title: Molecular mechanisms of increased nitric oxide (NO) in asthma: evidence for transcriptional and post-translational regulation of NO synthesis.
abstract: Evidence supporting increased nitric oxide (NO) in asthma is substantial, although the cellular and molecular mechanisms leading to increased NO are not known. Here, we provide a clear picture of the events regulating NO synthesis in the human asthmatic airway in vivo. We show that human airway epithelium has abundant expression of NO synthase II (NOSII) due to continuous transcriptional activation of the gene in vivo. Individuals with asthma have higher than normal NO concentrations and increased NOSII mRNA and protein due to transcriptional regulation through activation of Stat1. NOSII mRNA expression decreases in asthmatics receiving inhaled corticosteroid, treatment effective in reducing inflammation in asthmatic airways. In addition to transcriptional mechanisms, post-translational events contribute to increased NO synthesis. Specifically, high output production of NO is fueled by a previously unsuspected increase in the NOS substrate, l -arginine, in airway epithelial cells of asthmatic individuals. Finally, nitration of proteins in airway epithelium provide evidence of functional consequences of increased NO. In conclusion, these studies define multiple mechanisms that function coordinately to support high level NO synthesis in the asthmatic airway. These findings represent a crucial cornerstone for future therapeutic strategies aimed at regulating NO synthesis in asthma.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Comhair
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Dweik
authors.forename: N T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Eissa
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Thomassen
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Calhoun
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Erzurum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017398:Alternative Splicing; D001120:Arginine / Q000378:metabolism; D001249:Asthma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001980:Bronchi / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005446:Fluocinolone Acetonide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D053613:Janus Kinase 1; D008297:Male; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000276:immunology*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000276:immunology*; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009566:Nitrates; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; C494079:STAT1 protein, human; D015534:Trans-Activators; D005446:Fluocinolone Acetonide; C039642:peroxynitric acid; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C002744:3-nitrotyrosine; D014443:Tyrosine; C007734:flunisolide; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D001120:Arginine; C496319:NOS2 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C507904:JAK1 protein, human; D053613:Janus Kinase 1