Nitric oxide attenuates endothelin-1-induced vasoconstriction in canine stomach

Mangiferin Mitigates Gastric Ulcer in Ischemia/ Reperfused Rats: Involvement of PPAR-γ, NF-κB and Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling Pathways

Mangiferin (MF), a xanthonoid from Mangifera indica, has been proved to have antisecretory and antioxidant gastroprotective effects against different gastric ulcer models; however, its molecular mechanism has not been previously elucidated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to test its modulatory effect on several signaling pathways using the ischemia/reperfusion model for the first time. Animals were treated with MF, omeprazole (OMP), and the vehicle. The mechanistic studies revealed that MF mediated its gastroprotective effect partly via inducing the expression of Nrf2, HO-1 and PPAR-γ along with downregulating that of NF-κB. Surprisingly, the effect of MF, especially the high dose, exceeded that mediated by OMP except for Nrf2. The molecular results were reflected on the biomarkers measured, where the antioxidant effect of MF was manifested by increasing total antioxidant capacity and glutathione, besides normalizing malondialdehyde level. Additionally, MF decreased the I/R-induced nitric oxide elevation, an effect that was better than that of OMP. In the serum, MF, dose dependently, enhanced endothelial nitric oxide synthase, while reduced the inducible isoform. Regarding the anti-inflammatory effect of MF, it reduced serum level of IL-1β and sE-selectin, effects that were mirrored on the tissue level of myeloperoxidase, the neutrophil infiltration marker. In addition, MF possessed an antiapoptotic character evidenced by elevating Bcl-2 level and reducing that of caspase-3 in a dose related order. As a conclusion, the intimated gastroprotective mechanisms of MF are mediated, partially, by modulation of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis possibly via the Nrf2/HO-1, PPAR-γ/NF-κB signaling pathways.

Increased endothelin-1 vasoconstriction in mesenteric resistance arteries after superior mesenteric ischaemia-reperfusion

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) plays an important role in the maintenance of vascular tone. We aimed to evaluate the influence of superior mesenteric artery (SMA) ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R) on mesenteric resistance artery vasomotor function and the mechanism involved in the changes in vascular responses to ET-1.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

SMA from male Sprague-Dawley rats was occluded (90 min) and following reperfusion (24h), mesenteric resistance arteries were dissected. Vascular reactivity was studied using wire myography. Protein and mRNA expression, superoxide anion (O(2) (•-) ) production and ET-1 plasma concentration were evaluated by immunofluorescence, real-time quantitative PCR, ethidium fluorescence and elisa, respectively.

KEY RESULTS

I/R increased ET-1 plasma concentration, ET-1-mediated vasoconstriction and ET(B) mRNA expression, and down-regulated ET(A) mRNA expression. Immunofluorescence confirmed mRNA results and revealed an increase in ET(B) receptors in the mesenteric resistance artery media layer after I/R. Therefore, the ET(B) receptor agonist sarafotoxin-6 induced a contraction that was inhibited by the ET(B) receptor antagonist BQ788 only in vessels, with and without endothelium, from I/R rats. Furthermore, BQ788 potentiated ET-1 vasoconstriction only in sham rats. Endothelium removal in rings from I/R rats unmasked the inhibition of ET-1 vasoconstriction by BQ788. Endothelium removal, N(ω) -nitro-L-arginine methyl ester and superoxide dismutase abolished the differences in ET-1 vasoconstriction between sham and I/R rats. We also found that I/R down-regulates endothelial NOS mRNA expression and concomitantly enhanced O(2) (•-) production by increasing NADPH oxidase 1 (NOX-1) and p(47phox) mRNA.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Mesenteric I/R potentiated the ET-1-mediated vasoconstriction by a mechanism that involves up-regulation of muscular ET(B) receptors and decrease in NO bioavailability.

Mechanisms of gastroprotection by transdermal nitroglycerin in the rat

Nitric oxide (NO) donors prevent experimentally-induced gastric mucosal damage, but their clinical utility is limited by short duration of action or unsuitability of the pharmaceutical form employed. This study analyses the gastroprotection elicited by a clinically used mode of continuous administration of an NO donor, namely the nitroglycerin patch. Application to rats of a transdermal patch that releases doses of nitroglycerin comparable to those used in man (40, 80, 160 and 400 ng min(-1) rat(-1)) reduced gastric damage induced by indomethacin (25 mg kg(-1), p.o. or s.c.). The nitroglycerin patch (160 ng min(-1) rat(-1)) also diminished damage by oral administration (1 ml) of acidified bile salts (100 mg kg(-1) taurocholic acid in 150 mM HCl) or 50% ethanol. Transdermal nitroglycerin (160 ng min(-1) rat(-1)) did not influence basal gastric blood flow, as measured by lasser-doppler flowmetry, but prevented its reduction by indomethacin. Transdermal nitroglycerin (160 ng min(-1) rat(-1)) prevented in vivo leukocyte rolling and adherence in the rat mesentery microvessels superfused with indomethacin, as evaluated by intravital microscopy. The transdermal nitroglycerin patch protects the gastric mucosa from damage by mechanisms that involve maintenance of mucosal blood flow and reduction of leukocyte-endothelial cell interaction.