title: Regulation of nitric oxide synthase activity in cultured human endothelial cells: effect of antioxidants.
abstract: Nitric oxide release is induced in many cells, including vascular endothelium, as part of the host response to inflammation. Nitric oxide synthase activity is increased in patients with sepsis, associated with increased oxidant demands and decreased antioxidant protection. We used a human vascular endothelial cell line to investigate the influence of antioxidants on nitric oxide synthase activity. Cells were cultured to confluence and incubated with interferon gamma, tumor necrosis factor, and lipopolysaccharide in the combined presence of the antioxidants ascorbic acid, Trolox, catalase, or superoxide dismutase, singly and in combination, for 48 h. Additionally, some cells were incubated with hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase or a nitric oxide donor. Nitric oxide synthase activity was upregulated by cytokine exposure (p < .0005). Ascorbic acid and superoxide dismutase/ catalase resulted in decreased enzyme activity (p < .05). Superoxide anion release from xanthine oxidase caused increased activity (p < .05) and exogenous nitric oxide tended to suppress synthase activity. We suggest that antioxidants scavenge superoxide anion, enabling feedback inhibition of nitric oxide synthase activity by nitric oxide, and thus reducing enzyme activity. Exogenous nitric oxide also has a similar effect. Superoxide generation suppresses this feedback inhibition. This study has important implications in patients with sepsis in whom nitric oxide synthase inhibitor therapy is currently under investigation.
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Anaesthesia & Intensive Care, University of Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Galley
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Howdle
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Webster
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002839:Chromans / Q000494:pharmacology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D006822:Hybrid Cells; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology; D014471:Umbilical Veins; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002839:Chromans; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase; C010643:6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid