title: Nitric oxide synthase inhibition negates septic-induced alterations in cytoplasmic calcium homeostasis and membrane dynamics.
abstract: This study was undertaken to evaluate the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the sepsis-induced disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis and membrane dynamics. Anticoagulated whole blood was obtained from 10 healthy volunteers. Equal aliquots were incubated with saline (control), 2 microg/mL Escherichia coli endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide), 8 microg/mL NO inhibitor, N-monomethyl arginine (NMA), and endotoxin plus NO inhibitor (lipopolysaccharide/NMA). Erythrocytes were harvested, washed, and loaded with the calcium chelator, FURA-2AM, and the fluorescent membrane probe TMA-DPH. Cells were evaluated for both intracellular calcium concentration and membrane viscosity (anisotropy) by fluorescent spectrophotometry. Endotoxin induced a significant increase in both intracellular calcium concentration and anisotropy. NMA had no intrinsic affect on either of these cellular characteristics. NMA was, however, effective in preventing the endotoxin-induced changes. These results suggest that NO may play a role in the disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis and erythrocyte membrane deformability noted in sepsis.
authors.affiliation: University of Florida Health Science Center Jacksonville, 32209, USA.
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Cohn
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Mollitt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000502:physiology*; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D012016:Reference Values; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology*; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D002118:Calcium