High-density lipoprotein binding to scavenger receptor-BI activates endothelial nitric oxide synthase.

Atherosclerosis is the primary cause of cardiovascular disease, and the risk for atherosclerosis is inversely proportional to circulating levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. However, the mechanisms by which HDL is atheroprotective are complex and not well understood. Here we show that HDL stimulates endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in cultured endothelial cells. In contrast, eNOS is not activated by purified forms of the major HDL apolipoproteins ApoA-I and ApoA-II or by low-density lipoprotein. Heterologous expression experiments in Chinese hamster ovary cells reveal that scavenger receptor-BI (SR-BI) mediates the effects of HDL on the enzyme. HDL activation of eNOS is demonstrable in isolated endothelial-cell caveolae where SR-BI and eNOS are colocalized, and the response in isolated plasma membranes is blocked by antibodies to ApoA-I and SR-BI, but not by antibody to ApoA-II. HDL also enhances endothelium- and nitric-oxide-dependent relaxation in aortae from wild-type mice, but not in aortae from homozygous null SR-BI knockout mice. Thus, HDL activates eNOS via SR-BI through a process that requires ApoA-I binding. The resulting increase in nitric-oxide production might be critical to the atheroprotective properties of HDL and ApoA-I.

Plasma membrane estrogen receptors are coupled to endothelial nitric-oxide synthase through Galpha(i).

Estrogen causes rapid endothelial nitric oxide (NO) production because of the activation of plasma membrane-associated estrogen receptors (ER) coupled to endothelial NO synthase (eNOS). In the present study, we determined the role of G proteins in eNOS activation by estrogen. Estradiol-17beta (E(2), 10(-8) m) and acetylcholine (10(-5) m) caused comparable increases in NOS activity (15 min) in intact endothelial cells that were fully blocked by pertussis toxin (Ptox). In addition, exogenous guanosine 5'-O-(2- thiodiphosphate) inhibited E(2)-mediated eNOS stimulation in isolated endothelial plasma membranes, and Ptox prevented enzyme activation by E(2) in COS-7 cells expressing ERalpha and eNOS. Coimmunoprecipitation studies of plasma membranes from COS-7 cells transfected with ERalpha and specific Galpha proteins demonstrated E(2)-stimulated interaction between ERalpha and Galpha(i) but not between ERalpha and either Galpha(q) or Galpha(s); the observed ERalpha-Galpha(i) interaction was blocked by the ER antagonist ICI 182,780 and by Ptox. E(2)-stimulated ERalpha-Galpha(i) interaction was also demonstrable in endothelial cell plasma membranes. Cotransfection of Galpha(i) into COS-7 cells expressing ERalpha and eNOS yielded a 3-fold increase in E(2)-mediated eNOS stimulation, whereas cotransfection with a protein regulator of G protein signaling, RGS4, inhibited the E(2) response. These findings indicate that eNOS stimulation by E(2) requires plasma membrane ERalpha coupling to Galpha(i) and that activated Galpha(i) mediates the requisite downstream signaling events. Thus, novel G protein coupling enables a subpopulation of ERalpha to initiate signal transduction at the cell surface. Similar mechanisms may underly the nongenomic actions of other steroid hormones.

Estrogen receptor alpha and endothelial nitric oxide synthase are organized into a functional signaling module in caveolae.

Estrogen causes nitric oxide (NO)-dependent vasodilation due to estrogen receptor (ER) alpha-mediated, nongenomic activation of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS). The subcellular site of interaction between ERalpha and eNOS was determined in studies of isolated endothelial cell plasma membranes. Estradiol (E(2), 10(-8) mol/L) caused an increase in eNOS activity in plasma membranes in the absence of added calcium, calmodulin, or eNOS cofactors, which was blocked by ICI 182,780 and ERalpha antibody. Immunoidentification studies detected the same 67-kDa protein in endothelial cell nucleus, cytosol, and plasma membrane. Plasma membranes from COS-7 cells expressing eNOS and ERalpha displayed ER-mediated eNOS stimulation, whereas membranes from cells expressing eNOS alone or ERalpha plus a myristoylation-deficient mutant eNOS were insensitive. Fractionation of endothelial cell plasma membranes revealed ERalpha protein in caveolae, and E(2) caused stimulation of eNOS in isolated caveolae that was ER-dependent; noncaveolae membranes were insensitive. Acetylcholine and bradykinin also activated eNOS in isolated caveolae. Furthermore, the effect of E(2) on eNOS in caveolae was prevented by calcium chelation. Thus, a subpopulation of ERalpha is localized to endothelial cell caveolae where they are coupled to eNOS in a functional signaling module that may regulate the local calcium environment. The full text of this article is available at http://www.circresaha.org.

Cell growth modulates nitric oxide synthase expression in fetal pulmonary artery endothelial cells.

Nitric oxide (NO), produced by endothelial (e) nitric oxide synthase (NOS), is a critical mediator of vascular function and growth in the developing lung. Pulmonary eNOS expression is diminished in conditions associated with altered pulmonary vascular development, suggesting that eNOS may be modulated by changes in pulmonary artery endothelial cell (PAEC) growth. We determined the effects of cell growth on eNOS expression in cultured ovine fetal PAEC studied at varying levels of confluence. NOS enzymatic activity was sixfold greater in quiescent PAEC at 100% confluence compared with more rapidly replicating cells at 50% confluence. To determine if there is a reciprocal effect of NO on PAEC growth, studies of NOS inhibition or the provision of exogenous NO from spermine NONOate were performed. Neither intervention had a discernable effect on PAEC growth. The influence of cell growth on NOS activity was unique to pulmonary endothelium, because varying confluence did not alter NOS activity in fetal systemic endothelial cells. The effects of cell growth induced by serum stimulation were also evaluated, and NOS enzymatic activity was threefold greater in quiescent, serum-deprived cells compared with that in serum-stimulated cells. The increase in NOS activity observed at full confluence was accompanied by parallel increases in eNOS protein and mRNA expression. These findings indicate that eNOS gene expression in fetal PAEC is upregulated during cell quiescence and downregulated during rapid cell growth. Furthermore, the interaction between cell growth and NO in the PAEC is unidirectional.

High density lipoprotein prevents oxidized low density lipoprotein-induced inhibition of endothelial nitric-oxide synthase localization and activation in caveolae.

Oxidized LDL (oxLDL) depletes caveolae of cholesterol, resulting in the displacement of endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS) from caveolae and impaired eNOS activation. In the present study, we determined if the class B scavenger receptors, CD36 and SR-BI, are involved in regulating nitric-oxide synthase localization and function. We demonstrate that CD36 and SR-BI are expressed in endothelial cells, co-fractionate with caveolae, and co-immunoprecipitate with caveolin-1. Co-incubation of cells with 10 microgram/ml high density lipoprotein (HDL) prevented oxLDL-induced translocation of eNOS from caveolae and restored acetylcholine-induced nitric-oxide synthase stimulation. Acetylcholine caused eNOS activation in cells incubated with 10 microgram/ml oxLDL (10-15 thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances) and blocking antibodies to CD36, whereas cells treated with only oxLDL were unresponsive. Furthermore, CD36-blocking antibodies prevented oxLDL-induced redistribution of eNOS. SR-BI-blocking antibodies were used to demonstrate that the effects of HDL are mediate by SR-BI. HDL binding to SR-BI maintained the concentration of caveola-associated cholesterol by promoting the uptake of cholesterol esters, thereby preventing oxLDL-induced depletion of caveola cholesterol. We conclude that CD36 mediates the effects of oxLDL on caveola composition and eNOS activation. Furthermore, HDL prevents oxLDL from decreasing the capacity for eNOS activation by preserving the cholesterol concentration in caveolae and, thereby maintaining the subcellular location of eNOS.

Oxidized low density lipoprotein displaces endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS) from plasmalemmal caveolae and impairs eNOS activation.

Hypercholesterolemia-induced vascular disease and atherosclerosis are characterized by a decrease in the bioavailability of endothelium-derived nitric oxide. Endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS) associates with caveolae and is directly regulated by the caveola protein, caveolin. In the present study, we examined the effects of oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) on the subcellular location of eNOS, on eNOS activation, and on caveola cholesterol in endothelial cells. We found that treatment with 10 microgram/ml oxLDL for 60 min caused greater than 90% of eNOS and caveolin to leave caveolae. Treatment with oxLDL also inhibited acetylcholine-induced activation of eNOS but not prostacyclin production. oxLDL did not affect total cellular eNOS abundance. Oxidized LDL also did not affect the palmitoylation, myristoylation or phosphorylation of eNOS. Oxidized LDL, but not native LDL, or HDL depleted caveolae of cholesterol by serving as an acceptor for cholesterol. Cyclodextrin also depleted caveolae of cholesterol and caused eNOS and caveolin to translocate from caveolae. Furthermore, removal of oxLDL allowed eNOS and caveolin to return to caveolae. We conclude that oxLDL-induced depletion of caveola cholesterol causes eNOS to leave caveolae and inhibits acetylcholine-induced activation of the enzyme. This process may be an important mechanism in the early pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

Nitric oxide (NO) upregulates NO synthase expression in fetal intrapulmonary artery endothelial cells.

Endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) generated by endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) is critically involved in pulmonary vasodilation during cardiopulmonary transition at birth. Inhaled NO therapy has recently been considered for patients with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). To better understand the mechanisms regulating NO synthesis in the developing pulmonary circulation and the possible ramifications of NO therapy, studies were performed with early passage ovine fetal intrapulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAEC) to determine whether NO directly modulates eNOS expression. To examine the effects of exogenous NO, PAEC were treated with the NO donor spermine NONOate or the parent compound spermine. Exogenous NO caused increases in eNOS protein expression and NOS enzymatic activity that were detectable within 16 h of exposure. In contrast, the inhibition of endogenous NO production with nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME) caused a reduction in eNOS protein expression that was evident within 8 h. Paralleling the changes in eNOS protein, eNOS messenger RNA (mRNA) abundance was upregulated by exogenous NO and downregulated by L-NAME, suggesting that NO modulation of eNOS expression involves processes at the level of gene transcription or mRNA stability. Thus, in fetal PAEC there is positive-feedback regulation of eNOS expression by both exogenous and endogenous NO. These findings suggest that difficulties with transient effectiveness or prolonged requirements for NO therapy in certain PPHN patients are not due to declines in eNOS expression. Further, conditions such as fetal hypoxemia that impair PAEC NO production may attenuate eNOS expression through this mechanism, thereby contributing to the pathogenesis of PPHN.

Establishment of an immortalized fetal intrapulmonary artery endothelial cell line.

The investigation of fetal pulmonary endothelial cell gene expression and function has been limited by the requirement for primary cells. In an effort to establish an immortalized cell line, ovine fetal pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs; passage 5) were permanently transfected with the E6 and E7 open reading frames of human papillomavirus type 16, and phenotypes related to nitric oxide (NO) production were evaluated up to passage 28. Acetylated low-density lipoprotein uptake, endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) expression, and proliferation rates were unaltered by immortalization. Acetylcholine-stimulated eNOS activity was 218-255% above basal levels in immortalized cells, and this was comparable to the 250% increase seen in primary PAECs (passage 6). eNOS was also acutely activated by estradiol to levels 197-309% above basal, paralleling the stimulation obtained in primary cells. In addition, the expression of estrogen receptor-alpha, which has recently been shown to mediate the acute response in primary PAECs, was conserved. Thus fetal PAECs transfected with E6 and E7 show no signs of senescence with passage, and mechanisms of NO production, including those mediated by estradiol, are conserved. Immortalized PAECs will provide an excellent model for further studies of eNOS gene expression and function in fetal pulmonary endothelium.

Estrogen acutely stimulates endothelial nitric oxide synthase in H441 human airway epithelial cells.

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important mediator of physiologic processes in the airway. Levels of exhaled NO are greatest and asthma symptoms are least in menstruating women during midcycle, when estrogen levels are highest. To better understand the role of estrogen in airway function, we tested the hypothesis that estrogen stimulates endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) in NCI-H441 human bronchiolar epithelial cells. eNOS activation was assessed by measuring conversion of [3H]L-arginine to [3H]L-citrulline in intact cells. eNOS activity rose in the presence of estradiol-17beta (E2beta), with a maximum stimulation of 243% at 10(-8) M E2beta. This response was comparable to the 201% increase elicited by the calcium (Ca2+) ionophore A23187 (10(-5) M), and was evident as early as 5 min after such treatment. Actinomycin D had no effect on the response to E2beta, and eNOS abundance was similar in control and E2beta-treated cells. E2beta-stimulated eNOS activity was dependent on the influx of extracellular Ca2+, and was completely inhibited by the estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist ICI182,780. Messenger RNA and protein for the alpha isoform of ER (ERalpha) were evident in the H441 cells, and freshly isolated ovine airway epithelial cells also coexpressed eNOS and ERalpha. These findings indicate that estrogen acutely activates existing eNOS in H441 airway epithelial cells, through a process that involves the stimulation of epithelial ER and Ca2+ influx. This process may play a role in the hormonal modulation of airway function.

Estrogen receptor alpha mediates the nongenomic activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase by estrogen.

Estrogen is an important vasoprotective molecule that causes the rapid dilation of blood vessels by activating endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) through an unknown mechanism. In studies of intact ovine endothelial cells, 17beta-estradiol (E2) caused acute (five-minute) activation of eNOS that was unaffected by actinomycin D but was fully inhibited by concomitant acute treatment with specific estrogen receptor (ER) antagonists. Overexpression of the known transcription factor ERalpha led to marked enhancement of the acute response to E2, and this was blocked by ER antagonists, was specific to E2, and required the ERalpha hormone-binding domain. In addition, the acute response of eNOS to E2 was reconstituted in COS-7 cells cotransfected with wild-type ERalpha and eNOS, but not by transfection with eNOS alone. Furthermore, the inhibition of tyrosine kinases or mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase prevented the activation of eNOS by E2, and E2 caused rapid ER-dependent activation of MAP kinase. These findings demonstrate that the short-term effects of estrogen central to cardiovascular physiology are mediated by ERalpha functioning in a novel, nongenomic manner to activate eNOS via MAP kinase-dependent mechanisms.

Nitric oxide synthase isoform expression in the developing lung epithelium.

Nitric oxide (NO), generated by NO synthase (NOS), is an important mediator of physiological processes in the airway and lung parenchyma, and there is evidence that the pulmonary expression of the endothelial isoform of NOS (eNOS) is developmentally regulated. The purpose of the present study was to delineate the cellular distribution of expression of eNOS in the developing respiratory epithelium and to compare it with inducible (iNOS) and neuronal (nNOS) NOS. Immunohistochemistry was performed on fetal (125-135 days gestation, term 144 days), newborn (2-4 wk), and maternal sheep lungs. In fetal lung, eNOS expression was evident in bronchial and proximal bronchiolar epithelia but was absent in terminal and respiratory bronchioles and alveolar epithelium. Similar to eNOS, iNOS was detected in bronchial and proximal bronchiolar epithelia but not in alveolar epithelium. However, iNOS was also detected in terminal and respiratory bronchioles. nNOS was found in epithelium at all levels including the alveolar wall. iNOS and nNOS were also detected in airway and vascular smooth muscle. The cellular distribution of all three isoforms was similar in fetal, newborn, and adult lungs. Findings in the epithelium were confirmed by isoform-specific reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assays and NADPH diaphorase histochemistry. Thus the three NOS isoforms are commonly expressed in proximal lung epithelium and are differentially expressed in distal lung epithelium. All three isoforms may be important sources of epithelium-derived NO throughout lung development.

Ontogeny of cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 gene expression in ovine lung.

Prostacyclin is a key mediator of pulmonary vascular and parenchymal function during late fetal and early postnatal life, and its synthesis in whole lung increases during that period. The rate-limiting enzyme in prostacyclin synthesis in the developing lung is cyclooxygenase (COX). We investigated the ontogeny and cellular localization of COX-1 (constitutive) and COX-2 (inducible) gene expression in lungs from late-gestation fetal lambs, 1-wk-old newborn lambs (NB1), and 1- to 4-mo-old newborn lambs (NB2). COX-1 mRNA abundance rose progressively from fetal to NB1 to NB2, increasing 12-fold overall. In parallel, immunoblot analysis revealed a progressive increase in COX-1 protein, rising fourfold from fetal lambs to NB2. COX-2 mRNA levels increased fivefold from fetal to NB1 but were similar in NB1 and NB2. However, COX-2 protein was not detectable by immunoblot analysis in any age group. Immunohistochemistry for COX-1 showed intense immunostaining in endothelial cells at all ages. COX-1 was also expressed in airway epithelium at all ages, with a greater number of epithelial cells staining positively in NB2 compared with fetal and NB1 groups. In addition, COX-1 was expressed in airway smooth muscle from NB1. COX-2 immunostaining was absent in all age groups. These findings indicate that there is differential expression of COX-1 and COX-2 in the developing lung and that the enzymes are expressed in a cell-specific manner. The developmental upregulation in COX-1 may optimize the capacity for prostaglandin-mediated vasodilation, bronchodilation, and surfactant synthesis in the newborn lung.

Estrogen upregulates endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene expression in fetal pulmonary artery endothelium.

NO, produced by endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), is a key mediator of pulmonary vasodilation during cardiopulmonary transition at birth. The capacity for NO production is maximal at term because pulmonary eNOS expression increases during late gestation. Since fetal estrogen levels rise markedly during late gestation and there is indirect evidence that the hormone enhances nonpulmonary NO production in adults, estrogen may upregulate eNOS in fetal pulmonary artery endothelium. Therefore, we studied the direct effects of estrogen on eNOS expression in ovine fetal pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs). Estradiol-17beta caused a 2.5-fold increase in NOS enzymatic activity in PAEC lysates. This effect was evident after 48 hours, and it occurred in response to physiological concentrations of the hormone (10(-10) to 10(-6) mol/L). The increase in NOS activity was related to an upregulation in eNOS protein expression, and eNOS mRNA abundance was also enhanced. Estrogen receptor antagonism with ICI 182,780 completely inhibited estrogen-mediated eNOS upregulation, indicating that estrogen receptor activation is necessary for this response. In addition, immunocytochemistry revealed that fetal PAECs express estrogen receptor protein. Furthermore, transient transfection assays with a specific estrogen-responsive reporter system have demonstrated that the endothelial estrogen receptor is capable of estrogen-induced transcriptional transactivation. Thus, estrogen upregulates eNOS gene expression in fetal PAECs through the activation of PAEC estrogen receptors. This mechanism may be responsible for pulmonary eNOS upregulation during late gestation, thereby optimizing the capacity for NO-mediated pulmonary vasodilation at birth.

Estrogen acutely stimulates nitric oxide synthase activity in fetal pulmonary artery endothelium.

Estrogen (E) has nitric oxide (NO)-mediated effects in certain vascular beds, and fetal E levels rise acutely with parturition, suggesting that E may be involved in NO-mediated pulmonary vasodilation at birth. We tested the hypothesis that E acutely stimulates NO synthase (NOS) activity in ovine fetal pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAEC) by measuring L-[3H]arginine conversion to L-[3H]citrulline in intact cells. NOS activity in the presence of 17 beta-estradiol (E2 beta) rose in a dose-dependent manner, increasing 70-100%, with a threshold concentration of 10(-10) M. This effect was detectable within 5 min of E2 beta exposure, and the maximal response was comparable to that obtained with acetylcholine, which had a threshold concentration of 10(-8) M. Ca2+ removal completely inhibited E2 beta-stimulated NOS activity, and activity with E2 beta and the Ca2+ ionophore A-23187 was not additive. In addition, the expression of the endothelial isoform of NOS (eNOS) was not altered, and the inducible and neuronal NOS isoforms were not detected by immunoblot analysis. These findings indicate that E2 beta acutely stimulates eNOS by Ca2+ influx. Furthermore, E2 beta-stimulated NOS activity was fully inhibited by the E receptor (ER) antagonists tamoxifen and ICI-182,780, and ER mRNA expression was evident in reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assays. Thus E acutely stimulates eNOS activity in fetal PAEC via the activation of endothelial ER and increases in intracellular Ca2+.

Pulmonary endothelial NO synthase gene expression is decreased in fetal lambs with pulmonary hypertension.

Nitric oxide (NO), produced by endothelial (e) NO synthase (NOS), is critically involved in the cardiopulmonary transition from fetal to neonatal life. We have previously shown that NO-dependent relaxation is attenuated in intrapulmonary arteries from fetal lambs with pulmonary hypertension (PHT) created by prenatal ligation of the ductus arteriosus. In the present study, we determined whether this is due to altered pulmonary eNOS expression. eNOS and neuronal NOS (nNOS) protein expression were assessed in lungs from near-term control lambs and PHT lambs that underwent ductal ligation 10 days earlier. eNOS protein expression was decreased 49% in PHT lung. In contrast, nNOS protein abundance was unchanged. NOS enzymatic activity was also diminished in PHT vs. control lung (60 +/- 3 vs. 110 +/- 7 fmol.mg protein-1.min-1, respectively). Paralleling the declines in eNOS protein and NOS enzymatic activity, eNOS mRNA abundance was decreased 64% in PHT lung. Thus pulmonary eNOS gene expression is attenuated in the lamb model of fetal PHT. Because NO modulates both vasodilation and vascular smooth muscle growth, diminished eNOS expression may contribute to both the abnormal vasoreactivity and the excessive muscularization of the pulmonary circulation in fetal PHT.

Acylation targets emdothelial nitric-oxide synthase to plasmalemmal caveolae.

Endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS) generates the key signaling molecule nitric oxide in response to intralumenal hormonal and mechanical stimuli. We designed studies to determine whether eNOS is localized to plasmalemmal microdomains implicated in signal transduction called caveolae. Using immunoblot analysis, eNOS protein was detected in caveolar membrane fractions isolated from endothelial cell plasma membranes by a newly developed detergent-free method; eNOS protein was not found in noneaveolar plasma membrane. Similarly, NOS enzymatic activity was 9.4-fold enriched in caveolar membrane versus whole plasma membrane, whereas it was undetectable in non-caveolar plasma membrane. 51-86% of total NOS activity in postnuclear supernatant was recovered in plasma membrane, and 57-100% of activity in plasma membrane was recovered in caveolae. Immunoelectron microscopy showed that eNOS heavily decorated endothelial caveolae, whereas coated pits and smooth plasma membrane were devoid of gold particles. Furthermore, eNOS was targeted to caveolae in COS-7 cells transfected with wild-type eNOS cDNA. Studies with eNOS mutants revealed that both myristoylation and palmitoylation are required to target the enzyme to caveolae and that each acylation process enhances targeting by 10-fold. Thus, acylation targets eNOS to plasmalemmal caveolae. Localization to this microdomain is likely to optimize eNOS activation and the extracellular release of nitric oxide.