Search results for "NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE"
showing 10 items of 531 documents
Suppression of leukotriene B4 and tumour necrosis factor alpha release in acute inflammatory responses by novel prenylated hydroquinone derivatives.
1998
A series of prenyl hydroquinone derivatives synthesized as structural analogs of marine products were tested for their effects on inflammatory responses in vitro and in vivo. 2-Prenyl-1,4-hydroquinone (H1), 2-diprenyl-1,4-hydroquinone (H2), 2-triprenyl-1,4-hydroquinone (H3) and 2-tetraprenyl-1,4-hydroquinone (H4) scavenged reactive oxygen species and inhibited 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) activity in human neutrophils. The inhibition of 5-LO activity was demonstrated in vivo in the mouse air pouch injected with zymosan and arachidonic acid-induced ear inflammation. The four compounds suppressed the production of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) in J774 cells stimulated with lipopolysacchari…
Antiatherosclerotic Effects of Small-Molecular-Weight Compounds Enhancing Endothelial Nitric-Oxide Synthase (eNOS) Expression and Preventing eNOS Unc…
2008
Many cardiovascular diseases are associated with reduced levels of bioactive nitric oxide (NO) and an uncoupling of oxygen reduction from NO synthesis in endothelial NO synthase (eNOS uncoupling). In human endothelial EA.hy 926 cells, two small-molecular-weight compounds with related structures, 4-fluoro-N-indan-2-yl-benzamide (CAS no. 291756-32-6; empirical formula C16H14FNO; AVE9488) and 2,2-difluoro-benzo[1,3]dioxole-5-carboxylic acid indan-2-ylamide (CAS no. 450348-85-3; empirical formula C17H13F2NO3; AVE3085), enhanced eNOS promoter activity in a concentration-dependent manner; with the responsible cis-element localized within the proximal 263 base pairs of the promoter region. RNA int…
Modulatory effect of bolinaquinone, a marine sesquiterpenoid, on acute and chronic inflammatory processes
2002
The marine metabolite bolinaquinone is a novel inhibitor of secretory phospholipase A(2) (sPLA(2)), with a potency on the human synovial enzyme (group II) higher than that of manoalide. This activity on the sPLA(2) was confirmed in vivo in the 8-h zymosan rat air pouch on the secretory enzyme accumulation in the pouch exudate. Additionally, bolinaquinone decreased potently the synthesis and release of leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)) in calcimycin (A23187)-stimulated human neutrophils as a consequence of the inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase activity, as well as PGE(2) and NO production on zymosan-stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages. This compound exerted anti-inflammatory effects by topical and or…
Neuroprotective Properties of Mildronate, a Small Molecule, in a Rat Model of Parkinson’s Disease
2010
Previously, we have found that mildronate [3-(2,2,2-trimethylhydrazinium) propionate dihydrate], a small molecule with charged nitrogen and oxygen atoms, protects mitochondrial metabolism that is altered by inhibitors of complex I and has neuroprotective effects in an azidothymidine-neurotoxicity mouse model. In the present study, we investigated the effects of mildronate in a rat model of Parkinson’s disease (PD) that was generated via a unilateral intrastriatal injection of the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6‑OHDA). We assessed the expression of cell biomarkers that are involved in signaling cascades and provide neural and glial integration: the neuronal marker TH (tyrosine hydroxylase); …
Redox Regulation of Dihydrofolate Reductase: Friend or Troublemaker?
2015
Oxidative stress is a hallmark of cardiovascular diseases1 and a major contributor to vascular dysfunction.2 On the basis on recent concepts, vascular oxidative stress is caused mainly by infiltrating inflammatory cells such as monocytes/macrophages or leucocytes,3,4 producing so-called kindling radicals that lead to the activation of secondary, vascular enzymatic sources of reactive oxygen species (mainly superoxide).2,5 A prominent example is the uncoupled nitric oxide (NO) synthase, which means that an NO-producing antiatherosclerotic enzyme is getting switched to a superoxide-producing proatherosclerotic enzyme.2 Molecular mechanisms causing endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) uncoupling or …
Nitroglycerin-induced endothelial dysfunction and tolerance involve adverse phosphorylation and S-glutathionylation of endothelial nitric oxide synth…
2011
Continuous administration of nitroglycerin (GTN) causes tolerance and endothelial dysfunction by inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production from various enzymatic sources, such as mitochondria, NADPH oxidase, and an uncoupled endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). In the present study, we tested the effects of type 1 angiotensin (AT(1))-receptor blockade with telmisartan on GTN-induced endothelial dysfunction in particular on eNOS phosphorylation and S-glutathionylation sites and the eNOS cofactor synthesizing enzyme GTP-cyclohydrolase I.Wistar rats were treated with telmisartan (2.7 or 8 mg/kg per day PO for 10 days) and with GTN (50 mg/kg per day SC for 3 days). Aortic eNOS phos…
Flavonoids from Artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) Up-Regulate Endothelial-Type Nitric-Oxide Synthase Gene Expression in Human Endothelial Cells
2004
Nitric oxide (NO) produced by endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS) represents an antithrombotic and anti-atherosclerotic principle in the vasculature. Hence, an enhanced expression of eNOS in response to pharmacological interventions could provide protection against cardiovascular diseases. In EA.hy 926 cells, a cell line derived from human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), an artichoke leaf extract (ALE) increased the activity of the human eNOS promoter (determined by luciferase reporter gene assay). An organic subfraction from ALE was more potent in this respect than the crude extract, whereas an aqueous subfraction of ALE was without effect. ALE and the organic subfraction t…
Effects Of COOH-terminal tripeptide alpha-MSH (11-13) on corneal epithelial wound healing:role of nitric oxide
2006
It is known that alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) may exert anti-inflammatory effects and facilitate reparative processes in different tissues. The effective message sequence of alpha-MSH resides in the COOH-terminal tripeptide alpha-MSH(11-13). This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of topical administration of the COOH-terminal tripeptide sequence of alpha-MSH (alpha-MSH(11-13), KPV) on corneal epithelial wound healing in rabbits and the possible role of nitric oxide (NO) in these effects. The whole corneal epithelium was denuded in both eyes by mechanical abrasion. The area of the corneal epithelial defect was stained with fluorescein, photographed, and then…
In rat pinealocytes the cyclic GMP response to NO is regulated by Ca2+ and protein kinase C
1995
There is ample evidence that beta-adrenergic stimulation of cyclic GMP formation is potentiated by alpha1-adrenergic mechanisms, the latter leading to elevation of intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and protein kinase C (PKC) activation. Recent studies have shown that nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and nitric oxide (NO) are a component of the adrenoceptor-cyclic GMP signalling pathway. The aim of the present investigation was to study the roles of alpha1-adrenergic mechanisms, Ca2+ and PKC on NO-stimulated cyclic GMP formation. To this end suspension cultures of rat pinealocytes were treated with the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) in the presence of alpha1-adrenergic agonists, [Ca…
Nitrergic and purinergic interplay in inhibitory transmission in rat gastric fundus.
2007
Summary 1 This study was undertaken to analyse the involvement of ATP in non-adrenergic non- cholinergic (NANC) relaxation and possible interplay between nitrergic and purinergic systems in rat gastric fundus. 2 Experiments were performed in vitro on strips of longitudinal muscle from rat gastric fundus, recording the mechanical activity as changes in isometric force. In addition, NO release induced by different experimental conditions was assayed. 3 Under NANC conditions in serotonin-precontracted strips, electrical field stimulation (EFS) elicited a tetrodotoxin (TTX)-sensitive relaxation accompanied by nitric oxide (NO) release. This effect was antagonized by pretreatment with the NO …