respectively. In ammonia-treated neurons formation of cGMP induced by glutamate, SNAP, and YC-1 was reduced by 50%, 56%, and 52%, respectively, indicating that hyperammonemia impairs activation of guanylate cyclase. This enzyme is also present in lymphocytes. Activation of guanylate cyclase by SNAP or YC-1 was impaired in lymphocytes from hyperammonemic rats. These results suggest that determination of the activation of soluble guanylate cyclase in lymphocytes could serve as a peripheral marker for impairment of the neuronal glutamate-nitric oxide-cGMP pathway in brain.