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J R Vane

Publications and source records attributed to J R Vane.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

On the substrate specificity of nitric oxide synthase.

Nitric oxide (.NO) synthase (NOS) activity in subcellular fractions from cultured endothelial cells (EC) and lipopolysaccharide-activated J774.2 monocyte/macrophages was investigated by monitoring the .NO-mediated increase in intracellular cyclic GMP in LLC-PK1 pig kidney epithelial cells. The constitutive NOS in EC (NOSc) was largely membrane-bound, whereas the inducible NOS in J774.2 cells (NOSi) was equally distributed among cytosol and membrane(s). Both the cytosolic NOSc in EC and the membrane-bound NOSi in J774.2 cells were strictly Ca(2+)-dependent, whereas the membrane-bound NOSc in EC and the cytosolic NOSi in J774.2 cells were not. L-Homoarginine and L-arginine-containing small peptides, such as L-arginyl-L-phenylalanine, replaced L-arginine as a substrate for the NOSc in EC and the Ca(2+)-independent NOSi in J774.2 cells, but not the Ca(2+)-dependent NOSi. Thus, irrespective of their intracellular localisation, at least three isoforms of NOS exist, which can be differentiated by their substrate specificity and Ca(2+)-dependency.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗
PubMed1991

Involvement of nitric oxide in the reflex relaxation of the stomach to accommodate food or fluid.

The fundus of the guinea-pig stomach actively dilates in response to low increases in intragastric pressure. This physiological response, now called adaptive relaxation, accommodates the intake of liquid or food. It is independent of external innervation, resistant to ganglion blockade, but reflex in origin. The nerves involved are neither adrenergic nor cholinergic in nature. Non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) nerves have now been recognized in many parts of the gastrointestinal tract and have recently been linked with release of nitric oxide (NO) on electrical stimulation. Here we show that adaptive relaxation in isolated stomach of the guinea pig is mediated by a NANC neurotransmitter substance indistinguishable from NO derived from L-arginine. This is substantiated by inhibition of adaptive relaxation by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine or N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, both inhibitors of NO synthesis, and by methylene blue, an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase. There are two distinct neuronal pathways signalling NO-dependent adaptive relaxation, as evidenced by tetrodotoxin sensitivity. The first is a local reflex arc, the afferent fibres of which sense changes in intragastric pressure. The second is stimulated by an agonist for ganglionic nicotinic receptors. Thus, the functional significance of NO release from NANC nerves in the stomach is to bring about adaptive relaxation through a reflex response to increases in intragastric pressure.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Superoxide dismutase cooperates with prostacyclin to inhibit platelet aggregation: a comparative study in washed platelets and platelet rich plasma.

The role of superoxide anions (O2-) in human platelet aggregation in Krebs' buffer or plasma was investigated. In indomethacin (10 microM)-treated washed platelets superoxide dismutase (SOD; 60 U/ml) or ferricytochrome c (FCC; 70 microM) inhibited platelet aggregation by thrombin but not that by collagen or ADP. In addition, in indomethacin (10 microM)-treated washed platelets, SOD significantly potentiated the anti-aggregatory activity of prostacyclin (PGI2) or iloprost when thrombin but not collagen was used as the aggregating agent. In platelet rich plasma, SOD (60 U/ml) did not inhibit platelet aggregation nor did it potentiate the anti-aggregatory activity of iloprost when ADP, collagen or thrombin were used as aggregating agents. Thus, O2- participate in the aggregatory activity of thrombin but not collagen or ADP and PGI2 or iloprost, by reducing the sensitivity of platelets to thrombin, co-operate with SOD to inhibit thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. The interpretation of the use of SOD in experiments involving endothelium-derived relaxing factor (NO) is discussed.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1991

Osteoclastic inhibition: an action of nitric oxide not mediated by cyclic GMP.

The osteoclast is unique in its ability to resorb bone, and excessive osteoclastic activity has been implicated in osteoporosis, Paget disease of bone, rheumatoid arthritis, and the growth of metastases in bone. The activity of this cell is controlled by the main circulating inhibitor, calcitonin, in association with locally produced modulators. We show that nitric oxide (NO) may be an important member of the latter group. NO is produced by the vascular endothelium and nervous system and is involved in both neurotransmission and the regulation of blood pressure. However, our results show that the autocoid is also a potent inhibitor of osteoclast function. NO (30 microM) produced a decrease to approximately 50% of the original osteoclast spread area. Similar effects were also produced by 3-morpholinosydnonimine or sodium nitroprusside, reagents that spontaneously release NO. These shape changes were associated with a reduction of bone resorption after a 24-hr incubation of isolated osteoclasts on devitalized bone slices. NO is thought to act by stimulating guanylate cyclase, with a consequent increase in cyclic GMP, but a different mode of action is likely in the osteoclast since dibutyryl or 8-bromo cyclic GMP have no effect. It should be noted that calcitonin can produce similar changes in shape and activity but is associated with an increase in osteoclast intracellular calcium and cessation of membrane movement; neither of these is produced by NO, suggesting that its mode of action is different. The abundance of NO-producing endothelial cells in bone marrow and their proximity to osteoclasts suggests that marrow endothelial cells may play a physiological role in the regulation of osteoclastic activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

FMRF-amide and L-Arg-L-Phe increase blood pressure and heart rate in the anaesthetised rat by central stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system.

The neuropeptide FMRFamide (L-Phe-L-Met-L-Arg-L-Phe-NH2) increases mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and heart rate (HR) in the anaesthetised rat at concentrations ranging from 10-1000 micrograms/kg. Here, we demonstrate that peptides containing L-arginyl-L-phenylalanine (L-Arg-L-Phe), the C-terminal sequence of FMRFamide, mimic its haemodynamic effects. L-Arg-L-Phe was approximately 4 fold more potent in increasing MABP and HR than FMRFamide. In 40 different peptides investigated, the following order of potency of the effective compounds was established: L-Arg-L-Phe-L-Ala = L-Arg-L-Phe greater than FMRFamide greater than L-Met-L-Arg-L-Phe = L-Arg-L-Trp greater than L-Arg-L-Tyr greater than D-Arg-L-Phe = L-Arg-L-Phe-OMe greater than L-Arg-L-Leu = L-Arg-L-Ile greater than L-Lys-L-Phe greater than L-Arg-L-Met. L-Arg-L-Phe or FMRFamide did not cause any pressor response in pithed rats, indicating a central mechanism of action. In anaesthetised rats, intravenous injections of FMRFamide or L-Arg-L-Phe (100 micrograms/kg) were associated with a 2-3 fold increase in plasma noradrenaline levels, whereas plasma adrenaline levels remained unchanged. Thus, L-Arg-L-Phe may represent the active principle of FMRFamide acting by a central mechanism involving the release of noradrenaline from sympathetic nerve terminals.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

The biosynthesis of endothelin-1 by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) converted human big endothelin (bET; 2 microM) to an endothelin-1 (ET-1) like contractile factor, as assessed by bioassay. The generation of this ET-1 like activity was rapid (minutes), time-dependent and more pronounced in non-activated cells, suggesting a partial degradation by activated PMNs. Phosphoramidon (54 micrograms/ml) inhibited the formation of this contractile factor, whereas phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride (PMSF; 25 micrograms/ml), pepstatin A (1 microgram/ml) or epoxysuccinyl-L-leucylamido-(guanidino)butane (E-64; 10 micrograms/ml) did not. Incubations of activated PMNs with PMSF significantly potentiated the generation of ET-1 like activity and selectively inhibited the degradation of [125I]ET-1 by activated PMNs. These findings indicate that human PMNs contain and/or release neutral proteases, which can both rapidly produce and degrade ET-1, an observation which may have important (patho)physiologic implications.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Rat mast cells synthesize a nitric oxide like-factor which modulates the release of histamine.

Rat serosal mast cells were evaluated for their capacity to generate a nitric oxide-like factor by two bioassays: inhibition of platelet aggregation and stimulation of mast cell guanylate cyclase. Incubation of mast cells with human washed platelets, both treated with indomethacin, inhibited thrombin-induced platelet aggregation which was potentiated by superoxide dismutase and reversed by oxyhaemoglobin. When mast cells alone were stirred at 1000 rpm, a time dependent increase in the levels of their cGMP but not cAMP was observed. Preincubation of mast cells with NG-monomethyl-L-arginine significantly enhanced E. coli lipopolysaccharide-evoked histamine release. Our results show that mast cell histamine release can be modulated by an intrinsically generated nitric oxide-like factor.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes generate and degrade endothelin-1 by two distinct neutral proteases.

Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs, 4 x 10(6)/ml) converted human big endothelin (bET) to an endothelin-1 (ET-1)-like contractile factor, as assessed by bioassay. The formation of this ET-1-like activity from bET was partially inhibited by phosphoramidon (54 micrograms/ml), but not by pepstatin-A (1 microgram/ml), epoxysuccinyl-L-leucylamido(guanidino)butane (E-64, 10 micrograms/ml) or phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF, 25 micrograms/ml). In addition, nonactivated PMNs converted [125I]bET to [125I]ET-1, thus confirming the bioassay results. Incubation of ET-1 with fMLP-activated PMNs or cell-free supernatants from activated PMNs resulted in the loss of its contractile activity, and this loss of activity was paralleled by the metabolism of [125I]ET-1. The metabolism of [125I]ET-1 by PMNs or leukocyte cathepsin G (5 micrograms/ml) was prevented by PMSF (25 micrograms/ml), but not by phosphoramidon (54 micrograms/ml) or pepstatin-A (1 microgram/ml). Thus, PMNs can form ET-1 from bET via a neutral protease and degrade ET-1 via a serine protease, an observation that may have important pathophysiologic implications in disease states associated with PMN infiltration.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Human big endothelin releases prostacyclin in vivo and in vitro through a phosphoramidon-sensitive conversion to endothelin-1.

Human big endothelin (big ET) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) induce similar increases in left ventricular systolic pressure in the anesthetized rabbit. Unlike ET-1, human big ET does not induce an initial transient hypotension. Human big ET (3 nmol/kg) inhibits ADP-induced platelet aggregation ex vivo by 60% whereas ET-1 at 1 nmol/kg inhibits platelet aggregation by more than 80%. The C-terminal fragment, big ET[22-38] (3 nmol/kg), has no antiaggregatory properties. Inhibition of ex vivo platelet aggregation by human big ET and ET-1 was not seen in rabbits pretreated with indomethacin (5 mg/kg). Human big ET (10(-7) M) or ET-1 (2.5 x 10(-9)-10(-8) M) induced the release of prostacyclin (PGI2) from rabbit, guinea pig, and rat lungs. Phosphoramidon (50 microM, infused 45 min prior to and during administration of peptides) inhibited the prostanoid-releasing properties of human big ET without affecting the release induced by ET-1. Intravascular administration of human big ET (1 nmol/kg) significantly increased the circulating levels of immunoreactive ET-1 (ir-ET-1) for 30 min whereas administration of ET-1 at the same concentration increased the plasma level of ir-ET-1 for 5 min only. Our results suggest that human big ET is converted to ET-1 in the rabbit in vivo. We further suggest that to induce the release of prostanoids in perfused lungs, human big ET needs to be converted to ET-1 by a phosphoramidon-sensitive endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE).

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1991

Endothelin-1 and big endothelin cause subarachnoid hemorrhage in the anesthetized rabbit.

Intra-arterial injection of endothelin-1 (ET-1) (1 nmol/kg; n = 8) or human big endothelin-1 (b-ET-1; 3 nmol/kg; n = 8) into anesthetized rabbits produced a significant rise in left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and caused subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in 75 +/- 17% and 88 +/- 12% of the experiments, respectively. In all animals, the SAH occurred in the subarachnoid space around the distal part of the basilar artery complex. The cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin (5 mg/kg i.v.) significantly potentiated the pressor effect of both peptides, and all animals pretreated with indomethacin prior to ET-1 (n = 3) or b-ET (n = 3) developed SAH. In contrast, rabbits treated with vehicle (saline; n = 7), indomethacin alone (n = 3), or the carboxy-terminal fragment of b-ET (CT 22-38; 3 nmol/kg i.a.; n = 3) developed neither a rise in LVSP nor SAH. A rise in blood pressure alone is unlikely to account for the SAH brought about by the peptides for angiotensin II (1 nmol/kg/min for 30 min; n = 7) produced a significantly greater increment in LVSP than ET-1 or b-ET, but did not cause SAH. In addition, there was no significant correlation between the rise in LVSP produced by ET-1 or b-ET and the severity of the SAH.

Anesthesia↗
PubMed1991

Alkaline buffers release EDRF from bovine cultured aortic endothelial cells.

1. Release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) and prostacyclin (PGI2) from bovine cultured aortic endothelial cells (EC) was measured by bioassay and radioimmunoassay, respectively. 2. Bradykinin (BK, 3-30 pmol), adenosine diphosphate (ADP, 2-6 nmol) or the sodium ionophore monensin (40-100 nmol) injected through a column of EC released EDRF. L-Arginine free base (FB; 10-20 mumol) or D-arginine FB (10-20 mumol) injected through the column of EC released similar amounts of EDRF and also caused an increase in pH of the Krebs solution perfusing the EC from 7.5-8.0 to 8.6-9.5. Sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) an alkaline buffer which caused the same changes in the pH of the Krebs solution also induced the same release of EDRF. The hydrochloride salts of L- or D-arginine did not cause either release of EDRF when injected through the column of EC or increases in the pH of the Krebs solution. 3. Inhibitors of either diacylglycerol lipase (RHC 80267) or kinase (R59022) inhibited the release of EDRF induced by BK or ADP but potentiated the release induced by L-arginine FB, monensin (40-100 nmol) or alkaline buffer (Na2CO3). R59022 and RHC 80267 infused through the EC increased the basal release of EDRF. 4. When calcium chloride was omitted from the Krebs solution the release of EDRF induced by alkaline buffer (Na2CO3; pH 8.6-9.5) or L-arginine FB (10-20 mumol) was selectively inhibited when compared to that induced by BK (3-30 pmol) or ADP (2-6 nmol). This inhibition was reversed when calcium (2.5 mM) was restored. 5. NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (NMMA; 30 microM) inhibited release of EDRF induced by BK (10-30 pmol) or alkaline buffers (Na2CO3 or D-arginine FB; pH 8.6-9.5). This inhibition was partially reversed by L- but not D-arginine FB or HCl (30-100 microM). 6. Prostacyclin was released when BK (10 pmol), ADP (2 nmol) or arachidonic acid (30 nmol) were injected through the column of EC. However, monensin (40 nmol) or alkaline buffers (pH 8.6-9.5) did not release detectable amounts of PGI2 as measured by radioimmunoassay for 6-oxo-prostaglandin F1 alpha. 7. Thus alkalinisation of the external bathing solution can release EDRF from cultured EC by a mechanism which does not involve receptor activation and which depends on the presence of extracellular calcium.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

The involvement of endothelium-derived relaxing factor in the regulation of renal cortical blood flow in the rat.

1. In the present study the role of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) was investigated, in the regulation of renal cortical blood flow (RCBF) in vivo in anaesthetized rats under conditions in which prostacyclin involvement had been eliminated. 2. Infusions of the NO synthesis inhibitor NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (MeArg) at 1 or 3 mg kg-1 min-1, i.v., produced significant decreases in RCBF of 29 +/- 7% and 35 +/- 5%, respectively. These effects were reversed by co-infusion of a 3 fold excess of L-arginine (L-Arg). 3. Similarly, intravenous infusion of N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (NO2Arg) at 30 or 300 micrograms kg-1 min-1 attenuated RCBF by 21 +/- 4% or 53 +/- 4%, respectively, and these effects were reversed by L-Arg (3 or 10 mg kg-1 min-1, i.v.). Most importantly, a low dose of NO2Arg (30 micrograms kg-1 min-1, i.v.), while having no pressor effect, considerably reduced RCBF, indicating that basal release of NO is important for the maintenance of renal cortical blood flow. 4. MeArg (3 mg kg-1 min-1, i.v.) or NO2Arg (300 micrograms kg-1 min-1, i.v.) inhibited endothelium-dependent acetylcholine (ACh, 10 micrograms kg-1 min-1, i.v. for 3 min) increases in RCBF in an L-Arg reversible manner, but did not affect endothelium-independent (dopamine 10 micrograms kg-1 min-1, i.v., for 3 min) increases. Endothelin- 1 (1 nmol kg-1, i.v.), when given as a control for the vasoconstrictor effects of MeArg and NO2Arg, produced a slight inhibition of the ACh-induced increase in RCBF, but this effect was significantly weaker than that produced by MeArg or NO2Arg. 5. Our findings suggest that MeArg and NO2Arg inhibit basal and ACh-stimulated release of NO in the renal cortical vasculature. Thus, endogenous NO formation may play an important role in the local regulation of renal cortical blood flow.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Inhibition of the release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor in vitro and in vivo by dipeptides containing NG-nitro-L-arginine.

1. We have shown that dipeptides containing NG-nitro-L-arginine (NO2Arg) inhibit the biosynthesis of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) in vitro and in vivo. 2. In anaesthetized rats, intravenous administration at 1-30 mg kg-1 of the methyl ester of NO2Arg, NO2-Arg-L-phenylalanine (NO2Arg-Phe), L-alanyl-NO2Arg (Ala-NO2Arg) or NO2Arg-L-arginine (NO2Arg-Arg) produced dose-related increases in mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) which were unaffected by D-arginine (D-Arg; 20 mg kg-1 min-1 for 15 min), but prevented by co-infusions of L-arginine (L-Arg; 20 mg kg-1 min-1 for 15 min) or by their parent dipeptides. 3. NO2Arg methyl ester, NO2Arg-Phe methyl ester or Ala-NO2Arg methyl ester (10 mg kg-1, i.v.) also inhibited the reduction in MABP caused by the endothelium-dependent vasodilator, acetylcholine (30 micrograms kg-1 min-1 for 3 min), but not those induced by glycerly trinitrate (20 micrograms kg-1 min-1 for 3 min) or iloprost (6 micrograms kg-1 min-1 for 3 min) which act directly on the vascular smooth muscle. 4. Moreover, NO2Arg methyl ester, NO2Arg-Phe methyl ester or NO2Arg-Arg methyl ester (100 microM) inhibited the acetylcholine-induced relaxation of rabbit aortic strips, and NO2Arg-Phe methyl ester (30 microM) blocked the stimulated (bradykinin, 30 pmol) release of EDRF from bovine aortic endothelial cells grown on microcarrier beads. 5. In endothelial cells grown in L-Arg-deficient medium, L-Arg-containing dipeptides such as L-Arg-LPhe, L-Ala-L-Arg or L-Arg-L-Arg increased both the basal and stimulated release of EDRF. Moreover, the L-Arg containing dipeptides, but not their NO2Arg analogues, were rapidly cleaved by these cells. 6. Thus, dipeptides containing NO2Arg can directly interfere with the biosynthesis of EDRF in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the potentiation of EDRF release from endothelial cells deprived of L-Arg by dipeptides containing L-Arg suggests that such peptides may serve as an additional or alternative substrate for the biosynthesis of EDRF.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Inhibition of human platelet aggregation by endothelium-derived relaxing factor, sodium nitroprusside or iloprost is potentiated by captopril and reduced thiols.

We have examined whether inhibitors of angiotensin-converting enzyme-containing sulfhydryl groups such as, captopril (CPT) or SQ 14,534, the nonsulfhydryl-containing angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, teprotide (TPR) or enalaprilat (ENA) and other structurally unrelated sulfhydryl-containing compounds, N-2-mercaptopropionylglycine (MPG) or N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), could influence platelet aggregation. Incubation of human washed platelets with CPT, SQ 14,534, TPR, ENA, MPG or NAC (0.1-0.5 mM) did not modify their aggregatory responses to thrombin. However, the antiaggregatory properties of endothelial cells cultured from bovine aorta were potentiated by CPT, SQ 14,534, MPG or NAC but not by TPR or ENA (40-100 microM). CPT (100-500 microM) or NAC (50-200 microM) but not ENA (100 and 500 microM) also potentiated the antiaggregatory effects of sodium nitroprusside (1.0 microM) or iloprost (0.2 nM). The ability of the thiol-containing compounds (CPT or NAC) to potentiate the antiaggregatory effects of sodium nitroprusside or iloprost was not associated with an elevation of platelet cyclic GMP or cyclic AMP levels, respectively. Thus, CPT and other sulfhydryl-containing compounds can synergize with antiplatelet compounds, thereby enhancing the ability of endothelial-derived autocoids to inhibit platelet aggregation. The mechanism responsible for this potentiating effect of thiols on platelet aggregation is not known, but may relate to the ability of thiol-containing compounds to act as intracellular scavengers of oxygen-derived free radicals.

Acetylcysteine↗
PubMed1991

Mast cells as a source of superoxide anions and nitric oxide-like factor: relevance to histamine release.

Rat serosal mast cells (MCs, 85-90% pure), obtained from peritoneal washing of Wistar albino rats, produced a significant amount of superoxide anions (O2.-) as measured by the increase in absorbance due to the reduction of ferricytochrome c; they were also able to generate a nitric oxide (NO)-like factor, as measured by two bioassay systems: i) inhibition of platelet aggregation and ii) stimulation of MCs guanylate cyclase. Incubation of MCs with human washed platelets resulted in an inhibition of thrombin-induced platelet aggregation which was proportional to cell number. The inhibitory activity of MCs was potentiated by substances which preserve NO (superoxide dismutase, SOD), and reversed by compounds which inactivate NO (oxyhaemoglobin, oxyHb) or which inhibit its synthesis (NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, MeArg). Mechanical stimulation of MCs produced a time-dependent increase in the levels of their cGMP but not cAMP; this increase was enhanced by E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS). NO generators such as sodium nitroprusside (NaNp) also augmented the levels of cGMP in MCs. NaNp inhibited in a dose-dependent manner the release of histamine evoked by compound 48/80 (0.5 microgram/ml), but not by the O2.--generating system (xanthine-xanthine oxidase), suggesting a bidirectional regulation of histamine release afforded by O2.- and NO.

Animals↗