Inhibitory Effect Of Nitric Oxide Research Articles

Nitric Oxide Inhibits CPP32-like Activity under Redox Regulation

The inhibitory effect of nitric oxide (NO) on the enzymatic activity of CPP32-like proteases in the cell extract from vincristine-treated cells was examinedin vitro.NO generated from (±)-(E)-methyl-2-[(E)-hydroxyimino]-5-nitro-6-methoxy-S-hexeneamide (NOR1) inhibited CPP32-like protease, which constitute a family of interleukin-1β-converting enzyme (ICE)-like proteases in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, recombinant CPP32β activity was inhibited by NOR1 at same concentration. Inhibition of CPP32-like activity by NO was reversed in the presence of glutathione in the enzymatic reaction mixture. Thus, CPP32-like activity was regulated by NO under redox regulation. These findings suggest that NO may prevent apoptosis by inhibiting the ICE protease cascade under the influence of cellular redox status.

A Kinetic Model for the Interaction of Nitric Oxide with a Mammalian Lipoxygenase

Nitric oxide (NO) has been known for a long while to act as an inactivator of the soybean lipoxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase. More recently, NO was shown to interact also with a mammalian 15-lipoxygenase [Wiesner, R., Rathmann, J., Holzhütter, H. G., Stosser, R., Mader, K., Nolting, H. & Kühn, H. (1996) Nitric oxide oxidises ferrous mammalian lipoxygenases to a pre-activated ferric species, FEBS Lett. 389, 229-232]. In this paper we present a detailed kinetic analysis of the interaction of NO with the 15-lipoxygenase from reticulocytes. Time courses of hydroperoxide formation were monitored after an anaerobic incubation of the enzyme with varying concentrations of NO and for varying length of the incubation period. Owing to the presence of O2 during the enzymatic reaction, the inhibitory effect of NO declines in a time-dependent manner since NO is converted into non-reactive NO2. This is manifested as a lag phase of the time course. The lag phase becomes more pronounced if the enzyme is incubated over a fixed period (15 s) with increasing concentrations of NO. In contrast, increasing the length of the incubation period at fixed concentrations of NO diminishes the duration of the lag phase. These experimental findings can be accounted for by a kinetic model which assumes (a) fast reversible binding of NO to the inactive ferrous Fe(II) form of the enzyme and (b) slow irreversible conversion of the Fe(II)-NO complex into an activated ferric form of the enzyme which is susceptible to peroxide activation. The rate constants for these two different kinetic modes of NO action were estimated by fitting the solutions of the model equations to the experimental time courses. The dissociation constant of the Fe(II)-NO complex amounts to 2.5 microM. Computer simulations performed on the basis of the model indicate that the response of the lipoxygenase to increasing intracellular NO concentrations depend upon the available peroxide tone: at low peroxide concentration the enzyme is initially trapped in the inactive ferrous form and thus may be activated by NO via the activated ferric species. On the other hand, at high peroxide concentrations, a partial inhibition of the initially active enzyme is expected.

Nitric oxide inhibits sodium transport by distal lung epithelia via a cGMP-mediated inhibition of sodium channels. † 1520

Active sodium (Na+) transport by distal lung epithelium plays a critical role in maintaining normal alveolar fluid balance and in preventing pulmonary edema. The effect of inhaled nitric oxide (NO) on lung epithelial Na+ transport is largely unknown. We have used the patch-clamp technique to study the effect of NO on a Na+ permeant cation channel in rat type-II pneumocytes (ATII cells). Single-channel recordings from the apical surface of ATII cells in primary culture showed a predominant cation channel with unitary conductance of 17.6 pS and Na+/K+ selectivity of 0.9. Nitric oxide donor GSNO (100μM) inhibited the basal cation channel activity by 56% (nPo control vs. GSNO, x±SEM, 0.29±.07 vs. 0.13±.04, n=6, p <0.05). The effect was rapid with onset of less than 2 min and sustained through up to 30 min of recording. GSNO inhibition was reversed by washout, and the unitary conductance remained unchanged. The inhibitory effect of NO was confirmed by using a second donor of NO, SNAP (100μM) (0.45±.09 vs. 0.26±.06, n=6, p <0.05). The GSNO effect was blocked by methylene blue (100μM) suggesting a role for cGMP. The soluble analog of cGMP, 8Br-cGMP (100μM) inhibited the cation channel similar to that seen with GSNO (nPo control vs. Br-cGMP, 0.35±.08 vs. 0.17±.06, -52%, n=6, p <0.05). To determine if the activation of cGMP-dependent protein kinase was necessary for NO to inhibit Na+ channels, cells were treated with KT 5823 (a blocker of protein kinase G) prior to treatment with GSNO. KT 5823 abolished the inhibitory effect of GSNO. The NO inhibition of channels was not due to changes in cell viability. We conclude that NO suppresses the activity of a Na+ permeant cation channel on the apical surface of ATII cells. This action appears to be mediated by cGMP-induced activation of a protein kinase. The modulation of Na+ channels by NO may have important clinical implications since it can adversely effect alveolar fluid balance resulting in the development of pulmonary edema.

Inhibitory effects of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), on 2-deoxy-D-glucose-induced hyperglycemia in rats.

The inhibitory effects of a potent nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor, N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), on 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG)-induced hyperglycemia were investigated in rats. L-NAME significantly inhibited 2-DG-induced hyperglycemia, although N(G)-nitro-D-arginine methyl ester (D-NAME) did not affect it. A similar NO synthase inhibitor, N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), also inhibited 2-DG-induced hyperglycemia. The antagonistic effects of L-NAME are unrelated to the cholinergic system, since the muscarinic receptor antagonist scopolamine did not affect 2-DG-induced hyperglycemia. The neuronal NO synthase inhibitor 7-nitroindazole (7-NI) did not reduce 2-DG-induced hyperglycemia, but rather enhanced it. Our results suggest that NO may be involved in glucose homeostasis and that the inhibitory effects of L-NAME on 2-DG-induced hyperglycemia are not related to muscarinic receptors or neuronal NO synthase.

Endothelium-derived Nitric Oxide Decreases Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte Interaction with the Deeply Injured Arterial Wall under Intermediate and High Shear Conditions

Previous studies have shown that nitric oxide (NO) inhibits specific agonist-induced polymorphonuclear leukocyte (neutrophil) and platelet aggregation in vitro. However, the inhibitory effects of NO on neutrophil interaction with the deeply injured arterial wall under conditions of flow is unknown. Therefore, we investigated the influence of NO derived from the endothelium on neutrophil and platelet interactions with the downstream arterial media under controlled flow conditions. Porcine aortic media, simulating deep arterial wall injury, was exposed to flowing porcine non-anticoagulated arterial blood for 5 min at intermediate (1006 s(-1)) and high (3397 s(-1)) shear conditions, and deposition of radiolabeled neutrophils and platelets was quantified. Neutrophil deposition on the exposed arterial media was reduced, by more than 30%, by pretreatment of the endothelium with the physiological precursor of NO, L-arginine, from 84.1 +/- 13.7 to 57.4 +/- 7.2 x 10(3)/cm2 (p < 0.05) at 1006 s(-1), and from 99.3 +/- 9.8 to 65.5 +/- 8.7 x 10(3)/cm2 (p < 0.05) at 3397 s(-1) of shear rate, relative to control. Pretreatment of the endothelium with the inactive stereoisomer D-arginine had no effect on neutrophil deposition. These specific inhibitory effects of L-arginine were completely abolished by the inhibitor of NO synthesis, N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) at both shear rates. Endothelial pretreatment with D-arginine, or with L-arginine, in the absence or presence of L-NAME, did not significantly influence platelet interaction with the thrombogenic arterial media at intermediate and high shear rates. These results indicate that NO derived from the endothelium can modulate and has a greater influence on neutrophil, than on platelet, interaction with the injured arterial wall exposing the media under conditions of flow typical to moderately and severely stenosed arteries.

Nitric oxide inhibits growth of vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro by mechanisms independent of guanylate cyclase.

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important mediator molecule synthesized by several cell types including vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC; Busse and Mulsch, 1990) and endothelial cells (EC; Rubanyi et al., 1986). It is generated by the conversion of L-arginine to L-citrulline, a reaction that is catalyzed by the enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS). NOS exists in at least three isoforms mainly classified to be either constitutive (cNOS) or inducible (iNOS). cNOS, as present in EC, is dependent on an increase in intracellular calcium concentration [Ca2+]i and produces NO in the picomolar range. In contrast, iNOS, as present in VSMC, is independent of an increase in [Ca2+]i and produces NO in the nanomolar range upon activation with endotoxins and cytokines. Recent studies have reported a growth inhibitory effect of nitric oxide in EC (Yang et al., 1994), cerebellar glial cells (Garg et al., 1992), and VSMC (Scott-Burden et al., 1993). Although it is not known whether endothelial derived NO exhibits any effects on VSMC growth in vivo, nitric oxide may play a role under conditions associated with endothelial cell damage and excessive VSMC proliferation, a feature characteristic of atherosclerotic blood vessel disease (Ross, 1993). A similar phenomenon also occurs after angioplasty as well as during hypertension and diabetes (Moncada et al., 1991). Hypertrophy of VSMC might at least in part be mediated by an inappropriate production and/or release of NO. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible mechanism of NO-dependent inhibition of VSMC growth in vitro.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid mediation of the inhibitory effect of nitric oxide on the arginine vasopressin and oxytocin responses to insulin-induced hypoglycemia

Previous studies have demonstrated that the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor L-NAME exerts positive effects on the arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT) responses to insulin-induced hypoglycemia, suggesting inhibitory actions of NO. The present study was designed to determine whether a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic pathway is involved in regulation of NO action. AVP and OT secretory patterns during insulin (0.15 IU/kg, i.v.)-tolerance tests (ITT) were examined in seven normal male subjects with (experimental tests) and without (control test) concomitant treatment with L-NAME (40 μg/kg injected plus 50 μg/kg infused, i.v.), the GABAergic agent sodium valproate (600 mg in three divided doses orally) or the combination of L-NAME and sodium valproate. Insulin-induced hypoglycemia increased by 2-fold (peak vs. baseline) plasma AVP and OT levels. In the presence of L-NAME, plasma AVP and OT levels rose 3-fold in response to hypoglycemia and were significantly higher than those in the control test. Administration of sodium valproate alone changed neither AVP nor OT secretory patterns during ITT. In contrast, sodium valproate abolished the facilitating effect of L-NAME on both AVP and OT responses to hypoglycemia. In the ITT plus L-NAME plus sodium valproate test, plasma AVP and OT levels were not significantly different at any time point from those observed during the control ITT. These data indicate a GABAergic mediation of the inhibitory modulation by NO of the AVP and OT responses to insulin-induced hypoglycemia.

Platelet and neutrophil distributions in pump oxygenator circuits. III. Influence of nitric oxide gas infusion.

The authors used quantitative gamma scintigraphy to evaluate the influence of nitric oxide gas on platelet and neutrophil deposition in Cobe Duo microporous oxygenators during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The effects of nitric oxide gas on circulating platelet and neutrophil counts and platelet function also were assessed. Animals were prepared by standard methods. Cells were harvested, labeled (111 In platelet and 99mTc neutrophil), infused, and recirculated. Nitric oxide gas, a guanylate cyclase pathway promoter, was infused int he Duo gas port at 500 ppm (t = 0-60 min), increased to 1,000 (t = 60-80 min), and stopped (final, 10 min). Images were taken at 10-15 min intervals during CPB. Standard isotope image corrections were made. No differences between nitric oxide gas and control experiments were observed for flow, pressure, hematocrit, or replacement volume. Nitric oxide gas infusion significantly (p < 0.05) reduced both platelet adherence to the oxygenator and in vitro platelet aggregation. Neutrophil adhesion tended to be lower, and circulating platelet and neutrophil counts tended to be higher with nitric oxide gas infusion. Results of in vitro aggregometry studies using rabbit platelets indicate that the class V phosphodiesterase inhibitor zaprinast can strongly enhance the inhibitory effects of nitric oxide. The authors conclude nitric oxide gas is a promising platelet sparing agent in the setting of CPB.

NO decreases evoked quantal ACh release at a synapse of Aplysia by a mechanism independent of Ca2+ influx and protein kinase G.

1. The exogenous nitric oxide (NO) donor, SIN-1, decreased the postsynaptic response evoked by a presynaptic spike at an identified cholinergic neuro-neuronal synapse in the buccal ganglion of Aplysia californica. 2. The statistical analysis of long duration postsynaptic responses evoked by square depolarizations of the voltage-clamped presynaptic neurone showed that the number of evoked acetylcholine (ACh) quanta released was decreased by SIN-1, pointing to a presynaptic action of the drug. 3. Vitamin E, a scavenger of free radicals, prevented the effects of SIN-1 on ACh release. SIN-1 still decreased ACh release in the presence of superoxide dismutase, whereas haemoglobin suppressed the effects of SIN-1. These results showed that NO is the active compound. 4. 8-Bromoguanosine 3', 5' cyclic monophosphate (8-Br-cGMP) mimicked the inhibitory effect of NO on ACh release suggesting the involvement of a NO-sensitive guanylate cyclase. This was reinforced by the reversibility of the effects of SIN-1 by inhibitors of guanylate cyclase, Methylene Blue, cystamine or LY83583. Methylene Blue partially reduced the inhibitory effect of NO. In addition, in the presence of superoxide dismutase, Methylene Blue blocked and cystamine significantly reduced the NO-induced inhibition of ACh release. 5. In the presence of KT5823 or R-p-8-pCPT-cGMPS, two inhibitors of protein kinase G, the reduction of ACh release by SIN-1 still took place indicating that the effects of NO most probably did not involve protein kinase G-dependent phosphorylation. 6. Presynaptic voltage-dependent Ca2+ (L-, N- and P-types) and K+ (IA and late outward rectifier) currents were unmodified by SIN-1. 7. The modulation of ACh release in opposite ways by L-arginine and N omega-nitro-L-arginine points to the involvement of an endogenous NO synthase-dependent regulation of transmitter release.

Regional specific effects of nitric oxide donors and cGMP on the electrical activity of neurons in the rat spinal cord

Numerous functional studies establish the role of nitric oxide (NO) as a neuromodulator in the central nervous system which affects synaptic transmission. However, there are only a few reports indicating a direct and postsynaptic effect of nitric oxide on the electrical activity of neurons in the central nervous system. The aim of this study was to characterize the effect of nitric oxide on spontaneously active neurons in spinal cord slices using an extracellular recording technique. Because in the lumbar rat spinal cord the NO producing enzyme NO-synthase is primarily located in the superficial dorsal horn (laminae I+II) and around the central canal (lamina X), we restricted our recordings to these areas. While the majority of neurons increased their electrical activity during superfusion with the NO-donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) in lamina X, neurons in laminae I+II were mainly inhibited by SNP. The excitatory and the inhibitory effects were dose-dependent and reversible and were mimicked by other NO-donors and membrane permeable cyclic guanosine monophosphate (8Br-cGMP) on the same neurons. The spinal cord slice preparation contains functional NO-synthase (NOS), because selective blockade of NOS increased the spontaneous activity of those neurons from laminae I+II which were inhibited by SNP and this effect could be reversed by superfusion with the natural substrate for NOS, l-arginine. It is concluded that NO can activate and inhibit the activity of spinal cord neurons by raising cGMP levels and that these effects are lamina specific. A general consequence of our results is that the NO-induced production of cGMP alone does not allow any prediction about an excitatory or inhibitory effect of NO on the discharge rate of neurons. Thus the NO mediated increase and decrease in neuronal activity is probably the result of intracellular mechanisms downstream from the production of cGMP which results in the activation or inhibition of different ion channels on neurons in laminae I+II and X.

Nitric Oxide and Viral Infection: No Antiviral Activity against a Flavivirusin Vitro,and Evidence for Contribution to Pathogenesis in Experimental Infectionin Vivo

Upon stimulation murine macrophages produce high levels of nitric oxide (NO), a potent microbicidal and tumoricidal agent recently also implicated as a mediator of antiviral defense. As dysregulated production of NO may lead to extensive tissue damage, the production of this powerful mediator is tightly regulated. Viral infection, however, may alter the regulation of certain macrophage functions, and recent work from our group demonstrated that viral infection—via induction of interferon-αβ synthesis—may either prime for or down-modulate NO production. In light of antiviral activities of NO, down-modulation of NO production in viral infection would seem contradictory to antiviral defense. As others, however, have provided evidence that NO production may contribute to pathogenesis of infection with several neurotropic viruses, the role of NO production was investigatedin vitroandin vivoin murine macrophages and in BALB/c mice infected with tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBE-V), a flavivirus. Macrophages from TBE-V-infected mice, but not from control mice, spontaneously produced NO upon culturein vitro.In contrast to the inhibitory effect of NO on replication of several poxviruses and herpes simplex virus, high levels of NO production did not display an inhibitory influence on TBE-V replicationin vitro.And finally,in vivoadministration of a competitive inhibitor of NO production, aminoguanidine, to TBE-V-infected mice significantly increased their mean survival time. Our results thus demonstrate that the antiviral activity of NOin vitromay be confined to certain viruses, whereas others remain unaffected. Furthermore, we provide evidence that NO production may even contribute to pathogenesis of viral infectionin vivo.

Alveolar macrophages autoregulate IL-1 and IL-6 production by endogenous nitric oxide.

The effect of nitric oxide on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cytokine production by alveolar macrophages was studied. When alveolar macrophages were cultured, substantial amounts of interleukin-1(IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-alpha), and nitric oxide are produced upon stimulation with LPS. Inhibition of the nitric oxide production by the L-arginine analogue N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (NMMA), resulted in an increase of IL-1(beta) and IL-6, whereas the TNF-alpha concentrations remained unchanged, suggesting specific inhibitory effects of nitric oxide on the LPS-stimulated cytokine production by alveolar macrophages. The observed cytokine-modulation properties of nitric oxide did not result from cytotoxic actions of the oxidation of L-arginine on macrophages, since nitric oxide synthesis did not affect the viability of the alveolar macrophages. Conversely the nitric oxide donor S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D, L-penicillamine (SNAP) induced dose-dependent inhibition of IL-1 production in LPS-stimulated alveolar macrophages in which endogenous nitric oxide production was blocked. The results indicate that nitric oxide can affect the LPS-induced IL-1beta and IL-6 secretion by alveolar macrophages in an autoregulatory way and are discussed in view of the important physiologic consequences this autoregulation by nitric acid oxide may have.

Inhibitory effect of nitric oxide on neuronal activity in the periaqueductal grey matter of the rat.

Experiments were carried out in urethane-an-anesthetized rats to examine the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on neuronal activity within the dorsolateral sector of the midbrain periaqueductal grey matter (PAG), an area which is rich in NO-synthesizing neurones. NADPH-dependent diaphorase histochemistry revealed small NO synthase-containing perikarya, 15.4 +/- 3.1 microns (mean +/- SEM) in diameter, in a longitudinal column in the dorsolateral sector of the PAG. The labelled cell bodies were surrounded by a dense meshwork of stained fibres and processes in which unlabelled neurones were embedded. In order to establish whether NO was generated when NO donors were ejected iontophoretically from micropipettes, a chemiluminescence method was used to estimate the output of NO in vitro after iontophoresis of two chemically different classes of NO donor: the sydnonimine 3-morpholino-sydnonimin-hydrochloride (SIN 1) and the nitrosothiol S-nitroso glutathione (SNOG). Iontophoresis of both NO donors into 200 microliters aliquots of 165 mM NaCl using ejection currents between 6000 and 18,000 nA.min produced a current-related increase in the concentration of NO. Iontophoresis of SIN 1 in vivo produced a reproducible, current-related inhibition of firing in 40 of 59 neurones in the dorsolateral PAG. In 8 of 10 neurones the effect of SIN 1 was significantly reduced after iontophoresis of methylene blue (10-30 nA for 2.7-5 min). The inhibition took up to 7 min to develop and lasted for up to 13 min. Inhibitory responses to GABA were not affected by methylene blue. Iontophoresis of SNOG also inhibited ongoing activity of 18 of 24 neurones tested in the PAG. The experiments demonstrate firstly that NO donors can be used in vivo to deliver NO in the vicinity of neurones by iontophoresis from micropipettes. Secondly, NO appears to inhibit neuronal activity within the PAG.

Oxygen-dependent inhibition of neutrophil respiratory burst by nitric oxide.

Effect of nitric oxide (NO) on the respiratory burst of neutrophils was examined under different oxygen tensions. Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) stimulated oxygen consumption and superoxide (O2) generation in neutrophils by a mechanism which was inhibited reversibly by NO. The inhibitory effect of NO increased significantly with a decrease in oxygen tension in the medium. The inhibitory effect of NO was suppressed in medium containing oxyhemoglobin (HbO2), a NO scavenging agent. In contrast, 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1), a compound that rapidly generates peroxynitrite (ONOO-) from the released NO and O2-, slightly stimulated the PMA-induced respiratory burst. These results suggested that NO, but not ONOO-, might reversibly inhibit superoxide generation by neutrophils especially at physiologically low oxygen tensions thereby decreasing oxygen toxicity particularly in and around hypoxic tissues.

Nitric oxide stimulates guanylate cyclase and regulates sodium transport in rabbit proximal tubule.

The proximal tubule contains the target for nitric oxide (NO), soluble guanylate cyclase, and has the capacity for NO production. Inhibition of renal NO synthesis reduces fractional excretion of lithium, suggesting an inhibitory effect of NO on proximal tubule Na+ transport. The present studies determined direct effects of donors of NO in rabbit proximal tubule. In both freshly isolated proximal tubule segments and in primary cultures of proximal tubule cells, sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) caused dose-dependent increases in guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP). SNAP was more potent than SNP in stimulating cGMP; this was associated with an enhanced production of nitrite, the stable end-product of NO. In rabbit proximal tubule cells, SNP or SNAP (10(-3) M) significantly inhibited the activity of the apical Na+/H+ exchanger, determined by assay of amiloride-sensitive 22Na+ uptake (% inhibition: SNP, 34.90 +/- 5.52%, P < 0.001; SNAP, 30.77 +/- 8.20%, P < 0.002). To determine the role of cGMP in mediating these effects, proximal tubule cells were incubated with the membrane-permeable analogue, 8-bromoguanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-BrcGMP). Na+/H+ exchange was significantly inhibited by 8-BrcGMP (10(3)M) (% inhibition: 32.40 +/- 9.06%: P < 0.05). The inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase, LY-83583, caused partial inhibition of SNP-stimulated cGMP generation and partly blocked the inhibitory effect of SNP on Na+/H+ exchange. Protein kinase A (PKA) activity was not stimulated by SNP, indicating that potential cross-activation of PKA by cGMP did not mediate the effects of NO donors. These data indicate that NO stimulates soluble guanylate cyclase in rabbit proximal tubule and causes inhibition of Na-/H+ exchange. This is at least partly mediated by generation of cGMP. We conclude that NO is an important autocrine or paracrine factor directly regulating Na+ transport in the proximal tubule.

Oxygen-dependent reversible inhibition of mitochondrial respiration by nitric oxide.

Effects of nitric oxide (NO) and NO generating agents, on the electron transport system of mitochondria were examined in a study of the mechanism and physiological importance of NO in energy metabolism. In the presence of various substrates, uncoupled respiration was inhibited by NO in manner which was both dose- and oxygen tension-dependent. Simultaneously measuring changes in cytochrome absorption spectra and respiration showed that the site of action of NO is cytochrome oxidase. Similar inhibition was also brought about by 1-hydroxy-2-oxo-3,3-bis(2-aminoethyl)-1-triazene (NOC 18), an NO donor. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis revealed that inhibition of uncoupled respiration occurred only during the presence of NO in the reaction mixture. The inhibitory effect of NO was increased significantly by lowering the concentration of mitochondrial protein. No appreciable inhibition of respiration was observed in the presence of 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1), a peroxynitrite anion (ONOO-) generating reagent, but inhibition did occur in the presence of superoxide dismutase (SOD). These results indicate that NO reversibly interacts with mitochondria at complex IV thereby inhibiting respiration particularly under physiologically low oxygen tension and that de novo generated ONOO may have no significant effect under the present experimental conditions.

Inhibition of non-adrenergic non-cholinergic relaxations by nitric oxide donors

The effects of pretreatment with the nitric oxide (NO)-releasing substances 3-morpholino-sydnoninime (SIN-1) and nitroglycerin were investigated on relaxations induced by non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) nerve stimulation, authentic NO and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in the rat gastric fundus. Short periods of electrical stimulation (0.5–16 Hz, 1 ms, pulse trains of 10 s) induced frequency-dependent transient relaxations, previously shown to be mainly mediated by NO. Both SIN-1 (10–100 μM) and nitroglycerin (0.5 mM) pretreatment significantly reduced these electrically induced responses to a similar extent as the inhibitor of the NO biosynthesis l-nitroarginine (30–300 μM). Prolonged periods of electrical stimulation (16 Hz, 1 ms, pulse trains of 180 s) induced a sustained relaxation, previously shown to be mediated by NO and VIP. l-Nitroarginine (30–300 μM) or pretreatment with SIN-1 (100 μM) or nitroglycerin (0.5 mM) did not affect the amplitude of this relaxation but slowed down its onset. Authentic NO (0.01–10 μM) and VIP (0.01–10 nM) induced respectively transient and sustained concentration-dependent relaxations. SIN-1 or nitroglycerin pretreatment had no effect on the concentration-response curves to NO and VIP. These results indicate that prolonged exposure to NO donors inhibits electrically induced nerve-mediated NANC relaxations without affecting the postjunctional response to NO and VIP. As similar results are obtained with NO biosynthesis inhibitors, our results illustrate a prejunctional inhibitory effect of NO on the NANC nerves of the rat gastric fundus and suggest the presence of an autoregulatory mechanism for the nitrergic innervation.

Hydrogen peroxide at low concentrations strongly enhances the inhibitory effect of nitric oxide on platelets.

Simultaneous application of NO and H2O2 to human platelets at physiologically relevant concentrations increased inhibition of platelet aggregation by NO almost 100-fold. If NO and H2O2 were mixed before the addition to platelets, the inhibitory effect remained but still depended on the presence of NO. This suggested an enhanced sensitivity of the platelets to residual NO in the presence of H2O2. The inhibition by the NO/H2O2 mixture was not due to peroxynitrite and was only partly reversed by radical scavengers. The mechanism includes enhanced formation of cyclic GMP in response to NO in the presence of H2O2. H2O2 may play a positive physiological role by amplification and/or prolongation of the action of NO.

Enhancing and inhibitory effects of nitric oxide on superoxide anion generation in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

1. The effects of sodium nitroprusside (SNP, a nitric oxide donor) and authentic nitric oxide (NO) on superoxide anion (O2-) generation were investigated in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). 2. Neither SNP (10 nM to 10 microM) nor NO (40 nM to 40 microM) alone induced O2- generation or change of intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in human PMNs. 3. Pretreatment with SNP or NO at the concentrations used (SNP, 10 nM to 10 microM: NO, 40 nM to 40 microM) showed a biphasic concentration-dependent effect on O2- generation induced by f-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP). Low concentrations of SNP (10 nM to 100 nM) and NO (400 nM) did not affect either basal cyclic GMP levels or cyclic GMP levels stimulated by FMLP, but enhanced FMLP-induced O2- generation and [Ca2+]i elevation. On the other hand, high concentrations of SNP (10 microM) and NO (40 microM) alone elevated cyclic GMP levels and inhibited FMLP-induced O2- generation and [Ca2+]i elevation. 4. 8-Bromo-cyclic GMP (8-Br-cyclic GMP) at concentrations ranging from 1 microM to 1 mM did not induce O2- generation on its own and had little effect on FMLP-induced O2- generation and [Ca2+]i elevation. 5. Addition of a high concentration of NO (40 microM) decreased authentic O2- formation by pyrogallol in a cell-free system, but a low concentration of NO (400 nM) had no effect on this. On the other hand, addition of SNP in the concentration-ranges used had no effect on authentic O2- formation by pyrogallol. 6. In this study, we have shown that SNP and NO have dual effects (enhancement and inhibition) on 02- generation induced by FMLP in human peripheral PMNs. The results suggest that the enhancement observed with SNP and NO at low concentrations is not mediated by activation of the guanylate cyclase-cyclic GMP pathway. The suppressive effect of SNP and NO at higher concentrations is mediated by the NO-induced O2--scavenging effect and activation of the guanylate cyclase-cyclic GMP pathway.

Blockade of nitric oxide formation augments adrenocorticotropin released by blood-borne interleukin-1 beta: role of vasopressin, prostaglandins, and alpha 1-adrenergic receptors

Blockade of nitric oxide (NO) formation with the arginine derivative L-N omega nitro-L-arginine-methylester (L-NAME) produces a dramatic increase in ACTH released by the iv injection of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta). The present work investigated the potential role of three mechanisms in this effect: the activation of adrenergic receptors and/or the release of vasopressin (VP) or prostaglandins (PG). As previously observed, blockade of adrenergic receptors with prazosin and propranolol did not alter the stimulatory effect of IL-1 beta. We show here that this treatment did not significantly interfere with the potentiating influence of L-NAME 30 min after IL-1 injection, but blunted this effect at 60 min. Immunoneutralization of endogenous VP did not consistently decrease the ACTH response to IL-1 beta regardless of whether NO was present. Finally, as expected, blockade of PG synthesis with ibuprofen totally abolished IL-1 beta-induced ACTH secretion; in addition, it prevented the interaction between L-NAME and the pituitary response. In contrast to results obtained after the injection of IL-1 beta, neither the adrenergic antagonists nor ibuprofen significantly altered the ability of L-NAME to potentiate the stimulatory effect of VP. Collectively, these results indicate that the influence of NO on ACTH released by blood-borne IL-1 beta (an effect thought to be primarily exerted on nerve terminals in the median eminence) is not primarily mediated by endogenous VP. The inability of L-NAME to augment the stimulatory effect of the cytokine on ACTH secretion in the presence of ibuprofen suggests that PG play an obligatory role in the response of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis to systemic cytokine administration that cannot be compensated for by removing the restraining influence of NO. Finally, removal of the inhibitory effect of NO either unmasks the participation of adrenergic receptors in modulating the response of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis to IL-1 beta or stimulates catecholamine secretion, which, in turn, acts on CRF nerve terminals and/or synergizes with IL-1 beta-induced CRF release.