Arginase activity is increased by thrombin: a mechanism for endothelial dysfunction in arterial thrombosis.
BACKGROUND
Earlier observations implicate arterial thrombosis causing endothelial dysfunction by decreasing nitric oxide (NO) levels. NO levels are restored by regional L-arginine supplementation in animal models. The purpose of this study was to investigate the roles of thrombus components in NO generation.


METHODS
Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were harvested and cultured. The thrombus components thrombin, thrombin receptor agonist peptide (TRAP), and fibrin were added to a media of confluent human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity was assayed by measuring conversion of L-arginine to L-citrulline. Endothelial NOS mRNA levels were quantitated using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Cellular membrane transport of L-arginine through the y+ channel was assayed with (14)C-labeled L-arginine. Arginase activity was determined as the conversion of (14)C L-arginine to (14)C urea and trapped as Na(2)(14)CO(3) for scintillation counting. Arginase protein amounts were assessed using Western blotting.


RESULTS
Endothelial cells exposed to thrombin for 4 hours led to increased arginase activity. Thrombin (10 U/mL) caused a 1.6-fold increase compared with that in controls (320+/-29 microM urea/min versus 194+/-10 microM urea/min, p=0.03), and thrombin (30 U/mL) increased arginase activity 2.1-fold (398+/-27 microM urea/min, p < 0.001, versus controls); thrombin at 1 U/mL and fibrin had no effect. TRAP (50 microM) had an effect similar to that of thrombin 10 U/mL (316+/-21 microM urea/min, p < 0.01, versus controls). Protein amounts of arginase corresponded with activity levels. Neither eNOS nor inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activities were affected by exposure to thrombin and TRAP for 4 hours. Similarly, quantification of eNOS, iNOS, and endothelin-1 mRNA did not change, although CL-100, a known thrombin-inducible gene, was upregulated. Finally, transport of L-arginine into endothelial cells was unaffected by thrombin, TRAP, and fibrin exposure.


CONCLUSIONS
Endothelial cells exposed to thrombin have increased arginase enzymatic activity, and the remainder of NO generation capability is unaffected. L-arginine supplementation or arginase blockade may counteract endothelial dysfunction in the setting of acute arterial thrombosis.
Yang
Lin
L
Department of Cell Biology, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
Lewis
Chandani M
CM
Chandrasekharan
Unnikrishnan M
UM
Kinney
Corttrell M
CM
Dicorleto
Paul E
PE
Kashyap
Vikram S
VS
D001119:Arginase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001120:Arginine / Q000378:metabolism; D001692:Biological Transport; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005337:Fibrin / Q000494:pharmacology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D018179:Receptors, Thrombin / Q000378:metabolism; D013917:Thrombin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014471:Umbilical Veins
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018179:Receptors, Thrombin; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D005337:Fibrin; D001120:Arginine; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D013917:Thrombin; C477631:ARG2 protein, human; D001119:Arginase