Induction of nitric oxide synthase by cytokines in vascular smooth muscle cells. |
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Authors: | R Busse A Mülsch |
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Institution: | Department of Applied Physiology, University of Freiburg, FRG. |
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Abstract: | We investigated the mechanisms by which cytokines lead to a diminished responsiveness of vascular smooth muscle to vasoconstrictors. The attenuation of noradrenaline-induced contraction by 6 to 24 h incubations with the cytokines, tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-1, in endothelium-denuded rabbit aorta was associated with an increase in intracellular cyclic GMP level. This increase was abolished by the stereoselective inhibitor of nitric oxide-synthase, NG-nitro-L-arginine and by cycloheximide. Formation of nitric oxide was detected in the cytosol of cytokine-treated native and cultured smooth muscle cells by activation of purified soluble guanylate cyclase, and depended on tetrahydrobiopterin, but not on Ca2(+)-calmodulin. The results indicate that cytokines induce a nitric oxide-synthase of the macrophage-type in vascular smooth muscle. |
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