Stimulant effect of nitric oxide generator and roxatidine on mucin biosynthesis of rat gastric oxyntic mucosa.

Although the involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in an increasing gastric mucus metabolism has been reported, information on whether or not its activation is limited to the specific mucus-producing cells is lacking. In this paper, we report the effect of the exogenous NO-donor, isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN), and second-generation histamine H2 receptor antagonist roxatidine (2-acetoxy-N-(3-[m-(1-piperidinylmethyl)phenoxy]propyl)acetamide hydrochloride) which is demonstrated to accelerate the mucin metabolism mediated by endogenous NO, on the mucin biosynthesis in distinct sites and layers of the rat gastric mucosa using an organ culture technique. Radiolabeled mucin was obtained from the tissue of full-thickness and the deep corpus layer, and the antrum of the rat stomach incubated for 5 hr with [3H]glucosamine(GlcN) in vitro. With the addition of ISDN to the culture medium, 3H-labeled mucin in the full-thickness corpus mucosa increased to 124-145% of the control (p<0.05), but not in the antrum. This stimulation of the mucin synthesis disappeared by the removal treatment of the surface mucous cell layer which has immunoreactivity of neuronal NO synthase. Similarly, roxatidine stimulated the mucin biosynthesis in the full-thickness corpus mucosa, but not in the gland mucous cell layer. These results suggest that the stimulation of the mucin biosynthesis mediated by NO is restricted to the surface mucous cells of the rat gastric oxyntic mucosa.     

The mucin biosynthesis stimulated by epidermal growth factor occurs in surface mucus cells, but not in gland mucus cells, of rat stomach

Although epidermal growth factor (EGF) accelerates gastric mucin biosynthesis, information on whether its activation is limited to the specific mucus-producing cells is lacking. In this paper, we investigated the effects of EGF on mucin biosynthesis and the expression of its receptor in distinct layers of rat gastric mucosa, including the possible participation of nitric oxide (NO). EGF enhanced the incorporation of [3H]glucosamine and [14C]threonine into the mucin in the full-thickness tissues of the gastric mucosa. This stimulation disappeared on the removal treatment of the surface mucosal layer chiefly consisting of surface mucus cells. The EGF-induced increase in [3H]-labeled mucin in the full-thickness mucosa was not suppressed by either NG-nitro-L-arginine (10(-5) M) or 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (10(-5) M). The EGF-receptor-mRNA expression was high in the surface mucosal layer but low in the deep and muscle layers of the stomach. These results suggest that EGF-induced stimulation of mucin biosynthesis is limited to the surface mucus cells of the rat gastric mucosa and is independent of the NO pathway.     

The gastric mucus layers: constituents and regulation of accumulation

The mucus layer continuously covering the gastric mucosa consists of a loosely adherent layer that can be easily removed by suction, leaving a firmly adherent mucus layer attached to the epithelium. These two layers exhibit different gastroprotective roles; therefore, individual regulation of thickness and mucin composition were studied. Mucus thickness was measured in vivo with micropipettes in anesthetized mice [isoflurane; C57BL/6, Muc1-/-, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)-/-, and neuronal NOS (nNOS)-/-] and rats (inactin) after surgical exposure of the gastric mucosa. The two mucus layers covering the gastric mucosa were differently regulated. Luminal administration of PGE(2) increased the thickness of both layers, whereas luminal NO stimulated only firmly adherent mucus accumulation. A new gastroprotective role for iNOS was indicated since iNOS-deficient mice had thinner firmly adherent mucus layers and a lower mucus accumulation rate, whereas nNOS did not appear to be involved in mucus secretion. Downregulation of gastric mucus accumulation was observed in Muc1-/- mice. Both the firmly and loosely adherent mucus layers consisted of Muc5ac mucins. In conclusion, this study showed that, even though both the two mucus layers covering the gastric mucosa consist of Muc5ac, they are differently regulated by luminal PGE(2) and NO. A new gastroprotective role for iNOS was indicated since iNOS-/- mice had a thinner firmly adherent mucus layer. In addition, a regulatory role of Muc1 was demonstrated since downregulation of gastric mucus accumulation was observed in Muc1-/- mice.     

Lectin histochemical examination of rabbit bladder glycoproteins and characterization of a mucin isolated from the bladder mucosa

The glycocalyx of the mucosal surface of urinary bladder acts as an effective barrier against invasion by pathogenic microorganisms and injury from toxic substances in the urine. Defects in these bladder mucosal components could thus be important factors in the development of diseases such as interstitial cystitis and lower urinary tract infections. However, information on the nature of glycoconjugates of mammalian bladder mucosa is very limited. In this study, the glycoconjugates of rabbit bladder were examined histochemically using biotinylated lectins with specificities for a variety of carbohydrate moieties. Three [Artocarpus integrifolia (Jacalin), Datura stramonium (DSL), and Maackia amurensis II (MAL-II)] of the lectins bound predominantly to the luminal cell layer, with decreased binding to the basal layers of the epithelium. In contrast, Ricinus communis I and Sambucus nigra lectins did not bind to the cells in the epithelium but strongly interacted with the subepithelial layers, especially the lamina propria. The intensity of the staining by Jacalin and MAL-II was significantly reduced by prior treatment of the bladder sections with O-sialoglycoprotein endopeptidase, indicating that the ligands of these lectins are primarily mucin glycoproteins. In parallel biochemical studies, a high-molecular-weight glycoprotein with characteristics typical of epithelial mucins was purified from the mucosa of rabbit bladder explant cultures metabolically labeled with [(3)H]glucosamine. Quantitative analysis of the sialic acid, uronic acid, and hexosamine contents of delipidated rabbit bladder mucosa revealed a larger proportion of sialoglycoproteins compared with glycosaminoglycans. Taken together, the results of histochemical and biochemical analyses indicate that glycoproteins rather than glycosaminoglycans are the major components of the bladder epithelium, and that the former include a mucin.     

Role of sulfation in the processing of gastric mucins.

The role of sulfation in the processing of mucus glycoprotein in gastric mucosa was investigated. Rat gastric mucosal segments were incubated in MEM at various medium sulfate concentrations in the presence of [35S]Na2SO4, [3H]glucosamine and [3H]proline, with and without chlorate an inhibitor of PAPS formation. The results revealed that the mucin sulfation attained maximum at 300 microM medium sulfate concentration. Introduction of chlorate into the incubation medium, while having no effect on the protein synthesis as evidenced by [3H]proline incorporation, caused at its optimal concentration of 2 mM a 90% decrease in mucin sulfation and a 40% drop in mucin glycosylation. Evaluation of mucin molecular forms distribution indicated the predominance of the high molecular mucin form in the intracellular fraction and the low molecular mucin from in the extracellular fraction. Increase in medium sulfate caused an increase in the high molecular weight mucin form in both fractions, and this effect was inhibited by chlorate. Also, higher medium sulfate concentrations led to a higher degree of sulfation in the high molecular weight mucin form, the effect of which was inhibited by chlorate. The results suggest that the sulfation process is an early event taking place at the stage of mucin subunit assembly and is required for mucin polymer formation. Hence, the disturbances in mucin sulfation process could be detrimental to the maintenance of gastric mucus coat integrity.     

Fast renewal of the distal colonic mucus layers by the surface goblet cells as measured by in vivo labeling of mucin glycoproteins

The enormous bacterial load and mechanical forces in colon create a special requirement for protection of the epithelium. In the distal colon, this problem is largely solved by separation of the bacteria from the epithelium by a firmly attached inner mucus layer. In addition, an outer mucus layer entraps bacteria to be cleared by distal transport. The mucus layers contain a network of Muc2 mucins as the main structural component. Here, the renewal rate of the inner protective mucus layer was studied as well as the production and secretion of Muc2 mucin in the distal colon. This was performed by intraperitoneal injection of N-azidoacetyl-galactosamine (GalNAz) that was in vivo incorporated during biosynthesis of O-glycosylated glycoproteins. The only gel-forming mucin produced in the colon is the Muc2 mucin and as it carries numerous O-glycans, the granulae of the goblet cells producing Muc2 mucin were intensely stained. The GalNAz-labeled glycoproteins were first observed in the Golgi apparatus of most cells. Goblet cells in the luminal surface epithelium had the fastest biosynthesis of Muc2 and secreted material already three hours after labeling. This secreted GalNAz-labeled Muc2 mucin formed the inner mucus layer. The goblet cells along the crypt epithelium accumulated labeled mucin vesicles for a longer period and secretion of labeled Muc2 mucin was first observed after 6 to 8 h. This study reveals a fast turnover (1 h) of the inner mucus layer in the distal colon mediated by goblet cells of the luminal surface epithelium.     

Monensin inhibits synthesis of proteoglycan, but not of hyaluronate, in chondrocytes

Monensin (10nm-1mum) inhibited the incorporation of [(35)S]sulphate and [(3)H]glucosamine into proteoglycans by rat chondrosarcoma cells, but the incorporation of [(3)H]glucosamine into hyaluronate was unaffected. The results suggest that hyaluronate synthesis occurs in a cell compartment separate from chondroitin sulphate synthesis.     

Reserpine-induced alterations in mucus production and calmodulin-binding proteins in a human epithelial cell line

The characterization of a mucus-producing human cell line (HC-84) derived from a colon carcinoma and its response to in vitro reserpine treatment is reported. Mucous granules were demonstrated within these cells on the basis of electron microscopic examination and incorporation of [3H]glucosamine with subsequent autoradiographic analysis. Fluorographic analysis of total HC-84 cell protein after incubation with [3H]glucosamine indicated that the majority of tritium was incorporated into two proteins with molecular weights of 115 and 120 kD. When total HC-84 protein was subjected to immuno-blot analysis utilizing rabbit antibody against human intestinal mucus, only these two proteins (115K and 120K) reacted positively, indicating a direct correlation between [3H]glucosamine incorporation and mucus production. Immunofluorescence localization of mucus within HC-84 cells utilizing this same antibody resulted in a punctate pattern of fluorescence within the cytoplasm. Treatment of HC-84 cells with 30 microM reserpine for 7 days resulted in a three-fold increase in mucus production compared with controls. There was also a concomitant loss of a 30K calmodulin-binding protein in cells treated with reserpine. These cells represent a useful system for studying the effect of reserpine on the processes of mucus synthesis and secretion.     

MUC16 is produced in tracheal surface epithelium and submucosal glands and is present in secretions from normal human airway and cultured bronchial epithelial cells

The gel-forming MUC5AC and MUC5B mucins have been identified as major components of human airway mucus but it is not known whether additional mucin species, possibly with other functions, are also present. MUC16 mucin is a well-known serum marker for ovarian cancer, but the molecule has also been found on the ocular surface and in cervical secretions suggesting that it may play a role on the normal mucosal surface. In this investigation, the LUM16-2 antiserum (raised against a sequence in the N-terminal repeat domain) recognized MUC16 in goblet and submucosal gland mucous cells as well as on the epithelial surface of human tracheal tissue suggesting that the mucin originates from secretory cells. MUC16 mucin was present in 'normal' respiratory tract mucus as well as in secretions from normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells. MUC16 from NHBE cells was a high-molecular-mass, monomeric mucin which gave rise to large glycopeptides after proteolysis. N- and C-terminal fragments of the molecule were separated on gel electrophoresis showing that the MUC16 apoprotein undergoes a cleavage between these domains, possibly in the SEA domain as demonstrated for other transmembrane mucins; MUC1 and MUC3. After metabolic labeling of NHBE cells, most of the secreted monomeric, high-molecular-mass [(35)S]sulphate-labelled molecules were immunoprecipitated with the OC125 antibody indicating that MUC16 is the major [(35)S]sulphate-labelled mucin in NHBE cell secretions.     

Increasing the intra-Golgi pH of cultured LS174T goblet-differentiated cells mimics the decreased mucin sulfation and increased Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen (Gal beta1-3GalNac alpha-) expression seen in colon cancer.

Mucins in ulcerative colitis and colon cancer share common properties of reduced sulfation and increased oncofetal carbohydrate antigen expression. It has previously been shown that there is no simple correlation between these changes and the activity of the relevant glycosyl-, sialyl-, and sulfo-transferases. We examined mucin sulfation and expression of oncofetal Thomsen-Friedenreich (TF) antigen (galactosyl beta1-3N-acetylgalactosamine alpha-) in the goblet cell-differentiated human colon cancer cell line LS174T following treatment with bafilomycin A(1, )which raises intra-Golgi pH, or monensin, which disrupts medial-trans Golgi transport. Cells were dual-labeled with sodium [(35)S]-sulfate and D-[6-(3)H(N)]-glucosamine hydrochloride, or labeled with L-[U-(14)C]-threonine alone. Mucin was purified using Sepharose CL-4B gel filtration. Mucin sulfo-Lewis(a) and TF antigen expression were assessed using the F2 anti-sulfo-Lewis(a) monoclonal antibody and peanut agglutinin binding respectively. Bafilomycin (0.01 microM; 48 h) reduced total mucin sulfation, expressed relative to incorporation of glucosamine, to 0.50 +/- 0.04 d.p.m. [(35)S]-sulfate per d.p.m. [(3)H]-glucosamine compared to control, 0.84 +/- 0.05 (p < 0.001, n = 16). This was accompanied by 50.3 +/- 8.0% increased expression of TF antigen (p < 0.01) and 50.1 +/- 5.5% decreased expression of sulfo-Lewis(a) (p < 0.01). The reduced sulfate:glucosamine ratio was largely due to increased incorporation of glucosamine into newly synthesized mucin rather than reduction in total sulfate incorporation. In contrast, monensin only reduced total mucin glycosylation at concentrations > 0.1 microM and had no significant effect on mucin sulfation or TF expression. Intra-Golgi alkalinization affects mucin glycosylation, resulting in decreased mucin sulfation and increased expression of TF antigen, changes that mimic those seen in cancerous and premalignant human colonic epithelium.     

Urotensin-II activates L-arginine/nitric oxide pathway in isolated rat aortic adventitia

Urotensin-II (U-II), a cyclic peptide widely expressed in blood vessels, has diverse vascular actions that range from potent vasoconstriction to vasodilation. Although, U-II-induced vasodilation has been shown to be partially dependent on nitric oxide (NO), the involvement of vascular adventitia-derived NO, remains unknown. The present study aimed to elucidate the activation of U-II on L-arginine/NO pathway in isolated rat aortic adventitia. In adventitia of thoracic and abdominal aortas, the l-arginine/NO pathway was similarly characterized: the uptake of l-[(3)H]arginine was Na(+)-independent, with the peak occurring over around 40 min incubation; the total NO synthase (NOS) activity was mostly calcium-independent (>90%), and significantly inhibited by a specific iNOS inhibitor AMT; the production of NO metabolites nitrate and nitrite (NO(x)) was stimulated by L-arginine but not by D-arginine. In aortic adventitia exposed to rat U-II (10(-9) and 10(-8)M) for 6 h, the V(max) of l-[(3)H]arginine uptake over 40 min incubation was significantly increased, while the K(m) of l-[(3)H]arginine uptake showed no significant change. Besides, the iNOS mRNA level was up-regulated, the total NOS activity, largely calcium-independent, was significantly induced, and the NO(x) production was significantly stimulated by U-II. According to the same protocol as U-II, the positive control lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 10 microg/ml), which had been established to activate adventitial L-arginine/NO pathway, increased l-[(3)H]arginine uptake, iNOS activity and NO(x) production to a greater extent than U-II. In addition, the total NOS activities induced by 3 and 6h incubation of U-II and LPS were significantly inhibited by a specific inhibitor of protein synthesis, actinomycin D. In conclusion, the results showed that rat U-II activated L-arginine/NOS/NO pathway in rat aortic adventitia, suggesting a potential contributive role of adventitia-derived NO in the vasodilator response of U-II.     

Palmitate increases nitric oxide synthase activity that is involved in palmitate-induced cell death in cardiomyocytes.

The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is subjected to regulatory control by palmitate, and that nitric oxide (NO) is operative in palmitate-induced cell death. Palmitate induced a significant ( p<0.05 ) concentration-dependent increase in NOS activity measured by the conversion of [(3)H]arginine to [3H]citrulline in embryonic chick cardiomyocytes. Cellular eNOS and iNOS, determined by immunocytochemistry, were increased by palmitate. Western blotting also showed that palmitate, 500 microM for 4h, significantly increased the amount of cellular of eNOS and iNOS by 36.2+/-6.5% ( p<0.001 ) and 38.4+/-14.4% ( p<0.05 ), respectively. The NOS inhibitor L-NAME significantly ( p<0.05 ) accentuated palmitate-induced cell death These data suggest that palmitate has a bifunctional effect on cell viability--in addition to loss of cell viability, palmitate stimulates NOS activity by inducing an increase in cellular eNOS and iNOS with the resultant NO production serving to protect cardiomyocytes from palmitate-induced cell death.     

Biosynthesis of high molecular weight breast carcinoma associated mucin glycoproteins

We have studied the biosynthesis of mucin glycoproteins recognized by monoclonal antibody W1 in MCF7 cells. Proteins of Mr 170,000, 185,000, 260,000, and 275,000 were immunoprecipitated from cells pulse-labeled with [3H]threonine and [3H]proline. Evidence suggesting that these proteins were precursors of high molecular weight mucin(s) included: 1) their kinetics of disappearance corresponded with appearance of mature mucin(s) (t1/2 = 30 min); 2) their processing into mature mucin(s) was not blocked by cycloheximide, but was disrupted by monensin, which impairs glycoprotein processing in the Golgi; 3) they were inaccessible to antibody added outside the cells, whereas mature mucin(s) was accessible and appeared at the cell surface with a t1/2 = 45 min; and 4) their mobilities of precursors varied between different cell lines, but generally correlated with mobilities of mature mucin(s). The precursors were sensitive to endoglycosidase H, indicating that they contained high mannose N-linked oligosaccharides. Less than 3% of threonine residues in the precursors, but more than 75% in mature mucin(s), were substituted with O-linked oligosaccharides. Therefore, initiation of N-linked oligosaccharides occurred soon after initiation of core protein synthesis, but initiation of O-linked oligosaccharides occurred much later, just prior to appearance of mature mucin(s) at the cell surface.     

Tuning adenosine A1 and A2A receptors activation mediates L-citrulline-induced inhibition of [3H]-acetylcholine release depending on nerve stimulation pattern

The influence of nerve stimulation pattern on transmitter release inhibition by L-citrulline, the co-product of NO biosynthesis by nitric oxide synthase (NOS), was studied in the rat phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragm. We also investigated the putative interactions between NOS pathway and the adenosine system. L-citrulline (10-470 microM), the NOS substrate L-arginine (10-470 microM) and the NO donor 3-morpholinylsydnoneimine (SIN-1, 1-10 microM), concentration-dependently inhibited [(3)H]-acetylcholine ([(3)H]-ACh) release from rat motor nerve endings. Increasing stimulus frequency from 5 Hz-trains to 50 Hz-bursts enhanced [(3)H]-ACh release inhibition by l-arginine (47 microM) and L-citrulline (470 microM), whereas the effect of SIN-1 (10 microM) remained unchanged. NOS inhibition with N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine (100 microM) prevented the effect of L-arginine, but not that of L-citrulline. Adenosine deaminase (2.5 U/ml) and the adenosine transport inhibitor, S-(p-nitrobenzyl)-6-thioinosine (10 microM), attenuated release inhibition by L-arginine and L-citrulline. With 5 Hz-trains, blockade of A(1) receptors with 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentyl xanthine (2.5 nM), but not of A(2A) receptors with ZM241385 (10nM), reduced the inhibitory action of l-arginine and L-citrulline; the opposite was verified with 50 Hz-bursts. Blockade of muscarinic M(2) autoreceptors with AF-DX116 (10 nM) also attenuated the effects of L-arginine and L-citrulline with 50 Hz-bursts. L-citrulline (470 microM) increased basal adenosine outflow via the equilibrative nucleoside transport system sensitive to NBTI (10 microM), without significantly (P>0.05) changing the nucleoside release subsequent to nerve stimulation. Data indicate that NOS-derived L-citrulline negatively modulates [(3)H]-ACh release by increasing adenosine outflow channelling to A(1) and A(2A) receptors activation depending on the stimulus paradigm. While adenosine acts predominantly at inhibitory A(1) receptors during 5 Hz-trains, inhibition of ACh release by L-citrulline at 50 Hz-bursts depends on the interplay between adenosine A(2A) and muscarinic M(2) receptors.     

Involvement of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in endothelial NO production and endothelium-dependent relaxation

Nitric oxide (NO) is synthesized from l-arginine by the Ca(2+)/calmodulin-sensitive endothelial NO synthase (NOS) isoform (eNOS). The present study assesses the role of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMK II) in endothelium-dependent relaxation and NO synthesis. The effects of three CaMK II inhibitors were investigated in endothelium-intact aortic rings of normotensive rats. NO synthesis was assessed by a NO sensor and chemiluminescence in culture medium of cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells stimulated with the Ca(2+) ionophore A23187 and thapsigargin. Rat aortic endothelial NOS activity was measured by the conversion of l-[(3)H]arginine to l-[(3)H]citrulline. Three CaMK II inhibitors, polypeptide 281-302, KN-93, and lavendustin C, attenuated the endothelium-dependent relaxation of endothelium-intact rat aortic rings in response to acetylcholine, A23187, and thapsigargin. None of the CaMK II inhibitors affected the relaxation induced by NO donors. In a porcine aortic endothelial cell line, KN-93 decreased NO synthesis and caused a rightward shift of the concentration-response curves to A23187 and thapsigargin. In rat aortic endothelial cells, KN-93 significantly decreased bradykinin-induced eNOS activity. These results suggest that CaMK II was involved in NO synthesis as a result of Ca(2+)-dependent activation of eNOS.     

Inhibition of gastric cancer cell proliferation by resveratrol: role of nitric oxide

Resveratrol is a dietary phytochemical that has been shown to inhibit proliferation of a number of cell lines, and it behaves as a chemopreventive agent in assays that measure the three stages of carcinogenesis. We tested for its chemopreventive potential against gastric cancer by determining its interaction with signaling mechanisms that contribute to the proliferation of transformed cells. Low levels of exogenous reactive oxygen (H(2)O(2)) stimulated [(3)H]thymidine uptake in human gastric adenocarcinoma SNU-1 cells, whereas resveratrol suppressed both synthesis of DNA and generation of endogenous O(2)(-) but stimulated nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS) activity. To address the role of NO in the antioxidant action of resveratrol, we measured the effect of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), an NO donor, on O(2)(-) generation and on [(3)H]thymidine incorporation. SNP inhibited DNA synthesis and suppressed ionomycin-stimulated O(2)(-) generation in a concentration-dependent manner. Our results revealed that the antioxidant action of resveratrol toward gastric adenocarcinoma SNU-1 cells may reside in its ability to stimulate NOS to produce low levels of NO, which, in turn, exert antioxidant action. Resveratrol-induced inhibition of SNU-1 proliferation may be partly dependent on NO formation, and we hypothesize that resveratrol exerts its antiproliferative action by interfering with the action of endogenously produced reactive oxygen. These data are supportive of the action of NO against reactive oxygen and suggest that a resveratrol-rich diet may be chemopreventive against gastric cancer.     

Endothelial cell nitric oxide inhibits aldosterone synthesis in zona glomerulosa cells: modulation by oxygen

The regulation of aldosterone synthesis by endogenous nitric oxide (NO) was examined in cultured cells of the adrenal cortex. Endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) was detected by Western blot in cultured adrenal endothelial cells (ECs) but not in zona glomerulosa (ZG) cells or adrenal fibroblasts. Neither inducible (iNOS) nor neuronal NOS (nNOS) isoforms were detected in the cells. Only ECs had NOS activity and converted [(3)H]L-arginine to [(3)H]L-citrulline. Angiotensin II (ANG II, 100 nM) increased EC production of nitrate/nitrite by 2.4-fold. Coincubation with ECs or treatment with DETA nonoate increased the fluorescence of ZG cells loaded with an NO-sensitive dye, diaminofluorescein 2 diacetate (DAF-2 DA). DETA nonoate inhibited ANG II (1 nM) and potassium (10 mM) -stimulated aldosterone release in a concentration-related manner. This inhibitory effect of NO was enhanced >10-fold by decreasing the oxygen concentration from 21 to 8%. Coincubation of EC and ZG cells in 8% oxygen inhibited ANG II-induced aldosterone release, and inhibition was reversed by blockade of NOS. These findings indicate that adrenal EC-derived NO inhibits aldosterone release by cultured ZG cells and that the sensitivity to NO inhibition is increased at low oxygen concentrations.     

Peptides of human bronchial mucus glycoproteins. Size determination by electron microscopy and by biosynthetic experiments.

Secreted human bronchial mucins, directly collected from macroscopically healthy bronchial mucosa, were prepared in the presence of six proteinase inhibitors, and analysed by electron microscopy. These mucins were similar in length distribution to molecules prepared from sputum [Slayter, Lamblin, Le Treut, Galabert, Houdret, Degand & Roussel (1984) Eur. J. Biochem. 142, 209-218], although they were a little longer, their lengths ranging up to about 1,650 nm. This length corresponds to an extended mucin peptide of about 450 kDa. In order to compare these peptide lengths with the molecular size of biosynthetic precursors, an antiserum raised against trifluoromethanesulphonic acid-treated highly glycosylated regions of human bronchial mucins was used to isolate mucin precursors synthesized in explants of human bronchial mucosa during pulse-labelling with [3H]threonine or [3H]glucosamine. A main precursor labelled with [3H]threonine and with an apparent molecular mass of about 400 kDa was detected by fluorography following SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. This band was observed as early as 20 min; it was more intense after a 40 min chase and had disappeared after a chase period of 280 min in unlabelled medium, presumably owing to glycosylation. Much fainter bands at about 200 kDa and between 200 and 400 kDa, also labelled with [3H]threonine, were observed mainly after a 40 min chase and had disappeared after a 280 min chase. None of these bands was labelled with [3H]glucosamine, nor did they disappear after multiple treatments with immobilized lectins. After a 280 min chase, [3H]threonine-labelled material appeared in the stacking gel, which also contained [3H]glucosamine label. The results indicate that the 200-400 kDa species are mucin precursors, whose size is comparable with that obtained by electron microscopy for respiratory mucins collected directly from the macroscopically healthy bronchial mucosa.     

Nitric oxide mediates either proliferation or cell death in cardiomyocytes. Involvement of polyamines

Summary Nitric oxide (NO) is a molecule involved in several signal transduction pathways leading either to proliferation or to cell death. Induction of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), the key enzyme of polyamine biosynthesis, represents an early event preceding DNA synthesis. In some cell types increased ODC activity seems to be involved in cytotoxic response. We investigated the role of NO and ODC induction on the events linked to cell proliferation or to cell death in cultured chick embryo cardiomyocytes. Exposure of cardiomyocytes to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) caused NO synthase (NOS) and ODC induction as well as increased incorporation of [³H]-thymidine. This last effect was blocked by a NOS inhibitor and was strongly reduced by difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an irreversible inhibitor of ODC. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), an exogenous NO donor, inhibited the increases of NOS and ODC activities and abolished the mitogenic effect of TNF and LPS. Moreover, SNP alone caused cell death in a dose dependent manner. The cytotoxicity of SNP was not affected by DFMO while it was prevented by antioxidants. The results suggest that different pathways would mediate the response of cardiomyocytes to NO: they can lead either to ODC induction and DNA synthesis when NO is formed through NOS induction or to growth inhibition and cell death, when NO is supplied as NO donor. Increased polyamine biosynthesis would mediate the proliferative response of NO, while the cytotoxicity of exogenous NO seems to involve some oxidative reactions and to depend on the balance between NO availability and cellular redox mechanisms.     

The Interaction of Helicobacter pylori with the Adherent Mucus Gel Layer Secreted by Polarized HT29-MTX-E12 Cells

Helicobacter pylori colonises the gastric mucosa of humans. The majority of organisms live in mucus. These organisms are an important reservoir for infection of the underlying epithelium. Cell culture models for H. pylori infection do not normally possess a mucus layer. The interaction of H. pylori with TFF1, a member of the trefoil factor family found in gastric mucin, is mediated by lipopolysaccharide. To test the hypothesis that the interaction of H. pylori with TFF1 promotes mucus colonization we characterised the interaction of H. pylori with a mucus secreting cell line, HT29-MTX-E12. An isogenic mutant of H. pylori with truncated core oligosaccharides was produced and binding to TFF1 and ability to colonise HT29-MTX-E12 cells determined. The adherent mucus layer of HT29-MTX-E12 cells contained the gastric mucin MUC5AC and trefoil factors, TFF1 and TFF3. H. pylori was found within the mucus layer in discrete clusters and in close association with TFF1. It also interacted with the membrane bound mucin MUC1 and replicated when co-cultured with the cells. An isogenic mutant of H. pylori with a truncated LPS core did not interact with TFF1, and colonization of HT29-MTX-E12 cells was reduced compared to the wild-type strain (p<0.05). Preincubation of cells with wild type LPS but not with truncated LPS resulted in reduced colonization by H. pylori. These results demonstrate that the interaction of TFF1 with H. pylori is important for colonization of gastric mucus and the core oligosaccharide of H. pylori LPS is critical for this interaction to occur. HT29-MTX-E12 cells are a useful system with which to study the interaction of bacteria with mucosal surfaces and the effect of such interactions on mediating colonization.