title: Nitric oxide synthase I and VIP-activated signaling are affected in salivary glands of NOD mice.
abstract: The autoimmune sialadenitis developed by non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice is considered a suitable model to study the ethiopathogenic mechanisms leading to sicca symptoms in Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Evidence supporting a neural rather than immune origin of the secretory dysfunction has been provided. As both nitric oxide and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) are common messengers to nervous and immune systems mediating secretory and inflammatory responses, we examined nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity with special focus on VIP-mediated effects in salivary glands of NOD mice. We found a decreased NOS activity and expression in major salivary glands of NOD mice with respect to control mice. In addition, there was a deficient VIP-activated signaling associated with a reduced saliva and amylase secretion in response to VIP. Our results support the hypothesis of an impaired balance of neuroimmune interactions in salivary glands as early events to take place in the progressive loss of secretory function of NOD mice.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Florencia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rosignoli
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pérez Leirós
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D017777:Parasympathetic Fibers, Postganglionic / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000276:immunology; D012463:Saliva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000294:innervation; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; C496321:Nos1 protein, mouse