3-nitrotyrosine and Acute-Disease

Hydrogen (H2), a new antioxidant, was reported to reduce (•)OH and ONOO(-) selectively and inhibit certain proinflammatory mediators to product, without disturbing metabolic redox reactions or ROS involved in cell signaling. We herein aim to explore its protective effects on acute renal injury in sodium taurocholate-induced acute pancreatitis and its possible mechanisms. Rats were injected with hydrogen-rich saline (HRS group) or normal saline (SO and SAP group) through tail intravenously (6 mL/kg) and compensated subcutaneously (20 mL/kg) after successful modeling. Results showed that hydrogen-rich saline attenuated the following: (1) serum Cr and BUN, (2) pancreatic and renal pathological injuries, (3) renal MDA, (4) renal MPO, (5) serum IL-1β, IL-6, and renal TNF-α, HMGB1, and (6) tyrosine nitration, IκB degradation, and NF-κB activation in renal tissues. In addition, it increased the level of IL-10 and SOD activity in renal tissues. These results proved that hydrogen-rich saline attenuates acute renal injury in sodium taurocholate-induced acute pancreatitis, presumably because of its detoxification activity against excessive ROS, and inhibits the activation of NF-κB by affecting IκB nitration and degradation. Our findings highlight the potential value of hydrogen-rich saline as a new therapeutic method on acute renal injury in severe acute pancreatitis clinically.

Topics: Acute Disease; Acute Kidney Injury; Amylases; Animals; Cytokines; Hydrogen; Kidney; Male; Neutrophil Infiltration; NF-kappa B; Oxidative Stress; Pancreatitis; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reactive Oxygen Species; Signal Transduction; Sodium Chloride; Taurocholic Acid; Tyrosine

Oxidative stress and inflammation contribute to hepatic injury after hemorrhage/resuscitation (H/R). Natural plant polyphenols, i.e., green tea extract (GTE) possess high anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in various models of acute inflammation. However, possible protective effects and feasible mechanisms by which plant polyphenols modulate pro-inflammatory, apoptotic, and oxidant signaling after H/R in the liver remain unknown. Therefore, we investigated the effects of GTE and its impact on the activation of NF-kappaB in the pathogenesis of hepatic injury induced by H/R.. Twenty-four female LEWIS rats (180-250 g) were fed a standard chow (ctrl) or a diet containing 0.1% polyphenolic extracts (GTE) from Camellia sinensis starting 5 days before H/R. Rats were hemorrhaged to a mean arterial pressure of 30 ± 2 mmHg for 60 min and resuscitated (H/R and GTE H/R groups). Control groups (sham, ctrl, and GTE) underwent surgical procedures without H/R. Two hours after resuscitation, tissues were harvested.. Plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) increased 3.5-fold and fourfold, respectively, in vehicle-treated rats as compared to GTE-fed rats. Histopathological analysis revealed significantly decreased hepatic necrosis and apoptosis in GTE-fed rats after H/R. Real-time PCR showed that GTE diminished gene expression of pro-apoptotic caspase-8 and Bax, while anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 was increased after H/R. Hepatic oxidative (4-hydroxynonenal) and nitrosative (3-nitrotyrosine) stress as well as systemic IL-6 level and hepatic IL-6 mRNA were markedly reduced in GTE-fed rats compared with controls after H/R. Plant polyphenols also decreased the activation of both JNK and NFκB.. Taken together, GTE application blunts hepatic damage, apoptotic, oxidative, and pro-inflammatory changes after H/R. These results underline the important roles of JNK and NF-kappaB in inflammatory processes after H/R and the beneficial impact of plant polyphenols in preventing their activation.

Topics: Acute Disease; Alanine Transaminase; Aldehydes; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antioxidants; Apoptosis; bcl-2-Associated X Protein; Caspase 8; Female; Gene Expression Regulation; Hemorrhage; Inflammation; Interleukin-6; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; Liver; NF-kappa B; Oxidative Stress; Plant Extracts; Polyphenols; Rats; Rats, Inbred Lew; Resuscitation; RNA; Tea; Tyrosine

Our laboratory has shown that λ-carrageenan-induced peripheral inflammatory pain (CIP) can alter tight junction (TJ) protein expression and/or assembly leading to changes in blood-brain barrier xenobiotic permeability. However, the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and subsequent oxidative stress during CIP is unknown. ROS (i.e., superoxide) are known to cause cellular damage in response to pain/inflammation. Therefore, we examined oxidative stress-associated effects at the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in CIP rats. During CIP, increased staining of nitrosylated proteins was detected in hind paw tissue and enhanced presence of protein adducts containing 3-nitrotyrosine occurred at two molecular weights (i.e., 85 and 44 kDa) in brain microvessels. Tempol, a pharmacological ROS scavenger, attenuated formation of 3-nitrotyrosine-containing proteins in both the hind paw and in brain microvessels when administered 10 min before footpad injection of λ-carrageenan. Similarly, CIP increased 4-hydroxynoneal staining in brain microvessels and this effect was reduced by tempol. Brain permeability to [(14)C]sucrose and [(3)H]codeine was increased, and oligomeric assemblies of occludin, a critical TJ protein, were altered after 3 h CIP. Tempol attenuated both [(14)C]sucrose and [(3)H]codeine brain uptake as well as protected occludin oligomers from disruption in CIP animals, suggesting that ROS production/oxidative stress is involved in modulating BBB functional integrity during pain/inflammation. Interestingly, tempol administration reduced codeine analgesia in CIP animals, indicating that oxidative stress during pain/inflammation may affect opioid delivery to the brain and subsequent efficacy. Taken together, our data show for the first time that ROS pharmacological scavenging is a viable approach for maintaining BBB integrity and controlling central nervous system drug delivery during acute inflammatory pain.

Topics: Acute Disease; Aldehydes; Analgesics, Opioid; Animals; Antioxidants; Blood-Brain Barrier; Capillary Permeability; Carbon Radioisotopes; Codeine; Cyclic N-Oxides; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Hyperalgesia; Male; Membrane Proteins; Neuralgia; Neuritis; Occludin; Oxidative Stress; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Spin Labels; Sucrose; Tight Junctions; Tyrosine; Xenobiotics

Argininosuccinate synthase (ASS) is the rate-limiting enzyme in both the urea and the L-citrulline/nitric oxide (NO·) cycles regulating protein catabolism, ammonia levels, and NO· generation. Because a proteomics analysis identified ASS and nitric oxide synthase-2 (NOS2) as coinduced in rat hepatocytes by chronic ethanol consumption, which also occurred in alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and in cirrhosis patients, we hypothesized that ASS could play a role in ethanol binge and chronic ethanol-induced liver damage. To investigate the contribution of ASS to the pathophysiology of ALD, wildtype (WT) and Ass(+/-) mice (Ass(-/-) are lethal due to hyperammonemia) were exposed to an ethanol binge or to chronic ethanol drinking. Compared with WT, Ass(+/-) mice given an ethanol binge exhibited decreased steatosis, lower NOS2 induction, and less 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) protein residues, indicating that reducing nitrosative stress by way of the L-citrulline/NO· pathway plays a significant role in preventing liver damage. However, chronic ethanol-treated Ass(+/-) mice displayed enhanced liver injury compared with WT mice. This was due to hyperammonemia, lower phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase alpha (pAMPKα) to total AMPKα ratio, decreased sirtuin-1 (Sirt-1) and peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor coactivator-1α (Pgc1α) messenger RNAs (mRNAs), lower fatty acid β-oxidation due to down-regulation of carnitine palmitoyl transferase-II (CPT-II), decreased antioxidant defense, and elevated lipid peroxidation end-products in spite of comparable nitrosative stress but likely reduced NOS3.. Partial Ass ablation protects only in acute ethanol-induced liver injury by decreasing nitrosative stress but not in a more chronic scenario where oxidative stress and impaired fatty acid β-oxidation are key events.

Topics: Acute Disease; Alcohol Drinking; Alcoholism; Animals; Argininosuccinate Synthase; Chronic Disease; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1; Disease Models, Animal; Down-Regulation; Ethanol; Female; Hepatocytes; Immunohistochemistry; Lipid Peroxidation; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic; Male; Mice; Nitric Oxide; Oxidative Stress; Random Allocation; Rats; Tyrosine

Chronic inflammation accompanied by arginine deficiency, immune dysfunction, and excess nitric oxide (NO) production is a clinical condition found in patients with peritonitis. A previous study showed that the nonselective NOS inhibitor N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) may facilitate the metabolism of the immune nutrient arginine without altering NO homeostasis in rats with sub-acute peritonitis. Here, we investigated the effects of L-NAME on the immunocytic subpopulation distribution and response.. Male Wistar rats with cecal puncture-induced peritonitis were administered parenteral nutrition solutions supplemented with 0 (CPP group), 5 (LNA group), 25 (MNA group) or 50 (HNA group) mg · kg(-1) · day(-1) of L-NAME for 7 days. Parenteral-fed sham-operated rats (TPN group) and orally-fed healthy rats (R group) were included as controls.. The TPN group had significantly increased spleen weights and levels of plasma nitrite/nitrate (NOx), circulating white blood cells (WBC), and splenocytic T cells, as well as significantly decreased levels of cytotoxic T- and B-leukocytes and B-splenocytes compared to the R group. The CPP group had significantly decreased levels of plasma NOx and concanavalin (Con) A-stimulated interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-2 production by leukocytes and significantly increased production of Con A-stimulated tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated IFN-γ in the leukocytes. In addition, the LNA and MNA groups had significantly decreased spontaneous IL-6 and Con A-stimulated TNF-α and IFN-γ production by the leukocytes while the HNA group had significantly increased LPS-stimulated TNF-α and Con A-stimulated IFN-γ and IL-2 production by the splenocytes compared to the CPP group.. Low-dose L-NAME infusion may suppress proinflammatory and T-helper-1 (Th1) response in leukocytes, and high-dose infusion may activate the proinflammatory response in splenic macrophages and Th1 response in T-splenocytes in rats with sub-acute peritonitis.

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Arginine; Body Weight; Cell Proliferation; Cytokines; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Immunomodulation; Infusions, Parenteral; Leukocyte Count; Leukocytes; Male; Nitrates; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Nitrites; Organ Size; Parenteral Nutrition; Peritonitis; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Spleen; Tyrosine

Adenosine A(2A) receptor agonists may be important regulators of inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of CGS 21680 (0.1mg/kgi.p.), an agonist of the adenosine (A(2A)) receptor, in a mouse model of carrageenan-induced pleurisy. Injection of carrageenan into the pleural cavity of mice elicited an acute inflammatory response characterised by: infiltration of neutrophils in lung tissues and subsequent lipid peroxidation, increased production of nitric oxide (NO), cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and increased expression of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) and platelet-adhesion molecule (P-selectin). Furthermore, carrageenan induced the expression of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nitrotyrosine, the activation of poly-ADP-ribosyl polymerase (PARP), as well as induced apoptosis (FAS-ligand expression, Bax and Bcl-2 expression) in the lung tissues. Administration of CGS 21680, 30 min prior to challenge with carrageenan, caused a significant reduction of all the parameters of inflammation measured. In addition, to confirm the anti-inflammatory effect of CGS 21680, we have also evaluated the effects of CGS 21680 post-treatment (30 min after the challenge with carrageenan) and we have demonstrated that also it caused a reduction of neutrophil infiltration and the degree of lung injury. Thus, based on these findings we propose that adenosine A(2A) receptor agonists such as CGS 21680 may be useful in the treatment of various inflammatory diseases.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adenosine; Adenosine A2 Receptor Agonists; Animals; bcl-2-Associated X Protein; Carrageenan; Cytokines; Enzyme Activation; Fas Ligand Protein; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; I-kappa B Proteins; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; Lipid Peroxidation; Male; Mice; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; Nitrates; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Nitrites; P-Selectin; Peroxidase; Phenethylamines; Pleurisy; Pneumonia; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Receptor, Adenosine A2A; Transcription Factor RelA; Tyrosine

PD98059 (MEK1 Inhibitor) has been shown to act in vivo as a highly selective inhibitor of MEK1 activation and the MAP kinase cascade. In the present study, we have investigated the effects of PD98059, on the development of non-septic shock caused by zymosan in mice. Mice received either intraperitoneally zymosan (500mg/kg, administered i.p. as a suspension in saline) or vehicle (0.25ml/mouse saline). PD98059 (10mg/kg) was administered 1 and 6h after zymosan administration i.p. Organ failure and systemic inflammation in mice was assessed 18h after administration of zymosan and/or PD98059. Treatment of mice with PD98059 attenuated the peritoneal exudation and the migration of polymorphonuclear cells caused by zymosan. PD98059 also attenuated the lung, liver and pancreatic injury and renal dysfunction caused by zymosan as well as the increase of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta plasma levels caused by zymosan. Immunohistochemical analysis for inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nitrotyrosine, poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR), ICAM-1, P-selectin, Bax, Bcl-2 and FAS-ligand revealed positive staining in pancreatic and intestinal tissue obtained from zymosan-injected mice. The degree of staining for nitrotyrosine, iNOS, PAR, ICAM-1, P-selectin, Bax, Bcl-2 and FAS-ligand were markedly reduced in tissue sections obtained from zymosan-injected mice, which had received PD98059. Moreover treatment of mice with PD98059 (10mg/kg) attenuated the NF-kappaB activation and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) expression induced by zymosan injection. In addition, administration of zymosan caused a severe illness in the mice characterized by a systemic toxicity, significant loss of body weight and a 60% of mortality at the end of observation period. Treatment with PD98059 significantly reduced the development of systemic toxicity, the loss in body weight and the mortality (20%) caused by zymosan. This study provides evidence that PD98059 attenuates the degree of zymosan-induced non-septic shock in mice.

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Apoptosis; bcl-2-Associated X Protein; Cell Adhesion Molecules; Cytokines; Fas Ligand Protein; Flavonoids; I-kappa B Proteins; Inflammation Mediators; Male; Mice; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Multiple Organ Failure; Neutrophil Infiltration; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Peritonitis; Phosphorylation; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome; Time Factors; Transcription Factor RelA; Tyrosine; Zymosan

Ingestion of DSS solution can induce in rodents acute colitis with a massive infiltration of neutrophils and macropahges, mimicking pathological changes observed in the acute phase of UC patients. Concomitantly, DSS ingestion enhanced the expression of a potent macrophage-tropic chemokine, CX3CL1/fractalkine, and its receptor, CX3CR1, in the colon. WT but not CX3CR1-deficient mice exhibited marked body weight loss and shortening of the colon after DSS ingestion. Moreover, inflammatory cell infiltration was attenuated in CX3CR1-deficient mice together with reduced destruction of glandular architecture compared with WT mice. DSS ingestion enhanced intracolonic iNOS expression by macrophages and nitrotyrosine generation in WT mice, but iNOS expression and nitrotyrosine generation were attenuated in CX3CR1-deficient mice. The analysis on bone marrow chimeric mice revealed that bone marrow-derived but not non-bone marrow-derived CX3CR1-expressing cells were a major source of iNOS. These observations would indicate that the CX3CL1-CX3CR1 axis can regulate the expression of iNOS, a crucial mediator of DSS-induced colitis. Thus, targeting the CX3CL1-CX3CR1 axis may be effective for the treatment of IBDs such as UC.

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Chemokine CX3CL1; Colitis; CX3C Chemokine Receptor 1; Cytokines; Dextran Sulfate; Macrophages; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Receptors, Chemokine; Tyrosine

Retinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) occurs in many ocular diseases and leads to neuronal death. Lutein, a potent antioxidant, is used to prevent severe visual loss in patients with early age-related macular degeneration (AMD), but its effect on I/R insult is unclear. The objective of the present study is to investigate the neuroprotective effect of lutein on retinal neurons after acute I/R injury.. Unilateral retinal I/R was induced by the blockade of internal carotid artery using intraluminal method in mice. Ischemia was maintained for 2 hours followed by 22 hours of reperfusion, during which either lutein or vehicle was administered. The number of viable retinal ganglion cells (RGC) was quantified. Apoptosis was investigated using TUNEL assay. Oxidative stress was elucidated using markers such as nitrotyrosine (NT) and poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR).. In vehicle-treated I/R retina, severe cell loss in ganglion cell layer, increased apoptosis as well as increased NT and nuclear PAR immunoreactivity were observed. In lutein-treated I/R retina, significantly less cell loss, decreased number of apoptotic cells, and decreased NT and nuclear PAR immunoreactivity were seen.. The neuroprotective effect of lutein was associated with reduced oxidative stress. Lutein has been hitherto used principally for protection of outer retinal elements in AMD. Our study suggests that it may also be relevant for the protection of inner retina from acute ischemic damage.

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Antioxidants; Apoptosis; Calbindin 2; Disease Models, Animal; In Situ Nick-End Labeling; Lutein; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Neurons; Neuroprotective Agents; Oxidative Stress; Poly Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose; Reperfusion Injury; Retinal Diseases; Retinal Ganglion Cells; S100 Calcium Binding Protein G; Tyrosine

Survivors of massive inhalation of combustion smoke endure critical injuries, including lasting neurological complications. We have previously reported that acute inhalation of combustion smoke disrupts the nitric oxide homeostasis in the rat brain. In this study, we extend our findings and report that a 30-minute exposure of awake rats to ambient wood combustion smoke induces protein nitration in the rat hippocampus and that mitochondrial proteins are a sensitive nitration target in this setting. Mitochondria are central to energy metabolism and cellular signaling and are critical to proper cell function. Here, analyses of the mitochondrial proteome showed elevated protein nitration in the course of a 24-hour recovery following exposure to smoke. Mass spectrometry identification of several significantly nitrated mitochondrial proteins revealed diverse functions and involvement in central aspects of mitochondrial physiology. The nitrated proteins include the ubiquitous mitochondrial creatine kinase, F1-ATP synthase alpha subunit, dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (E3), succinate dehydrogenase Fp subunit, and voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC1) protein. Furthermore, acute exposure to combustion smoke significantly compromised the respiratory capacity of hippocampal mitochondria. Importantly, elevated protein nitration and reduced mitochondrial respiration in the hippocampus persisted beyond the time required for restoration of normal oxygen and carboxyhemoglobin blood levels after the cessation of exposure to smoke. Thus, the time frame for intensification of the various smoke-induced effects differs between blood and brain tissues. Taken together, our findings suggest that nitration of essential mitochondrial proteins may contribute to the reduction in mitochondrial respiratory capacity and underlie, in part, the brain pathophysiology after acute inhalation of combustion smoke.

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Blotting, Western; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Glutamic Acid; Hippocampus; Male; Mass Spectrometry; Mitochondria; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Nitrates; Oxygen Consumption; Proteomics; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Smoke Inhalation Injury; Subcellular Fractions; Succinates; Tyrosine

Therapeutic impact of neural stem cells (NSCs) for acute spinal cord injury (SCI) has been limited by the rapid loss of donor cells. Neuroinflammation is likely the cause. As there are close temporal-spatial correlations between the inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase expression and the donor NSC death after neurotrauma, we reasoned that NO-associated radical species might be the inflammatory effectors which eliminate NSC grafts and kill host neurons. To test this hypothesis, human NSCs (hNSCs: 5 x 10(4) to 2 x 10(6) per milliliter) were treated in vitro with "plain" medium, 20 microM glutamate, or donors of NO and peroxynitrite (ONOO(-); 100 and 400 microM of spermine or DETA NONOate, and SIN-1, respectively). hNSC apoptosis primarily resulted from SIN-1 treatment, showing ONOO(-)-triggered protein nitration and the activation of p38 MAPK, cytochrome c release, and caspases. Therefore, cell death following post-SCI (p.i.) NO surge may be mediated through conversion of NO into ONOO(-). We subsequently examined such causal relationship in a rat model of dual penetrating SCI using a retrievable design of poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) scaffold seeded with hNSCs that was shielded by drug-releasing polymer. Besides confirming the ONOO(-)-induced cell death signaling, we demonstrated that cotransplantation of PLGA film embedded with ONOO(-) scavenger, manganese (III) tetrakis (4-benzoic acid) porphyrin, or uric acid (1 micromol per film), markedly protected hNSCs 24 hours p.i. (total: n = 10). Our findings may provide a bioengineering approach for investigating mechanisms underlying the host microenvironment and donor NSC interaction and help formulate strategies for enhancing graft and host cell survival after SCI.

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Annexin A5; Blotting, Western; Caspases; Cell Death; Cell Line; Cytoprotection; Drug Delivery Systems; Enzyme Activation; Fluoresceins; Free Radical Scavengers; Glycolates; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; In Situ Nick-End Labeling; Lactic Acid; Neurons; Nitric Oxide; Peroxynitrous Acid; Polyglycolic Acid; Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; Rats; Signal Transduction; Spinal Cord Injuries; Stem Cells; Tyrosine

This study examined whether hypoxia causes free radical-mediated disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and impaired cerebral oxidative metabolism and whether this has any bearing on neurological symptoms ascribed to acute mountain sickness (AMS). Ten men provided internal jugular vein and radial artery blood samples during normoxia and 9-h passive exposure to hypoxia (12.9% O(2)). Cerebral blood flow was determined by the Kety-Schmidt technique with net exchange calculated by the Fick principle. AMS and headache were determined with clinically validated questionnaires. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and ozone-based chemiluminescence were employed for direct detection of spin-trapped free radicals and nitric oxide metabolites. Neuron-specific enolase (NSE), S100beta, and 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) were determined by ELISA. Hypoxia increased the arterio-jugular venous concentration difference (a-v(D)) and net cerebral output of lipid-derived alkoxyl-alkyl free radicals and lipid hydroperoxides (P < 0.05 vs. normoxia) that correlated with the increase in AMS/headache scores (r = -0.50 to -0.90, P < 0.05). This was associated with a reduction in a-v(D) and hence net cerebral uptake of plasma nitrite and increased cerebral output of 3-NT (P < 0.05 vs. normoxia) that also correlated against AMS/headache scores (r = 0.74-0.87, P < 0.05). In contrast, hypoxia did not alter the cerebral exchange of S100beta and both global cerebral oxidative metabolism (cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen) and neuronal integrity (NSE) were preserved (P > 0.05 vs. normoxia). These findings indicate that hypoxia stimulates cerebral oxidative-nitrative stress, which has broader implications for other clinical models of human disease characterized by hypoxemia. This may prove a risk factor for AMS by a mechanism that appears independent of impaired BBB function and cerebral oxidative metabolism.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Altitude Sickness; Biomarkers; Blood-Brain Barrier; Brain; Free Radicals; Headache; Health Surveys; Humans; Hypoxia; Male; Nerve Growth Factors; Oxidative Stress; Oxygen; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase; Regional Blood Flow; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; S100 Proteins; Tyrosine

Glycyrrhizin is a triterpene glycoside, a major active constituent of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) root and numerous pharmacological effects like anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-tumour and hepatoprotective activities has been attributed to it. In this study we evaluated the anti-inflammatory activities of glycyrrhizin in mice model of acute inflammation, carrageenan-induced pleurisy. We report here that glycyrrhizin (given at 10 mg/kg i.p. 5 min prior to carrageenan) exerts potent anti-inflammatory effects in this model. Injection of carrageenan into the pleural cavity of mice elicited an acute inflammatory response characterized by fluid accumulation in the pleural cavity which contained a large number of neutrophils (PMNs) as well as an infiltration of PMNs in lung tissues and subsequent lipid peroxidation (as determinated by thiobarbituric acid-reactant substances measurement) and increased production of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta). All these parameters were attenuated by glycyrrhizin. Furthermore, carrageenan induced an upregulation of the expression of intercellular cell adhesion molecule (ICAM-1), P-selectin, as well as an increase in the amounts of nitrotyrosine and poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR), as determined by immunohistochemical analysis of lung tissues. The degree of staining for the ICAM-1, P-selectin, nitrotyrosine and PAR was significantly reduced by glycyrrhizin. Additionally, we demonstrate that these inflammatory events were associated with the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and signal transducer and activator transcription-3 (STAT-3) activation in the lung. NF-kappaB and STAT-3 activation were significantly reduced by glycyrrhizin treatment. Taken together, our results indicate that prevention of the activation of NF-kappaB and STAT-3 by glycyrrhizin reduces the development of acute inflammation.

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Carrageenan; Enzyme Activation; Glycyrrhizic Acid; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; Interleukin-1beta; Lipid Peroxidation; Lung; Male; Mice; Neutrophils; NF-kappa B; P-Selectin; Peroxynitrous Acid; Pleurisy; Poly Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose; STAT3 Transcription Factor; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Tyrosine

Following traumatic brain injury (TBI), mitochondrial function becomes compromised. Mitochondrial dysfunction is characterized by intra-mitochondrial Ca(2+) accumulation, induction of oxidative damage, and mitochondrial permeability transition (mPT). Experimental studies show that cyclosporin A (CsA) inhibits mPT. However, CsA also inhibits calcineurin. In the present study, we conducted a dose-response analysis of NIM811, a non-calcineurin inhibitory CsA analog, on mitochondrial dysfunction following TBI in mice, and compared the effects of the optimal dose of NIM811 (10 mg/kg i.p.) against an optimized dose of CsA (20 mg/kg i.p.). Male CF-1 mice were subjected to severe TBI utilizing the controlled cortical impact model. Mitochondrial respiration was assessed from animals treated with either NIM811, CsA, or vehicle 15 min post-injury. The respiratory control ratio (RCR) of mitochondria from vehicle-treated animals was significantly (p<0.01) lower at 3 or 12 h post-TBI, relative to shams. Treatment of animals with either NIM811 or CsA significantly (p<0.03) attenuated this reduction. Consistent with this finding, both NIM811 and CsA significantly reduced lipid peroxidative and protein nitrative damage to mitochondria at 12 h post-TBI. These results showing the ability of NIM811 to fully duplicate the mitochondrial protective efficacy of CsA supports the conclusion that inhibition of the mPT may be sufficient to explain CsA's protective effects.

Topics: Acute Disease; Aldehydes; Animals; Biomarkers; Brain Injuries; Cyclosporine; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Immunoblotting; Lipid Peroxidation; Male; Mice; Mitochondrial Diseases; Oxidative Stress; Oxygen Consumption; Structure-Activity Relationship; Tyrosine

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Asthma; beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases; Biomarkers; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; Calgranulin B; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; Humans; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Lectins; Lung; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; Matrix Metalloproteinases; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Proteomics; Subtraction Technique; Th2 Cells; Tyrosine

In the present study, we used tumour necrosis factor-alpha receptor 1 knock-out mice (TNF-alphaR1KO) to evaluate an in vivo role of TNF-alphaR1 on the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. We used a murine model of carrageenan-induced acute inflammation (pleurisy), a preclinical model of airway inflammation. The data proved that TNF-alphaR1KO were resistant to carrageenan-induced acute inflammation compared with TNF-alpha wild-type mice. TNF-alphaR1KO showed a significant reduction in accumulation of pleural exudate and in the number of inflammatory cells, in lung infiltration of polymorphonuclear leucocytes and lipid peroxidation and showed a decreased production of nitrite/nitrate in pleural exudates. Furthermore, the intensity and degree of the adhesion molecule intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and P-selectin, Fas ligand (FasL), inducible nitric oxide sythase and nitrotyrosine determined by immunohistochemical analysis were reduced markedly in lung tissues from TNF-alphaR1KO at 4 h and 24 h after carrageenan injection. Moreover, TNF-alpha and interleukin-1beta concentrations were reduced in inflamed areas and in pleural exudates from TNF-alphaR1KO. To support the results generated using pleural inflammation, carrageenan-induced paw oedema models were also performed. In order to elucidate whether the observed anti-inflammatory effects were related to the inhibition of TNF-alpha, we also investigated the effect of etanercept, a TNF-alpha soluble receptor construct, on carrageenan-induced pleurisy. The treatment with etanercept (5 mg/kg subcutaneously 2 h before the carrageenan injection) reduces markedly both laboratory and histological signs of carrageenan-induced pleurisy. Our results showed that administration of etanercept resulted in the same outcome as that of deletion of the TNF-alphaR1 receptor, adding a new insight to TNF-alpha as an excellent target by therapeutic applications.

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Biomarkers; Carrageenan; Edema; Etanercept; Fas Ligand Protein; Gene Deletion; Hindlimb; Immunoglobulin G; Immunohistochemistry; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; Interleukin-1; Lung; Male; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Models, Animal; P-Selectin; Pleurisy; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Tyrosine

The endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOs) asymmetrical dimethyl-arginine (ADMA) has been implicated as a possible modulator of inducible NOs during acute inflammation. We examined the evolution in the plasma concentration of ADMA measured at the clinical outset of acute inflammation and after its resolution in a series of 17 patients with acute bacterial infections.. During the acute phase of inflammation/infection, patients displayed very high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), procalcitonin and nitrotyrosine. Simultaneous plasma ADMA concentration was similar to that in healthy subjects while symmetric dimethyl-arginine (SDMA) levels were substantially increased and directly related with creatinine. When infection resolved, ADMA rose from 0.62 +/- 0.23 to 0.80 +/- 0.18 micromol/l (+29%, P = 0.01) while SDMA remained unmodified. ADMA changes were independent on concomitant risk factor changes and inversely related with baseline systolic and diastolic pressure. Changes in the ADMA/SDMA ratio were compatible with the hypothesis that inflammatory cytokines activate ADMA degradation.. Resolution of acute inflammation is characterized by an increase in the plasma concentration of ADMA. The results imply that ADMA suppression may actually serve to stimulate NO synthesis or that in this situation plasma ADMA levels may not reflect the inhibitory potential of this methylarginine at the cellular level.

Topics: Acute Disease; Arginine; Bacterial Infections; Biomarkers; Blood Pressure; C-Reactive Protein; Calcitonin; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Creatinine; Disease Progression; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Glycoproteins; Humans; Inflammation; Interleukin-6; Male; Middle Aged; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Protein Precursors; Severity of Illness Index; Tyrosine

We investigated the contribution of neutrophils to joint hyperalgesia and peroxynitrite formation in zymosan arthritis. Rats received 1 mg zymosan intra-articular, and joint hyperalgesia was measured using the rat knee-joint articular incapacitation test. After 6 h, joint exudates were collected by aspiration for the assessment of cell influx, myeloperoxidase activity, and nitrite (as an index of nitric oxide formation) levels. Nitrotyrosine content, used as an index of peroxynitrite formation, was measured in joint exudates, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A group of rats was rendered neutropenic through the administration of a rabbit anti-rat neutrophil antibody (2 ml kg(-1), i.p.) 30 min before injection of 1 mg zymosan intra-articular. Other groups received uric acid (100 or 250 mg kg(-1), i.p.), the peroxynitrite scavenger, 30 min before 1 mg zymosan intra-articular. Controls received the vehicle. The significant inhibition of joint hyperalgesia in neutropenic animals was associated to significantly decreased cell influx, myeloperoxidase activity, nitric oxide, and nitrotyrosine levels in the joint exudates, as compared to naive rats. Uric acid administration inhibited both hyperalgesia and cell influx, as compared to controls. Neutrophils are involved in both nitric oxide and peroxynitrite formation in zymosan arthritis, thereby contributing to acute joint hyperalgesia. Scavenging of reactive nitrogen species (e.g. peroxynitrite) inhibits neutrophil migration and joint hyperalgesia in the acute phase of zymosan arthritis in rats.

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Arthritis, Experimental; Hindlimb; Hyperalgesia; Injections, Intra-Articular; Knee Joint; Male; Neutrophils; Nitric Oxide; Peroxidase; Peroxynitrous Acid; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reactive Nitrogen Species; Synovial Fluid; Tyrosine; Uric Acid; Zymosan

Oleuropein (oleu) is a natural phenolic antioxidant, which is present in elevated concentration in olives, olive oil and olive tree leaves. Doxorubicin (DXR) induced cardiotoxicity is mainly induced by oxidative stress but the precise mechanism remains obscure. However, there is evidence that high concentration of nitric oxide (NO) occurring as a result of iNOS induction and peroxynitrite formation may be involved in DXR cardiotoxicity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate a possible protective role of oleu in DXR induced cardiotoxicity in vivo. Fifty rats were divided into 6 groups and treated as follows: control group with a single injection of 2 ml normal saline intraperitoneally (i.p.), DXR group with a single dose of 20 mg/kg i.p, and DXR plus oleu groups with 20 mg/kg DXR i.p. and 100 or 200 mg/kg/BW of oleu i.p. for 5 or 3 consecutive days starting either 2 days before or on the day of DXR administration. Seventy-two hours after DXR treatment blood samples were collected for creatine phosphokinase (CPK), creatine phosphokinase-MB (CPK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) assessments and the rats were then sacrificed. Hearts were used for general histology, iNOS immunohistochemical and Western blot analysis, and for determination of tissue concentrations of lipid peroxidation products, protein carbonyls (PCs), and nitrotyrosine (NT). DXR treated animals demonstrated very extensive cytoplasmic vacuolisation whereas much less vacuolisation was found in oleu treated groups. They also revealed a significant elevation of cardiac enzymes release into systemic circulation (P<0.05 vs saline). Both doses of Oleu tested and both treatment protocols reduced DXR elevated serum levels of CPK, CPK-MB, LDH, AST and ALT (P<0.05). Furthermore, it reduced DXR induced lipid peroxidation, PCs content, NT concentration and iNOS induction in myocardial tissue (P<0.05). Oleu exerts a protective effect by eliminating DXR induced cardiotoxicity expressed by the alteration of intracellular and peripheral markers. Combined oleu and DXR treatment improves the therapeutic outcome by preventing undesirable toxicity.

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Doxorubicin; Heart Diseases; Iridoid Glucosides; Iridoids; Male; Malondialdehyde; Nitrates; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Nitrosation; Oleaceae; Oxidative Stress; Pyrans; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Tyrosine

Bilirubin, a strong intrinsic antioxidant, quenches free radicals produced under inflammatory conditions. The oxidized bilirubin metabolites, i.e. biopyrrins, are immediately excreted into urine and can indicate the intensity of oxidation in vivo. Our preliminary studies suggested the involvement of reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in generation of biopyrrins. However, little is known about biological significance of bilirubin oxidation by RNS. Here, we analyzed the correlation between bilirubin oxidation and nitric oxide (NO) radicals during rat acute cardiac allograft rejection. In allograft recipients, urinary biopyrrins steeply increased on day 3 prior to the increase in myocardial tissue damage marker, serum troponin-T. In contrast, no significant changes in urinary biopyrrins were evident in recipients of isografts or cyclosporine-A treated allografts. Urinary nitrotyrosine, a marker of oxidation by NO radicals also increased on day 3, while administration of a NO synthase inhibitor, N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine apparently diminished the elevation of urinary biopyrrins as well as nitrotyrosine. Immunohistochemistry revealed enhanced local expression of heme oxygenase-1, biopyrrins and nitrotyrosine in allografts in accordance with the cellular infiltrates, suggesting that changes in urinary biopyrrins reflect the bilirubin oxidation in grafts undergoing rejection. These results indicate that locally evoked bilirubin oxidation by NO radicals can predict the progression of rejection.

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Bilirubin; Biomarkers; Blotting, Western; Dipyrone; Disease Models, Animal; Disease Progression; Free Radical Scavengers; Graft Rejection; Heart Transplantation; Heme Oxygenase-1; Immunohistochemistry; Myocardium; Nitric Oxide; Oxidation-Reduction; Prognosis; Rats; Transplantation, Homologous; Tyrosine

A decrease in alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) plasma levels in burn patients is typically associated with increased mortality. We hypothesized that vitamin E supplementation (alpha-tocopherol) would attenuate acute lung injury induced by burn and smoke inhalation injury.. Under deep anesthesia, sheep (33 +/- 5 kg) were subjected to a flame burn (40% total body surface area, third degree) and inhalation injury (48 breaths of cotton smoke, < 40 degrees C). Half of the injured group received alpha-tocopherol (1000 IU vitamin E) orally, 24 h prior to injury. The sham group was neither injured nor given vitamin E. All three groups (n = 5 per group) were resuscitated with Ringer's lactate solution (4 ml/kg/%burn/24 h), and placed on a ventilator (PEEP = 5 cmH2O; tidal volume = 15 ml/kg) for 48 h.. Plasma alpha-tocopherol per lipids doubled in the vitamin E treated sheep. Vitamin E treatment prior to injury largely prevented the increase in pulmonary permeability index and moderated the increase in lung lymph flow (52.6 +/- 6.2 ml/min, compared with 27.3 +/- 6.0 ml/min, respectively), increased the PaO2/FiO2 ratio, ameliorated both peak and pause airway pressure increases, and decreased plasma conjugated dienes and nitrotyrosine.. Pretreatment with vitamin E ameliorated the acute lung injury caused by burn and smoke inhalation exposure.

Topics: Acute Disease; alpha-Tocopherol; Animals; Antioxidants; Burns; Disease Models, Animal; Extravascular Lung Water; gamma-Tocopherol; Lipids; Lung; Lung Injury; Pulmonary Gas Exchange; Pulmonary Wedge Pressure; Sheep; Smoke Inhalation Injury; Tyrosine

The present study was performed to evaluate the role of nitric oxide (NO) and its interaction with superoxide anion (O2-) in the regulation of blood pressure (BP) and renal function during the developmental phase of hypertension in Ren-2 transgenic rats (TGR). The first aim was to compare BP and renal functional responses to acute NO synthase (NOS) inhibition achieved by intravenous (i.v.) infusion of Nomega-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME) in prehypertensive heterozygous TGR and in transgene-negative Hannover Sprague-Dawley (HanSD) rats. The second aim was to evaluate whether scavenging of O2- by infusion of the superoxide dismutase mimetic tempol increases NO bioavailability which therefore should augment BP and renal functional responses to L-NAME.. Rats were anesthetized, prepared for clearance experiments and BP and renal functional responses were evaluated in response to i.v. L-NAME administration (20 microg.100 g(-1).min(-1)) without or with tempol pretreatment (i.v., 300 microg.100 g(-1).min(-1)). In renal cortical tissue, nitrotyrosine protein expression was assessed by immunoblotting as marker of O2- production and urinary 8-epi-PGF(2alpha) excretion as marker of intrarenal oxidative stress was assessed by enzyme immunoassay.. BP, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), renal plasma flow (RPF) and sodium excretion were similar in TGR and HanSD. L-NAME infusion induced greater increases in BP in TGR than in HanSD (+42 +/- 4 vs. +25 +/- 3 mmHg, p < 0.05). In the absence of a significant change in GFR, L-NAME caused similar decreases in RPF (-32 +/- 6 and -25 +/- 4%, p < 0.05) in TGR and HanSD. Despite significantly higher renocortical expression of nitrotyrosine and urinary 8-epi-PGF2alpha excretion in TGR than in HanSD, pretreatment with tempol did not augment the rise in BP and the decrease in RPF induced by L-NAME.. The greater BP response to L-NAME in TGR suggests that prehypertensive TGR exhibit an enhanced NO activity in the systemic vasculature as compared with HanSD. Despite increased intrarenal oxidative stress in TGR, the dependency of the intrarenal vascular tone on NO appears to be similar in TGR and HanSD. The lack of a compensatory increase in renal NO activity may partially account for the enhanced renal vascular response to ANG II present in TGR.

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Animals, Genetically Modified; Antioxidants; Blood Pressure; Cyclic N-Oxides; Dinoprost; Enzyme Inhibitors; Glomerular Filtration Rate; Hypertension, Renal; Kidney; Male; Mice; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Oxidative Stress; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reactive Oxygen Species; Renal Circulation; Renin; Sodium; Spin Labels; Tyrosine

Nitration of a critical tyrosine residue in the active site of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) can lead to enzyme inactivation. In this study, we examined the effect of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) on MnSOD expression, activity and nitration in acutely rejecting cardiac transplants.. Lewis (isograft) or Wistar-Furth (allograft) donor hearts were transplanted into Lewis recipient rats. Some rats received L-N6-(1-iminoethyl) lysine (l-NIL), a specific iNOS inhibitor. Protein nitration was determined by immunohistochemical, Western blot and slot-blot analyses. MnSOD enzyme activity and gene expression were determined using Western, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunoprecipitation techniques.. MnSOD protein levels were decreased 50% by post-operative day 6 (POD 6), which was prevented by L-NIL. RT-PCR analysis indicated that this decrease could not be explained by any changes in MnSOD mRNA. MnSOD enzyme activity but not protein was decreased at POD 5 in untreated allografts. The loss of MnSOD activity at POD 5 was also prevented by L-NIL. Immunoreactive nitrotyrosine was apparent in untreated allografts at POD 6. Slot-blot analysis indicated that nitrotyrosine formation in allografts could be blocked by L-NIL. Nitration of MnSOD was evident upon immunoprecipitation of MnSOD followed by Western blotting for nitrotyrosine.. These results suggest that the decreased MnSOD enzyme activity in acutely rejecting cardiac allografts can be attributed to a post-translational modification related to nitration arising via an iNOS-dependent pathway. This could be a potential major source of amplified oxidative stress in acute graft rejection.

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Enzyme Inhibitors; Gene Expression; Graft Rejection; Heart Transplantation; Lysine; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Oxidative Stress; Peroxynitrous Acid; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Rats; Rats, Inbred Lew; Rats, Inbred WF; Superoxide Dismutase; Tyrosine

The effects of the tyrosine kinase inhibitors, tyrphostin AG126 and AG556 in a murine model of acute pancreatitis are investigated.. Intraperitoneal injection of cerulein in mice resulted in a severe, acute pancreatitis, which was characterized by edema, neutrophil infiltration, tissue hemorrhage, and cell necrosis as well as elevation in the serum activities of amylase or lipase.. Infiltration of the pancreatic tissue of these animals with neutrophils (measured as increase in myeloperoxidase activity) was associated with signs of enhanced lipid peroxidation (increased tissue levels of malondialdehyde). Immunohistochemical examination showed a marked increase in immunoreactivity for nitrotyrosine and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in the pancreas of cerulein-treated mice. Pretreatment or posttreatment with tyrphostin AG126 and AG556, 2 different tyrosine kinase inhibitors, significantly reduced the degree of pancreatic inflammation and tissue injury (histologic score). In particular, the treatment with the 2 tyrosine kinase inhibitors reduced the cerulein-induced nitrotyrosine formation and PARP activation in the pancreas as well as the systemic release of tumor necrosis factor alpha.. This study provides the first evidence that (1) prevention of the activation of protein tyrosine kinases reduces the development of acute pancreatitis, and (2) inhibition of the activity of certain tyrosine kinases may represent a novel approach for the therapy of acute pancreatitis.

Topics: Acute Disease; Amylases; Animals; Enzyme Inhibitors; Lipase; Lipid Peroxidation; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Neutrophils; Nitric Oxide; Pancreas; Pancreatitis; Peroxynitrous Acid; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Signal Transduction; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Tyrosine; Tyrphostins

Nitric oxide (.NO) is a diffusible messenger implicated in Trypanosoma cruzi resistance. Excess production of .NO and oxidants leads to the generation of nitrogen dioxide (.NO2), a strong nitrating agent. Tyrosine nitration is a post-translational modification resulting from the addition of a nitro (-NO2) group to the ortho-position of tyrosine residues. Detection of protein 3-nitrotyrosine is regarded as a marker of nitro-oxidative stress and is observed in inflammatory processes. The formation and role of nitrating species in the control and myocardiopathy of T. cruzi infection remain to be studied. We investigated the levels of .NO and protein 3-nitrotyrosine in the plasma of C3H and BALB/c mice and pharmacologically modulated their production during the acute phase of T. cruzi infection. We also looked for protein 3-nitrotyrosine in the hearts of infected animals. Our results demonstrated that C3H animals produced higher amounts of .NO than BALB/c mice, but their generation of peroxynitrite was not proportionally enhanced and they had higher parasitemias. While N G-nitro-arginine methyl ester treatment abolished .NO production and drastically augmented the parasitism, mercaptoethylguanidine and guanido-ethyl disulfide, at doses that moderately reduced the .NO and 3-nitrotyrosine levels, paradoxically diminished the parasitemia in both strains. Nitrated proteins were also demonstrated in myocardial cells of infected mice. These data suggest that the control of T. cruzi infection depends not only on the capacity to produce .NO, but also on its metabolic fate, including the generation of nitrating species that may constitute an important element in parasite resistance and collateral myocardial damage.

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Biomarkers; Chagas Cardiomyopathy; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Immunohistochemistry; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred C3H; Nitric Oxide; Parasitemia; Tyrosine

Vaso-occlusive events are the major source of morbidity and mortality in sickle cell disease (SCD); however, the pathogenic mechanisms driving these events remain unclear. Using hypoxia to induce pulmonary injury, we investigated mechanisms by which sickle hemoglobin increases susceptibility to lung injury in a murine model of SCD, where mice either exclusively express the human alpha/sickle beta-globin (halphabetaS) transgene (SCD mice) or are heterozygous for the normal murine beta-globin gene and express the halphabetaS transgene (mbeta+/-, halphabetaS+/-; heterozygote SCD mice). Under normoxia, lungs from the SCD mice contained higher levels of xanthine oxidase (XO), nitrotyrosine, and cGMP than controls (C57BL/6 mice). Hypoxia increased XO and nitrotyrosine and decreased cGMP content in the lungs of all mice. After hypoxia, vascular congestion was increased in lungs with a greater content of XO and nitrotyrosine. Under normoxia, the association of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) with endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in lungs of SCD and heterozygote SCD mice was decreased compared with the levels of association in lungs of controls. Hypoxia further decreased association of HSP90 with eNOS in lungs of SCD and heterozygote SCD mice, but not in the control lungs. Pretreatment of rat pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells in vitro with xanthine/XO decreased A-23187-stimulated nitrite + nitrate production and HSP90 interactions with eNOS. These data support the hypotheses that hypoxia increases XO release from ischemic tissues and that the local increase in XO-induced oxidative stress can then inhibit HSP90 interactions with eNOS, decreasing *NO generation and predisposing the lung to vaso-occlusion.

Topics: Acute Disease; Anemia, Sickle Cell; Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Hemoglobin, Sickle; HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins; Humans; Hypoxia; Lung Diseases; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Transgenic; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; Tyrosine

Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) is a transcription factor which plays a pivotal role in the induction of genes involved in the response to injury and inflammation. Calpain I inhibitor is a potent antioxidant which is an effective inhibitor of NF-kappaB. This study examined whether the postulate that calpain I inhibitor attenuates experimental acute pancreatitis.. In a murine model we measured NF-kappaB activation, expression of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM) 1, nitrotyrosine, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nuclear enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase (PARS), myeloperoxidase, malondialdehyde, amylase and lipase and determined histological evidence of lung and pancreas injury in four groups: control (saline only), cerulein, calpain I inhibitor plus cerulein and calpain I inhibitor plus saline.. Intraperitoneal injection of cerulein in mice resulted in severe, acute pancreatitis characterised by oedema, neutrophil infiltration, tissue haemorrhage and necrosis and elevated serum levels of amylase and lipase. Infiltration of pancreatic and lung tissue with neutrophils (measured as increase in myeloperoxidase activity) was associated with enhanced lipid peroxidation (increased tissue levels of malondialdehyde). Immunohistochemical examination demonstrated a marked increase in immunoreactivity for nitrotyrosine, iNOS and PARS in the pancreas and lung of cerulein-treated mice. In contrast, pre-treatment with calpain I inhibitor markedly reduced: the degree of pancreas and lung injury; upregulation/expression of ICAM-1; staining for iNOS, nitrotyrosine and PARS; and lipid peroxidation. Additionally, calpain I inhibitor treatment significantly prevented the activation of NF-kappaB as suggested by the inhibition of IkappaB-alpha; degradation in the pancreas tissues after cerulein administration.. Taken together, our results clearly demonstrate that prevention of the activation of NF-kappaB by calpain I inhibitor ameliorates experimental murine acute pancreatitis.

Topics: Acute Disease; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Blotting, Western; Calpain; Ceruletide; Disease Models, Animal; Immunohistochemistry; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; Lipid Peroxidation; Male; Mice; NF-kappa B; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Pancreatitis; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; Random Allocation; Respiratory Distress Syndrome; Tyrosine

Inadequate angiogenic response to ischemia in diabetic myocardium could result in poor collateral formation. Because hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha is a transcriptional activator of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and is critical for initiating angiogenic responses to hypoxia, we investigated the expression of HIF-1alpha and VEGF in specimens of human heart tissue to elucidate the molecular responses to myocardial ischemia in diabetic patients during unstable angina. Moreover, accumulation of a marker of protein nitration nitrotyrosine, as well as the superoxide anion (O(2)(-)) levels and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), were evaluated. Ventricular biopsy specimens from 15 type 2 diabetic and 14 nondiabetic patients presenting with unstable angina (ischemic group) and from 20 patients (11 type 2 diabetic and 9 nondiabetic patients) who underwent coronary bypass surgery without angina within the preceding 10 days (control group) were collected during coronary bypass surgery. Nondiabetic patients had higher HIF-1alpha and VEGF expressions compared with diabetic patients (P < 0.001). As compared with nondiabetic specimens, diabetic specimens showed higher levels of both iNOS mRNA and protein levels (P < 0.001) associated with the highest tissue levels of nitrotyrosine and O(2)(-) (P < 0.001). Diabetes is associated with increased myocardial tissue levels of iNOS, O(2)(-), and nitrotyrosine and reduced expression of myocardial angiogenesis factors during ischemia.

Topics: Acute Disease; Angina, Unstable; Collateral Circulation; Coronary Artery Bypass; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Female; Humans; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; Male; Middle Aged; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; RNA, Messenger; Superoxides; Transcription Factors; Tyrosine; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Ventricular Function

The aim was to determine if inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) contributes to depressed cardiovascular function at the acute phase of streptozotocin-induced diabetes.. Male Wistar rats were injected with streptozotocin [60 mg/kg, intravenously (i.v.)] or the vehicle (0.9% NaCl) and were studied 3 weeks later.. The diabetic and control rats had similar mean arterial pressure (MAP) and total peripheral resistance (TPR). Noradrenaline (NA) increased in vivo left ventricular contractility (LV +dP/dt), MAP and TPR in both groups; however, the responses were markedly less in the diabetic than control rats. Acute administration of 1400W (selective inhibitor of iNOS; 3 mg/kg followed by 3 mg/kg/h, i.v.) did not alter responses to NA in the control rats, but augmented the influence of NA on MAP, TPR and LV +dP/dt in the diabetic rats. At this time, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) products (RNA) of iNOS were present in the hearts of the diabetic but not control rats. The activity of iNOS was threefold higher in the hearts of the diabetic rats relative to the controls, and the increase was inhibited by 1400W. Furthermore, immunostaining (proteins) of iNOS and nitrotyrosine (NT; marker of peroxynitrite) were identified in the hearts of the diabetic but not control rats. In contrast, the RT-PCR products of eNOS, activity of eNOS and immunostaining of eNOS were of similar intensity in the hearts of both groups.. Activation of iNOS contributes to depressed cardiovascular contractile function to NA at the acute phase of streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Selective inhibition of iNOS partially restored cardiovascular responses to NA.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Amidines; Animals; Benzylamines; Blood Pressure; Depression, Chemical; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Male; Myocardial Contraction; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; Norepinephrine; Propranolol; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Tyrosine; Vascular Resistance

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) is the animal model for multiple sclerosis. The present study underlines the importance of sodium phenylacetate (NaPA), a drug approved for urea cycle disorders, in inhibiting the disease process of adoptively transferred EAE in female SJL/J mice at multiple steps. Myelin basic protein (MBP)-primed T cells alone induced the expression of NO synthase (iNOS) and the activation of NF-kappaB in mouse microglial cells through cell-cell contact. However, pretreatment of MBP-primed T cells with NaPA markedly inhibited its ability to induce microglial expression of iNOS and activation of NF-kappaB. Consistently, adoptive transfer of MBP-primed T cells, but not that of NaPA-pretreated MBP-primed T cells, induced the clinical symptoms of EAE in female SJL/J mice. Furthermore, MBP-primed T cells isolated from NaPA-treated donor mice were also less efficient than MBP-primed T cells isolated from normal donor mice in inducing iNOS in microglial cells and transferring EAE to recipient mice. Interestingly, clinical symptoms of EAE were much less in mice receiving NaPA through drinking water than those without NaPA. Similar to NaPA, sodium phenylbutyrate, a chemically synthesized precursor of NaPA, also inhibited the disease process of EAE. Histological and immunocytochemical analysis showed that NaPA inhibited EAE-induced spinal cord mononuclear cell invasion and normalized iNOS, nitrotyrosine, and p65 (the RelA subunit of NF-kappaB) expression within the spinal cord. Taken together, our results raise the possibility that NaPA or sodium phenylbutyrate taken through drinking water or milk may reduce the observed neuroinflammation and disease process in multiple sclerosis patients.

Topics: Acute Disease; Administration, Oral; Adoptive Transfer; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Cell Differentiation; Cell Line; Cell Movement; Chronic Disease; Disease Progression; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental; Enzyme Inhibitors; Female; Growth Inhibitors; Immunosuppressive Agents; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Lymphocyte Activation; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Microglia; Myelin Basic Protein; NF-kappa B; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Phenylacetates; Phenylbutyrates; Severity of Illness Index; Spinal Cord; T-Lymphocyte Subsets; Transcription Factor RelA; Tyrosine

Excessive production of nitric oxide (NO) by inducible NO synthase (iNOS) contributes to the progression of myocardial damage in myocarditis. Some dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers reportedly inhibit NO production and proinflammatory cytokines and the present study sought to clarify if a low dose of benidipine, a novel dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, would ameliorate experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM). Rats with or without myocarditis were administered oral benidipine at a dose of 3 mg. kg(-1). day(-1) for 3 weeks. Low-dose benidipine did not decrease blood pressure significantly compared with the untreated group, but markedly reduced the severity of myocarditis. Myocardial interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) expression and IL-1beta-positive cells were significantly less in rats with EAM that were treated with low-dose benidipine compared with untreated rats. Also, myocardial iNOS expression and iNOS-positive cells were markedly reduced in in the treated rats compared with the untreated group. Furthermore, myocardial NO production and nitrotyrosine expression were suppressed by the treatment in rats with EAM. The cardioprotection of low-dose benidipine may be caused by suppression of inflammatory cytokines and inhibition of NO production.

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Autoimmune Diseases; Blood Pressure; Calcium Channel Blockers; Calcium Channels, L-Type; Cytokines; Dihydropyridines; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Heart Rate; Myocarditis; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Peroxynitrous Acid; Rats; Rats, Inbred Lew; Tyrosine

Anthocyanins are a group of naturally occuring phenolic compounds related to the coloring of plants, flowers and fruits. These pigments are important as quality indicators, as chemotaxonomic markers and for their antioxidant activities. Here, we have investigated the therapeutic efficacy of anthocyanins contained in blackberry extract (cyanidin-3-O-glucoside represents about 80% of the total anthocyanin contents) in an experimental model of lung inflammation induced by carrageenan in rats. Injection of carrageenan into the pleural cavity elicited an acute inflammatory response characterized by fluid accumulation which contained a large number of neutrophils as well as an infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in lung tissues and subsequent lipid peroxidation, and increased production of nitrite/nitrate (NOx) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). All parameters of inflammation were attenuated in a dose-dependent manner by anthocyanins (10, 30 mg kg(-1) 30 min before carrageenan). Furthermore, carrageenan induced an upregulation of the adhesion molecule ICAM-1, nitrotyrosine and poly (ADP-ribose) synthetase (PARS) as determined by immunohistochemical analysis of lung tissues. The degree of staining was lowered by anthocyanins treatment. Thus, the anthocyanins contained in the blackberry extract exert multiple protective effects in carrageenan-induced pleurisy.

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Anthocyanins; Carrageenan; Dinoprostone; Exudates and Transudates; Fruit; Glucosides; Immunohistochemistry; Inflammation; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; Lipid Peroxidation; Lung; Male; Malondialdehyde; Neutrophils; Nitrates; Nitrites; Peroxidase; Plant Extracts; Pleurisy; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Time Factors; Tyrosine

Ischemia/reperfusion injury, and thus graft pancreatitis, remains a major problem in pancreas transplantation. Contradictory results about the role of nitric oxide (NO) in pancreatic ischemia/reperfusion have been reported; however, in none of the reports has a detailed comparison between inhibition of NO synthase and NO supplementation been carried out.. Vascular isolation of the pancreatic tail was performed in landrace pigs. After splenectomy catheters placed in the distal part of the splenic vessels allowed collection of the venous effluent and perfusion of the pancreatic tail. Three hours of complete warm ischemia was followed by 6 h of reperfusion. The effect of the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and L-arginine was compared to a control group and NO synthase inhibition with L-NAME.. Lipase in the venous effluent of the pancreas was significantly decreased in the SNP and the L-arginine groups. Vascular resistance was markedly elevated in the L-NAME group and reduced in the NO donor groups. Tissue pO2 after reperfusion was only significantly elevated in the SNP group. Granulocyte infiltration and also overall histological tissue injury were most severe in the control group followed by the L-NAME group, the SNP group, and the L-ARG group.. The data show that supplementation of nitric oxide is clearly protective in pancreatic ischemia/reperfusion. However, inhibition of NO synthesis does not lead to an equally clear aggravation of tissue injury.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adenosine Triphosphate; Animals; Arginine; Blood Pressure; Enzyme Inhibitors; Female; Glutathione; Lipase; Microcirculation; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide Donors; Nitroprusside; Oxidation-Reduction; Oximetry; Oxygen Consumption; Pancreas Transplantation; Pancreatitis; Regional Blood Flow; Reperfusion Injury; Swine; Tyrosine; Vascular Resistance

Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species have been implicated in the pathogenesis of asbestos fibers-associated pulmonary diseases. By comparing the responses of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) knockout and wild-type mice we investigated the consequences of iNOS expression for the development of the inflammatory response and tissue injury upon intratracheal instillation of asbestos fibers. Exposure to asbestos fibers resulted in an increased iNOS mRNA and protein expression in the lungs from wild-type mice. Moreover, iNOS knockout mice exhibited an exceeded pulmonary expression and production of TNF-alpha as well as a higher influx of neutrophils into the alveolar space than wild-type mice. In contrast, iNOS knockout animals displayed an attenuated oxidant-related tissue injury reflected in a decrease in protein leakage and LDH release into the alveolar space as well as weaker nitrotyrosine staining of lung tissue compared to wild-type mice. Data presented here indicate that iNOS-derived NO exerts a dichotomous role in acute asbestos-induced lung injury in that iNOS deficiency resulted in an exacerbated inflammatory response but improved oxidant-promoted lung tissue damage.

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Asbestos; Asbestosis; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; Chemotaxis; Enzyme Induction; Gene Expression Regulation; Inflammation; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; Lung; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Neutrophils; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Oxidation-Reduction; Peroxidase; RNA, Messenger; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Tyrosine

Using a rat (Lewis-Wistar Furth) abdominal heterotopic transplantation model, we reported previously that the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is increased in parallel with that of nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-2 during cardiac allograft rejection.. To investigate effects of COX-2 inhibition in this model, allograft recipients were treated orally (PO) with 5 mg/kg per day of the tetra substituted furanone selective COX-2 inhibitor 5,5-dimethyl-3-(3 fluorophenyl)-4-(4 methylsulfonal) phenyl-2 (5H)-furanone (DFU) in 1% methyl cellulose solution.. In the treated animals, allograft survival was increased from 6.3+/-0.5 to 12.6+/-2.6 days (P = .001). At days 3 and 5 posttransplantation, there were reductions in the extent of the inflammatory infiltrate, endovasculitis, myocardial edema, and cardiomyocyte damage in rejecting allografts. The mean numbers of apoptotic cardiomyocytes determined with the terminal deoxynucleotide transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) technique were significantly reduced in DFU-treated grafts compared with untreated controls (P < 0.05). At day 3 posttransplantation, prostaglandin E2 synthesis by myocardial slices incubated with 100 microM bradykinin was reduced from 1,097+/-156 to 153+/-63 pg/mg of protein in the treated allografts (P < .005). At day 5, COX-2 protein and mRNA together with COX-2, NOS-2, and nitrotyrosine immunostaining in damaged cardiomyocytes were diminished in treated versus control grafts.. The data indicate that the inhibition of COX-2 prolongs allograft survival and reduces myocardial damage and inflammation during acute cardiac allograft rejection.

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Cyclooxygenase 2; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; Furans; Graft Rejection; Graft Survival; Heart Transplantation; Immunohistochemistry; Isoenzymes; Male; Myocardium; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; Rats; Rats, Inbred Lew; Rats, Inbred WF; RNA, Messenger; Transplantation, Homologous; Tyrosine

Mice deficient in inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS; C57Bl/6Ai-[KO]NOS2 N5) or wild-type C57Bl/6 mice were exposed to 1 part/million of ozone 8 h/night or to filtered air for three consecutive nights. Endpoints measured included lavagable total protein, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, cell content, and tyrosine nitration of whole lung proteins. Ozone exposure caused acute edema and an inflammatory response in the lungs of wild-type mice, as indicated by significant increases in lavage protein content, MIP-2 and MMP-9 content, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The iNOS knockout mice showed significantly greater levels of lung injury by all of these criteria than did the wild-type mice. We conclude that iNOS knockout mice are more susceptible to acute lung damage induced by exposure to ozone than are wild-type C57Bl/6 mice and that protein nitration is associated with the degree of inflammation and not dependent on iNOS-derived nitric oxide.

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; Chemokine CXCL2; Chemokines; Disease Susceptibility; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Neutrophils; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Ozone; Pneumonia; Proteins; Pulmonary Edema; Tyrosine

We have recently demonstrated that increased blood-CNS barrier permeability and CNS inflammation in a conventional mouse model of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis are dependent upon the production of peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)), a product of the free radicals NO* and superoxide (O2*(-)). To determine whether this is a reflection of the physiological contribution of ONOO(-) to an immune response against a neurotropic pathogen, we have assessed the effects on adult rats acutely infected with Borna disease virus (BDV) of administration of uric acid (UA), an inhibitor of select chemical reactions associated with ONOO(-). The pathogenesis of acute Borna disease in immunocompetent adult rats results from the immune response to the neurotropic BDV, rather than the direct effects of BDV infection of neurons. An important stage in the BDV-specific neuroimmune response is the invasion of inflammatory cells into the CNS. UA treatment inhibited the onset of clinical disease, and prevented the elevated blood-brain barrier permeability as well as CNS inflammation seen in control-treated BDV-infected rats. The replication and spread of BDV in the CNS were unchanged by the administration of UA, and only minimal effects on the immune response to BDV Ags were observed. These results indicate that the CNS inflammatory response to neurotropic virus infection is likely to be dependent upon the activity of ONOO(-) or its products on the blood-brain barrier.

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Antigens, Viral; Blood-Brain Barrier; Borna Disease; Borna disease virus; Brain; Brain Chemistry; Chemotaxis, Leukocyte; Encephalitis, Viral; Female; Free Radical Scavengers; Free Radicals; Gene Expression Profiling; Immunocompetence; Inflammation; Lymphocyte Count; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Neurons; Neuroprotective Agents; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Oxidation-Reduction; Peroxynitrous Acid; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Rats; Rats, Inbred Lew; T-Lymphocyte Subsets; Tyrosine; Uric Acid; Virus Replication

The purposes of this study were 1) to identify the nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS) isoform responsible for NO-mediated radiation-induced lung injury, 2) to examine the formation of nitrotyrosine, and 3) to see whether nitrotyrosine formation and lung injury are reduced by an inducible NOS (iNOS) inhibitor, aminoguanidine. The left hemithorax of rats was irradiated (20 Gy), and the degree of lung injury, the expression of NOS isoforms, and the formation of nitrotyrosine and superoxide were examined after 2 wk. iNOS mRNA was induced, and endothelial NOS mRNA was markedly increased in the irradiated lung. Nitrotyrosine was detected biochemically and immunohistochemically. Aminoguanidine prevented acute lung injury as indicated by decreased protein concentration and lactate dehydrogenase activity in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and improved NMR parameters and histology. Furthermore, the formation of nitrotyrosine was significantly reduced in the aminoguanidine group. We conclude that iNOS induction is a major factor in radiation-induced lung injury and that nitrotyrosine formation may participate in the NO-induced pathogenesis.

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; Enzyme Induction; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; Lung; Lung Diseases; Male; Nitrates; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Nitrites; Proteins; Radiation Injuries, Experimental; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Tyrosine

The present study identifies proteins modified by nitration in the plasma of patients with ongoing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The proteins modified by nitration in ARDS were revealed by microsequencing and specific antibody detection to be ceruloplasmin, transferrin, alpha(1)-protease inhibitor, alpha(1)-antichymotrypsin, and beta-chain fibrinogen. Exposure to nitrating agents did not deter the chymotrypsin-inhibiting activity of alpha(1)-antichymotrypsin. However, the ferroxidase activity of ceruloplasmin and the elastase-inhibiting activity of alpha(1)-protease inhibitor were reduced to 50.3 +/- 1.6 and 60.3 +/- 5.3% of control after exposure to the nitrating agent. In contrast, the rate of interaction of fibrinogen with thrombin was increased to 193.4 +/- 8.5% of the control value after exposure of fibrinogen to nitration. Ferroxidase activity of ceruloplasmin and elastase-inhibiting activity of the alpha(1)-protease inhibitor in the ARDS patients were significantly reduced (by 81 and 44%, respectively), whereas alpha(1)-antichymotrypsin activity was not significantly altered. Posttranslational modifications of plasma proteins mediated by nitrating agents may offer a biochemical explanation for the reported diminished ferroxidase activity, elevated levels of elastase, and fibrin deposits detected in patients with ongoing ARDS.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin; Blood Proteins; Blotting, Western; Carbon Dioxide; Ceruloplasmin; Enzyme Activation; Fibrinogen; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Nitrates; Nitric Oxide; Oxidative Stress; Precipitin Tests; Respiratory Distress Syndrome; Superoxides; Tyrosine

The role of NO and superoxide (O(2)(-)) in tissue injury during cardiac allograft rejection was investigated by using a rat ex vivo organ perfusion system. Excessive NO production and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression were observed in cardiac allografts at 5 days after cardiac transplantation, but not in cardiac isografts, as identified by electron spin resonance spectroscopy and Northern blotting. Cardiac isografts or allografts obtained on Day 5 after transplantation were perfused with Krebs bicarbonate buffer with or without various antidotes for NO or O(2)-, including N(omega)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA; 1 mM), 2-phenyl-4,4,5, 5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl 3-oxide (PTIO; 100 microM), 4-amino-6-hydroxypyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine (AHPP; a xanthine oxidase inhibitor; 100 microM), and superoxide dismutase (SOD; 100 units/ml). Treatment of the cardiac allografts with PTIO showed most remarkable improvement of the cardiac injury as revealed by significant reduction in aspartate transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase, and creatine phosphokinase concentrations in the perfusate. Similar but less potent protective effect on the allograft injury was observed by treatment with L-NMMA, AHPP, and SOD. Immunohistochemical analyses for iNOS and nitrotyrosine indicated that iNOS is mainly expressed by macrophages infiltrating the allograft tissues, and nitrotyrosine formation was demonstrated not only in macrophages but also in cardiac myocytes of the allografts, providing indirect evidence for the generation of peroxynitrite during allograft rejection. Our results suggest that tissue injury in rat cardiac allografts during acute rejection is mediated by both NO and O(2)(-), possibly through peroxynitrite formation.

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; Graft Rejection; Heart Transplantation; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Nitrates; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; omega-N-Methylarginine; Perfusion; Rats; Rats, Inbred ACI; Rats, Inbred Lew; Superoxide Dismutase; Superoxides; Transplantation, Homologous; Tyrosine

In inflammatory arthritis, there is evidence indicating that the affected tissues produce large amounts of oxygen-free radicals and NO. Herein, we examine the biologic effects of exposure of IgG to hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and peroxynitrite (ONOO). The concentrations of IgG modified by chlorination and nitrosation were measured in synovial fluids from inflammatory and noninflammatory arthritis. Human IgG was exposed to increasing concentrations of HOCl and ONOO, and the resulting products were tested for complement component binding; binding to FcgammaRI; activation of polymorphonuclear neutrophils; effect on the Ab-combining site of Abs; and in vivo inflammatory activity in a rabbit model of acute arthritis. Rheumatoid synovial fluids contained significantly greater concentrations of nitrosated and chlorinated IgG compared with ostearthritic specimens. In vitro exposure of human IgG to HOCl and ONOO resulted in a concentration-dependent decrease in C3 and C1q fixation. The decrease in Fc domain-dependent biologic functions was confirmed by competitive binding studies to the FcgammaRI of U937 cells. HOCl-treated IgG monomer was 10 times less effective in competing for binding compared with native IgG, and ONOO-treated IgG was 2.5 times less effective. The modified IgGs were also ineffective in inducing synthesis of H(2)O(2) by human PMN. The Ag-binding domains of IgG also showed a concentration-dependent decrease in binding to Ag. The ability of the modified IgGs to induce acute inflammation in rabbit knees decreased 20-fold as gauged by the intensity of the inflammatory cell exudates. These studies clarify the modulating role of biological oxidants in inflammatory processes in which Ag-autoantibody reactions and immune complex pathogenesis may play an important role.

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Arthritis, Experimental; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Binding Sites, Antibody; Complement C1q; Complement C3; Female; Free Radicals; Gout; Humans; Hydrogen Peroxide; Hypochlorous Acid; Immunoglobulin G; Male; Neutrophils; Nitrates; Osteoarthritis; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxygen; Rabbits; Receptors, IgG; Serum Albumin, Bovine; Synovial Fluid; Tyrosine

There is limited evidence that inhibition of the activity of the protease calpain I reduces inflammation. Here we investigate the effects of calpain inhibitor I in animal models of acute and chronic inflammation (carrageenan-induced pleurisy and collagen-induced arthritis). We report here for the first time that calpain inhibitor I (given at 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg i.p. in the pleurisy model or at 5 mg/kg i.p every 48 hours in the arthritis model) exerts potent anti-inflammatory effects (eg, inhibition of pleural exudate formation, mononuclear cell infiltration, delayed the development of the clinical signs and histological injury) in vivo. Furthermore, calpain inhibitor I reduced (1) the staining for nitrotyrosine and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (immunohistochemistry) and (2) the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 in the lungs of carrageenan-treated rats and in joints from collagen-treated rats. Thus, prevention of the activation of calpain I reduces the development of acute and chronic inflammation. Inhibition of calpain I activity may represent a novel therapeutic approach for the therapy of inflammation.

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Arthritis; Carrageenan; Chronic Disease; Collagen; Cyclooxygenase 2; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Glycoproteins; Isoenzymes; Lung; Male; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Pleurisy; Poly Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; Radiography; Rats; Rats, Inbred Lew; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Tarsus, Animal; Tyrosine

The loss of ultrafiltration (UF) that accompanies acute peritonitis is a common problem in peritoneal dialysis (PD). It has been suggested that changes in nitric oxide (NO)-mediated vascular tone and permeability might be involved in the loss of UF, whereas channel-mediated water permeability should not be affected. This study used a model of acute peritonitis in rats to characterize changes in PD parameters, in correlation with: (1) expression studies of water channel aquaporin-1 and NO synthase (NOS) isoforms and (2) enzymatic assays for NOS in the peritoneum. Compared with controls, rats with peritonitis had a higher removal of plasma urea, a faster glucose absorption, and a loss of UF. Additional changes, including high protein loss, elevated leukocyte counts in dialysate, positive bacterial cultures, edema, and mononuclear infiltrates, were similar to those observed in PD patients with acute peritonitis. Acute peritonitis in rats induced a major increase in total NOS activity, which was inversely correlated with free-water permeability. The increased NOS activity was mediated by both inducible (Ca2+-independent) and endothelial (Ca2+-dependent) NOS isoforms and was reflected by increased peritoneal staining for nitrotyrosine. In contrast, aquaporin-1 expression was unchanged in rats with peritonitis. These findings cast light on the pathophysiology of permeability changes and loss of UF that characterize acute peritonitis. In particular, these data suggest that a local production of NO, mediated by different NOS isoforms, might play a key role in these changes.

Topics: Acute Disease; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Aquaporin 1; Aquaporins; Capillary Permeability; Disease Models, Animal; Endothelial Growth Factors; Immunoassay; Immunohistochemistry; Isoenzymes; Lymphokines; Male; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Peritoneal Dialysis; Peritoneum; Peritonitis; Protein Isoforms; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reference Values; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tyrosine; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

Recent studies have shown that nitric oxide interacts with superoxide to form peroxynitrite, a potent oxidant that modifies cellular proteins producing 3-L-nitrotyrosine (N-Tyr). This study was designed to evaluate N-Tyr quantitatively with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) during cardiac allograft rejection.. Rat transplanted hearts (allogeneic or syngeneic grafts) were examined with HPLC analysis, immunohistochemistry for N-Tyr, and histological studies on 0, 1, 3, and 7 days after transplantation.. No histological rejection was found in syngeneic grafts, or day 0 or 1 allografts. HPLC demonstrated that N-Tyr in allografts increased on day 1 and continued to increase through day 7, while N-Tyr was not detected in any syngeneic grafts. Immunostaining of the allografts did not show N-Tyr on day 1.. These results demonstrate that N-Tyr shows a time-dependent accumulation in cardiac allografts during acute rejection. N-Tyr detection using HPLC may be an useful maker for early diagnosis of acute rejection before pathological rejection occurs.

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Graft Rejection; Heart Transplantation; Male; Myocardium; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344; Rats, Inbred Lew; Time Factors; Transplantation, Homologous; Tyrosine

Increased production of reactive metabolites of oxygen and nitrogen has been implicated in chronic inflammation of the gut. The object of this study was to examine the magnitude and location of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity and peroxynitrite formation in the colonic mucosa of patients with ulcerative colitis in relation to the degree of inflammation.. Thirty three patients with active ulcerative colitis (17 with mild or moderate inflammation, 16 with severe inflammation).. Inducible NOS activity was determined in the colonic mucosa by measuring the conversion of L-arginine to citrulline in the absence of calcium. The localisation of NOS and nitrotyrosine immunoreactivity was assessed immunohistochemically using the labelled streptavidin biotin method.. Inducible NOS activity increased in parallel with the degree of inflammation of the mucosa. Expression of inducible NOS was found not only in the lamina propria, but also in the surface of the epithelium. Peroxynitrite formation as assessed by nitrotyrosine staining was frequently observed in the lamina propria of actively inflamed mucosa.. Nitric oxide and peroxynitrite formation may play an important role in causing irreversible cellular injury to the colonic mucosa in patients with active ulcerative colitis.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adolescent; Adult; Analysis of Variance; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Blotting, Western; Colitis, Ulcerative; Colon; Enzyme Induction; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Intestinal Mucosa; Isoenzymes; Male; Middle Aged; Nitrates; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Tyrosine

We have examined the localization of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nitrotyrosine (the product of nitration of tyrosine by peroxynitrite, a highly reactive derivative of nitric oxide [NO]) in demyelinating lesions from (i) two young adult patients with acute multiple sclerosis (MS), (ii) a child with MS (consistent with diffuse sclerosis), and (iii) five adult patients with chronic MS. Previous reports have suggested a possible correlation between iNOS, peroxynitrite, related nitrogen-derived oxidants, and the demyelinating processes in MS. We have demonstrated iNOS-immunoreactive cells in both acute-MS and diffuse-sclerosis-type lesions. In acute-MS lesions, iNOS was localized in both monocytes/macrophages and reactive astrocytes. However, foamy (myelin-laden) macrophages and the majority of reactive astrocytes were iNOS negative. In specimens from the childhood MS patient, iNOS protein was present only in a subpopulation of reactive or hypertrophic astrocytes. In contrast, no iNOS staining was detected in chronic-MS lesions. Immunohistochemical staining of acute-MS lesions with an antibody to nitrotyrosine revealed codistribution of iNOS- and nitrotyrosine-positive cells, although nitrotyrosine staining was more widespread in cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage. In diffuse-sclerosis-type lesions, nitrotyrosine staining was present in hypertrophic astrocytes, whereas it was absent in chronic-MS lesions. These results suggest that NO and nitrogen-derived oxidants may play a role in the initiation of demyelination in acute-MS lesions but not in the later phase of the disease.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antibodies; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Astrocytes; Brain; Chronic Disease; Diffuse Cerebral Sclerosis of Schilder; Female; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Macrophages; Male; Middle Aged; Monocytes; Multiple Sclerosis; Myelin Sheath; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Tyrosine

Peroxynitrite, which is generated by the reaction of nitric oxide (NO) with superoxide, is a strong oxidant that can damage subcellular organelles, membranes and enzymes through its actions on proteins, lipids, and DNA, including the nitration of tyrosine residues of proteins. Detection of nitrotyrosine (NT) serves as a biochemical marker of peroxynitrite-induced damage. In the present studies, NT was detected by immunohistochemistry in CNS tissues from mice with acute experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). NT immunoreactivity was displayed by many mononuclear inflammatory cells, including CD4+ cells. It was also observed in astrocytes near EAE lesions. Immunostaining for the inducible isoform of NO synthase (iNOS) was also observed, particularly during acute EAE. These data strongly suggest that peroxynitrite formation is a major consequence of NO produced via iNOS, and implicate this powerful oxidant in the pathogenesis of EAE.

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Chronic Disease; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental; Female; Immunohistochemistry; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Nitrates; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Recurrence; Remission Induction; Serum Albumin, Bovine; Spinal Cord; Tyrosine