Protein thiol modification and apoptotic cell death as cGMP-independent nitric oxide (NO) signaling pathways

Nitric Oxide Production and Regulation in the Teleost Cardiovascular System

Nitric Oxide (NO) is a free radical with numerous critical signaling roles in vertebrate physiology. Similar to mammals, in the teleost system the generation of sufficient amounts of NO is critical for the physiological function of the cardiovascular system. At the same time, NO amounts are strictly controlled and kept within basal levels to protect cells from NO toxicity. Changes in oxygen tension highly influence NO bioavailability and can modulate the mechanisms involved in maintaining the NO balance. While NO production and signaling appears to have general similarities with mammalian systems, the wide range of environmental adaptations made by fish, particularly with regards to differing oxygen availabilities in aquatic habitats, creates a foundation for a variety of in vivo models characterized by different implications of NO production and signaling. In this review, we present the biology of NO in the teleost cardiovascular system and summarize the mechanisms of NO production and signaling with a special emphasis on the role of globin proteins in NO metabolism.

Inhibition of NOS1 promotes the interferon response of melanoma cells

Background

NOS1 expression predicts poor prognosis in patients with melanoma. However, the molecular function of NOS1 in the type I IFN response and immune escape of melanoma is still unknown.

Methods

The CRISPR/Cas9 system was used to generate NOS1-knockout melanoma cells and the biological characteristics of NOS1-knockout cells were evaluated by MTT assay, clonogenic assay, EdU assay, and flow cytometric assay. The effect on tumor growth was tested in BALB/c-nu and C57BL/6 mouse models. The gene expression profiles were detected with Affymetrix microarray and RNA-seq and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) and CLUE GO analysis was done. The clinical data and transcriptional profiles of melanoma patients from the public database TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) and GEO (Gene Expression Omnibus, GSE32611) were analyzed by Qlucore Omics Explorer.

Results

NOS1 deletion suppressed the proliferation of melanoma A375 cells in culture, blocked cell cycling at the G0/G1 phase, and decreased the tumor growth in lung metastasis nodes in a B16 melanoma xenograft mouse model. Moreover, NOS1 knockout increased the infiltration of CD3+ immune cells in tumors. The transcriptomics analysis identified 2203 differential expression genes (DEGs) after NOS1 deletion. These DEGs indicated that NOS1 deletion downregulated mostly metabolic functions but upregulated immune response pathways. After inhibiting with NOS1 inhibitor N-PLA, melanoma cells significantly increased the response to IFN\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\upalpha $$\end{document}α by upregulation expression of IFN\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\upalpha $$\end{document}α simulation genes (ISGs), especially the components in innate immune signaling, JAK-STAT, and TOLL-LIKE pathway. Furthermore, these NOS1-regulating immune genes (NOS1-ISGs) worked as a signature to predict poor overall survival and lower response to chemotherapy in melanoma patients.

Conclusion

These findings provided a transcriptional evidence of NOS1 promotion on tumor growth, which is correlated with metabolic regulation and immune escape in melanoma cells.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12967-022-03403-w.

Regulation of T Cells in Cancer by Nitric Oxide

The T cell-mediated immune response is primarily involved in the fight against infectious diseases and cancer and its underlying mechanisms are complex. The anti-tumor T cell response is regulated by various T cell subsets and other cells and tissues in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Various mechanisms are involved in the regulation of these various effector cells. One mechanism is the iNOS/.NO that has been reported to be intimately involved in the regulation and differentiation of the various cells that regulate the anti-tumor CD8 T cells. Both endogenous and exogenous .NO are implicated in this regulation. Importantly, the exposure of T cells to .NO had different effects on the immune response, depending on the .NO concentration and time of exposure. For instance, iNOS in T cells regulates activation-induced cell death and inhibits Treg induction. Effector CD8 T cells exposed to .NO result in the upregulation of death receptors and enhance their anti-tumor cytotoxic activity. .NO-Tregs suppress CD4 Th17 cells and their differentiation. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) expressing iNOS inhibit T cell functions via .NO and inhibit anti-tumor CD8 T cells. Therefore, both .NO donors and .NO inhibitors are potential therapeutics tailored to specific target cells that regulate the T cell effector anti-tumor response.

C57BL/6N Mice Are More Resistant to Ehrlich Ascites Tumors Than C57BL/6J Mice: The Role of Macrophage Nitric Oxide

Background

Effectiveness of the immune defense formed by the genotype often determines the predisposition to cancer. Nitric oxide (NO) produced by macrophages is an important element in this defense.

Material/Methods

We hypothesized that genetic characteristics of NO generation systems can predetermine the vulnerability to tumor development. The study was conducted on mice of 2 genetic substrains – C57BL/6J and C57BL/6N – with Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC). NO production in the tumor was changed using ITU, an iNOS inhibitor; c-PTIO, a NO scavenger; and SNP, a NO donor. Macrophage NO production was estimated by nitrite concentration in the culture medium. iNOS content was measured by Western blot analysis. Macrophage phenotype was determined by changes in NO production, iNOS level, and CD markers of the phenotype.

Results

The lifespan of C57BL/6N mice (n=10) with EAC was 25% longer (p<0.01) than in C57BL/6J mice (n=10). Decreased NO production 23% reduced the survival duration of C57BL/6N mice (p<0.05), which were more resistant to tumors. Elevated NO production 26% increased the survival duration of C57BL/6J mice (p<0.05), which were more susceptible to EAC. Both the NO production and the iNOS level were 1.5 times higher in C57BL/6N than in C57BL/6J mice (p<0.01). CD markers confirmed that C57BL/6N macrophages had the M1 and C57BL/6J macrophages had the M2 phenotype.

Conclusions

The vulnerability to the tumor development can be predetermined by genetic characteristics of the NO generation system in macrophages. The important role of NO in anti-EAC immunity should be taken into account in elaboration of new antitumor therapies.

A nanoparticle delivery vehicle for S-nitroso-N-acetyl cysteine: sustained vascular response

Interest in the development of nitric oxide (NO) based therapeutics has grown exponentially due to its well elucidated and established biological functions. In line with this surge, S-nitroso thiol (RSNO) therapeutics are also receiving more attention in recent years both as potential stable sources of NO as well as for their ability to serve as S-nitrosating agents; S-nitrosation of protein thiols is implicated in many physiological processes. We describe two hydrogel based RSNO containing nanoparticle platforms. In one platform the SNO groups are covalently attached to the particles (SNO-np) and the other contains S-nitroso-N-acetyl cysteine encapsulated within the particles (NAC-SNO-np). Both platforms function as vehicles for sustained activity as trans-S-nitrosating agents. NAC-SNO-np exhibited higher efficiency for generating GSNO from GSH and maintained higher levels of GSNO concentration for longer time (24 h) as compared to SNO-np as well as a previously characterized nitric oxide releasing platform, NO-np (nitric oxide releasing nanoparticles). In vivo, intravenous infusion of the NAC-SNO-np and NO-np resulted in sustained decreases in mean arterial pressure, though NAC-SNO-np induced longer vasodilatory effects as compared to the NO-np. Serum chemistries following infusion demonstrated no toxicity in both treatment groups. Together, these data suggest that the NAC-SNO-np represents a novel means to both study the biologic effects of nitrosothiols and effectively capitalize on its therapeutic potential.

Increased adipocyte S-nitrosylation targets anti-lipolytic action of insulin: relevance to adipose tissue dysfunction in obesity

Protein S-nitrosylation is a reversible protein modification implicated in both physiological and pathophysiological regulation of protein function. In obesity, skeletal muscle insulin resistance is associated with increased S-nitrosylation of insulin-signaling proteins. However, whether adipose tissue is similarly affected in obesity and, if so, what are the causes and functional consequences of increased S-nitrosylation in this tissue are unknown. Total protein S-nitrosylation was increased in intra-abdominal adipose tissue of obese humans and in high fat-fed or leptin-deficient ob/ob mice. Both the insulin receptor β-subunit and Akt were S-nitrosylated, correlating with body weight. Elevated protein and mRNA expression of inducible NO synthase and decreased protein levels of thioredoxin reductase were associated with increased adipose tissue S-nitrosylation. Cultured differentiated pre-adipocyte cell lines exposed to the NO donors S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) or S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine exhibited diminished insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of Akt but not of GSK3 nor of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. Yet the anti-lipolytic action of insulin was markedly impaired in both cultured adipocytes and in mice injected with GSNO prior to administration of insulin. In cells, impaired ability of insulin to diminish phosphorylated PKA substrates in response to isoproterenol suggested impaired insulin-induced activation of PDE3B. Consistently, increased S-nitrosylation of PDE3B was detected in adipose tissue of high fat-fed obese mice. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed that Cys-768 and Cys-1040, two putative sites for S-nitrosylation adjacent to the substrate-binding site of PDE3B, accounted for ∼50% of its GSNO-induced S-nitrosylation. Collectively, PDE3B and the anti-lipolytic action of insulin may constitute novel targets for increased S-nitrosylation of adipose tissue in obesity.

Main roads to melanoma

The characterization of the molecular mechanisms involved in development and progression of melanoma could be helpful to identify the molecular profiles underlying aggressiveness, clinical behavior, and response to therapy as well as to better classify the subsets of melanoma patients with different prognosis and/or clinical outcome. Actually, some aspects regarding the main molecular changes responsible for the onset as well as the progression of melanoma toward a more aggressive phenotype have been described. Genes and molecules which control either cell proliferation, apoptosis, or cell senescence have been implicated. Here we provided an overview of the main molecular changes underlying the pathogenesis of melanoma. All evidence clearly indicates the existence of a complex molecular machinery that provides checks and balances in normal melanocytes. Progression from normal melanocytes to malignant metastatic cells in melanoma patients is the result of a combination of down- or up-regulation of various effectors acting on different molecular pathways.

Cisplatin reduces Brucella melitensis-infected cell number by inducing apoptosis, oxidant and pro-inflammatory cytokine production

Brucella species are able to survive and replicate within the phagocytic cells and cause chronic infections in domestic animals and humans. Modulation of programmed cell death by Brucella spp. may be one of the reasons of the chronicity of the infection. In this study, whether cisplatin treatment, an apoptotic anticancer agent, would enhance the host resistance against Brucella melitensis-infected human macrophage-like cells was investigated. The infection neither induced inflammation nor oxidative stress. But, Brucella caused a decrease in infected macrophage viability of 36% at 48 h postinfection (p.i.) as compared with uninfected cells. Treatment of infected macrophages with 20 microM cisplatin for 48 h caused a large increase in nitric oxide (NO) levels in a time-dependent manner via induction of iNOS transcription. Cisplatin also enhanced glutathione peroxidase, myeloperoxidase and xanthine oxidase activities, providing evidence of generation of reactive free radicals. N-acetylcysteine was able to decrease cisplatin-induced NO, and prevented the agent-induced apoptosis, similar to effects found in l-NAME (N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester) treatment. Cisplatin stimulated inflammation through the induction of TNF-alpha and IL-12 secretion, and down-regulated Brucella-stimulated IL-10 transcription. The number of infected cells and their viability were decreased by 80% at 48 h p.i. by cisplatin in comparison with infected cells. Similar to this result, cisplatin treatment resulted in reduced intracellular CFU of B. melitensis being reduced by 80% at 48 h p.i. These findings demonstrate that pharmacological agents such as cisplatin may be considered to influence immune responses and apoptosis to help decrease Brucella-infected cell number.

S-nitrosylation of caspase-3 is the mechanism by which adhesion fibroblasts manifest lower apoptosis

We have previously found that adhesion fibroblasts exhibit lower apoptosis and higher protein nitration as compared with normal peritoneal fibroblasts. In this study, we sought to determine whether the decreased apoptosis observed in adhesion fibroblasts is caused by lower caspase-3 activity due to an increase in caspase-3 S-nitrosylation. For this study, we have utilized primary cultures of fibroblasts obtained from normal peritoneum and adhesion tissues of the same patient(s). Cells were treated with increasing concentrations of peroxynitrite and cell lysates were immunoprecipitated with anti-caspase-3 polyclonal antibody. The biotinylated proteins were detected using a nitrosylation detection kit. Caspase-3 activity and apoptosis were measured by colorimetric and TUNEL assays, respectively. Our results showed that caspase-3 S-nitrosylation is significantly higher in adhesion fibroblasts as compared with normal peritoneal fibroblasts. This increase in S-nitrosylation resulted in a 30% decrease in caspase-3 activity in adhesion fibroblasts. Peroxynitrite treatment resulted in a dose response increase in caspase-3 S-nitrosylation, leading to a decrease in caspase-3 activity and apoptosis in normal peritoneal fibroblasts. We conclude that S-nitrosylation of caspase-3 is the reason for its decreased activity and subsequent decrease in apoptosis of adhesion fibroblasts. The mechanism by which caspase-3 S-nitrosylation occurs is not fully understood. However, the role of hypoxia in the formation of peroxynitrite via superoxide production may suggest a possible mechanism.

Carbon monoxide, reactive oxygen signaling, and oxidative stress

The ubiquitous gas, carbon monoxide (CO), is of substantial biological importance, but apart from its affinity for reduced transition metals, particularly heme-iron, it is surprisingly nonreactive-as is the ferrous-carbonyl-in living systems. CO does form strong complexes with heme proteins for which molecular O2 is the preferred ligand and to which are attributed diverse physiological, adaptive, and toxic effects. Lately, it has become apparent that both exogenous and endogenous CO produced by heme oxygenase engender a prooxidant milieu in aerobic mammalian cells which initiates signaling related to reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. ROS signaling contingent on CO can be segregated by CO concentration-time effects on cellular function, by the location of heme proteins, e.g., mitochondrial or nonmitochondrial sites, or by specific oxidation-reduction (redox) reactions. The fundamental responses to CO involve overt physiological regulatory events, such as activation of redox-sensitive transcription factors or stress-activated kinases, which institute compensatory expression of antioxidant enzymes and other adaptations to oxidative stress. In contrast, responses originating from highly elevated or protracted CO exposures tend to be nonspecific, produce untoward biological oxidations, and interfere with homeostasis. This brief overview provides a conceptual framework for understanding CO biology in terms of this physiological-pathological hierarchy.

Irradiation of GAPDH: a model for environmentally induced protein damage

Environmental factors, including sunlight, are able to induce severe oxidative protein damage. The modified proteins are either repaired, degraded or escape from degradation and aggregate. In the present study we tested the effect of different sunlight components such as UV-A, UV-B, and infrared radiation on protein oxidation in vitro. We chose glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) as a model enzyme and analyzed the irradiation-induced enzyme activity loss, fragmentation and aggregation, and quantified various oxidative amino acid modifications. Since gamma-irradiation was used in numerous studies before, we used it for comparative purposes. Infrared radiation was unable to damage GAPDH in the dose range tested (0-1000 J/cm(2)). UV-A led to a decrease in free thiol content, which was connected with a loss in enzyme activity, while only at very high doses could moderate protein aggregation and fragmentation be observed. UV-B (0-2 J/cm(2)) and gamma-irradiation (0-500 Gy) led to a dose-dependent increase in protein modification. Interestingly, UV-B acted on specific amino acids, such as arginine, proline, and tyrosine, whereas gamma-irradiation acted more randomly. The possibility of using the amino acid oxidation pattern as a biomarker of the source of damage is discussed.

Effects of nitric oxide synthase inhibitor omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, on silica-induced inflammatory reaction and apoptosis

Background

Although nitric oxide is overproduced by macrophages and neutrophils after exposure to silica, its role in silica-induced inflammatory reaction and apoptosis needs further clarification. In this study, rats were intratracheally instilled with either silica suspension or saline to examine inflammatory reactions and intraperitoneally injected with ω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthases, or saline to examine the possible role of nitric oxide production in the reaction.

Results

Results showed that silica instillation induced a strong inflammatory reaction indicated by increased total cell number, number of neutrophils, protein concentration and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). There were no significant differences in these indices between silica-instilled groups with and without L-NAME injection (p > 0.05) except LDH level. The results also showed that apoptotic leucocytes were identified in BALF cells of silica-instilled groups whereas no significant difference was found between silica-instilled groups with and without L-NAME injection in the apoptotic reaction (p > 0.05). Silica instillation significantly increased the level of BALF nitrite/nitrate and L-NAME injection reduced this increase.

Conclusion

Intratracheal instillation of silica caused an obvious inflammatory reaction and leucocyte apoptosis, but these reactions were not influenced by intraperitoneal injection of L-NAME and reduced production of NO. This supports the possibility that silica-induced lung inflammation and BALF cell apoptosis are via NO-independent mechanisms.

Review: hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1): a novel transcription factor in immune reactions

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is a dimeric transcriptional complex that has been recognized primarily for its role in the maintenance of oxygen and energy homoeostasis. The HIF-1alpha subunit is O(2) labile and is degraded by the proteasome following prolyl-hydroxylation and ubiquitination in normoxic cells. The present review summarizes evidence that HIF-1 is also involved in immune reactions. Immunomodulatory peptides, including interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), stimulate HIF-1 dependent gene expression even in normoxic cells. Both the hypoxic and the cytokine-induced activation of HIF-1 involve the phosphatidylinositol- 3-kinase (PI3K) and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. In addition, heat shock proteins (HSP) and other cofactors interact with HIF-1 subunits. HIF-1 increases the transcription of several genes for proteins that promote blood flow and inflammation, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), heme oxygenase-1, endothelial and inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). The pharmacologic activation of the HIF-1 complex can be desirable in ischemic and inflammatory disorders. In contrast, HIF-1 blockade may be beneficial to prevent tumor angiogenesis and tumor growth.

Apoptosis induction on HL-60 cells of a novel polysaccharide from the mucus of the loach, Misgurnus anguillicaudatus

This study was designed to determine the anti-proliferative, apoptotic properties of a novel polysaccharide from the loach, Misgurnus anguillicaudatus (MAP), using a human promyelocytic leukemia line (HL-60) as a model system. HL-60 cells were cultured in the presence of MAP at various concentrations (50-800 mg/l) for 5 days and the percentage of cell viability was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The results showed that MAP inhibited the cells viability in time and concentration-dependent characteristics. We found that anti-proliferative effect of MAP was associated with apoptosis on HL-60 cells by determinations of morphological changes and oligonucleosomal DNA fragments. In addition, the content of nitric oxide (NO) and activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release increased when the cells incubated with MAP at various concentrations and times. These investigations suggest that the polysaccharide from loach has the function of anti-proliferation and induction of apoptosis in tumor cells in vitro.

Cross-talk between nitric oxide and transforming growth factor-beta1 in malaria

Malaria has re-emerged as a global health problem, leading to an increased focus on the cellular and molecular biology of the mosquito Anopheles and the parasite Plasmodium with the goal of identifying novel points of intervention in the parasite life cycle. Anti-parasite defenses mounted by both mammalian hosts and Anopheles can suppress the growth of Plasmodium. Nonetheless, the parasite is able to escape complete elimination in vivo, perhaps by thwarting or co-opting these mechanisms for its own survival, as do numerous other pathogens. Among the defense systems used by the mammalian host against Plasmodium is the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO), catalyzed by an inducible NO synthase (iNOS). Nitric oxide produced by the action of an inducible Anopheles stephensi NO synthase (AsNOS) may be central to the anti-parasitic arsenal of this mosquito. In mammals, iNOS can be modulated by members of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) cytokine superfamily. Transforming growth factor-beta is produced as an inactive precursor that is activated following dissociation of certain inhibitory proteins, a process that can be promoted by reaction products of NO as well as by hemin. Ingestion by Anopheles of blood containing Plasmodium initiates parasite development, blood digestion which results in the accumulation of hematin (hemin) in the insect midgut, and induction of both AsNOS and TGF-beta-like (As60A) gene expression in the midgut epithelium. Active mammalian TGF-beta1 can be detected in the A. stephensi midgut up to 48h post-ingestion and latent TGF-beta1 can be activated by midgut components in vitro, a process that is potentiated by NO and that may involve hematin. Further, mammalian TGF-beta1 is perceived as a cytokine by A. stephensi cells in vitro and can alter Plasmodium development in vivo. Bloodfeeding by Anopheles, therefore, results in a juxtaposition of evolutionarily conserved mosquito and mammalian TGF-beta superfamily homologs that may influence transmission dynamics of Plasmodium in endemic regions.

Nitroglycerin, a nitric oxide generator attenuates ferric nitrilotriacetate-induced renal oxidative stress, hyperproliferative response and necrosis in ddY mice

Nitric oxide (NO) is a short lived, readily diffusible intracellular messenger molecule associated with multiple organ-specific regulatory functions. In this communication, we elucidate the effect of exogenous NO administration, using nitroglycerin (GTN), on ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA)-induced renal oxidative stress, hyperproliferative response and necrosis in ddY mice. Fe-NTA is a known complete renal carcinogen as well as renal and hepatic tumor promoter, which act by generating oxidative stress in the tissues. GTN treatment to ddY mice prior to Fe-NTA administration resulted in a highly significant protection against Fe-NTA-induced renal oxidative stress, hyperproliferative response and necrosis. In oxidative stress protection studies, the decrease in the level of renal glutathione and antioxidant enzyme activities induced by Fe-NTA were significantly reversed by GTN pretreatment in a dose-dependent manner (12-46% recovery, P<0.05-0.001). GTN pretreatment also resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition (24-39% inhibition, P<0.05-0.001) of Fe-NTA-induced lipid peroxidation as measured by TBARS formation in renal tissues. Similarly, in hyperproliferation protection studies, GTN pretreatment showed a strong inhibition of Fe-NTA-induced renal ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity (51-57% inhibition, P<0.001) and [3H]thymidine incorporation (43-58% inhibition, P<0.001) into renal DNA. GTN pretreatment almost completely prevented kidney biomolecules from oxidative damage and protected the tissue against the observed histopathological alterations. From this data, it can be concluded that exogenously produced NO from GTN might scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreases toxic metabolites of Fe-NTA and thereby inhibiting renal oxidative stress. In addition, exogenously produced NO can also inhibit Fe-NTA-induced hyperproliferative response by down-regulating the activity of ODC and the rate of [3H]thymidine incorporation into renal DNA and could be suggested as another possible clinical application for this NO-donor (GTN, traditionally used as a vasodilator) in oncological medicine.

Nitric oxide induces apoptosis via hydrogen peroxide, but necrosis via energy and thiol depletion

We investigated the mechanisms by which two nitric oxide (NO) donors, diethylenetriamine/NO adduct (DETA/NO) and S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), induced cell death in a J774 macrophage cell line. Both NO donors induced caspase activation within 6 h, but only DETA/NO-induced caspase activation was sensitive to inhibition of p38 and was completely prevented by antioxidants catalase, ascorbate, dehydroascorbate, or N-acetylcysteine, suggesting that DETA/NO-induced apoptosis may be mediated by H(2)O(2). Consistent with this, DETA/NO acutely stimulated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by mitochondria and cells, and inhibited catalase-mediated H(2)O(2) breakdown in cells. After prolonged, 24 h exposure of cells to DETA/NO, inactivation of caspases occurred, which was accompanied by an increase in necrosis. DETA/NO-induced necrosis was insensitive to caspase inhibitors, but was partially prevented by catalase or N-acetylcysteine, and was preceded by inhibition of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and a decrease in cellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP). GSNO was even more potent in inhibiting glycolysis and switching apoptosis to necrosis. In cells depleted of glutathione, GSNO and DETA/NO induced rapid necrosis, which resulted from rapid depletion of ATP due to inhibition of glycolysis. Glycolytic intermediate 3-phosphoglycerate decreased DETA/NO-induced necrosis and increased apoptosis. We conclude that: (i). NO-induced apoptosis is mediated by H(2)O(2); (ii). NO-induced necrosis is mediated by energy failure speeded by thiol depletion.

Nitric oxide-dependent cytoskeletal changes and inhibition of endothelial cell migration contribute to the suppression of angiogenesis by RAD50 gene transfer

Previous reports showed that human RAD50 (hRAD50) gene delivery induced regression of an experimental rat tumor and porcine neointimal hyperplasia. In this study, we examined the effects of hRAD50 on the morphological changes and migration of endothelial cells (EC) as possible mechanisms by which hRAD50 might block angiogenesis. Quantitative image analysis revealed significant inhibition of the number and total area of blood vessels in rat tumor tissues following hRAD50 gene delivery. hRAD50 distorted actin and tubulin arrangements, and significantly reduced the F/G-actin ratio and increased the nitric oxide (NO) production in the primary cultured human EC. These effects were blocked by pretreatment with L-NAME (N(G)-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester), a NO synthase inhibitor. FACScan analysis showed that NO was involved in the necrosis and apoptosis of EC by hRAD50. hRAD50 also inhibited EC migration in an in vitro wound-healing model. These results indicate that NO-dependent cytoskeletal changes and inhibition of EC migration contribute to the suppression of angiogenesis by hRAD50 delivery in vivo.

Nitric oxide impairs normoxic degradation of HIF-1alpha by inhibition of prolyl hydroxylases

Hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is the master regulator of metabolic adaptation to hypoxia. It is appreciated that HIF-1alpha accumulation is achieved under normoxic conditions by e.g., nitric oxide. We determined molecular mechanisms of HIF-1alpha accumulation under the impact of S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO). In human embryonic kidney cells GSNO provoked nuclear accumulation of HIF-1alpha. This appeared unrelated to gene transcription and protein translation, thus pointing to inhibition of HIF-1alpha degradation. Indeed, GSNO as well as the hypoxia mimic CoCl2 decreased ubiquitination of HIF-1alpha and GSNO-induced HIF-1alpha failed to coimmunoprecipitate with pVHL (von Hippel Lindau protein). Considering that HIF-1alpha-pVHL interactions require prolyl hydroxylation of HIF-1alpha, we went on to demonstrate inhibition of HIF-1alpha prolyl hydroxylases (PHDs) by GSNO. In vitro HIF-1alpha-pVHL interactions revealed that GSNO dose-dependently inhibits PHD activity but not the interaction of a synthetic peptide resembling the hydroxylated oxygen-dependent degradation domain of HIF-1alpha with pVHL. We conclude that GSNO-attenuated prolyl hydroxylase activity accounts for HIF-1alpha accumulation under conditions of NO formation during normoxia and that PHD activity is subject to regulation by NO.

Nitric oxide inhibition of mitochondrial respiration and its role in cell death

Nitric oxide (NO) or its derivatives (reactive nitrogen species, RNS) inhibit mitochondrial respiration in two different ways: (i) an acute, potent, and reversible inhibition of cytochrome oxidase by NO in competition with oxygen; and, (ii) irreversible inhibition of multiple sites by RNS. NO inhibition of respiration may impinge on cell death in several ways. Inhibition of respiration can cause necrosis and inhibit apoptosis due to ATP depletion, if glycolysis is also inhibited or is insufficient to compensate. Inhibition of neuronal respiration can result in excitotoxic death of neurons due to induced release of glutamate and activation of NMDA-type glutamate receptors. Inhibition of respiration may cause apoptosis in some cells, while inhibiting apoptosis in other cells, by mechanisms that are not clear. However, NO can induce (and inhibit) cell death by a variety of mechanisms unrelated to respiratory inhibition.

Apoptosis: biochemical aspects and clinical implications

Apoptosis and necrosis represent two distinct types of cell death. Apoptosis possesses unique morphologic and biochemical features which distinguish this mechanism of programmed cell death from necrosis. Extrinsic apoptotic cell death is receptor-linked and initiates apoptosis by activating caspase 8. Intrinsic apoptotic cell death is mediated by the release of cytochrome c from mitochondrial and initiates apoptosis by activating caspase 3. Cancer chemotherapy utilizes apoptosis to eliminate tumor cells. Agents which bind to the minor groove of DNA, like camptothecin and Hoechst 33342, inhibit topoisomerase I, RNA polymerase II, DNA polymerase and initiate intrinsic apoptotic cell death. Hoechst 33342-induced apoptosis is associated with disruption of TATA box binding protein/TATA box complexes, replication protein A/single-stranded DNA complexes, topoisomerase I/DNA cleavable complexes and with an increased intracellular concentration of E2F-1 transcription factor and nitric oxide concentration. Nitric oxide and transcription factor activation or respression also regulate the two apoptotic pathways. Some human diseases are associated with excess or deficient rates of apoptosis, and therapeutic strategies to regulate the rate of apoptosis include inhibition or activation of caspases, mRNA antisense to reduce anti-apoptotic factors like Bcl-2 and survivin and recombinant TRAIL to activate pro-apoptotic receptors, DR4 and DR5.

Role of the nitric oxide/cyclic GMP/Ca2+ signaling pathway in the pyrogenic effect of interleukin-1beta

Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) has a wide spectrum of inflammatory, metabolic, haemopoietic, and immunological properties. Because it produces fever when injected into animals and humans, it is considered an endogenous pyrogen. There is evidence to suggest that Ca2+ plays a critical role in the central mechanisms of thermoregulation, and in the intracellular signaling pathways controlling fever induced by IL-1beta and other pyrogens. Data from different labs indicate that Ca2+ and Na+ determine the temperature set point in the posterior hypothalamus (PH) of various mammals and that changes in Ca2+ and PGE2 concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of these animals are associated with IL-1beta-induced fever. Antipyretic drugs such as acetylsalicylic acid, dexamethasone, and lipocortin 5-(204-212) peptide counteract IL-1beta-induced fever and abolish changes in Ca2+ and PGE2 concentrations in CSF. In vitro studies have established that activation of the nitric oxide (NO)/cyclic GMP (cGMP) pathway is part of the signaling cascade transducing Ca2+ mobilization in response to IL-1beta and that the ryanodine (RY)- and inositol-(1,4,5)-trisphosphate (IP3)-sensitive pools are the main source of the mobilized Ca2+. It is concluded that the NO/cGMP/Ca2+ pathway is part of the signaling cascade subserving some of the multiple functions of IL-1beta.

NO-induced relaxation of labouring and non-labouring human myometrium is not mediated by cyclic GMP

1. In myometrial strips from near-term non-labouring human uterus, addition of oxytocin (OT) evoked dose-dependent (10 - 3000 nM) phasic contractions that were antagonized by atosiban (1 microM) and relaxed by addition of the nitric oxide donor S-nitroso L-cysteine (Cys-NO). In near-term labouring myometrium, however, addition of OT was ineffective at raising additional tone. 2. In both labouring and non-labouring tissue, Cys-NO mediated relaxation of spontaneous or OT-induced contractions (IC(50)=1 microM) was unaffected by prior addition of the guanylyl cyclase (GC) inhibitors ODQ (1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3,-alpha]quinoxalin-1-one; 1 microM), or methylene blue (MB; 10 microM). 3. Elevation of intracellular cyclic GMP accompanying 30 microM Cys-NO addition in non-labouring tissue (7.5 fold) or in labouring tissues (2.5 fold) was completely blocked in tissues that had been pre-treated with ODQ or MB. 4. Charybdotoxin (ChTx), iberiotoxin (IbTx) and kaliotoxin (KalTx) all shifted the Cys-NO inhibition curve to the right and reduced the degree of relaxation produced by maximal Cys-NO treatment (100 microM in non-labouring tissue; in labouring tissue, KalTx prevented Cys-NO mediated relaxation in both stimulated and unstimulated tissue. 5. Addition of the NO-donor S-nitroso N-acetyl penicillamine (SNAP) produced a dose-dependent relaxation of pregnant myometrium while 3-morpholinosyndonimine (SIN-1) did not. The failure of SIN-1 to relax OT-induced contractions was not due to a failure of the donor to stimulate myometrial GC. 6. We demonstrate that despite the ability of NO to stimulate myometrial GC in pregnant uterine muscle, relaxations are independent of cyclic GMP action. Effects of K(+)-channel inhibitors suggests that NO-induced relaxation in human uterine smooth muscle may be subserved by direct or indirect activation of one or more calcium-activated K(+)-channels.

Structural and kinetic modifications of aldose reductase by S-nitrosothiols

Modification of aldose reductase (AR) by the nitrosothiols S-nitroso-N-acetyl penicillamine (SNAP) and N-(beta-glucopyranosyl)-N(2)-acetyl-S-nitrosopenicillamide (glyco-SNAP) resulted in a 3-7-fold increase in its k(cat) and a 25-40-fold increase in its K(m) for glyceraldehyde. In comparison with the native protein, the modified enzyme was less sensitive to inhibition by sorbinil and was not activated by SO(2-)(4) anions. The active-site residue, Cys-298, was identified as the main site of modification, because the site-directed mutant in which Cys-298 was replaced by serine was insensitive to glyco-SNAP. The extent of modification was not affected by P(i) or O(2), indicating that it was not due to spontaneous release of nitric oxide (NO) by the nitrosothiols. Electrospray ionization MS revealed that the modification reaction proceeds via the formation of an N-hydroxysulphenamide-like adduct between glyco-SNAP and AR. In time, the adduct dissociates into either nitrosated AR (AR-NO) or a mixed disulphide between AR and glyco-N-acetylpenicillamine (AR-S-S-X). Removal of the mixed-disulphide form of the protein by lectin-column chromatography enriched the preparation in the high-K(m)-high-k(cat) form of the enzyme, suggesting that the kinetic changes are due to the formation of AR-NO, and that the AR-S-S-X form of the enzyme is catalytically inactive. Modification of AR by the non-thiol NO donor diethylamine NONOate (DEANO) increased enzyme activity and resulted in the formation of AR-NO. However, no adducts between AR and DEANO were formed. These results show that nitrosothiols cause multiple structural and functional changes in AR. Our observations also suggest the general possibility that transnitrosation reactions can generate both nitrosated and thiolated products, leading to non-unique changes in protein structure and function.

Nitric oxide modulation of interleukin-1[beta]-evoked intracellular Ca2+ release in human astrocytoma U-373 MG cells and brain striatal slices

Intracellular Ca(2+) mobilization and release into mammal CSF plays a fundamental role in the etiogenesis of fever induced by the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and other pyrogens. The source and mechanism of IL-1beta-induced intracellular Ca(2+) mobilization was investigated using two experimental models. IL-1beta (10 ng/ml) treatment of rat striatal slices preloaded with (45)Ca(2+) elicited a delayed (30 min) and sustained increase (125-150%) in spontaneous (45)Ca(2+) release that was potentiated by l-arginine (300 microm) and counteracted by N-omega-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) (1 and 3 mm). The nitric oxide (NO) donors diethylamine/NO complex (sodium salt) (0.3 and 1 mm) and spermine/NO (0.1 and 0.3 mm) mimicked the effect of IL-1beta on Ca(2+) release. IL-1beta stimulated tissue cGMP concentration, and dibutyryl cGMP enhanced Ca(2+) release. The guanyl cyclase inhibitors 1H-[1,2, 4]oxadiazole[4,3-a] quinoxalin-1-one (100 microm) and 6-[phenylamino]-5,8 quinolinedione (50 microm) counteracted Ca(2+) release induced by 2.5 but not 10 ng/ml IL-1beta. Ruthenium red (50 microm) and, to a lesser extent, heparin (3 mg/ml) antagonized IL-1beta-induced Ca(2+) release, and both compounds administered together completely abolished this response. Similar results were obtained in human astrocytoma cells in which IL-1beta elicited a delayed (30 min) increase in intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) (402 +/- 71.2% of baseline), which was abolished by 1 mm l-NAME. These data indicate that the NO/cGMP-signaling pathway is part of the intracellular mechanism transducing IL-1beta-evoked Ca(2+) mobilization in glial and striatal cells and that the ryanodine and the inositol-(1,4,5)-trisphosphate-sensitive Ca(2+) stores are involved.

Nitric oxide: a review for veterinary surgeons

Nitric oxide (NO) is an endogenous gas that serves as a biologic messenger in many physiologic processes including neurotransmission, blood-pressure control, the immune system's ability to kill tumor cells, and wound healing. NO is produced after oxidation of L-arginine by a family of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) enzymes. Two of the NOS enzymes are present continuously and are thereby termed constitutive NOS. One of the enzymes, inducible NOS, is not typically expressed in resting cells and is induced by various substances including endotoxin, some cytokines, and microbial products. Thus, NO often has paradoxical activities. When NO is over- or underproduced, it can result in potentiation of disease states with disastrous results. This review discusses the biochemistry of NO, its functions in normal and disease states, and therapy for modulating NO production in disease states.

Effects of nitric oxide donors on the afferent resting activity in the cephalopod statocyst

The effects of bath applications of the nitric oxide (NO) donors sodium nitroprusside (SNP), diethylamine sodium (DEA), 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1), and S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP) on the resting activity (RA) of afferent crista fibers were studied in isolated statocysts of the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis. The NO donors had three different effects: inhibition, excitation, and excitation followed by an inhibition. The SNAP analog N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine (xSNAP; with no NO moiety) had no effect. When the preparation was pre-treated with the NO synthase inhibitor N(G)-nitric-L-arginine methyl ester HCl (L-NAME), the NO donors were still effective. When the preparation was pre-treated with the guanylate cyclase inhibitors methylene blue (M-BLU) or cystamine (CYS), NO donors had only excitatory effects, whereas their effects were inhibitory only when pre-treatment was with the adenylate cyclase inhibitors nicotinic acid (NIC-A), 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine (DDA), or MDL-12330A. When pre-treatment was with a guanylate and an adenylate cyclase inhibitor combined, NO donors had no effect; in that situation, the RA of the afferent fibers remained and the preparation still responded to bath applications of GABA. Selective experiments with statocysts from the squid Sepioteuthis lessoniana and the octopod Octopus vulgaris gave comparable results. These data indicate that in cephalopod statocysts an inhibitory NO-cGMP and an excitatory NO-cAMP signal transduction pathway exist, that these two pathways are the key pathways for the action of NO, and that they have only modulatory effects on, and are not essential for the generation of, the RA.

Inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme protects endothelial cell against hypoxia/reoxygenation injury

Cardiovascular tissue injury in ischemia/reperfusion has been shown to be prevented by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. However, the mechanism on endothelial cells has not been assessed in detail. Cultured human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) were exposed to hypoxia with or without reoxygenation. Hypoxia enhanced apoptosis along with the activation of caspase-3. Reoxygenation increased lactate dehydrogenase release time-dependently, along with an increase of intracellular oxygen radicals. ACE inhibitor quinaprilat and bradykinin significantly lessened apoptosis and lactate dehydrogenase release with these effects being diminished by a kinin B2 receptor antagonist and a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. In conclusion, hypoxia activated the suicide pathway leading to apoptosis of HAEC by enhancing caspase-3 activity, while subsequent reoxygenation induced necrosis by enhancing oxygen radical production. Quinaprilat could ameliorate both apoptosis and necrosis through the upregulation of constitutive endothelial nitric oxide synthase via an increase of bradykinin, with the resulting increase of nitric oxide.

Cytokine-mediated apoptosis in cardiac myocytes: the role of inducible nitric oxide synthase induction and peroxynitrite generation

Increased production of nitric oxide (NO) after induction of the cytokine-inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS or NOS2) in cardiac myocytes and other parenchymal cells within the heart may in addition to contributing to myocyte contractile dysfunction also contribute to the induction of programmed cell death (apoptosis). To investigate the mechanism(s) by which increased NO production leads to apoptosis, we examined the role of NO in primary cultures of neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs) after induction by the cytokines interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and interferon gamma (IFNgamma) or exposure to the exogenous NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetylcysteine (SNAC) or peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)). Both SNAC (1 mmol/L) and ONOO(-) (100 micromol/L), but not their respective controls (ie, N-acetylcysteine and pH-inactivated ONOO(-)), induced apoptosis in confluent, serum-starved NRVMs at 48 hours. Similarly, incubation of NRVMs with IL-1beta and IFNgamma for 48 hours resulted in an increase in iNOS expression, nitrite production, and programmed cell death. Both the cytokine-induced nitrite accumulation and myocyte apoptosis could be completely prevented by the nonselective NOS inhibitor L-nitroarginine (3 mmol/L) or the specific iNOS inhibitor 2-amino-5, 6-dihydro-6-methyl-4H-1,3-thiazine (AMT, 100 micromol/L). NO-mediated myocyte apoptosis was not attenuated by the inhibition of soluble guanylyl cyclase with ODQ, nor could apoptosis be induced by the incubation of NRVMs with 1 mmol/L 8-bromo-cGMP, a cell-permeant cGMP analogue. However, NO-mediated apoptosis was significantly attenuated by the superoxide dismutase mimetic and ONOO(-) scavenger Mn(III)tetrakis (4-benzoic acid) porphyrin (MnTBAP, 100 micromol/L). NO/ONOO(-)-mediated apoptosis was associated with increased expression of Bax with no change in Bcl-2 mRNA abundance. Furthermore, apoptotic cell death was also confirmed in adult rat ventricular myocytes (ARVMs) when grown in heteroculture with IL-1beta- and IFNgamma-treated rat cardiac microvascular endothelial cells. Therefore, cytokine-induced apoptosis in NRVMs and ARVMs is mediated by iNOS induction, ONOO(-), and associated with an increase in Bax levels.

Nitric oxide can function as either a killer molecule or an antiapoptotic effector in cardiomyocytes

Caspase enzymes are a family of cysteine proteases that play a central role in apoptosis. Recently, it has been demonstrated that caspases can be S-nitrosylated and inhibited by nitric oxide (NO). The present report shows that in chick embryo heart cells (CEHC), NO donor molecules such as S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), S-nitrosoglutathione, spermine-NO or sodium nitroprusside inhibit caspase activity in both basal and staurosporine-treated cells. However, the inhibitory effect of NO donors on caspase activity is accompanied by a parallel cytotoxic effect, that precludes NO to exert its antiapoptotic capability. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) at a concentration of 10 mM blocks depletion of cellular glutathione and cell death in SNAP-treated CEHC, but it poorly affects the ability of SNAP to inhibit caspase activity. Consequently, in the presence of NAC, SNAP attenuates not only caspase activity but also cell death of staurosporine-treated CEHC. These data show that changes in the redox environment may inhibit NO-mediated toxicity, without affecting the antiapoptotic capability of NO, mediated by inhibition of caspase enzymes. NO may thus be transformed from a killer molecule into an antiapoptotic agent.

Critical role of sulfenic acid formation of thiols in the inactivation of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase by nitric oxide

The relationship between possible modifications of the thiol groups of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) by nitric oxide (NO) and modified enzyme activity was examined. There are 16 free thiols, including 4 active site thiols, in a tetramer of GAPDH molecule. NO donors, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), and S-nitroso-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine (SNAP) decreased the number of free thiols with a concomitant inhibition of GAPDH activity in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. After treatment for 30 min, free thiols were maximally decreased to 8-10 per GAPDH tetramer and enzyme activity was also inhibited to 5-10% of control activity. In the presence of 30 mM dithiothreitol (DTT), these effects were completely blocked. Since similar results were obtained in the case of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) treatment, which is known to oxidize the thiols, these effects of nitric oxide donors were probably due to modification of thiol groups present in a GAPDH molecule. On the other hand, DTT posttreatment after the treatment of GAPDH with SNP, SNAP, or H2O2 did not completely restore the modified thiols and the inhibited enzyme activity. DTT posttreatment after the 30-min-treatment with these agents restored free thiols to 14 in all treatments. In the case of SNAP treatment, all 4 active sites were restored and enzyme activity reached more than 80% of the control activity, but in two other cases one active site remained modified and enzyme activity was restored to about only 20%. Therefore, all 4 free thiols in the active site seem to be very important for full enzyme activity. DTT posttreatment in the presence of sodium arsenite, which is known to reduce sulfenic acid to thiol, almost completely restored both thiol groups and enzyme activity. These findings suggest that nitric oxide inhibits GAPDH activity by modifications of the thiols which are essential for this activity, and that the modification includes formation of sulfenic acid, which is not restored by DTT. S-nitrosylation, which is one type of thiol modification by NO, occurred when GAPDH was treated with SNAP but not SNP. Analysis of thiol modification showed that SNAP preferentially nitrosylated the active site thiols, the nitrosylation of which fully disappeared by DTT posttreatment. It seems that SNAP nitrosylates the active site thiols of GAPDH to prevent these thiols from oxidizing to sulfenic acid.

Nitric oxide and cell death

Nitric oxide (NO) has several essential roles in mammals, but unregulated NO production can cause cell death through oxidative stress, disrupted energy metabolism, DNA damage, activation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, or dysregulation of cytosolic calcium. Such disturbances can lead to either apoptotic or necrotic cell death, depending on the severity and context of the damage. Here I review the mechanisms by which NO kills cells and discuss how NO thereby contributes to ischaemia-reperfusion injury and neurodegeneration.

Nitric oxide induces and inhibits apoptosis through different pathways

Physiological levels of nitric oxide (NO) regulate vascular tone and protect the microvasculature from injury whereas excessive NO may be harmful. The present study explored the effects of NO on human endothelial cell apoptosis. We found that the NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) inhibited TNFalpha-induced endothelial apoptosis and that this was mediated partly through the cGMP pathway. In contrast, high SNAP concentration induced endothelial apoptosis via cGMP-independent pathways and the cGMP pathway protected against NO-induced apoptosis. These findings demonstrate that low NO concentrations contribute to human endothelial cell survival, whereas higher NO concentrations are pathological and promote destruction of endothelial cells.

Molecular mechanism of the inactivation of tryptophan hydroxylase by nitric oxide: attack on critical sulfhydryls that spare the enzyme iron center

Tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH), the initial and rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT), is irreversibly inactivated by nitric oxide (NO). We have expressed brain TPH as a recombinant glutathione-S-transferase fusion protein and delineated the catalytic domain of the enzyme as the region spanning amino acids 99-444. Highly purified TPH catalytic core, like the native enzyme from brain, is inactivated by NO in a concentration-dependent manner. Removal of iron from TPH produces an apoenzyme with low activity that can be reconverted to its highly active holo-form by the addition of ferrous iron. Apo-TPH exposed to NO cannot be reactivated by iron. Treatment of holo-TPH (iron-loaded) with the disulfide 5,5'-dithio-bis (2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) causes an inactivation of TPH that is readily reversed by dithiothreitol (DTT). DTNB-treated TPH [sulfhydryl (SH)-protected] exposed to NO is returned to full activity by thiol reduction with DTT. The inactivation of native TPH by NO cannot be reversed by either iron or DTT. These data indicate that NO inactivates TPH by selective action on critical SH groups (i.e., cysteine residues) while sparing catalytic iron sites within the enzyme. The results are interpreted with reference to the substituted amphetamines, which are neurotoxic to 5-HT neurons, that inactivate TPH in vivo and are now known to produce NO and other reactive oxygen species in vivo.

Modulation of potassium channel function by methionine oxidation and reduction

Oxidation of amino acid residues in proteins can be caused by a variety of oxidizing agents normally produced by cells. The oxidation of methionine in proteins to methionine sulfoxide is implicated in aging as well as in pathological conditions, and it is a reversible reaction mediated by a ubiquitous enzyme, peptide methionine sulfoxide reductase. The reversibility of methionine oxidation suggests that it could act as a cellular regulatory mechanism although no such in vivo activity has been demonstrated. We show here that oxidation of a methionine residue in a voltage-dependent potassium channel modulates its inactivation. When this methionine residue is oxidized to methionine sulfoxide, the inactivation is disrupted, and it is reversed by coexpression with peptide methionine sulfoxide reductase. The results suggest that oxidation and reduction of methionine could play a dynamic role in the cellular signal transduction process in a variety of systems.

Nitric oxide induces heat-shock protein 70 expression in vascular smooth muscle cells via activation of heat shock factor 1

Current data suggest that nitric oxide (NO) is a double-edged sword that could result in relaxation and/or cytotoxicity of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) via cGMP- dependent or -independent signal pathways. Stress or heat shock proteins (hsps) have been shown to be augmented in arterial SMCs during acute hypertension and atherosclerosis, both conditions that are believed to correlate with disturbed NO production. In the present study, we demonstrate that NO generated from sodium nitroprusside (SNP), S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine, and spermine/nitric oxide complex leads to hsp70 induction in cultured SMCs. Western blot analysis demonstrated that hsp70 protein expression peaked between 6 and 12 h after treatment with SNP, and elevated protein levels were preceded by induction of hsp70 mRNA within 3 h. Induction of hsp70 mRNA was associated with the activation of heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1), suggesting that the response was regulated at the transcriptional level. HSF1 activation was completely blocked by hemoglobin, dithiothreitol, and cycloheximide, suggesting that the protein damage and nascent polypeptide formation induced by NO may initiate this activation. Furthermore, SMCs pretreated with heat shock (42 degrees C) for 30 min were significantly protected from death induced by NO. Thus, we provide evidence that NO induces hsp70 expression in SMCs via HSF1 activation. Induction of hsp70 could be important in protecting SMCs from injury resulting from NO stimulation.

Nitric oxide and apoptosis: another paradigm for the double-edged role of nitric oxide

Apoptosis plays an important role in the development of the organism but also under various pathological conditions. Nitric oxide exhibits contradictory effects in the regulation of apoptosis. Both pro- and antiapoptotic effects have been demonstrated. The proapoptotic effects seem to be linked to pathophysiological conditions, where high amounts of NO are produced by the inducible nitric oxide synthase. In contrast, the continuous release of endothelial NO inhibits apoptosis and may contribute to the antiatherosclerotic function of NO. The present article summarizes these effects and provides insights into the role of NO in apoptotic signal transduction, with special regard to the Bcl-2 homologous proteins, the protease family of caspases and heat shock proteins.

Effects of redox-related congeners of NO on apoptosis and caspase-3 activity

Nitric oxide has been shown to inhibit apoptosis of human umbilical venous endothelial cells (HUVEC). Therefore we investigated the effect of different NO donors, PAPA NONOate (NOC-15; NO.) and nitrosodium tetrafluoroborate (NOBF4, NO+), and the reaction product of NO and O2-, peroxynitrite (ONOO- ), on TNF-alpha- or serum depletion-induced apoptosis of HUVEC. TNF-alpha-induced DNA fragmentation, determined by ELISA, was inhibited by NOC-15, NOBF4, and ONOO- in a concentration-dependent manner (maximal effects with 10 microM NO. and ONOO- and 100 microM NO+). The inhibition of apoptosis correlated with a protective effect on cell viability. The caspases, a cysteine protease family, play an important role in apoptotic processes. To determine whether the different NO donors and ONOO- regulate this enzyme, caspase-3-like activity was measured in homogenates of TNF-alpha-treated HUVEC. The TNF-alpha-induced enzyme activity was abrogated by NO., NO+, and ONOO-. Furthermore, caspase-3 activity was determined in vitro by reconstitution of the separately cloned, bacterially expressed, and purified active p17 and p12 subunits. The reconstituted caspase-3 exhibited enzyme activity, which was suppressed by the different NO donors and ONOO- with an IC50 of 50 microM for NOC-15, 1 mM for NOBF4, and 50 microM for ONOO-. The inhibition of caspase-3 activity correlated with a S-nitrosylation of the reactive cysteine residue and was reversed by further addition of dithiothreitol. This study suggests that the cellular regulatory processes of NO to protect cells from apoptosis may be independent of the redox state and that low concentrations of NO and ONOO- inhibit the cellular suicide program in HUVEC via S-nitrosylation of members of the caspase family.

Nitric oxide protects endothelial cells from tumor necrosis factor-alpha-mediated cytotoxicity: possible involvement of cyclic GMP

In cultured endothelial cells, incubation with TNF-alpha (50 ng/ml) for 48 h markedly reduced viability of endothelial cells. A 6 h preincubation with Sper/NO (0.03--1 microM) protected endothelial cells in a concentration-dependent manner and increased viability by 63% of control. The NO scavenger PTIO (30 microM) completely abolished cytoprotection by Sper/NO. A cytoprotective effect comparable to Sper/NO was observed when preincubating the cells with 8-bromo cyclic GMP (1-10 microM). Moreover, no protection by Sper/NO occurred in the presence of ODQ (0.1 microM), a selective inhibitor of soluble guanylyl cyclase. Our results demonstrate that NO produces a long-term endothelial protection against cellular injury by TNF-alpha, presumably via a cyclic GMP-dependent pathway.

Nitric oxide involvement in Hydra vulgaris very primitive olfactory-like system

Hydra feeding response is a very primitive olfactory-like behavior present in a multicellular organism. We investigated the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the induction and control of hydra feeding response. Under basal conditions, hydra specimens produce detectable amounts of nitrite (NO2-), the breakdown product of NO. When hydra were incubated with reduced glutathione (GSH), the typical activator of feeding response, an increase of basal NO production was observed. This effect was inhibited by glutamic or alpha-aminoadipic acids, two GSH antagonists, which block GSH-induced feeding response, and by the NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor L-NAME. Moreover, we found that hydra possess a calcium-dependent (but calmodulin-independent) NOS isoform. By using exogenous NO donors and NOS inhibitors, we demonstrated that NO stimulus can participate both in triggering tentacular movements and in recruiting neighbor tentacles during hydra feeding response. By using dbt2-cGMP, an analog to cGMP, we observed that the NO effect was independent of cGMP pathway. Our results strongly implicate NO involvement in hydra very primitive feeding behavior, thus confirming its preservation throughout evolution.

Nitric oxide-induced apoptosis: p53-dependent and p53-independent signalling pathways

Nitric oxide (NO) generation initiates apoptotic cell death in different experimental systems. In RAW 264.7 macrophages the appearance of typical apoptotic markers is linked to inducible NO synthase induction. Mechanistically, accumulation of tumour suppressor p53 precedes apoptotic DNA fragmentation. With the use of S-nitroglutathione (GSNO) we correlated a dose-dependent p53 up-regulation to DNA fragmentation measured after 4 h and 8 h, respectively. Our studies revealed a linear correlation between the potency of five different NO donors with respect to apoptosis induction and p53 accumulation. Furthermore, we probed for NO-induced apoptosis after stable transfection of RAW 264.7 macrophages with plasmids encoding p53 antisense RNA. Clones with down-regulated p53 levels in response to GSNO exhibited a marked reduction in DNA fragmentation. Expression of the inducible NO synthase in response to lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma caused apoptosis in RAW 264.7 macrophages and neomycin-vector controls within 24 h. In contrast, p53 antisense RNA-expressing clones appeared highly resistant towards endogenous NO, although inducible NO synthase induction with concomitant nitrite production remained unchanged. For RAW 264.7 macrophages our results established a functional role of the tumour suppressor p53 during NO-induced apoptotic cell death. However, p53 antisense experiments and the use of the p53-negative cell line U937 substantiated p53-independent signalling pathways operative during NO-mediated apoptosis.