Normobaric hyperoxia inhibits NADPH oxidase-mediated matrix metalloproteinase-9 induction in cerebral microvessels in experimental stroke

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and NADPH oxidase contribute to blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption after ischemic stroke. We have previously shown that normobaric hyperoxia (NBO) treatment reduces MMP-9 and oxygen free radical generation in ischemic brain. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that NBO protects the BBB through inhibiting NADPH oxidase-mediated MMP-9 induction in transient focal cerebral ischemia. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 69) were given NBO (95% O2) or normoxia (21% O2) during 90-min filament occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. Cerebral microvessels were isolated for analyzing MMP-9 and NADPH oxidase. BBB damage was non-invasively quantified with magnetic resonance imaging. In normoxic rats, both NADPH oxidase catalytic subunit gp91(phox) and MMP-9 expression were up-regulated in ischemic hemispheric microvessels after 90-min middle cerebral artery occlusion with 22.5 h reperfusion. Inhibition of NADPH oxidase with apocynin reduced the MMP-9 increase, indicating a causal link between NADPH oxidase-derived superoxide and MMP-9 induction. NBO treatment inhibited gp91(phox) expression, NADPH oxidase activity, and MMP-9 induction, which led to significantly less BBB damage and brain edema in the ischemic brain. These results suggest that gp91(phox) containing NADPH oxidase plays an important role in MMP-9 induction in ischemic BBB microvasculature, and that NBO treatment may attenuate MMP-9 induction and brain edema through inhibiting NADPH oxidase after transient cerebral ischemia.     

Role of AT1 receptors and NAD(P)H oxidase in diabetes-aggravated ischemic brain injury

The objective of the present study was to examine the role of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT(1)-R) in the diabetes-aggravated oxidative stress and brain injury observed in a rat model of combined diabetes and focal cerebral ischemia. Diabetes was induced by an injection of streptozotoxin (STZ; 55 mg/kg iv) at 8 wk of age. Two weeks after the induction of diabetes, some animals received continuous subcutaneous infusion of the AT(1)-R antagonist candesartan (0.5 mg.kg(-1).day(-1)) for 14 days. Focal cerebral ischemia, induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO), was conducted at 4 wk after STZ injection. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 189) were divided into five groups: normal control, diabetes, MCAO, diabetes + MCAO, and diabetes + MCAO + candesartan. The major observations were that 1) MCAO produced typical cerebral infarction and neurological deficits at 24 h that were accompanied by elevation of NAD(P)H oxidase gp91(phox) and p22(phox) mRNAs, and lipid hydroperoxide production in the ipsilateral hemisphere; 2) diabetes enhanced NAD(P)H oxidase gp91(phox) and p22(phox) mRNA expression, potentiated lipid peroxidation, aggravated neurological deficits, and enlarged cerebral infarction; and 3) candesartan reduced the expression of gp91(phox) and p22(phox), decreased lipid peroxidation, lessened cerebral infarction, and improved the neurological outcome. We conclude that diabetes exaggerates the oxidative stress, NAD(P)H oxidase induction, and brain injury induced by focal cerebral ischemia. The diabetes-aggravated brain injury involves AT(1)-Rs. We have shown for the first time that candesartan reduces brain injury in a combined model of diabetes and cerebral ischemia.     

Interrupted reperfusion reduces the activation of NADPH oxidase after cerebral I/R injury

Interrupted reperfusion reduces ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. This study was designed to determine whether NADPH oxidase participates in the neural protection against global I/R injury after interrupted reperfusion. Mice were randomly divided into five groups: sham (sham-operated), I/R (20-min global I/R), RR (I/R+interrupted reperfusion), Apo (I/R+apocynin administration), and RR+Apo. Behavioral tests (pole test, beam walking, and Morris water maze) and Nissl staining were undertaken in all five groups; superoxide levels, expression of gp91(phox) and p47(phox), p47(phox) translocation, and Rac1 activation were measured in the sham, I/R, and RR groups. The motor coordination, bradykinesia, and spatial learning and memory, as well as the neuron survival rates, were better in the RR, Apo, and RR+Apo groups than in the I/R group. The NADPH oxidase-dependent superoxide levels, p47(phox) and gp91(phox) expression, p47(phox) translocation, and Rac1 activation were lower in the RR group than in the I/R group. In conclusion, the neural protective effect of interrupted reperfusion is at least partly mediated by decreasing the expression and assembly of NADPH oxidase and the levels of NADPH oxidase-derived superoxide. The most striking reduction Rac1-GTP in the RR group suggests that interrupted reperfusion also acts on the activation of assembled NADPH oxidase by reducing the availability of Rac1-GTP.     

Gp91phox contributes to NADPH oxidase activity in aortic fibroblasts but not smooth muscle cells

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) derived from vascular NADPH oxidase are important in normal and pathological regulation of vessel growth and function. Cell-specific differences in expression and function of the catalytic subunit of NADPH oxidase may contribute to differences in vascular cell response to NADPH oxidase activation. We examined the functional expression of gp91phox on NADPH oxidase activity in vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) and fibroblasts (FB). As measured by dihydroethidium fluorescence in situ, superoxide (O2-*) levels were greater in adventitial cells compared with medial SMC in wild-type aorta. In contrast, there was no difference in O2-* levels between adventitial cells and medial SMC in aorta from gp91phox-deficient (gp91phox KO) mice. Adventitial-derived FB and medial SMC were isolated from the aorta of wild-type and gp91phox KO mice and grown in culture. Consistent with the observations in situ, basal and stimulated ROS levels were reduced in FB isolated from aorta of gp91phox KO compared with FB from wild-type aorta, whereas ROS levels were similar in SMC derived from gp91phox KO and wild-type aorta. There were no differences in expression of superoxide dismutase between gp91phox KO and wild-type FB to account for these observations. Because gp91phox is associated with membranes, we examined NADPH-stimulated O2-. production in membrane-enriched fractions of cell lysate. As measured by chemiluminescence, NADPH oxidase activity was markedly greater in wild-type FB compared with gp91phox KO FB but did not differ among the SMCs. Confirming functional expression of gp91phox in FB, antisense to gp91phox decreased ROS levels in wild-type FB. Finally, deficiency of gp91phox did not alter expression of the gp91phox homolog NOX4 in isolated FB. We conclude that the neutrophil subunit gp91phox contributes to NADPH oxidase function in vascular FB, but not SMC.     

清开灵对小胶质细胞BV2缺氧再复氧损伤gp~(91phox)表达的影响

目的:建立小胶质细胞缺氧再复氧损伤模型,观察产生ROS的NADPH氧化酶的重要功能亚基gp91phox的表达变化及清开灵的干预作用,丰富清开灵基于解毒通络法以祛除内毒恢复脉络的作用内涵。方法:体外培养小鼠胶质细胞BV2,细胞分为正常组、模型组和清开灵高、中、低剂量组,在1%O2三气培养箱中缺氧12小时再复氧12小时模拟缺血再灌注损伤,正常对照组在培养箱中培养24小时,实时荧光定量PCR法检测gp91phoxmRNA的转录水平,Western blot法检测gp91phox蛋白表达。结果:缺氧再复氧损伤后,模型组gp91phox基因转录水平和蛋白表达提高(P0.05);与模型组比较,清开灵低、中、高剂量组都有明显改善作用,其中低剂量(0.0625%)对基因转录降低更明显,高剂量组(0.25%)对gp91phox蛋白表达的抑制更显著,具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:清开灵可通过降低缺氧再复氧后小胶质细胞gp91phox的表达,减少活性氧的产生而抑制脑缺血损伤氧化应激反应。     

Rotenone activates phagocyte NADPH oxidase by binding to its membrane subunit gp91phox

Rotenone, a widely used pesticide, reproduces parkinsonism in rodents and associates with increased risk for Parkinson disease. We previously reported that rotenone increased superoxide production by stimulating the microglial phagocyte NADPH oxidase (PHOX). This study identified a novel mechanism by which rotenone activates PHOX. Ligand-binding assay revealed that rotenone directly bound to membrane gp91(phox), the catalytic subunit of PHOX; such binding was inhibited by diphenyleneiodonium, a PHOX inhibitor with a binding site on gp91(phox). Functional studies showed that both membrane and cytosolic subunits were required for rotenone-induced superoxide production in cell-free systems, intact phagocytes, and COS7 cells transfected with membrane subunits (gp91(phox)/p22(phox)) and cytosolic subunits (p67(phox) and p47(phox)). Rotenone-elicited extracellular superoxide release in p47(phox)-deficient macrophages suggested that rotenone enabled activation of PHOX through a p47(phox)-independent mechanism. Increased membrane translocation of p67(phox), elevated binding of p67(phox) to rotenone-treated membrane fractions, and coimmunoprecipitation of p67(phox) and gp91(phox) in rotenone-treated wild-type and p47(phox)-deficient macrophages indicated that p67(phox) played a critical role in rotenone-induced PHOX activation via its direct interaction with gp91(phox). Rac1, a Rho-like small GTPase, enhanced p67(phox)-gp91(phox) interaction; Rac1 inhibition decreased rotenone-elicited superoxide release. In conclusion, rotenone directly interacted with gp91(phox); such an interaction triggered membrane translocation of p67(phox), leading to PHOX activation and superoxide production.     

Toll receptor-mediated regulation of NADPH oxidase in human dendritic cells

Activation of NADPH oxidase represents an essential mechanism of defense against pathogens. Dendritic cells (DC) are phagocytic cells specialized in Ag presentation rather than in bacteria killing. Human monocyte-derived DC were found to express the NADPH oxidase components and to release superoxide anions in response to phorbol esters and phagocytic agonists. The NADPH oxidase components p47phox and gp91phox were down-regulated during monocyte differentiation to DC, and maturation of DC with pathogen-derived molecules, known to activate TLRs, increased p47phox and gp91phox expression and enhanced superoxide anions release. Similar results were obtained with plasmacytoid DC following maturation with influenza virus. In contrast, activation of DC by immune stimuli (CD40 ligand) did not regulate NADPH oxidase components or respiratory burst. NADPH oxidase-derived oxygen radicals did not play any role in DC differentiation, maturation, cytokine production, and induction of T cell proliferation, as based on the normal function of DC generated from chronic granulomatous disease patients and the use of an oxygen radical scavenger. However, NADPH oxidase activation was required for DC killing of intracellular Escherichia coli. It is likely that the selective regulation of oxygen radicals production by pathogen-activated DC may function to limit pathogen dissemination during DC trafficking to secondary lymphoid tissues.     

Functional epitope on human neutrophil flavocytochrome b558

mAb NL7 was raised against purified flavocytochrome b(558), important in host defense and inflammation. NL7 recognized the gp91(phox) flavocytochrome b(558) subunit by immunoblot and bound to permeabilized neutrophils and neutrophil membranes. Epitope mapping by phage display analysis indicated that NL7 binds the (498)EKDVITGLK(506) region of gp91(phox). In a cell-free assay, NL7 inhibited in vitro activation of the NADPH oxidase in a concentration-dependent manner, and had marginal effects on the oxidase substrate Michaelis constant (K(m)). mAb NL7 did not inhibit translocation of p47(phox), p67(phox), or Rac to the plasma membrane, and bound its epitope on gp91(phox) independently of cytosolic factor translocation. However, after assembly of the NADPH oxidase complex, mAb NL7 bound the epitope but did not inhibit the generation of superoxide. Three-dimensional modeling of the C-terminal domain of gp91(phox) on a corn nitrate reductase template suggests close proximity of the NL7 epitope to the proposed NADPH binding site, but significant separation from the proposed p47(phox) binding sites. We conclude that the (498)EKDVITGLK(506) segment resides on the cytosolic surface of gp91(phox) and represents a region important for oxidase function, but not substrate or cytosolic component binding.     

Mutagenesis of an arginine- and lysine-rich domain in the gp91(phox) subunit of the phagocyte NADPH-oxidase flavocytochrome b558

Site-directed mutagenesis was used to generate a series of mutants harboring point or multiple substitutions within the hydrophilic, polybasic domain of gp91(phox) encompassed by residues 86-102, which was previously identified as a site of interaction with p47(phox) during phagocyte NADPH oxidase assembly. Recombinant wild-type or mutant gp91(phox) was expressed in a human myeloid leukemia cell line in which the endogenous gp91(phox) gene was disrupted by gene targeting. NADPH oxidase activity was measured in a cytochrome c reduction assay following granulocytic differentiation of cells that expressed recombinant gp91(phox). Expression of a gp91(phox) mutant in which amino acids 89-97 were replaced with nine alternate amino acids abolished NADPH oxidase activity. Expression of gp91(phox) mutants R89T, D95A, D95R, R96A, R96E, or K102T did not significantly affect NADPH oxidase activity. However, mutations of individual or paired arginine residues at positions 91 and 92 had substantial effects on superoxide generation. The R91E/R92E mutation completely abolished both NADPH oxidase activity and membrane-translocation of the cytosolic oxidase proteins p47(phox), p67(phox), Rac1, and Rac2. The phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced rate of superoxide production was reduced by approximately 75% in cells expressing R91T/R92A, R91E, or R92E gp91(phox) along with an increased lag time to the maximal rates of superoxide production relative to cells expressing wild-type gp91(phox). Taken together, these results demonstrate that Arg91 and Arg92 of gp91(phox) are essential for flavocytochrome b558 function in granulocytes and suggest that these residues participate in the interaction of gp91(phox) with the cytosolic oxidase proteins.     

Absence of proton channels in COS-7 cells expressing functional NADPH oxidase components

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase is an enzyme of phagocytes that produces bactericidal superoxide anion (O(2)(-)) via an electrogenic process. Proton efflux compensates for the charge movement across the cell membrane. The proton channel responsible for the H(+) efflux was thought to be contained within the gp91(phox) subunit of NADPH oxidase, but recent data do not support this idea (DeCoursey, T.E., V.V. Cherny, D. Morgan, B.Z. Katz, and M.C. Dinauer. 2001. J. Biol. Chem. 276:36063-36066). In this study, we investigated electrophysiological properties and superoxide production of COS-7 cells transfected with all NADPH oxidase components required for enzyme function (COS(phox)). The 7D5 antibody, which detects an extracellular epitope of the gp91(phox) protein, labeled 96-98% of COS(phox) cells. NADPH oxidase was functional because COS(phox) (but not COS(WT)) cells stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) or arachidonic acid (AA) produced superoxide anion. No proton currents were detected in either wild-type COS-7 cells (COS(WT)) or COS(phox) cells studied at pH(o) 7.0 and pH(i) 5.5 or 7.0. Anion currents that decayed at voltages positive to 40 mV were the only currents observed. PMA or AA did not elicit detectable H(+) current in COS(WT) or COS(phox) cells. Therefore, gp91(phox) does not function as a proton channel in unstimulated cells or in activated cells with a demonstrably functional oxidase.     

Continuous oral administration of atorvastatin ameliorates brain damage after transient focal ischemia in rats

Aims

Pre-treatment with statins is known to ameliorate ischemic brain damage after experimental stroke, and is independent of cholesterol levels. We undertook pre- vs post-ischemic treatment with atorvastatin after focal cerebral ischemia in rats.

Main methods

Male Sprague–Dawley rats underwent transient 90-min middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Atorvastatin (20 mg/kg/day) or vehicle was administered orally. Rats were divided into vehicle-treated, atorvastatin pre-treatment, atorvastatin post-treatment, and atorvastatin continuous-treatment groups. In the pre-treatment, rats were given atorvastatin or vehicle for 7 days before MCAO. In the post-treatment, rats received atorvastatin or vehicle for 7 days after MCAO. Measurement of infarct volume, as well as neurological and immunohistochemical assessments, were done 24 h and 7 days after reperfusion.

Key findings

Each atorvastatin-treated group demonstrated significant reductions in infarct and edema volumes compared with the vehicle-treated group 24 h after reperfusion. Seven days after reperfusion, infarct volumes in the post-treatment group and continuous-treatment group (but not the pre-treatment group) were significantly smaller than in the vehicle-treated group. Only the continuous-treatment group had significantly improved neurological scores 7 days after reperfusion compared with the vehicle group. Post-treatment and continuous-treatment groups had significantly decreased lipid peroxidation, oxidative DNA damage, microglial activation, expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and neuronal damage in the cortical ischemic boundary area after 7 days of reperfusion.

Significance

These results suggest that continuous oral administration (avoiding withdrawal) with statins after stroke may reduce the extent of post-ischemic brain damage and improve neurological outcome by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammatory responses.     

Analysis of human phagocyte flavocytochrome b(558) by mass spectrometry

The catalytic core of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase is a heterodimeric integral membrane protein (flavocytochrome b (Cyt b)) that generates superoxide and initiates a cascade of reactive oxygen species critical for the host inflammatory response. In order to facilitate structural characterization, the present study reports the first direct analysis of human phagocyte Cyt b by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization and nanoelectrospray mass spectrometry. Mass analysis of in-gel tryptic digest samples provided 73% total sequence coverage of the gp91(phox) subunit, including three of the six proposed transmembrane domains. Similar analysis of the p22(phox) subunit provided 72% total sequence coverage, including assignment of the hydrophobic N-terminal region and residues that are polymorphic in the human population. To initiate mass analysis of Cyt b post-translational modifications, the isolated gp91(phox) subunit was subject to sequential in-gel digestion with Flavobacterium meningosepticum peptide N-glycosidase F and trypsin, with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry used to demonstrate that Asn-132, -149, and -240 are genuinely modified by N-linked glycans in human neutrophils. Since the PLB-985 cell line represents an important model system for analysis of the NADPH oxidase, methods were developed for the purification of Cyt b from PLB-985 membrane fractions in order to confirm the appropriate modification of N-linked glycosylation sites on the recombinant gp91(phox) subunit. This study reports extensive sequence coverage of the integral membrane protein Cyt b by mass spectrometry and provides analytical methods that will be useful for evaluating posttranslational modifications involved in the regulation of superoxide production.     

NADPH oxidase- and mitochondrion-derived superoxide at rostral ventrolateral medulla in endotoxin-induced cardiovascular depression

We evaluated the contribution of superoxide anion (O2*-) generated by NADPH oxidase or mitochondria in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), where sympathetic premotor neurons for arterial pressure maintenance are located, on cardiovascular depression induced by inducible nitric oxide synthase-derived NO after Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment. In Sprague-Dawley rats maintained under propofol anesthesia, microinjection of LPS bilaterally into the RVLM induced progressive hypotension, bradycardia, and reduction in sympathetic vasomotor outflow over our 240-min observation period. This was accompanied by an increase in O2*- production (60-240 min) in the RVLM, alongside phosphorylation of p47(phox) or p67(phox), upregulation of gp91(phox) or p47(phox) protein, and increase in Rac-1 or NADPH oxidase activity (60-120 min), and a depression of mitochondrial respiratory enzyme activity (120-240 min). Whereas inhibition of NADPH oxidase or knockdown of the gp91(phox) or p47(phox) gene blunted the early phase (60-150 min), coenzyme Q10 or mitochondrial K(ATP) channel inhibitor antagonized the delayed phase (120-240 min) of LPS-induced increase in O2*- production in RVLM and cardiovascular depression. We conclude that, whereas NADPH oxidase-derived O2*- in RVLM participates predominantly in the early phase, O2*- generated by depression in mitochondrial respiratory enzyme activity or opening of mitoK(ATP) channels mediates the delayed phase of LPS-induced cardiovascular depression.     

质膜上的活性氧制造者--NOX家族

NADPH氧化酶特异存在于吞噬细胞质膜,能生成用于清除病原微生物的活性氧（reactive oxygen species,ROS）。NOX是NADPH氧化酶催化亚基gp91^phox的同源物,存在于多种非吞噬细胞。目前发现的NOX有NOX1、NOX3、NOX4及NOX5,虽然它们有一定的组织特异性,但与NADPH氧化酶一样均有催化生成ROS的能力。与吞噬细胞中NADPH氧化酶所制造的ROS不同,NOX所产生的ROS并不主要起细胞防御功能,而是作为第二信使,参与细胞增殖、分化、凋亡的调节。此外,NOX对血管生成及骨吸收也有一定的影响,同时还可作为氧感受器调节促红细胞生成素（EPO）的产生。     

Mutagenesis of p22(phox) histidine 94. A histidine in this position is not required for flavocytochrome b558 function

The NADPH oxidase is a multicomponent enzyme that transfers electrons from NADPH to O2 to generate superoxide (O2*-), the precursor of microbicidal oxygen species that play an important role in host defense. Flavocytochrome b558, a heterodimeric oxidoreductase comprised of gp91(phox) and p22(phox) subunits, contains two nonidentical, bis-histidine-ligated heme groups imbedded within the membrane. Four histidine residues that appear to serve as noncovalent axial heme ligands reside within the hydrophobic N terminus of gp91(phox), but the role of p22(phox) in heme binding is unclear. We compared biochemical and functional features of wild type flavocytochrome b558 with those in cells co-expressing gp91(phox) with p22(phox) harboring amino acid substitutions at histidine 94, the only invariant histidine residue within the p22(phox) subunit. Substitution with leucine, tyrosine, or methionine did not affect heterodimer formation or flavocytochrome b558 function. The heme spectrum in purified preparations of flavocytochrome b558 containing the p22(phox) derivative was unaffected. In contrast, substitution of histidine 94 with arginine appeared to disrupt the intrinsic stability of p22(phox) and, secondarily, the stability of mature gp91(phox) and abrogated O2*- production. These findings demonstrate that His94 p22(phox) is not required for heme binding or function of flavocytochrome b558 in the NADPH oxidase.     

Lectin-induced activation of plasma membrane NADPH oxidase in cholesterol-depleted human neutrophils

The gp91phox subunit of flavocytochrome b₅₅₈ is the catalytic core of the phagocyte plasma membrane NADPH oxidase. Its activation occurs within lipid rafts and requires translocation of four subunits to flavocytochrome b₅₅₈. gp91phox is the only glycosylated subunit of NADPH oxidase and no data exist about the structure or function of its glycans. Glycans, however, bind to lectins and this can stimulate NADPH oxidase activity. Given this information, we hypothesized that lectin–gp91phox interactions would facilitate the assembly of a functionally active NADPH oxidase in the absence of lipid rafts. To test this, we used lectins with different carbohydrate-binding specificity to examine the effects on H₂O₂ generation by human neutrophils treated with the lipid raft disrupting agent methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD). MβCD treatment removed membrane cholesterol, caused changes in cell morphology, inhibited lectin-induced cell aggregation, and delayed lectin-induced assembly of the NADPH oxidase complex. More importantly, MβCD treatment either stimulated or inhibited H₂O₂ production in a lectin-dependent manner. Together, these results show selectivity in lectin binding to gp91phox, and provide evidence for the biochemical structures of the gp91phox glycans. Furthermore, the data also indicate that in the absence of lipid rafts, neutrophil NADPH oxidase activity can be altered by these select lectins.     

Deletion mutagenesis of p22phox subunit of flavocytochrome b558: identification of regions critical for gp91phox maturation and NADPH oxidase activity

The heterodimeric flavocytochrome b558, comprised of the two integral membrane proteins p22phox and gp91phox, mediates the transfer of electrons from NADPH to molecular oxygen in the phagocyte NADPH oxidase to generate the superoxide precursor of microbicidal oxidants. This study uses deletion mutagenesis to identify regions of p22phox required for maturation of gp91phox and for NADPH oxidase activity. N-terminal, C-terminal, or internal deletions of human p22phox were generated and expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells with transgenes for gp91phox and two other NADPH oxidase subunits, p47phox, and p67phox. The results demonstrate that p22phox-dependent maturation of gp91phox carbohydrate, cell surface expression of gp91phox, and the enzymatic function of flavocytochrome b558 are closely correlated. Whereas the 5 N-terminal and 25 C-terminal amino acids are dispensable for these functions, the N-terminal 11 amino acids of p22phox are required, as is a hydrophilic region between amino acids 65 and 90. Upon deletion of 54 residues at the C terminus of p22phox (amino acids 142-195), maturation and cell surface expression of gp91phox was still preserved, although NADPH oxidase activity was absent, as expected, due to removal of a proline-rich domain between amino acids 151-160 that is required for recruitment of p47phox. Antibody binding studies indicate that the extreme N terminus of p22phox is inaccessible in the absence of cell permeabilization, supporting a model in which both the N- and C-terminal domains of p22phox extend into the cytoplasm, anchored by two membrane-embedded regions.     

Role of NADPH oxidase in the brain injury of intracerebral hemorrhage

The major risk factors for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) are hypertension and aging. A fundamental mechanism for hypertension- and aging-induced vascular injury is oxidative stress. We hypothesize that oxidative stress has a crucial role in ICH. To test our hypothesis, we used bacterial collagenase to produce ICH in wild-type C57BL/6 and gp91phox knockout (gp91phox KO) mice (deficient in gp91phox subunit of the superoxide-producing enzyme NADPH oxidase). All animals were studied at 20-35 weeks of age, resembling an older patient population. We found that collagenase produced less bleeding in gp91phox KO mice than wild-type mice. Total oxidative product was lower in gp91phox KO mice than in wild-type mice, both under basal conditions and after ICH. Consistent with the ICH volume, brain edema formation, neurological deficit and a high mortality rate was noted in wild-type but not in gp91phox KO mice. This ICH-induced brain injury in wild-type mice is associated with enhanced expression of the gp91phox subunit of NADPH oxidase. In conclusion, the oxidative stress resulting from activation of NADPH oxidase contributes to ICH induced by collagenase and promotes brain injury.     

The X+ chronic granulomatous disease as a fabulous model to study the NADPH oxidase complex activation

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a rare inherited disorder in which phagocytes lack NADPH oxidase activity. Patients with CGD suffer from recurrent bacterial and fungal infections because of the absence of superoxide anions (O2- degrees ) generatingsystem. The NADPH oxidase complex is composed of a membranous cytochrome b558, cytosolic proteins p67phox, p47phox, p40phox and two small GTPases Rac2 and Rap1A. Cytochrome b558 consists of two sub-units gp91phox and p22phox. The most common form of CGD is due to mutations in CYBB gene encoding gp91phox. In some rare cases, the mutated gp91phox is normally expressed but is devoided of oxidase activity. These variants called X+ CGD, have provided interesting informations about oxidase activation mechanisms. However modelization of such variants is necessary to obtain enough biological material for studies at the molecular level. A cellular model (knock-out PLB-985 cells) has been developed for expressing recombinant mutated gp91phox for functional analysis of the oxidase complex. Recent works demonstrated that this cell line genetically deficient in gp91phox is a powerful tool for functional analysis of the NADPH oxidase complex activation.