title: Nitric oxide dynamics and endothelial dysfunction in type II model of genetic diabetes.
abstract: Although diabetes is a major risk factor for vascular diseases, e.g., hypertension and atherosclerosis, mechanisms that underlie the "risky" aspects of diabetes remain obscure. The current study is intended to examine the notion that diabetic endothelial dysfunction stems from a heightened state of oxidative stress induced by an imbalance between vascular production and scavenging of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species. Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats were used as a genetic animal model for non-obese type II diabetes. Nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability and O2- generation in aortic tissues of GK rats were assessed using the Griess reaction and a lucigenin-chemiluminescence-based technique, respectively. Organ chamber-based isometric tension studies revealed that aortas from GK rats had impaired relaxation responses to acetylcholine whereas a rightward shift in the dose-response curve was noticed in the endothelium-independent vasorelaxation exerted by the NO donor sodium nitroprusside. An enhancement in superoxide (O2-) production and a diminuation in NO bioavailability were evident in aortic tissues of GK diabetic rats. Immunoblotting and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-based techniques revealed, respectively, that the above inverse relationship between O2- and NO was associated with a marked increase in the protein expression of nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and a decrease in the level of its cofactor tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) in diabetic aortas. Endothelial denudation by rubbing or the addition of pharmacological inhibitors of eNOS (e.g. N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)), and NAD(P)H oxidase (e.g. diphenyleneiodonium, apocynin) strikingly reduced the diabetes-induced enhancement in vascular O2- production. Aortic contents of key markers of oxidative stress (isoprostane F2alpha III, protein-bound carbonyls, nitrosylated protein) in connection with the protein expression of superoxide generating enzyme NAD(P)H oxidase (e.g. p47phox, pg91phox), a major source of reactive oxygen species in vascular tissue, were elevated as a function of diabetes. In contrast, the process involves in the vascular inactivation of reactive oxygen species exemplified by the activity of CuZnSOD was reduced in this diseased state. Our studies suggest that diabetes produces a cascade of events involving production of reactive oxygen species from the NADPH oxidase leading to oxidation of BH4 and uncoupling of NOS. This promotes the oxidative inactivation of NO with subsequent formation of peroxynitrite. An alteration in the balance of these bioactive radicals in concert with a defect in the antioxidant defense counteracting mechanism may favor a heightened state of oxidative stress. This phenomenon could play a potentially important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic endothelial dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Kuwait University, School of Medicine, Kuwait. milad@hsc.kuniv.edu.kw
authors.forename: Milad S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bitar
authors.forename: Sabah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wahid
authors.forename: Seham
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mustafa
authors.forename: Eyad
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Al-Saleh
authors.forename: Gursev S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Dhaunsi
authors.forename: Fahd
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Al-Mulla
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D028421:Isoprostanes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000378:metabolism; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction / Q000187:drug effects; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D028421:Isoprostanes; D021122:Protein Subunits; D011506:Proteins; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D013481:Superoxides; D009599:Nitroprusside; D001708:Biopterins; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C002744:3-nitrotyrosine; D014443:Tyrosine; C496314:NOS3 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; C496316:Nos3 protein, rat; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D019255:NADPH Oxidases; C003402:sapropterin; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester