Nitric oxide and zinc homeostasis in pulmonary endothelium.
We have shown that zinc-thiolate moieties of the metal binding protein metallothionein (MT) are critical targets for nitric oxide (NO) with resultant increases in intracellular labile zinc. Such an NO-MT-Zn signaling pathway appears to participate in important cardiovascular functions associated with biosynthesis of NO including hypoxic vasoconstriction in the lung. Although downstream effector signaling molecules and critical contractile targets remain unclear, current investigations reveal a contributory role for zinc dependent protein kinases and cytoskeletal proteins in mediating hypoxic induced constriction of pulmonary endothelial cells.
Li
Huihua
H
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Cao
Rong
R
Wasserloos
Karla J
KJ
Bernal
Paula
P
Liu
Zhao-Qian
ZQ
Pitt
Bruce R
BR
St Croix
Claudette M
CM
D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D016923:Cell Death / Q000502:physiology; D004727:Endothelium / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000502:physiology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D015032:Zinc / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*
D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008668:Metallothionein; D015032:Zinc