Influence of L-arginine on the expression of eNOS and COX2 in experimental pulmonary thromboembolism

Abstract

The influence of L-arginine on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) was observed in experimental pulmonary thromboembolism and the action mechanism on pulmonary thromboembolism was explored. Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group, model group and treatment group. Pulmonary thromboembolism models were established by auto-blood back transfusion, and L-Arg 100 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected after successful model preparation. The animals were sacrificed at 3 h, 1 day, 3 days and 7 days after embolism. Plasma NO, TXB2 and 6-Keto-PGFla were detected. The expression of eNOS and COX2 protein and mRNA in pulmonary tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR respectively. The results showed that pulmonary thrombosis could be seen post pulmonary embolism and inflammatory reaction was significant. Plasma NO was decreased (P<0.01), and the levels of TXB2, 6-Keto-PGF1alpha and T/P ratio were all elevated. The expression of eNOS protein and mRNA in the pulmonary tissue was down-regulated (P<0.05), while that of COX2 protein and mRNA was upregulated (P<0.01). In treatment group, the level of NO was increased, the levels of TXB2 and T/P ratio were decreased, but the level of 6-Keto-PGF1alpha was increased. The expression of eNOS protein and mRNA in pulmonary tissue was upregulated (P<0.05), while that of COX2 protein and mRNA was down-regulated (P<0.05). In conclusion, L-arginine can educe the role of pulmonary tissue protection through up-regulating the expression of intra-pulmonary NOS and down -regulating COX2 in pulmonary thromboembolism.