Expression of the transcriptional repressor protein Kid-1 leads to the disintegration of the nucleolus.

The rat Kid-1 gene codes for a 66-kDa protein with KRAB domains at the NH2 terminus and two Cys2His2-zinc finger clusters of four and nine zinc fingers at the COOH terminus. It was the first KRAB-zinc finger protein for which a transcriptional repressor activity was demonstrated. Subsequently, the KRAB-A domain was identified as a widespread transcriptional repressor motif. We now present a biochemical and functional analysis of the Kid-1 protein in transfected cells. The full-length Kid-1 protein is targeted to the nucleolus and adheres tightly to as yet undefined nucleolar structures, leading eventually to the disintegration of the nucleolus. The tight adherence and nucleolar distribution can be attributed to the larger zinc finger cluster, whereas the KRAB-A domain is responsible for the nucleolar fragmentation. Upon disintegration of the nucleolus, the nucleolar transcription factor upstream binding factor disappears from the nucleolar fragments. In the absence of Kid-1, the KRIP-1 protein, which represents the natural interacting partner of zinc finger proteins with a KRAB-A domain, is homogeneously distributed in the nucleus, whereas coexpression of Kid-1 leads to a shift of KRIP-1 into the nucleolus. Nucleolar run-ons demonstrate that rDNA transcription is shut off in the nucleolar fragments. Our data demonstrate the functional diversity of the KRAB and zinc finger domains of Kid-1 and provide new functional insights into the regulation of the nucleolar structure.

Induction of tachykinin gene and peptide expression in guinea pig nodose primary afferent neurons by allergic airway inflammation.

Substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA), and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) have potent proinflammatory effects in the airways. They are released from sensory nerve endings originating in jugular and dorsal root ganglia. However, the major sensory supply to the airways originates from the nodose ganglion. In this study, we evaluated changes in neuropeptide biosynthesis in the sensory airway innervation of ovalbumin-sensitized and -challenged guinea pigs at the mRNA and peptide level. In the airways, a three- to fourfold increase of SP, NKA, and CGRP, was seen 24 h following allergen challenge. Whereas no evidence of local tachykinin biosynthesis was found 12 h after challenge, increased levels of preprotachykinin (PPT)-A mRNA (encoding SP and NKA) were found in nodose ganglia. Quantitative in situ hybridization indicated that this increase could be accounted for by de novo induction of PPT-A mRNA in nodose ganglion neurons. Quantitative immunohistochemistry showed that 24 h after challenge, the number of tachykinin-immunoreactive nodose ganglion neurons had increased by 25%. Their projection to the airways was shown. Changes in other sensory ganglia innervating the airways were not evident. These findings suggest that an induction of sensory neuropeptides in nodose ganglion neurons is crucially involved in the increase of airway hyperreactivity in the late response to allergen challenge.

Nitric oxide synthase in guinea pig lower airway innervation.

The inhibitory non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (i-NANC) innervation of the guinea pig airways was suggested to be mediated, at least partially, by nitric oxide (NO). The enzyme catalyzing the generation of NO and citrulline from L-arginine, nitric oxide synthase (NOS), was found to be identical with neuronal nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide hydrogen phosphate (NADPH)-diaphorase. In the present study, we report the distribution of NOS in guinea pig lower airways and in vagal sensory and sympathetic ganglia as revealed by NOS immunohistochemistry and NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry. The distribution of NOS was identical using either technique and displayed a similar distribution pattern in all parts of the lower airways. Yet, the number of NOS-containing fibres was increasing from cervical trachea towards principal bronchi and decreasing to complete absence in bronchioli. Innervation with NOS-containing nerve fibres was densest in the smooth muscle layer and in the lamina propria of the mucosa. Single fibres were found in the respiratory epithelium. Labelling was absent from nerve fibres innervating the submucosal glands. Perivascular fibre networks enmeshed tracheal arteries, pulmonary arteries and veins. A substantial number of NOS-immunoreactive and NADPH-diaphorase-positive neurons was observed in vagal sensory ganglia, whereas such neurons were rather sparse in sympathetic ganglia. Tracheal and peribronchial ganglia of the airways were devoid of labelling. These findings suggest that extrinsic rather than intrinsic (tracheal and peribronchial) neurons are the source of NO release from guinea pig airway nerve fibres after electrical field stimulation. These extrinsic nerve fibres may originate from both sympathetic and vagal sensory ganglia.

Nitric oxide synthase in cardiac nerve fibers and neurons of rat and guinea pig heart.

Participation of nitric oxide (NO) in the autonomic innervation of rat and guinea pig hearts was investigated by applying the NADPH diaphorase technique and immunohistochemistry with NO synthase antiserum. We present evidence that NO synthase is localized in cardiac ganglion cells and nerve fibers innervating the sinuatrial and atrioventricular nodes, the myocardium, local neurons, coronary arteries, and pulmonary vessels, suggesting an involvement of NO in neurogenic heart rate regulation, myocardial cell function, neuronal transmission in cardiac ganglia, and coronary as well as pulmonary vasodilation.

Nitric oxide synthase in VIP-containing vasodilator nerve fibres in the guinea-pig.

We investigated the possibility of nitric oxide (NO), a powerful vasodilator agent, being synthesized by perivascular nerve fibres. Immunoreactivity and catalytic activity of the NO synthesizing enzyme, NO synthase (NOS), were demonstrated in perivascular nerve fibres of blood vessels receiving autonomic vasodilator innervation, but not of those innervated exclusively by vasoconstrictor nerve fibres. Double-labelling techniques allowed identification of NOS-containing nerve fibres as belonging to the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)/acetylcholine-containing class whereas noradrenergic and substance P-containing perivascular fibres were devoid of NOS. We suggest that, in addition to its endothelial source, NO is a neuronal co-mediator of VIP/cholinergic vasodilation.