OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and NADPH oxidase (NOX) in the lungs of mice treated by chronic hypoxic exposure.

METHODSThirty male wild-type (WT) C57Bl/6 mice and thirty male eNOS-knockout (KO) C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into normoxic groups (exposed to normoxia for 7 days or 21 days), hypoxic groups (exposed to 10% oxygen for 7 days or 21 days), and treatment groups (exposed to 10% oxygen and orally administrated 10 mmol/L 4-hydroxy TEMPO in drinking water for 7 days or 21 days) (n=6 in each group). The remodeling of the small pulmonary arteries was evaluated by the percentage of media wall thickness (MT%). The weight ratio of right ventricle to left ventricle plus septum (RV/[LV+S]) was calculated to evaluate the hypertrophy of right ventricle. Real-time PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression of NOX2, NOX4, and eNOS in mouse lungs. ELISA was used to determine the concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in mouse lungs.

RESULTSIn WT mice and KO mice, the hypoxic groups had significantly increased pulmonary vascular remodeling and RV/[LV+S] compared with the normoxic and treatment groups (P<0.05), but there were no significant differences between the normoxic and treatment groups (P>0.05). In WT mice, the hypoxic and treatment groups had significantly lower ROS concentrations than the normoxic group (P<0.05), but there were no significant differences between the hypoxic and treatment groups (P>0.05). In WT mice, the mRNA expression of eNOS, NOX2, and NOX4 was significantly higher in the hypoxic group than in the normoxic group (P<0.05), and 4-hydroxy TEMPO reversed their over-expression. In the normoxic group, the KO mice had significantly higher NOX2 and NOX4 mRNA expression than the WT mice (P<0.05); in KO mice, the hypoxic group showed no significant changes in NOX4 mRNA expression (P>0.05), but had significantly reduced NOX2 mRNA expression (P<0.05), as compared with the normoxic group; the treatment group had reduced expression of NOX2 mRNA expression and increased NOX4 mRNA expression (P<0.05), as compared with the hypoxic group.

CONCLUSIONSeNOS plays a key role in the regulation of expression of NOX2 and NOX4 in the lungs exposed to hypoxia. It suggests that NOX and eNOS may physically interact with one another in pulmonary vascular remodeling induced by chronic hypoxia.

Animals ; Chronic Disease ; Hypoxia ; enzymology ; Lung ; enzymology ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; genetics ; physiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; NADPH Oxidase 2 ; NADPH Oxidase 4 ; NADPH Oxidases ; genetics ; physiology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; genetics ; physiology ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of sesamin (Ses) on pulmonary vascular remodeling in rats with monocrotaline ( MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH).

METHODTotally 48 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were fed adaptively for one week and then divided into the normal control group, the MCT group, the MCT +Ses (50 mg x kg(-1)) group and the MCT + Ses (100 mg x kg(-1)) group, with 12 rats in each group. The PH rat model was induced through the subcutaneous injection with MCT(60 mg x kg(-1)). After the administration for four weeks, efforts were made to measure the right ventricular systolic pressure( RVSP) and mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) through right jugular vein catheterization, and isolate right ventricle( RV) and left ventricle( LV) +septum (S) and measure their length to calculate RV/ ( LV + S) and ratio of RV to tibial length. Pathologic changes in arterioles were observed by HE staining. Masson's trichrome stain was used to demonstrate changes in collagen deposition of arterioles. The alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) expression in pulmonary arteries was measured by immunohistochemisty. The total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in pulmonary arteries were determined by the colorimetric method. The protein expressions of collagen I, NOX2 and NOX4 were analyzed by Real-time PCR and Western blot.

RESULTAfter the administration for 4 weeks, Ses could attenuate RVSP and mPAP induced by MCT, RV/ (LV + S) and ratio of RV to Tibial length, alpha-SMA and collagen I expressions and remodeling of pulmonary vessels and right ventricle. Meanwhile, Ses could obviously inhibit the expressions of NOX2, NOX4 and MDA content and increase T-AOC.

CONCLUSIONSesamin could ameliorate pulmonary vascular remodeling induced by monocrotaline in PH rats. Its mechanism may be related to expressions of NOX2 and NOX4 expression and reduction in oxidative stress injury.

Animals ; Dioxoles ; administration & dosage ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Lignans ; administration & dosage ; Lung ; blood supply ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Monocrotaline ; adverse effects ; NADPH Oxidase 2 ; NADPH Oxidase 4 ; NADPH Oxidases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Artery ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vascular Remodeling ; drug effects

OBJECTIVEThe roles of cerebrovascular oxidative stress in vascular functional remodeling have been described in hindlimb-unweighting (HU) rats. However, the underlying mechanism remains to be established.

METHODSWe investigated the generation of vascular reactive oxygen species (ROS), Nox2/Nox4 protein and mRNA levels, NADPH oxidase activity, and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx-1) mRNA levels in cerebral and mesenteric smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) of HU rats.

RESULTSROS production increased in cerebral but not in mesenteric VSMCs of HU rats compared with those in control rats. Nox2 and Nox4 protein and mRNA levels were increased significantly but MnSOD/GPx-1 mRNA levels decreased in HU rat cerebral arteries but not in mesenteric arteries. NADPH oxidases were activated significantly more in cerebral but not in mesenteric arteries of HU rats. NADPH oxidase inhibition with apocynin attenuated cerebrovascular ROS production and partially restored Nox2/Nox4 protein and mRNA levels, NADPH oxidase activity, and MnSOD/GPx-1 mRNA levels in cerebral VSMCs of HU rats.

CONCLUSIONThese results suggest that vascular NADPH oxidases regulate cerebrovascular redox status and participate in vascular oxidative stress injury during simulated microgravit.

Acetophenones ; Animals ; Cerebral Arteries ; metabolism ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Hindlimb Suspension ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; Mesenteric Arteries ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; metabolism ; NADPH Oxidase 2 ; NADPH Oxidase 4 ; NADPH Oxidases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

BCG Vaccine ; adverse effects ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Genetic Diseases, X-Linked ; complications ; Granulomatous Disease, Chronic ; complications ; genetics ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Lymphadenitis ; etiology ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; genetics ; NADPH Oxidase 2 ; NADPH Oxidases ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the method and mechanism for exercise-related immunosuppression via the inhibitor of NADPH oxidase diphenyleneiodonium(DPI) and glutamine supplementation and on the function of neutrophils after overtraining.

METHODSFifty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: a negative control group (C), an overtraining group (E), an overtraining + DPI intervention group (D), an overtraining+ glutamine supplementation group(G) and combined glutamine + DPI intervention group(DG). After 36 - 40 h from the last training, eight rats were randomly selected from each group, and blood was sampled from the orbital vein. ELISAs were used to measure serum cytokine levels and lipid peroxidation in blood plasma. Flow cytometry was used to measure neutrophil respiratory burst and phagocytosis. The activity of NADPH oxidase was assessed by chemiluminescence and the gene expression of gp91(phox) and p47(phox) of the NADPH-oxidase subunit was checked by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with group C, the plasma concentrations of NO increased in group G, and the NO, cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC) concentrations in group DG increased significantly. The respiratory burst and phagocytosis function of neutrophils were decreased in group E, but in group DG were increased when compared with those of group E. After overtraining the expression of gp91(phox) and p47(phox) was up regulated in group E. There were no significant changes in other groups except group DG, in which the expression of gp91(phox) was down regulated. Compared with group E, the expression of gp91(phox) and p47(phox) was up regulated in group D, group G and group DG.

CONCLUSIONThe activation of NADPH oxidase is responsible for the production of superoxide anions, which may be related to the decrease in neutrophil function after over training and is the mechanism of exercise-related immunosuppression. The DPI treatment combined glutamine supplementation can reverse the decrease neutrophils function after overtraining in vitro.

Animals ; Dietary Supplements ; Glutamine ; pharmacology ; Hyperkinesis ; physiopathology ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; NADPH Oxidase 2 ; NADPH Oxidases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Neutrophils ; metabolism ; physiology ; Onium Compounds ; pharmacology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Respiratory Burst ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the molecular mechanism by which salidroside protects PC12 cells from HO-induced apoptosis.

METHODSPC12 cells cultured in DMEM supplemented with 10% horse serum and 5% fetal bovine serum were pretreated with different doses of salidroside for 2 h and then stimulated with HOfor different lengths of time. The expression levels of PARP and caspase 3 and the phosphorylation of p38, ERK and JNK were determined with Western blotting. The cell nuclear morphology was observed after DAPI staining. The production of ROS was detected using a ROS detection kit, and the levels of gp91and p47in the membrane and cytoplasm were detected by membrane-cytoplasm separation experiment; the binding between gp91and p47was assayed by coimmunoprecipitation experiment.

RESULTSSalidroside dose-dependently suppressed cell apoptosis, lowered phosphorylation levels of p38, ERK and JNK, inhibited the production of ROS, reduced the binding between gp91and p47, and inhibited the activity of NOX2 in PC12 cells exposed to HO.

CONCLUSIONSalidroside protects PC12 cells from HO-induced apoptosis at least partly by suppressing NOX2-ROS-MAPKs signaling pathway.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Glucosides ; pharmacology ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; drug effects ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; NADPH Oxidase 2 ; NADPH Oxidases ; metabolism ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; PC12 Cells ; Phenols ; pharmacology ; Phosphorylation ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of NADPH oxidase (Nox) in the oxidative stress injury of human dermal fibroblasts (HFbs).

METHODSAn oxidative stress injury model was established in HFbs by exposure to H(2)O(2). Normal HFbs and HFbs exposed to H(2)O(2) with and without pretreatment with NADPH oxidase inhibitor were tested for cell viability using MTT assay, and the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were determined with a DCFH-DA fluorescent probe. Western blotting was used to measure the protein expressions of membrane-bound subunit gp91phox of NADPH oxidase in the cells.

RESULTH(2)O(2) time- and concentration-dependently induced oxidative stress injury in the fibroblasts, causing a reduction of the cell viability to 40% after a 24-h exposure at 700 µmol/L (P<0.05) and an increase of ROS by 2 folds after a 2-h exposure at 700 µmol/L (P<0.05). Compared with the cells with oxidative stress injury, the cells with NADPH oxidase inhibitor pretreatment showed a 20% higher cell viability (P<0.05) and normal ROS level (P<0.05) following H(2)O(2) exposure. Western blotting demonstrated increased expression of gp91phox in the cells exposed to increasing H(2)O(2) concentrations, but gp91phox expression remained normal in cells pretreated with NADPH oxidase inhibitor.

CONCLUSIONH(2)O(2) can induce oxidative stress injury in the fibroblasts by affecting NADPH oxidase, especially its membrane-bound subunit gp91phox.

Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; enzymology ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; NADPH Oxidase 2 ; NADPH Oxidases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism

Sustained activation of β adrenergic receptor (βAR) leads to pathologic cardiac hypertrophy. However, the related mechanisms still remain unclear. In this study, we observe how N-acetylcysteine (NAC) affects the oxidative stress and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) expression in heart of isoproterenol (ISO)-stimulated rats, and investigate whether oxidative stress and CaMKII contribute to the development of sustained βAR-stimulated cardiac hypertrophy. Healthy male Wistar rats were randomly separated into 4 groups: control (CTRL), ISO-treated (ISO), control with NAC supplement (CTRL+NAC) and ISO-treated with NAC supplement (ISO+NAC) groups (6 rats in each group). Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured in awake rats with the tail-cuff method every week for two weeks. Heart weight/body weight ratio (HW/BW) and HE staining were used for the detection of myocardial hypertrophy. Myocardial mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured by DCF fluorometry. The expressions of activated-CaMKII (p-CaMKII/CaMKII) and NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX(4)) were determined by Western blot analysis. The results showed that ISO-treated (i.p., daily 3 mg/kg, 2 weeks) rats developed an obvious cardiac hypertrophy as expressed by increases of HW/BW and myocyte cross-section area. Cardiac mitochondrial ROS level was significantly enhanced in ISO group as compared to CTRL group (P < 0.05). The expressions of NOX(4) and p-CaMKII in ISO group were also up-regulated as compared to CTRL group (1.4 and 1.6 times of CTRL, respectively, P < 0.05). NAC supplement significantly suppressed the hypertrophic development of heart in ISO-stimulated rats. The cardiac mitochondrial ROS level showed a significant decrease in rats of ISO+NAC group (P < 0.05 vs ISO). In accordance with this, ISO+NAC group rats also showed marked reductions in the expressions of NOX(4) and p-CaMKII/CaMKII compared to ISO group rats (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences of the detected indices between the rats from CTRL+NAC and CTRL groups. SBP showed no differences among four groups. These results suggest that both oxidative stress and CaMKII play important roles in sustained βAR-stimulated cardiac hypertrophy. NAC may suppress ISO-induced cardiac hypertrophy by down-regulating the expression of activated-CaMKII, and by reducing the level of oxidative stress originated from mitochondria and NADPH oxidase pathways.
Acetylcysteine ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 ; metabolism ; Cardiomegaly ; physiopathology ; Isoproterenol ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mitochondria, Heart ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; pathology ; NADPH Oxidase 4 ; NADPH Oxidases ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin on ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced myocardial injury.

METHODSMale SD rat hearts were divided into the normal control group; sham group; I/R group (1 h ischemia followed by 3 h reperfusion); I/R + apocynin group (50 mg/kg, administrated at 30 min before reperfusion) and I/R + vehicle group (same volume vehicle administrated at 30 min before reperfusion). At the end of reperfusion, myocardial infarct size, apoptosis, plasma CK activity, myocardial NOX activity, myocardial caspase-3 expression and activity, myocardial mRNA and protein expressions of vascular peroxidase 1 (VPO1) and NOX2 were measured.

RESULTSInfarct size, ratio of cardiomyocyte apoptosis, mRNA and protein expression of VOP1 and NOX2, serum CK, myocardial NOX and caspase-3 activities in the I/R group were all significantly increased compared to those in the sham group (P < 0.01). Above parameters were similar between I/R + vehicle group and I/R group (all P > 0.05). Infarct size, ratio of cardiomyocyte apoptosis, myocardial mRNA and protein expression of VOP1 and NOX2, serum CK, myocardial NOX and caspase-3 activities were significantly lower in I/R + apocynin group compared to those in I/R group (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSNOX/VPO pathway plays an important role in mediating I/R-induced myocardial oxidative injury. NOX inhibition could reduce I/R-induced myocardial oxidative injury by attenuating myocardial apoptosis in this model.

Acetophenones ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Hemeproteins ; metabolism ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; NADPH Oxidase 2 ; NADPH Oxidases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Peroxidases ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a conserved immune response primarily mediated by NADPH oxidases (NOXs), also known in plants as respiratory burst oxidase homologs (RBOHs). Most microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) trigger a very fast and transient ROS burst in plants. However, recently, we found that lipopolysaccharides (LPS), a typical bacterial MAMP, triggered a biphasic ROS burst. In this study, we isolated mutants defective in LPS-triggered biphasic ROS burst (delt) in Arabidopsis, and cloned the DELT1 gene that was shown to encode RBOHD. In the delt1-2 allele, the antepenultimate residue, glutamic acid (E919), at the C-terminus of RBOHD was mutated to lysine (K). E919 is a highly conserved residue in NADPH oxidases, and a mutation of the corresponding residue E568 in human NOX2 has been reported to be one of the causes of chronic granulomatous disease. Consistently, we found that residue E919 was indispensable for RBOHD function in the MAMP-induced ROS burst and stomatal closure. It has been suggested that the mutation of this residue in other NADPH oxidases impairs the protein's stability and complex assembly. However, we found that the E919K mutation did not affect RBOHD protein abundance or the ability of protein association, suggesting that the residue E919 in RBOHD might have a regulatory mechanism different from that of other NOXs. Taken together, our results confirm that the antepenultimate residue E is critical for NADPH oxidases and provide a new insight into the regulatory mechanisms of RBOHD.
Agrobacterium tumefaciens/metabolism* ; Alleles ; Arabidopsis/metabolism* ; Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genetic Techniques ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides/metabolism* ; Luminescence ; Mutation ; NADPH Oxidase 2/chemistry* ; NADPH Oxidases/genetics* ; Plant Stomata/metabolism* ; Protein Domains ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Nicotiana/metabolism*