Nitric Oxide-derived Species Research Articles

Nitro-Oleic Acid Regulates Endothelin Signaling in Human Endothelial Cells.

Nitro-fatty acids are reactive signaling mediators that are formed when unsaturated fatty acids react with nitric oxide or nitric oxide-derived species. Nitro-fatty acids can modify specific signaling pathways via post-translational modifications of Cys residues in key regulatory proteins. One of the signaling cascades activated by nitro-fatty acids is the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway. We have previously studied the effects of nitro-oleic acid (OA-NO2) on the human endothelial cell transcriptome. We observed that endothelin receptor B [ET-B (gene name EDNRB)], the receptor mediating the vasodilatory effects of endothelin-1 (ET-1) is induced by OA-NO2 Inasmuch as ET-1 is one of the key regulators of vascular tone, we chose to examine in more detail the effect of OA-NO2 on endothelin signaling in human endothelial cells. Nrf2 was found to regulate the OA-NO2-induced transcription of ET-B in human and mouse endothelial cells. Furthermore, chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis revealed that OA-NO2 increased the binding of Nrf2 to an antioxidant response element in the enhancer region of the EDNRB gene. In addition, we show that the overexpression of both OA-NO2 and Nrf2 substantially decreased and that Nrf2 silencing increased the ET-1 concentration in the culture media of endothelial cells. The change in the extracellular ET-1 concentration was dependent on ET-B receptor expression. These data suggest that OA-NO2 modulates endothelin signaling by increasing Nrf2-dependent expression of the ET-B receptor in endothelial cells, which in turn mediates the decrease in extracellular ET-1 concentration. Based on these results, we propose that OA-NO2 and Nrf2 may alleviate the vasoconstrictive effects of ET-1 by removing it from the circulation.

Evaluation of ∆2-pioglitazone, an analogue of pioglitazone, on colon cancer cell survival: Evidence of drug treatment association with autophagy and activation of the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway.

Thiazolidinediones have been shown to exhibit anti-proliferative effects against cancer cells derived from diverse tissue origins both in vivo and in vitro. We studied the anti-proliferative impact of 5-{4-(2-(5-ethyl-pyridin-2-yl)-ethoxy)-benzylidene}-thiazolidine-2,4-dione (∆2-pioglitazone), an analogue of pioglitazone, which binds to the nuclear peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ without activating it, on human adenocarcinoma-derived HT29 and HCT116 cells. In HTC116 cells, exposure to ∆2-pioglitazone reduced cell growth, but HT29 cells reached the plateau phase of growth after three days. ∆2-pioglitazone treatment did not trigger cells to enter apoptosis but enhanced the autophagy process. The effect of ∆2-pioglitazone treatment was related to the increase of oxygen and nitric oxide-derived species production and decreased glutathione content. Moreover, pre-treatment with an antioxidant before addition of ∆2-pioglitazone limited cell growth inhibition, reduced the production of reactive species and attenuated autophagy within the cells. The impact of the drug was associated with activation of the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway as demonstrated by the increased protein content of several antioxidant enzymes, notably heme-oxygenase-1.

Bioactivity of nitrolinoleate: effects on adhesion molecules and CD40–CD40L system

The vascular effects of nitrolinoleate (LNO 2), an endogenous product of linoleic acid (LA) nitration by nitric oxide-derived species and a potential nitrosating agent, were investigated on rat endothelial-leukocyte interactions. Confocal microscopy analysis demonstrated that LNO 2 was capable to deliver free radical nitric oxide ( ·NO) into cells, 5 min after its administration to cultured cells, with a peak of liberation at 30 min. THP-1 monocytes incubated with LNO 2 for 5 min presented nitrosation of CD40, leading to its inactivation. Other anti-inflammatory actions of LNO 2 were observed in vivo by intravital microscopy assays. LNO 2 decreased the number of adhered leukocytes in postcapillary venules of the mesentery network. In addition to this, LNO 2 reduced mRNA and protein expression of β2-integrin in circulating leukocytes, as well as VCAM-1 in endothelial cells isolated from postcapillary venules, confirming its antiadhesive effects on both cell types. Moreover, 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide, a nitric oxide scavenger, partially abolished the inhibitory action of LNO 2 on leukocyte-endothelium interaction, suggesting that the antiadhesion effects of LNO 2 involve a dual role in leukocyte adhesion, acting as a nitric oxide donor as well as through nitric oxide-independent mechanisms. In conclusion, LNO 2 inhibited adhesion molecules expression and promoted ·NO inactivation of the CD40–CD40L system, both important processes of the inflammatory response.

Plasmodium falciparum: Food vacuole localization of nitric oxide-derived species in intraerythrocytic stages of the malaria parasite

Nitric oxide (NO) has diverse biological functions. Numerous studies have documented NO’s biosynthetic pathway in a wide variety of organisms. Little is known, however, about NO production in intraerythrocytic Plasmodium falciparum. Using diaminorhodamine-4-methyl acetoxymethylester (DAR-4M AM), a fluorescent indicator, we obtained direct evidence of NO and NO-derived reactive nitrogen species (RNS) production in intraerythrocytic P. falciparum parasites, as well as in isolated food vacuoles from trophozoite stage parasites. We preliminarily identified two gene sequences that might be implicated in NO synthesis in intraerythrocytic P. falciparum. We showed localization of the protein product of one of these two genes, a molecule that is structurally similar to a plant nitrate reductase, in trophozoite food vacuole membranes. We confirmed previous reports on the antiproliferative effect of NOS (nitric oxide synthase) inhibitors in P. falciparum cultures; however, we did not obtain evidence that NOS inhibitors had the ability to inhibit RNS production or that there is an active NOS in mature forms of the parasite. We concluded that a nitrate reductase activity produce NO and NO-derived RNS in or around the food vacuole in P. falciparum parasites. The food vacuole is a critical parasitic compartment involved in hemoglobin degradation, heme detoxification and a target for antimalarial drug action. Characterization of this relatively unexplored synthetic activity could provide important clues into poorly understood metabolic processes of the malaria parasite.

Nitro-fatty Acid Reaction with Glutathione and Cysteine: KINETIC ANALYSIS OF THIOL ALKYLATION BY A MICHAEL ADDITION REACTION

Fatty acid nitration by nitric oxide-derived species yields electrophilic products that adduct protein thiols, inducing changes in protein function and distribution. Nitro-fatty acid adducts of protein and reduced glutathione (GSH) are detected in healthy human blood. Kinetic and mass spectrometric analyses reveal that nitroalkene derivatives of oleic acid (OA-NO2) and linoleic acid (LNO2) rapidly react with GSH and Cys via Michael addition reaction. Rates of OA-NO2 and LNO2 reaction with GSH, determined via stopped flow spectrophotometry, displayed second-order rate constants of 183 M(-1)S(-1) and 355 M(-1)S(-1), respectively, at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C. These reaction rates are significantly greater than those for GSH reaction with hydrogen peroxide and non-nitrated electrophilic fatty acids including 8-iso-prostaglandin A2 and 15-deoxy-Delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J2. Increasing reaction pH from 7.4 to 8.9 enhanced apparent second-order rate constants for the thiol reaction with OA-NO2 and LNO2, showing dependence on the thiolate anion of GSH for reactivity. Rates of nitroalkene reaction with thiols decreased as the pKa of target thiols increased. Increasing concentrations of the detergent octyl-beta-d-glucopyranoside decreased rates of nitroalkene reaction with GSH, indicating that the organization of nitro-fatty acids into micellar or membrane structures can limit Michael reactivity with more polar nucleophilic targets. In aggregate, these results reveal that the reversible adduction of thiols by nitro-fatty acids is a mechanism for reversible post-translational regulation of protein function by nitro-fatty acids.

Biomimetic nitration of the linoleic acid metabolite 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid: isolation and spectral characterization of novel chain-rearranged epoxy nitro derivatives

Nitration of unsaturated fatty acids is a (patho)physiologically important pathway of lipid modification induced by nitric oxide-derived species. We report herein on the unexpected chain rearrangement undergone by (13 S,9 Z,11 E)-13-hydroxyoctadeca-9,11-dienoic acid ( 1), a linoleic acid metabolite, when exposed to nitrating agents of biological relevance. At pH 7.4 and at room temperature, reaction of 1 with peroxynitrite (ONOO −) as well as Fe 2+-EDTA/H 2O 2/NO 2 − and horseradish peroxidase/H 2O 2/NO 2 − led to the formation of two nitration products, which could be isolated as the methyl esters and were identified as diastereoisomeric methyl (12 S)-10,11-epoxy-12-hydroxy-9-nitromethylheptadecanoates by extensive 1H, 13C, 15N NMR and MS analysis.

Reactive Nitrogen species process a microbial carbohydrate presented by the MHCII Pathway (93.20)

Abstract The class II major histocompatibility complex (MHCII) pathway in antigen-presenting cells (APCs) is the conduit by which extracellular proteins are processed by proteases, resulting in foreign peptides being presented to T cells. After depolymerization to a markedly decreased molecular size, zwitterionic polysaccharides (ZPSs) are also presented by this pathway. However, nothing is known about the chemistry of carbohydrate processing apart from its dependence on the presence of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). By examining the ability of known nitric oxide-derived species, peroxynitrite, nitroxyl, and nitric oxide itself, to degrade polysaccharide A (PSA), a ZPS from Bacteroides fragilis, we determined that deamination was the predominant mechanism of PSA processing in APCs. Structural characterization of the nitric oxide-derived product PSA-NO indicated that the depolymerization didn¡t disturb PSA¡s repeat units with exception of the deamination cleavage of 4-amino groups of 3-linked 2-acetamido-4-amino-2,4,6-trideoxy galactopyranosyl (AATp) residues. PSA-NO presented by APCs induced CD4+ T cell proliferation that was blocked by inhibitors of endosomal processing and by an antibody to HLA-DR. A novel mechanism (deaminative reaction) differentiates carbohydrate from protein processing during the oxidative burst.

Incorporation of 3-nitrotyrosine into the C-terminus of alpha-tubulin is reversible and not detrimental to dividing cells.

The C-terminus of the alpha-chain of tubulin is subject to reversible incorporation of tyrosine by tubulin tyrosine ligase and removal by tubulin carboxypeptidase. Thus, microtubules rich in either tyrosinated or detyrosinated tubulin can coexist in the cell. Substitution of the terminal tyrosine by 3-nitrotyrosine has been claimed to cause microtubule dysfunction and consequent injury of epithelial lung carcinoma A549 cells. Nitrotyrosine is formed in cells by nitration of tyrosine by nitric oxide-derived species. We studied properties of tubulin modified by in vitro nitrotyrosination at the C-terminus of the alpha-subunit, and the consequences for cell functioning. Nitrotyrosinated tubulin was a good substrate of tubulin carboxypeptidase, and showed a similar capability to assemble into microtubules in vitro to that of tyrosinated tubulin. Tubulin of C6 cells cultured in F12K medium in the presence of 500 micro m nitrotyrosine became fully nitrotyrosinated. This nitrotyrosination was shown to be reversible. No changes in morphology, proliferation, or viability were observed during cycles of nitrotyrosination, denitrotyrosination, and re-nitrotyrosination. Similar results were obtained with CHO, COS-7, HeLa, NIH-3T3, NIH-3T3(TTL-), and A549 cells. C6 and A549 cells were subjected to several passages during 45 days or more in the continuous presence of 500 micro m nitrotyrosine without noticeable alteration of morphology, viability, or proliferation. The microtubular networks visualized by immunofluorescence with antibodies to nitrotyrosinated and total tubulin were identical. Furthermore, nitrotyrosination of tubulin in COS cells did not alter the association of tubulin carboxypeptidase with microtubules. Our results demonstrate that substitution of C-terminal tyrosine by 3-nitrotyrosine has no detrimental effect on dividing cells.

The Nitration Product 5-Nitro-γ-tocopherol Is Increased in the Alzheimer Brain

Oxidative stress and quasi-inflammatory processes recently have been recognized as contributing factors in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Reactive nitrating species have specifically been implicated in AD based on immunochemical and instrumental detection of nitrotyrosine in AD brain protein. The significance of lipid-phase nitration has not been investigated in AD. This study documents a significant two- to threefold increase in the lipid nitration product 5-nitro-γ-tocopherol in affected regions of the AD brain as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. In a bioassay to compare the relative potency of α-tocopherol and γ-tocopherol against nitrative stress, rat brain mitochondria were exposed to the peroxynitrite-generating compound SIN-1. The oxidation-sensitive Kreb's cycle enzyme α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase was inactivated by SIN-1, in a manner that could be significantly attenuated by γ-tocopherol (at <10 μM) but not by α-tocopherol. These data indicate that nitric oxide-derived species are significant contributors to lipid oxidation in the AD brain. The findings are discussed in reference to the neuroinflammatory hypothesis of AD and the possible role of γ-tocopherol as a major lipid-phase scavenger of reactive nitrogen species.

Stimulation of cyclooxygenase-2-activity by nitric oxide-derived species in rat chondrocyte: lack of contribution to loss of cartilage anabolism

Cross-talk between inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS II) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was investigated in rat chondrocytes. In monolayers, interleukin-1β (IL-1β) induced COX-2 and NOS II expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner, to produce high prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2) and nitrite (NO 2 −) levels in an apparently coordinated fashion. COX-2 mRNA was induced earlier (30 min. versus 4 hr) and less markedly (4-fold versus 12-fold at 24 hr) than NOS II, and was poorly affected by the translational inhibitor cycloheximide (CHX). IL-1β did not stabilize COX-2 mRNA in contrast to CHX. Indomethacin and NS-398 lacked any effect on NO 2 − levels whereas L-NMMA and SMT reduced PGE 2 levels at concentration inhibiting NO 2 − production from 50 to 90%, even when added at a time allowing a complete expression of both enzymes (8 hr). Basal COX activity was unaffected by NO donors. The SOD mimetic, CuDips inhibited COX-2 activity by more than 75% whereas catalase did not. Inhibition of COX-2 by CuDips was not sensitive to catalase, consistent with a superoxide-mediated effect. In tridimensional culture, IL-1β inhibited radiolabelled sodium sulphate incorporation while stimulating COX-2 and NOS II activities. Cartilage injury was corrected by L-NMMA or CuDips but not by NSAIDs, consistent with a peroxynitrite-mediated effect. These results show that in chondrocytes: (i) COX2 and NOS II genes are induced sequentially and distinctly by IL-1β; (ii) COX-1 and COX-2 activity are affected differently by NO-derived species; (iii) peroxynitrite accounts likely for stimulation of COX-2 activity and inhibition of proteoglycan synthesis induced by IL-1β.

Role of the Carbonate Radical Anion in Tyrosine Nitration and Hydroxylation by Peroxynitrite

Peroxynitrite has been receiving increasing attention as the pathogenic mediator of nitric oxide cytotoxicity. In most cases, the contribution of peroxynitrite to diseases has been inferred from detection of 3-nitrotyrosine in injured tissues. However, presently it is known that other nitric oxide-derived species can also promote protein nitration. Mechanistic details of protein nitration remain under discussion even in the case of peroxynitrite, although recent literature data strongly suggest a free radical mechanism. Here, we confirm the free radical mechanism of tyrosine modification by peroxynitrite in the presence and in the absence of the bicarbonate–carbon dioxide pair by analyzing the stable tyrosine products and the formation of the tyrosyl radical at pH 5.4 and 7.4. Stable products, 3-nitrotyrosine, 3-hydroxytyrosine, and 3,3-dityrosine, were identified by high performance liquid chromatography and UV spectroscopy. The tyrosyl radical was detected by continuous-flow and spin-trapping electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). 3-Hydroxytyrosine was detected at pH 5.4 and its yield decreased in the presence of the bicarbonate–carbon dioxide pair. In contrast, the yields of the tyrosyl radical increased in the presence of the bicarbonate–carbon dioxide pair and correlated with the yields of 3-nitrotyrosine under all tested experimental conditions. Taken together, the results demonstrate that the promoting effects of carbon dioxide on peroxynitrite-mediated tyrosine nitration is due to the selective reactivity of the carbonate radical anion as compared with that of the hydroxyl radical. Colocalization of 3-hydroxytyrosine and 3-nitrotyrosine residues in proteins may be useful to discriminate between peroxynitrite and other nitrating species.

Nitric oxide and peroxynitrite in the perinatal period

Many of the actions of nitric oxide are not due to nitric oxide itself, but rather by the secondary formation of oxidants like peroxynitrite. Peroxynitrite leaves a footprint in the nitration of tyrosine, which helps track the formation of reactive nitric oxide-derived species in diseases and even normal development.

Microtubule dysfunction by posttranslational nitrotyrosination of α-tubulin: A nitric oxide-dependent mechanism of cellular injury

NO2Tyr (3-Nitrotyrosine) is a modified amino acid that is formed by nitric oxide-derived species and has been implicated in the pathology of diverse human diseases. Nitration of active-site tyrosine residues is known to compromise protein structure and function. Although free NO2Tyr is produced in abundant concentrations under pathological conditions, its capacity to alter protein structure and function at the translational or posttranslational level is unknown. Here, we report that free NO2Tyr is transported into mammalian cells and selectively incorporated into the extreme carboxyl terminus of alpha-tubulin via a posttranslational mechanism catalyzed by the enzyme tubulin-tyrosine ligase. In contrast to the enzymatically regulated carboxyl-terminal tyrosination/detyrosination cycle of alpha-tubulin, incorporation of NO2Tyr shows apparent irreversibility. Nitrotyrosination of alpha-tubulin induces alterations in cell morphology, changes in microtubule organization, loss of epithelial-barrier function, and intracellular redistribution of the motor protein cytoplasmic dynein. These observations imply that posttranslational nitrotyrosination of alpha-tubulin invokes conformational changes, either directly or via allosteric interactions, in the surface-exposed carboxyl terminus of alpha-tubulin that compromises the function of this critical domain in regulating microtubule organization and binding of motor- and microtubule-associated proteins. Collectively, these observations illustrate a mechanism whereby free NO2Tyr can impact deleteriously on cell function under pathological conditions encompassing reactive nitrogen species production. The data also yield further insight into the role that the alpha-tubulin tyrosination/detyrosination cycle plays in microtubule function.

Cellular Responses to Nitric Oxide: Role of Protein S-Thiolation/Dethiolation

Nitrosothiols, the product of the reaction of nitric oxide-derived species (NOx) with thiols, participate in both cell signaling and cytotoxic events. Glutathione has recently been shown to modulate nitrosothiol-mediated signal transduction and to protect against NOx-mediated cytotoxicity. We have investigated the role of protein S-thiolation/dethiolation as a potential mechanism by which glutathione regulates nitrosothiol signaling and toxicity. Our data show that exogenous sources of NOxdecreased both free protein thiol and total glutathione levels in endothelial cells. The decrease in glutathione levels could not be accounted for by formation ofS-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) since borohydride treatment of the nonprotein fraction of cell extracts did not restore glutathione levels, whereas borohydride treatment of protein-containing cell extracts led to recovery of glutathione levels. The NOx-mediated decrease in glutathione and protein thiol content was correlated with an increase in protein mixed disulfide formation, as measured by the incorporation of [35S]glutathione into cellular proteins. [35S]glutathione was incorporated into proteins via a covalent disulfide bond since dithiothreitol removed the radiolabel from cellular proteins. The withdrawal of the exogenous NOxsource led to recovery of free protein thiol and cellular glutathione levels, which correlated with the dethiolation of proteins. Dethiolation required the action of the glutathione redox system since 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea, an inhibitor of glutathione reductase, blocked both the recovery of glutathione levels and the dethiolation of proteins. These results suggest that exposure of cells to NOxdoes not lead to accumulation of GSNO but rather stimulates protein S-thiolation, a mechanism which may have important implications with respect to nitrosothiol signaling and toxicity.