Co-expression analysis suggests lncRNA-mRNA interactions enhance antiviral immune response during acute Chikungunya fever in whole blood of pediatric patients.

Chikungunya virus is an arbovirus that causes the neglected tropical disease chikungunya fever, common in tropical areas worldwide. There is evidence that arboviruses alter host transcriptome and modulate immune response; this modulation may involve transcriptional and post-transcriptional control mechanisms mediated by long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). Herein, we employed bioinformatic analysis to evaluate co-expression of lncRNAs and their putative target mRNAs in whole blood during natural Chikungunya infection in adolescent boys. Sequencing data from GSE99992 was uploaded to the Galaxy web server, where data was aligned with HISAT2, gene counts were estimated with HTSeq-count, and differential expression was run with DESeq2. After gene classification with Biomart, Pearson's correlation was applied to identify potential interactions between lncRNAs and mRNAs, which were later classified into cis and trans according to genomic location (FEELnc) and binding potential (LncTar), respectively. We identified 1,975 mRNAs and 793 lncRNAs that were differentially expressed between the acute and convalescent stages of infection in the blood. Of the co-expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs, 357 potentially interact in trans and 9 in cis; their target mRNAs enriched pathways related to immune response and viral infections. Out of 52 enriched KEGG pathways, the RIG-I like receptor signaling is enriched by the highest number of target mRNAs. This pathway starts with the recognition of viral pathogens, leading to innate immune response mediated by the production of IFN-I and inflammatory cytokines. Our findings indicate that alterations in lncRNA expression in adolescent boys, induced by acute Chikungunya infection, potentially modulate mRNAs that contribute to antiviral immune responses.

Co-expression analysis of lncRNA and mRNA suggests a role for ncRNA-mediated regulation of host-parasite interactions in primary skin lesions of patients with American tegumentary leishmaniasis.

Leishmaniasis, caused by different Leishmania species, manifests as cutaneous or visceral forms. In the American continent, the cutaneous form is called American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) and is primarily caused by Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis. Mucosal leishmaniasis (ML), the most severe form of ATL, arises in approximately 20% of patients from a primary cutaneous lesion. Evidence indicates changes in overall expression patterns of mRNAs and lncRNAs of the host in response to Leishmania infection, with the parasite capable of modulating host immune response, which may contribute to disease progression. We evaluated whether the co-expression of lncRNAs and their putative target mRNAs in primary cutaneous lesions of patients with ATL could be associated with the development of ML. Previously available public RNA-Seq data from primary skin lesions of patients infected with L. braziliensis was employed. We identified 579 mRNAs and 46 lncRNAs differentially expressed in the primary lesion that subsequently progressed to mucosal disease. Co-expression analysis revealed 1324 significantly correlated lncRNA-mRNA pairs. Among these, we highlight the positive correlation and trans-action between lncRNA SNHG29 and mRNA S100A8, both upregulated in the ML group. S100A8 and its heterodimeric partner S100A9 form a pro-inflammatory complex expressed by immune cells and seems to participate in host innate immune response processes of infection. These findings expand the knowledge of the Leishmania-host interaction and indicate that the expression of lncRNAs in the primary cutaneous lesion could regulate mRNAs and play roles in disease progression.

Co-expression analysis of lncRNA and mRNA identifies potential adipogenesis regulatory non-coding RNAs involved in the transgenerational effects of tributyltin.

The obesity epidemic is considered a global public health crisis, with an increase in caloric intake, sedentary lifestyles and/or genetic predispositions as contributing factors. Although the positive energy balance is one of the most significant causes of obesity, recent research has linked early exposure to Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) such as the obesogen tributyltin (TBT) to the disease epidemic. In addition to their actions on the hormonal profile, EDCs can induce long-term changes in gene expression, possibly due to changes in epigenetic patterns. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are epigenetic mediators that play important regulatory roles in several biological processes, through regulation of gene transcription and/or translation. In this study, we explored the differential expression of lncRNAs in gonadal white adipose tissue samples from adult male C57BL/6J F4 generation, female C57BL/6J offspring exposed (F0 generation) to 50 nM TBT or 0.1% DMSO (control of vehicle) via drinking water provided during pregnancy and lactation, analyzing RNA-seq data from a publicly available dataset (GSE105051). A total of 74 lncRNAs were differentially expressed (DE), 22 were up-regulated and 52 were down-regulated in the group whose F4 ancestor was exposed in utero to 50nM TBT when compared to those exposed to 0.1% DMSO (control). Regulation of DE lncRNAs and their potential partner genes in gonadal white adipose tissue of mice ancestrally exposed to EDC TBT may be related to the control of adipogenesis, as pathway enrichment analyses showed that these gene partners are mainly involved in the metabolism of lipids and glucose and in insulin-related pathways, which are essential for obesity onset and control.

Pregnancy restores altered sympathetic vasomotor modulation and parasympathetic cardiac modulation in hypertensive rats.

Hypertension is associated to impaired baroreflex sensitivity (BRS). In spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), pregnancy reduces blood pressure, and this effect has been associated to increase nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Increased NO bioavailability has been linked to improve BRS in hypertensive animals. Therefore, we hypothesize that pregnancy improves the BRS in SHR. We performed experiments to evaluate the vasomotor and cardiac autonomic modulation, also to evaluate the BRS at baseline conditions (spontaneous) and after phenylephrine (PE) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) administrations in non-pregnant (NP) and pregnant (P) Wistar rats and SHR. Beat-to-beat time series with systolic arterial pressure values were generated and processed by Fast Fourier Transform (spectral analysis). Next, spectra were integrated into low-frequency (LF) band and had their power taken as an index of sympathetic modulation on arterial pressure. Reduced mean arterial pressure was observed in P-groups when compared to NP matched rats, although we did not observe alterations in heart rate (HR). In SHR-NP, spectral analysis revealed altered cardiovascular autonomic modulation when compared to the other groups. However, in SHR-P the autonomic parameters were similar to those observed in Wistar-NP, suggesting that pregnancy changed autonomic modulation. BRS assessed by means of the sequence method was found similar in P-groups. Pregnancy reduced the BRS during hypotension in Wistar. BRS assessed with PE and SNP administration was found lower in SHR-NP as compared to Wistar-NP, and it was not altered by pregnancy. In conclusion, pregnancy did not improve the BRS in SHR, but normalized altered sympathetic vasomotor modulation in SHR.

Avaliação de mecanismos de modificação pós-traducional da óxido nítrico sintase endotelial (eNOS) associados a biodisponibilidade do óxido nítrico em artérias de ratas espontaneamente hipertensas (SHR) ao final da prenhez / Evaluation of post-translational modification mechanisms of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) associated with the nitric oxide bioavailability in arteries from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) in the end of pregnancy

A redução da reatividade vascular à fenilefrina (PE) em aorta de ratas espontaneamente hipertensas (SHR) ao final da prenhez é dependente de maior produção e/ou maior biodisponibilidade de óxido nítrico (NO), consequente do aumento da fosforilação da enzima óxido nítrico sintase endotelial (eNOS) via PI3K/Akt. A glicosilação do tipo N-acetil-glucosamina (O-GlcNAc) é uma modificação pós-traducional que compete com a fosforilação pelos mesmos sítios de ligação nas proteínas. A O-GlcNAcilação da eNOS em serina1177 leva a redução da sua atividade enquanto a fosforilação leva a sua ativação. Além destes mecanismos, a interação da eNOS com outras proteínas é capaz de regular positiva ou negativamente a sua atividade. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar possíveis alterações nos mecanismos de modificação pós-traducional que controlam a ativação da eNOS os quais poderiam contribuir para maior ativação e maior biodisponibilidade de NO observada em artérias de ratas prenhes. Foram avaliados o conteúdo proteico O-GlcNAc e também expressão das enzimas que participam desta modificação, O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) e O-GlcNAcase (OGA) por Western Blotting e a atividade da OGA por ensaio bioquímico em aorta e em artéria mesentérica (2º ou 3º ramo) de ratas não prenhes (NP) e prenhes (P), normotensas (Wistar) e SHR. Ensaios de Western Blotting foram realizados também para análise da expressão das seguintes proteínas: Cav-1, p-Cav-1, CaM e Hsp90. Realizamos a contagem do número de cavéolas endoteliais da aorta e da artéria mesentérica na presença ou ausência da metil-ß-ciclodextrina (dextrina, 10 mmol/L) por microscopia eletrônica. Em estudos funcionais, avaliamos a participação da enzima OGA, pela inibição com PugNAc (100 µmol/L) e das cavéolas, utilizando um desorganizador de cavéolas, a dextrina (10 ou 20 mmol/L), na menor reatividade vascular à PE observada em aortas de ratas P. Observamos que o conteúdo de proteínas O-GlcNAciladas estava diminuído em aorta e em leito mesentérico de ratas Wistar P e SHR P. Apesar da expressão da OGT e da OGA não estar alterada, a atividade da OGA foi aumentada em aorta e leito mesentérico de ratas Wistar P, mas, encontra-se diminuída em aorta e aumentada em leito mesentérico de SHP P. A incubação com PugNAc reverteu a reduzida reatividade à PE em aorta e artéria mesentérica de ratas Wistar P mas este efeito não foi observado em vasos SHR P, demonstrando que a OGA parece ter um papel importante na redução da O-GlcNAcilação de proteínas vasculares em Wistar P. Em vasos incubados com PugNAc, a remoção do endotélio ou a incubação com L-NAME, não alterou significativamente a reatividade à PE. Juntos estes resultados sugerem que a maior atividade da eNOS observada em vasos de Wistar P, fica prejudicada na presença do PugNAc, e depende da atividade da OGA. Como não houve alteração da resposta contrátil à PE em vasos de SHR P incubados com PugNAc, possivelmente um mecanismo diferente, envolvendo a menor atividade da OGT, ocorre nestas artérias para a redução da O-GlcNAcilação da eNOS. A desorganização das cavéolas por meio da dextrina causou aumento de contração à PE e redução de potência da ACh em aortas de Wistar NP e SHR NP, porém não houve alteração em aortas de ratas Wistar P e SHR P. A dextrina não alterou o número de cavéolas em artérias de Wistar P e SHR P quando comparado com ratas NP. SHR NP apresentam um reduzido número de cavéolas das aortas em relação a Wistar NP bem como expressão reduzida de Cav-1, p-Cav-1 e CaM. A prenhez não foi capaz de alterar a expressão da Cav-1, CaM e Hsp90 em aorta e leito mesentérico de ratas normotensas e hipertensas. Estes resultados sugerem que a prenhez não altera a expressão das proteínas Cav-1, CaM e Hsp90 e possivelmente a interação com a eNOS em aorta e artérias mesentéricas de ratas normotensas e hipertensas. Em conclusão, entre os mecanismos estudados de modificação pós-traducional da eNOS, a redução da O-GlcNAcilação da eNOS, por mecanismos que envolvem a atividade da OGA e possivelmente da OGT, favoreceria a fosforilação da eNOS e consequente maior biodisponibilidade de NO, contribuindo desta forma para modulação da resposta contrátil da PE nas artérias de ratas P(AU)

Reduction of vascular reactivity to phenylephrine (PE) in aorta of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) at the end of pregnancy is dependent on higher production and/or higer bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO), as a consequence of increased endothelial nitric oxide synthase enzyme (eNOS) phosphorylation, by PI3K/Akt. Glycosylation with O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) is a post-translational modification that competes with phosphorylation by the same binding sites in proteins. O-GlcNAcylation of eNOS on serine site leads to a reduction in its activity while eNOS phosphorylation leads to its activation. In addition to these mechanisms, the interaction of eNOS with other proteins is able to regulate positively or negatively its activity. The objective of this study was to analyze possible changes in the mechanisms of post-translational modification that control the eNOS activation, which could contribute to its the greater activation and greater bioavailability of NO observed in arteries of pregnant rats. The O-GlcNAc-protein content and also the enzymes expression that participate in this modification, O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and O-GlcNAcase (OGA) was assessed by Western Blotting, and OGA activity were evaluated by biochemical assay in the aorta and in the artery mesenteric (2nd or 3rd branch) of non-pregnant (NP) and pregnant (P), normotensive rats (Wistar) and SHR. Western Blotting assays were also performed for expression analysis of the following proteins: Cav-1, p-Cav-1, CaM and Hsp90. We performed the counting of the number of endothelial caveolae in the aorta and the mesenteric artery in the presence or absence of methyl-ß-cyclodextrin (dextrin, 10 mmol/L) by electronic microscopy. In functional studies, we evaluated the participation of the OGA enzyme, by inhibition with PugNAc (100 µmol/L) and of the caveolae, using a caveolae disassembler, dextrin (10 or 20 mmol/L), in the reduced vascular reactivity observed in aortas or mesenteric arteries of P rats. We observed that the content of O-GlcNAcylated proteins was decreased in the aorta and in the mesenteric bed of Wistar P and SHR P rats. Although OGT and OGA expression is not altered, OGA activity was increased in the aorta and mesenteric bed of Wistar P rats but was decreased in the aorta and increased in the mesenteric bed of SHP P. Incubation with PugNAc reversed the reduced reactivity to PE in the aorta and mesenteric artery of Wistar P but this effect was not observed in SHR P arteries, demonstrating that OGA appears to play an important role in reducing O-GlcNAcylation of vascular proteins in Wistar P. In arteries incubated with PugNAc, endothelial removal or incubation with L-NAME did not significantly alter reactivity to PE. Together, these results suggest that the greater eNOS activity observed in Wistar P vessels was impaired in the presence of PugNAc, and it depends on OGA activity. As there was no change in the contractile response to PE in SHR P arteries incubated with PugNAc, possibly a different mechanism, involving the lower activity of OGT, occurs in these vessels for the reduction of O-GlcNAcylation of eNOS. Dextrin caused increased contraction of PE and decreased ACh potency in Wistar NP and SHR NP aortas, but there was no change in aortas of Wistar P and SHR P. Dextrin did not alter the number of cavelae in Wistar P and SHR P arteries compared to NP rats. SHR NP showed a lower number of caveolae than to NP Wistar as well reduced expression of Cav-1 and CaM. Pregnancy was not able to alter the expression of Cav-1, CaM and Hsp90 in the aorta and mesenteric bed of normotensive and hypertensive rats. These results suggest that pregnancy does not alter the expression of Cav-1, CaM and Hsp90 proteins and possibly interaction with eNOS in the aorta and mesenteric arteries of normotensive and hypertensive rats. In conclusion, among the studied mechanisms of post-translational modification of eNOS, the reduction of O-GlcNAcylation of eNOS, by mechanisms that involve OGA activity and possibly OGT, would favor eNOS phosphorylation and consequent greater NO bioavailability, contributing in this way for modulation of the contractile response to PE in the arteries of P rats(AU)

Increased activity of the antioxidants systems modulate the oxidative stress in saliva of toddlers with early childhood caries.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the oxidative stress levels and the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems in saliva of toddlers with severe early childhood caries (S-ECC). DESIGN: Unstimulated saliva samples were collected at the morning from 0 to 3 year-old S-ECC (n=30) or caries-free (CF) children (n=30/group) for evaluation of oxidative stress (OS) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), which were measured by the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, as well as to assess the activity of enzymatic (superoxide dismutase, SOD) and non-enzymatic (uric acid, UA) antioxidant systems, respectively. Data were analyzed by Student's t-test (p<0.05). RESULTS: Significantly higher protein levels were observed in saliva of S-ECC children (0.083mg/mL) than in the CF group (0.070mg/mL). Oxidative damage was significantly lower in saliva of S-ECC children (0.0019µmol/L/mg protein) than in CF children (0.0039µmol/L/mg protein), while salivary TAC (61.5µmol/L), SOD activity (36.6 UE/mL) and uric acid (7.05mg/mL) were significantly higher in saliva of S-ECC when compared to the CF group (49.1µmol/L, 26.8 UE/mL and 5.02mg/mL, respectively for TAC, SOD and UA). CONCLUSION: Oxidative stress levels were significantly lower in saliva of S-ECC children, what might be associated with the increased activity of salivary enzymatic (SOD) and non-enzymatic (uric acid) antioxidant systems.

Papel das espécies reativas de oxigênio na hiporreatividade de aortas à fenilefrina observada no final da prenhez de Ratas Espontaneamente Hipertensas (SHR) / Role of reactive oxygen species in hyporeactivity to phenylephrine observed in late pregnancy spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR)

Estudos têm mostrado que em ratas prenhas normotensas ou hipertensas (SHR) há uma diminuição significativa da pressão arterial nos períodos finais da prenhez diretamente associada à redução da atividade simpática perivascular de leitos mesentéricos de ratas normotensas ou hipertensas (SHR). Essas alterações têm sido atribuídas a uma importante participação dos fatores relaxantes derivados do endotélio com destaque ao óxido nítrico (NO). Estudos recentes do nosso laboratório sugerem que o aumento da síntese de NO pela enzima óxido nítrico sintase endotelial (eNOS) ao final da prenhez ocorre por uma via menos dependente de cálcio, associada a fosforilação da eNOS em resíduos de Serina 1177, através da via PI3K/Akt/eNOS. Por outro lado, ratas hipertensas não prenhas apresentam uma disfunção endotelial e vascular ocasionada pelo aumento na produção de espécies reativas de oxigênio (ERO), sendo o complexo enzimático NAD(P)H oxidase, uma importante fonte de ERO. A produção de ERO modula a biodisponibilidade de NO. Assim, uma diminuição das ERO durante a prenhez poderia contribuir para a redução da PA e modulação da reatividade vascular, dependente do endotélio, aos agonistas vasoconstritores. Nossa hipótese é que em SHR prenhas, a redução da produção de ERO na aorta contribuiria para o aumento da biodisponibilidade do NO e para a hiporreatividade de aortas à fenilefrina (PE). Para isso, o estresse oxidativo sistêmico e da aorta (TBARS) foram avaliados em ratas Wistar e SHR, prenhas (P) e não prenhas (NP). Analisamos o efeito hipotensor da Apocinina (30 mg/kg) e do Tempol (30 mg/kg). Anéis intactos de aorta torácica de P e NP foram estimulados com PE antes e após incubação (30 min) com Apocinina (100 μmol/L) ou Tempol (0,1 nmol/L). O efeito de Apocinina e do Tempol foi avaliado nas concentrações citosólicas de NO ([NO]), medidas pela intensidade de fluorescência do DAF-2DA (10 µmol/L), de ERO ([ERO]), medida pelo DHE (2,5 µmol/L) e Ca2+, medida pelo FLUO 3-AM...

Studies have shown that in normotensive or hypertensive pregnant rats (SHR) there is a significant decrease in blood pressure in late pregnancy directly associated with the reduction in sympathetic perivascular activity of mesenteric beds of normotensive or hypertensive rats (SHR). These changes have been attributed to an important role of endothelium-derived relaxing factors especially to nitric oxide (NO). Recent studies in our laboratory suggest that increased synthesis of NO by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in late pregnancy is of a less calcium-dependent pathway associated with phosphorylation of eNOS on serine 1177 through via PI3K/Akt/ eNOS. On the other hand, do not exhibit a pregnant hypertensive rats and the vascular endothelial dysfunction caused by increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the NAD(P)H oxidase enzyme complex, a major source of ROS. The ROS modulate the bioavailability of NO. Thus, a reduction of ROS during pregnancy could contribute to the reduction in blood pressure and modulation of vascular reactivity endothelium-dependent, to vasoconstrictor agonists. Our hypothesis is that in pregnant spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR), the reduction of ROS production in the aorta contribute to increase the bioavailability of NO and hyporeactivity to aortae phenylephrine (PE). For this reason, systemic oxidative stress and aorta (TBARS) were valued in Wistar and SHR rats, pregnant (P) and non-pregnant (NP). We analyzed the hypotensive effect of Apocynin (30 mg/kg) and Tempol (30 mg/kg). Intact rings of thoracic aorta of P and NP were stimulated with PE before and after incubation (30 min) with apocynin (100 mmol/L) or Tempol (0,1 nmol/L). The effect of Apocynin and Tempol was evaluated in the cytosolic concentration of NO ([NO]) as measured by fluorescence intensity of DAF-2DA (10 µmol/L), ROS ([ROS]), as measured by DHE (2,5 µmol/L) and Ca2+, as measured by FLUO-3 AM (5 µmol/L) in isolated aortic endothelial cells. We...

Papel das espécies reativas de oxigênio na hiporreatividade de aortas à fenilefrina observada no final da prenhez de Ratas Espontaneamente Hipertensas (SHR) / Role of reactive oxygen species in hyporeactivity to phenylephrine observed in late pregnancy spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR)

Estudos têm mostrado que em ratas prenhas normotensas ou hipertensas (SHR) há uma diminuição significativa da pressão arterial nos períodos finais da prenhez diretamente associada à redução da atividade simpática perivascular de leitos mesentéricos de ratas normotensas ou hipertensas (SHR). Essas alterações têm sido atribuídas a uma importante participação dos fatores relaxantes derivados do endotélio com destaque ao óxido nítrico (NO). Estudos recentes do nosso laboratório sugerem que o aumento da síntese de NO pela enzima óxido nítrico sintase endotelial (eNOS) ao final da prenhez ocorre por uma via menos dependente de cálcio, associada a fosforilação da eNOS em resíduos de Serina 1177, através da via PI3K/Akt/eNOS. Por outro lado, ratas hipertensas não prenhas apresentam uma disfunção endotelial e vascular ocasionada pelo aumento na produção de espécies reativas de oxigênio (ERO), sendo o complexo enzimático NAD(P)H oxidase, uma importante fonte de ERO. A produção de ERO modula a biodisponibilidade de NO. Assim, uma diminuição das ERO durante a prenhez poderia contribuir para a redução da PA e modulação da reatividade vascular, dependente do endotélio, aos agonistas vasoconstritores. Nossa hipótese é que em SHR prenhas, a redução da produção de ERO na aorta contribuiria para o aumento da biodisponibilidade do NO e para a hiporreatividade de aortas à fenilefrina (PE). Para isso, o estresse oxidativo sistêmico e da aorta (TBARS) foram avaliados em ratas Wistar e SHR, prenhas (P) e não prenhas (NP). Analisamos o efeito hipotensor da Apocinina (30 mg/kg) e do Tempol (30 mg/kg). Anéis intactos de aorta torácica de P e NP foram estimulados com PE antes e após incubação (30 min) com Apocinina (100 μmol/L) ou Tempol (0,1 nmol/L). O efeito de Apocinina e do Tempol foi avaliado nas concentrações citosólicas de NO ([NO]), medidas pela intensidade de fluorescência do DAF-2DA (10 µmol/L), de ERO ([ERO]), medida pelo DHE (2,5 µmol/L) e Ca2+, medida pelo FLUO 3-AM...

Studies have shown that in normotensive or hypertensive pregnant rats (SHR) there is a significant decrease in blood pressure in late pregnancy directly associated with the reduction in sympathetic perivascular activity of mesenteric beds of normotensive or hypertensive rats (SHR). These changes have been attributed to an important role of endothelium-derived relaxing factors especially to nitric oxide (NO). Recent studies in our laboratory suggest that increased synthesis of NO by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in late pregnancy is of a less calcium-dependent pathway associated with phosphorylation of eNOS on serine 1177 through via PI3K/Akt/ eNOS. On the other hand, do not exhibit a pregnant hypertensive rats and the vascular endothelial dysfunction caused by increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the NAD(P)H oxidase enzyme complex, a major source of ROS. The ROS modulate the bioavailability of NO. Thus, a reduction of ROS during pregnancy could contribute to the reduction in blood pressure and modulation of vascular reactivity endothelium-dependent, to vasoconstrictor agonists. Our hypothesis is that in pregnant spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR), the reduction of ROS production in the aorta contribute to increase the bioavailability of NO and hyporeactivity to aortae phenylephrine (PE). For this reason, systemic oxidative stress and aorta (TBARS) were valued in Wistar and SHR rats, pregnant (P) and non-pregnant (NP). We analyzed the hypotensive effect of Apocynin (30 mg/kg) and Tempol (30 mg/kg). Intact rings of thoracic aorta of P and NP were stimulated with PE before and after incubation (30 min) with apocynin (100 mmol/L) or Tempol (0,1 nmol/L). The effect of Apocynin and Tempol was evaluated in the cytosolic concentration of NO ([NO]) as measured by fluorescence intensity of DAF-2DA (10 µmol/L), ROS ([ROS]), as measured by DHE (2,5 µmol/L) and Ca2+, as measured by FLUO-3 AM (5 µmol/L) in isolated aortic endothelial cells. We...