title: Genotype dependent and cigarette specific effects on endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene expression and enzyme activity.
abstract: We explored the interactive effects of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) genotypes and cigarette smoking on protein levels and enzyme activity in 33 postpartum placentas. Whilst the eNOS protein levels were lower in the rare allele (0.48+/-0.11, n=9 vs. 1. 05+/-0.10, n=24, P<0.01), the eNOS enzyme activity was about 7-fold higher in the rare allele (4556.2+/-255.4 vs. 621.8+/-180.5 cpm/mg/min, P<0.01). Smokers had lower eNOS protein levels (1.07+/-0. 09 vs. 0.50+/-0.19, P<0.05) in both alleles. It reduced the eNOS activities only in the rare allele (non-smokers: 6143.8+/-251.2, n=5, smokers: 2968.5+/-259.4, n=4, 52% reduction, P<0.01). We conclude that associations between eNOS polymorphism and protein levels and enzyme activities are modifiable by smoking, the effects of smoking are dependent on the eNOS genotypes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, P.O. Box 760549, San Antonio, TX 78245-0549, USA. xwang@darwin.sfbr.org
authors.forename: X L
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.forename: M X
authors.initials: MX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Murrell
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Trudinger
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D010920:Placenta / Q000201:enzymology*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011247:Pregnancy; D012907:Smoking / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C496314:NOS3 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III