Recovery of reduced thiol groups by superoxide-mediated denitrosation of nitrosothiols.

Nitrosation of critical thiols has been elaborated as reversible posttranslational modification with regulatory function in multiple disorders. Reversibility of S-nitrosation is generally associated with enzyme-mediated one-electron reductions, catalyzed by the thioredoxin system, or by nitrosoglutathione reductase. In the present study, we confirm previous evidence for a non-enzymatic de-nitrosation of nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) by superoxide. The interaction leads to the release of nitric oxide that subsequently interacts with a second molecule of superoxide (O2•-) to form peroxynitrite. Despite the formation of peroxynitrite, approximately 40-70% of GSNO yielded reduced glutathione (GSH), depending on the applied analytical assay. The concept of O2•- dependent denitrosation was then applied to S-nitrosated enzymes. S-nitrosation of isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH; NADP+-dependent) was accompanied by an inhibition of the enzyme and could be reversed by dithiothreitol. Treatment of nitrosated ICDH with O2•- indicated ca. 50% recovery of enzyme activity. Remaining inhibition was largely consequence of oxidative modifications evoked either by O2•- or by peroxynitrite. Recovery of activity in S-nitrosated enzymes by O2•- appears relevant only for selected examples. In contrast, recovery of reduced glutathione from the interaction of GSNO with O2•- could represent a mechanism to regain reducing equivalents in situations of excess O2•- formation, e.g. in the reperfusion phase after ischemia.

Formation of 2-nitrophenol from salicylaldehyde as a suitable test for low peroxynitrite fluxes.

There has been some dispute regarding reaction products formed at physiological peroxynitrite fluxes in the nanomolar range with phenolic molecules, when used to predict the behavior of protein-bound aromatic amino acids like tyrosine. Previous data showed that at nanomolar fluxes of peroxynitrite, nitration of these phenolic compounds was outcompeted by dimerization (e.g. biphenols or dityrosine). Using 3-morpholino sydnonimine (Sin-1), we created low fluxes of peroxynitrite in our reaction set-up to demonstrate that salicylaldehyde displays unique features in the detection of physiological fluxes of peroxynitrite, yielding detectable nitration but only minor dimerization products. By means of HPLC analysis and detection at 380nm we could identify the expected nitration products 3- and 5-nitrosalicylaldehyde, but also novel nitrated products. Using mass spectrometry, we also identified 2-nitrophenol and a not fully characterized nitrated dimerization product. The formation of 2-nitrophenol could proceed either by primary generation of a phenoxy radical, followed by addition of the NO2-radical to the various resonance structures, or by addition of the peroxynitrite anion to the polarized carbonyl group with subsequent fragmentation of the adduct (as seen with carbon dioxide). Interestingly, we observed almost no 3- and 5-nitrosalicylic acid products and only minor dimerization reaction. Our results disagree with the previous general assumption that nitration of low molecular weight phenolic compounds is always outcompeted by dimerization at nanomolar peroxynitrite fluxes and highlight unique features of salicylaldehyde as a probe for physiological concentrations of peroxynitrite.

New insights into the nature of observable reaction intermediates in cytochrome P450 NO reductase by using a combination of spectroscopy and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics calculations.

Cytochrome P450 NO reductase is an unusual member of the cytochrome P450 superfamily. It catalyzes the reduction of nitric oxide to nitrous oxide. The reaction intermediates were studied in detail by a combination of experimental and computational methods. They have been characterized experimentally by UV/Vis, EPR, Mössbauer, and MCD spectroscopy. In conjunction with quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) calculations, we sought to characterize the resting state and the two detectable intermediates in detail and to elucidate the nature of the key intermediate I of the reaction. Six possible candidates were taken into account for the unknown key intermediate in the computational study, differing in protonation state and electronic structure. Two out of the six candidates could be identified as putative intermediates I with the help of the spectroscopic data: singlet diradicals Fe(III)-NHO(·)(-) and Fe(III)-NHOH(.). In a companion publication (C. Riplinger, F. Neese, ChemPhysChem- 2011, 12, 3192) we have used QM/MM models based on these structures and performed a kinetic simulation. The combination of these two studies shows the nature of the key intermediate to be the singlet diradical, Fe(III)-NHOH(·).

Sensing hypoxia by mitochondria: a unifying hypothesis involving S-nitrosation.

SIGNIFICANCE: Sudden hypoxia requires a rapid response in tissues with high energy demand. Mitochondria are rapid sensors for a lack of oxygen, but no consistent mechanism for the sensing process and the subsequent counter-regulation has been described. RECENT ADVANCES: In the present hypothesis review, we suggest an oxygen-sensing mechanism by mitochondria that is initiated at low oxygen tension by electrons from the respiratory chain, leading to the reduction of intracellular nitrite to nitric oxide ((•)NO) that would subsequently compete with oxygen for binding to cytochrome c oxidase. This allows superoxide ((•)O2(-)) formation in hypoxic areas, leading to S-nitrosation and the inhibition of mitochondrial Krebs cycle enzymes. With more formation of (•)O2(-), peroxynitrite is generated and known to damage the connection between the mitochondrial matrix and the outer membrane. CRITICAL ISSUES: A fundamental question on a regulatory mechanism is its reversibility. Readmission of oxygen and opening of the mitochondrial KATP-channel would allow electrons from glycerol-3-phosphate to selectively reduce the ubiquinone pool to generate (•)O2(-) at both sides of the inner mitochondrial membrane. On the cytosolic side, superoxide is dismutated and will support H2O2/Fe(2+)-dependent transcription processes and on the mitochondrial matrix side, it could lead to the one-electron reduction and reactivation of S-nitrosated proteins. FUTURE DIRECTIONS: It remains to be elucidated up to which stage the herein proposed silencing of mitochondria remains reversible and when irreversible changes that ultimately lead to classical reperfusion injury are initiated.

An automated Fpg-based FADU method for the detection of oxidative DNA lesions and screening of antioxidants.

The oxidation of guanine to 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG) is one of the most abundant and best studied oxidative DNA lesions and is commonly used as a biomarker for oxidative stress. Over the last decades, various methods for the detection of DNA oxidation products have been established and optimized. However, some of them lack sensitivity or are prone to artifact formation, while others are time-consuming, which hampers their application in screening approaches. In this study, we present a formamidopyrimidine glycosylase (Fpg)-based method to detect oxidative lesions in isolated DNA using a modified protocol of the automated version of the fluorimetric detection of alkaline DNA unwinding (FADU) method, initially developed for the measurement of DNA strand breaks (Moreno-Villanueva et al., 2009. BMC Biotechnol. 9, 39). The FADU-Fpg method was validated using a plasmid DNA model, mimicking mitochondrial DNA, and the results were correlated to 8-oxo-dG levels as measured by LC-MS/MS. The FADU-Fpg method can be applied to analyze the potential of compounds to induce DNA strand breaks and oxidative lesions, as exemplified here by treating plasmid DNA with the peroxynitrite-generating molecule Sin-1. Moreover, this method can be used to screen DNA-protective effects of antioxidant substances, as exemplified here for a small-molecule, i.e., uric acid, and a protein, i.e., manganese superoxide dismutase, both of which displayed a dose-dependent protection against the generation of oxidative DNA lesions. In conclusion, the automated FADU-Fpg method offers a rapid and reliable measurement for the detection of peroxynitrite-mediated DNA damage in a cell-free system, rendering it an ideal method for screening the DNA-protective effects of antioxidant compounds.

Protein tyrosine nitration and thiol oxidation by peroxynitrite-strategies to prevent these oxidative modifications.

The reaction product of nitric oxide and superoxide, peroxynitrite, is a potent biological oxidant. The most important oxidative protein modifications described for peroxynitrite are cysteine-thiol oxidation and tyrosine nitration. We have previously demonstrated that intrinsic heme-thiolate (P450)-dependent enzymatic catalysis increases the nitration of tyrosine 430 in prostacyclin synthase and results in loss of activity which contributes to endothelial dysfunction. We here report the sensitive peroxynitrite-dependent nitration of an over-expressed and partially purified human prostacyclin synthase (3.3 µM) with an EC50 value of 5 µM. Microsomal thiols in these preparations effectively compete for peroxynitrite and block the nitration of other proteins up to 50 µM peroxynitrite. Purified, recombinant PGIS showed a half-maximal nitration by 10 µM 3-morpholino sydnonimine (Sin-1) which increased in the presence of bicarbonate, and was only marginally induced by freely diffusing NO2-radicals generated by a peroxidase/nitrite/hydrogen peroxide system. Based on these observations, we would like to emphasize that prostacyclin synthase is among the most efficiently and sensitively nitrated proteins investigated by us so far. In the second part of the study, we identified two classes of peroxynitrite scavengers, blocking either peroxynitrite anion-mediated thiol oxidations or phenol/tyrosine nitrations by free radical mechanisms. Dithiopurines and dithiopyrimidines were highly effective in inhibiting both reaction types which could make this class of compounds interesting therapeutic tools. In the present work, we highlighted the impact of experimental conditions on the outcome of peroxynitrite-mediated nitrations. The limitations identified in this work need to be considered in the assessment of experimental data involving peroxynitrite.

Autocatalytic nitration of prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase-2 by nitrite inhibits prostanoid formation in rat alveolar macrophages.

AIMS: Prostaglandin endoperoxide H(2) synthase (PGHS) is a well-known target for peroxynitrite-mediated nitration. In several experimental macrophage models, however, the relatively late onset of nitration failed to coincide with the early peak of endogenous peroxynitrite formation. In the present work, we aimed to identify an alternative, peroxynitrite-independent mechanism, responsible for the observed nitration and inactivation of PGHS-2 in an inflammatory cell model. RESULTS: In primary rat alveolar macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), PGHS-2 activity was suppressed after 12 h, although the prostaglandin endoperoxide H(2) synthase (PGHS-2) protein was still present. This coincided with a nitration of the enzyme. Coincubation with a nitric oxide synthase-2 (NOS-2) inhibitor preserved PGHS-2 nitration and at the same time restored thromboxane A(2) (TxA(2)) synthesis in the cells. Formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was maximal at 4 h and then returned to baseline levels. Nitrite (NO(2)(-)) production occurred later than ROS generation. This rendered generation of peroxynitrite and the nitration of PGHS-2 unlikely. We found that the nitrating agent was formed from NO(2)(-), independent from superoxide ((•)O(2)(-)). Purified PGHS-2 treated with NO(2)(-) was selectively nitrated on the active site Tyr(371), as identified by mass spectrometry (MS). Exposure to peroxynitrite resulted in the nitration not only of Tyr(371), but also of other tyrosines (Tyr). INNOVATION AND CONCLUSION: The data presented here point to an autocatalytic nitration of PGHS-2 by NO(2)(-), catalyzed by the enzyme's endogenous peroxidase activity and indicate a potential involvement of this mechanism in the termination of prostanoid formation under inflammatory conditions.

Chemical model systems for cellular nitros(yl)ation reactions.

S-nitros(yl)ation belongs to the redox-based posttranslational modifications of proteins but the underlying chemistry is controversial. In contrast to current concepts involving the autoxidation of nitric oxide ((.)NO, nitrogen monoxide), we and others have proposed the formation of peroxynitrite (oxoperoxonitrate (1(-))as an essential intermediate. This requires low cellular fluxes of (.)NO and superoxide (UO2(-)), for which model systems have been introduced. We here propose two new systems for nitros(yl)ation that avoid the shortcomings of previous models. Based on the thermal decomposition of 3-morpholinosydnonimine,equal fluxes of (.)NO and UO2(-) were generated and modulated by the addition of (.)NO donors or Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase. As reactants for S-nitros(yl)ation, NADP+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase and glutathione were employed, for which optimal S-nitros(yl)ation was observed at nanomolar fluxes of (.)NO and UO2(-) at a ratio of about 3:1. The previously used reactants phenol and diaminonaphthalene (C- and Nnitrosation)demonstrated potential participation of multiple pathways for nitros(yl)ation. According to our data, neither peroxynitrite nor autoxidation of UNO was as efficient as the 3 (.)NO/1 UO2(-) system in mediating S-nitros(yl)ation. In theory this could lead to an elusive nitrosonium (nitrosyl cation)-like species in the first step and to N2O3 in the subsequent reaction. Which of these two species or whether both together will participate in biological S-nitros(yl)ation remains to be elucidated. Finally, we developed several hypothetical scenarios to which the described (.)NO/UO2-flux model could apply, providing conditions that allow either direct electrophilic substitution at a thiolate or S-nitros(yl)ation via transnitrosation from S-nitrosoglutathione.

Association of mitochondrial antioxidant enzymes with mitochondrial DNA as integral nucleoid constituents.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is organized in protein-DNA macrocomplexes called nucleoids. Average nucleoids contain 2-8 mtDNA molecules, which are organized by the histone-like mitochondrial transcription factor A. Besides well-characterized constituents, such as single-stranded binding protein or polymerase gamma (Pol gamma), various other proteins with ill-defined functions have been identified. We report for the first time that mammalian nucleoids contain essential enzymes of an integral antioxidant system. Intact nucleoids were isolated with sucrose density gradients from rat and bovine heart as well as human Jurkat cells. Manganese superoxide dismutase (SOD2) was detected by Western blot in the nucleoid fractions. DNA, mitochondrial glutathione peroxidase (GPx1), and Pol gamma were coimmunoprecipitated with SOD2 from nucleoid fractions, which suggests that an antioxidant system composed of SOD2 and GPx1 are integral constituents of nucleoids. Interestingly, in cultured bovine endothelial cells the association of SOD2 with mtDNA was absent. Using a sandwich filter-binding assay, direct association of SOD2 by salt-sensitive ionic forces with a chemically synthesized mtDNA fragment was demonstrated. Increasing salt concentrations during nucleoid isolation on sucrose density gradients disrupted the association of SOD2 with mitochondrial nucleoids. Our biochemical data reveal that nucleoids contain an integral antioxidant system that may protect mtDNA from superoxide-induced oxidative damage.

Peroxynitrite as regulator of vascular prostanoid synthesis.

Prostanoids and nitric oxide ((.)NO) are essential modulators of cardiovascular function in health and disease. Among the (.)NO-derived species formed in cells, peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) is generally associated with its role as nitrating agent under severe pathophysiological conditions. This review, however, highlights a physiological role of peroxynitrite as endogenously formed regulator of prostanoid synthesis in the cardiovascular system. Prostaglandin endoperoxide H2 synthase (PGHS)(1), the central enzyme in the prostanoid pathway was observed to be nitrated and inactivated by high fluxes of peroxynitrite. In contrast, low nanomolar levels, that are formed endogenously in cardiovascular cells, turned out to activate PGHS and therefore prostanoid formation. A further increase in the rates of (.)NO and superoxide ((.)O2(-)) generation, that can be observed after exposure of vascular endothelial cells to endotoxin, results in enhanced levels of peroxynitrite that were shown to selectively nitrate and inactivate prostacyclin (PGI(2))-synthase as one of the dominating terminal prostanoid synthases in the cardiovascular system. As a consequence, accumulation of the intermediate PGH(2) occurs that is capable to activate the thromboxane A(2) (TxA(2)) receptor on the surface of smooth muscle cells to promote vasoconstriction. The nitration of PGI(2)-synthase thus functions as endogenous posttranslational switch that shuts off the PGI(2)-mediated vasodilatory, anti-aggregatory, and anti-adhesive conditions in order to support the transmigration of immune cells from the blood to the sites of an infection. As a third type of interaction between the (.)NO and the prostanoid pathways, an activation of nitrite by the endogenous peroxidase activity of PGHS can lead to an autocatalytic nitration and inactivation of PGHS under conditions of high nitrite and low arachidonic acid levels that mostly prevail in progressive activation stages in cell types that express inducible NOS-2 such as macrophages.

Redox signaling: bioinorganic chemistry at its best.

Oxidative modifications of amino acids in proteins can serve to regulate enzyme activity. This emerging field of redox regulation is related to other cellular signaling pathways, however, neither the chemical mechanisms in the cellular environment nor the affected metabolic and physiological changes are well understood. From data on endotoxin action in vascular tissue and reports on thiol modifications and tyrosine nitrations a unified scheme with five key components is proposed, governed solely by variations in the fluxes of nitrogen monoxide (NO) and superoxide (O(2)(-)). Crucial to the interactions is the formation of peroxynitrite which at concentrations of 10(-9)-10(-6)M elicits events like activation of prostanoid formation, metal catalyzed nitrations and two electron oxidations at cysteines and methionines. As a new concept we postulate that peroxynitrite formed in situ from NO and O(2)(-) is in rapid equilibrium with excess NO to form a nitrosating species that transfers NO(+). The resulting S-nitrosations occur prior to oxidative peroxynitrite action and seem to be involved in the down-regulation of reductive pathways. As the flux of O(2)(-) exceeds the one of NO, cellular damage develops induced by one-electron oxidations caused by nitrogen dioxide and by the Fenton reaction.

Prostanoid pattern and iNOS expression during chondrogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells.

Availability of human chondrocytes is a major limiting factor regarding drug discovery projects and tissue replacement therapies. As an alternative human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) from bone marrow are taken into consideration as they can differentiate along the chondrogenic lineage. However, it remains to be shown whether they could form a valid model for primary chondrocytes with regards to inflammatory mediator production, like nitric oxide (NO) and prostanoids. We therefore investigated the production of NO and prostanoids in hMSCs over the course of chondrogenic differentiation and in response to IL-1beta using primary OA chondrocytes as reference. Chondrogenic differentiation was monitored over 28 days using collagen I, collagen II, and collagen X expression levels. Expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), levels of NO, and prostanoids were assessed using PCR, Griess assay, and GC/MS/MS, respectively. The hMSCs collagen expression profile during course of differentiation was consistent with a chondrocytic phenotype. Contrary to undifferentiated cells, differentiated hMSCs expressed iNOS and produced NO following stimulation with IL-1beta. Moreover, this induction of iNOS expression was corticosteroid insensitive. The spectrum of prostanoid production in differentiated hMSCs showed similarities to that of OA chondrocytes, with PGE2 as predominant product. We provide the first detailed characterization of NO and prostanoid production in hMSCs in the course of chondrogenic differentiation. Our results suggest that differentiated hMSCs form a valid model for chondrocytes concerning inflammatory mediator production. Furthermore, we propose that IL-1beta stimulation, leading to corticosteroid-insensitive NO synthesis, can be used as a sensitive marker of chondrogenesis.

Autocatalytic tyrosine nitration of prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase-2 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages.

In the literature, biological tyrosine nitrations have been reported to depend not only on peroxynitrite but also on nitrite/hydrogen peroxide linked to catalysis by myeloperoxidase. In endotoxin-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages, we have detected a major nitrotyrosine positive protein band around 72 kDa and identified it as prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase-2 (PGHS-2). Isolated PGHS-2 in absence of its substrate arachidonate was not only tyrosine-nitrated with peroxynitrite, but also with nitrite/hydrogen peroxide in complete absence of myeloperoxidase. Our data favor an autocatalytic activation of nitrite by PGHS-2 with a subsequent nitration of the essential tyrosine residue in the cyclooxygenase domain. Under inflammatory conditions, nitrite formed via NO-synthase-2 may therefore act as an endogenous regulator for PGHS-2 in stimulated macrophages. Nitration of PGHS-2 by the autocatalytic activation of nitrite further depends on the intracellular concentration of arachidonate since arachidonate reacted competitively with nitrite and could prevent PGHS-2 from nitration when excessively present.

Redox regulation of vascular prostanoid synthesis by the nitric oxide-superoxide system.

Oxygen is involved in cell signaling through oxygenases and oxidases and this applies especially for the vascular system. Nitric oxide (*NO) and epoxyarachidonic acids are P450-dependent monooxygenase products and prostacyclin is formed via cyclooxygenase and a heme-thiolate isomerase. The corresponding vasorelaxant mechanisms are counteracted by superoxide which not only traps *NO but through the resulting peroxynitrite blocks prostacyclin synthase by nitration of an active site tyrosine residue. In a model of septic shock, this leads to vessel constriction by activation of the thromboxane A2-prostaglandin endoperoxide H2 receptor. This sequence of events is part of endothelial dysfunction in which the activated vascular smooth muscle counteracts and regenerates vessel tone by cyclooxygenase-2-dependent prostacyclin synthesis. Peroxynitrite was found to activate cyclooxygenases by providing the peroxide tone at nanomolar concentrations. Such new insights into the control of vascular function have allowed us to postulate a concept of redox regulation in which a progressive increase of superoxide production by NADPH-oxidase, mitochondria, xanthine oxidase, and even uncoupled NO-synthase triggers a network of signals originating from an interaction of *NO with superoxide.

Superoxide targets calcineurin signaling in vascular endothelium.

Superoxide emerges as key regulatory molecule in many aspects of vascular physiology and disease, but identification of superoxide targets in the vasculature remains elusive. In this work, we investigated the possibility of inhibition of protein phosphatase calcineurin by superoxide in endothelial cells. We employed a redox cycler 2,3-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (DMNQ) to generate superoxide inside the cells. DMNQ caused inhibition of cellular calcineurin phosphatase activity, which was reversible upon DMNQ removal. Inhibition was suppressed by pre-incubating the cells with copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu,ZnSOD). In addition, reducing cellular Cu,ZnSOD activity by diethylthiocarbamic acid treatment resulted in calcineurin inhibition and enhanced sensitivity to DMNQ. Further, we could show that DMNQ inhibits calcineurin-dependent nuclear translocation and transcriptional activation of NFAT transcription factor, and Cu,ZnSOD or superoxide scavenger Tiron reduced the inhibition. Thus, superoxide generation in endothelial cells results in inhibition of calcineurin signaling, which could have important pathophysiological implications in the vasculature.

Redox regulation: a new challenge for pharmacology.

Redox signaling is evolving as a new field of biochemical and pharmacological research. Unlike oxidative stress which is characterized by a macroscopic shift in cellular redox potentials and usually accompanied by oxygen radical induced damage, redox regulation involves subtle and more chemically defined oxidations of short duration. Most important is the reductive component as a necessary part of a reversible regulatory process. Examples of redox regulation occur during early stages of the immune response, in hypoxia or in endothelial dysfunction. Persistent oxidative events together with a decline in the cellular reduction potential lead to oxidative stress as is seen in the pathophysiology of sepsis, reperfusion damage, atherosclerosis and diabetes. Oxidative signals involve superoxide and nitric oxide as the main players which form a system of oxidizing, nitrating or nitrosating species leading to posttranslational modifications of proteins. Modern techniques of immunohistochemistry and mass spectrometry allow a correlation of protein modification, e.g., disulfide, S-oxide, S-nitroso or nitrotyrosine formation, with enzyme activities and cellular responses. In this commentary, examples of the control of prostanoid synthesis by the NO/O2- system are described. Redox regulation represents an interesting challenge for the development of drugs that modulate the oxidative trigger mechanisms or enforce the reductive pathways.

Peroxynitrite provides the peroxide tone for PGHS-2-dependent prostacyclin synthesis in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Endotoxin-treated vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were recently shown to release high amounts of prostacyclin (PGI2) dependent on the induction of prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase-2 (PGHS-2). In contrast to endothelial PGI2-synthase, for which nitration and inhibition by peroxynitrite was reported, addition of SIN-1 as a peroxynitrite-generating system did not cause inhibition but rather doubled PGI2 release by VSMC. The hypothesis of peroxynitrite supplementing an unsaturated peroxide tone for PGHS-2 was supported by H2O2 exerting the same effect. Studies performed with purified PGHS-2 revealed maximal elevation of enzyme activity in the presence of equimolar concentrations of *NO and *O2-, which together form peroxynitrite, while excessive production of either one radical was inhibitory. Most importantly, 6-keto-PGF1alpha formation by intact VSMC depended on a nearly equimolar generation of *NO and *O2- for providing the endogenous peroxide tone. These findings, together with the observation that an excess of exogenously added *NO, as well as uric acid as a scavenger of peroxynitrite potently reduced PGI2 release, underlined the role of peroxynitrite as the dominating and rate-limiting intracellular mediator of peroxide tone in VSMC. The results allow us to postulate a new cross-talk between the *NO and the prostanoid pathways with a crucial role for peroxynitrite in providing the peroxide tone for a continuous activation of PGHS-2.

Vascular consequences of endothelial nitric oxide synthase uncoupling for the activity and expression of the soluble guanylyl cyclase and the cGMP-dependent protein kinase.

Endothelial dysfunction in the setting of cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic smoking, as well as in the setting of heart failure, has been shown to be at least partly dependent on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as the superoxide radical, and the subsequent decrease in vascular bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO). Superoxide-producing enzymes involved in increased oxidative stress within vascular tissue include the NAD(P)H oxidase, the xanthine oxidase, and mitochondrial superoxide-producing enzymes. Superoxide produced by the NADPH oxidase may react with NO released by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), thereby generating peroxynitrite. Peroxynitrite in turn has been shown to uncouple eNOS, thereby switching an antiatherosclerotic NO-producing enzyme to an enzyme that may initiate or even accelerate the atherosclerotic process by producing superoxide. Increased oxidative stress in the vasculature, however, is not restricted to the endothelium and has also been demonstrated to occur within the smooth muscle cell layer in the setting of hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, congestive heart failure, and nitrate tolerance. Increased superoxide production by the endothelial and/or smooth muscle cells has important consequences with respect to signaling by the soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) and the cGMP-dependent protein kinase I (cGK-I), the activity and expression of which has been shown to be regulated in a redox-sensitive fashion. The present review summarizes current concepts concerning eNOS uncoupling and also focuses on the consequences for downstream signaling with respect to activity and expression of the sGC and cGK-I in various diseases.

Scanning electron microscopy study of neutrophil membrane tubulovesicular extensions (cytonemes) and their role in anchoring, aggregation and phagocytosis. The effect of nitric oxide.

We have shown that human neutrophils develop dynamic thin and very long tubulovesicular extensions (cytonemes) upon adhesion to fibronectin, if cell spreading was blocked by Na(+)-free medium or by 4-bromophenacyl bromide, N-ethylmaleimide, 7-chloro-4-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole and cytochalasin D (S. I. Galkina, G. F. Sud'ina and V. Ullrich, (2001). Exp. Cell Res. 266, 222-228). In the present work we found that similar in size and behavior tubulovesicular extensions were formed on the neutrophil cell bodies upon adhesion to fibronectin-coated substrata in the presence of the nitric oxide donor diethylamine NONOate. In the presence of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N-omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, neutrophils were well spread and had no microextensions. Using scanning electron microscopy, we demonstrated that tubulovesicular extensions of neutrophils executed long-range adhesion and binding objects for phagocytosis, such as serum-opsonized zymosan particles and erythrocytes. Tubulovesicular extensions anchored neutrophils to substrata in a beta1 and beta2 integrin-independent, but L-selectin-dependent manner. BODIPY-sphingomyelin impaired development of tubulovesicular extension, and heparitinase 1 played a role in their destruction. Membrane tubulovesicular extensions are supposed to represent protrusions of an intracellular exocytotic traffic and serve as cellular sensory and adhesive organelles. Nitric oxide seems to play a role in regulation of tubulovesicular extensions formation, thus affecting neutrophil adhesive interactions and phagocytosis.

Endotoxin elicits nitric oxide release in rat but prostacyclin synthesis in human and bovine vascular smooth muscle cells.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure to cells and tissues can mimic the biochemical events leading to septic shock. Previous data demonstrated a massive upregulation of prostaglandin endoperoxide H2 synthase (PGHS-2), but not NO synthase-2 (NOS-2) in bovine smooth muscle cells (SMC) between 2 and 12 h of LPS exposure. This caused an abundant release of prostacyclin (PGI2) by constitutive PGI2-synthase as a counterregulation to a dysfunctional endothelium. We here report that human as well as bovine SMC mainly respond by the induction of PGHS-2 and the subsequent release of PGI2, whereas rat SMC exhibited a distinct induction of NOS-2 and released significantly higher amounts of *NO compared with cattle and human. The induction of either PGHS-2 or NOS-2 in the three different species investigated seems to be mutually exclusive in the time window of 2-24 h. This finding should be considered in the setup of experimental models for the investigation of septic shock.