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The Journal of Physiology Nov 2020Preclinical models have demonstrated that nitric oxide is a key component of neurovascular coupling; this has yet to be translated to humans. We conducted two separate...
KEY POINTS
Preclinical models have demonstrated that nitric oxide is a key component of neurovascular coupling; this has yet to be translated to humans. We conducted two separate protocols utilizing intravenous infusion of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor and isovolumic haemodilution to assess the influence of nitric oxide on neurovascular coupling in humans. Isovolumic haemodilution did not alter neurovascular coupling. Intravenous infusion of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor reduced the neurovascular coupling response by ∼30%, indicating that nitric oxide is integral to neurovascular coupling in humans.
ABSTRACT
Nitric oxide is a vital neurovascular signalling molecule in preclinical models, yet the mechanisms underlying neurovascular coupling (NVC) in humans have yet to be elucidated. To investigate the contribution of nitric oxide to NVC in humans, we utilized a visual stimulus paradigm to elicit an NVC response in the posterior cerebral circulation. Two distinct mechanistic interventions were conducted on young healthy males: (1) NVC was assessed during intravenous infusion of saline (placebo) and the non-selective competitive nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N -monomethyl-l-arginine (l-NMMA, 5 mg kg bolus & subsequent 50 μg kg min maintenance dose; n = 10). The order of infusion was randomized, counterbalanced and single blinded. A subset of participants in this study (n = 4) underwent a separate intervention with phenylephrine infusion to independently consider the influence of blood pressure changes on NVC (0.1-0.6 μg kg min constant infusion). (2) NVC was assessed prior to and following isovolumic haemodilution, whereby 20% of whole blood was removed and replaced with 5% human serum albumin to reduce haemoglobin concentration (n = 8). For both protocols, arterial and internal jugular venous blood samples were collected at rest and coupled with volumetric measures of cerebral blood flow (duplex ultrasound) to quantify resting cerebral metabolic parameters. l-NMMA elicited a 30% reduction in the peak (P = 0.01), but not average (P = 0.11), NVC response. Neither phenylephrine nor haemodilution influenced NVC. Nitric oxide signalling is integral to NVC in humans, providing a new direction for research into pharmacological treatment of humans with dementia.
Topics: Cerebrovascular Circulation; Enzyme Inhibitors; Humans; Male; Neurovascular Coupling; Nitric Oxide; omega-N-Methylarginine
PubMed: 32785972
DOI: 10.1113/JP280162 -
Journal of the National Cancer Institute Jun 2017Metaplastic breast cancer is one of the most therapeutically challenging forms of breast cancer because of its highly heterogeneous and chemoresistant nature. We have...
BACKGROUND
Metaplastic breast cancer is one of the most therapeutically challenging forms of breast cancer because of its highly heterogeneous and chemoresistant nature. We have previously demonstrated that ribosomal protein L39 (RPL39) and its gain-of-function mutation A14V have oncogenic activity in triple-negative breast cancer and this activity may be mediated through inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The function of RPL39 and A14V in other breast cancer subtypes is currently unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the role and mechanism of action of RPL39 in metaplastic breast cancer.
METHODS
Both competitive allele-specific and droplet digital polymerase chain reaction were used to determine the RPL39 A14V mutation rate in metaplastic breast cancer patient samples. The impact of RPL39 and iNOS expression on patient overall survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Co-immunoprecipitation and immunoblot analyses were used for mechanistic evaluation of RPL39.
RESULTS
The RPL39 A14V mutation rate was 97.5% (39/40 tumor samples). High RPL39 (hazard ratio = 0.71, 95% confidence interval = 0.55 to 0.91, P = 006) and iNOS expression (P = 003) were associated with reduced patient overall survival. iNOS inhibition with the pan-NOS inhibitor N-methyl-L-arginine acetate decreased in vitro proliferation and migration, in vivo tumor growth in both BCM-4664 and BCM-3807 patient-derived xenograft models (P = 04 and P = 02, respectively), and in vitro and in vivo chemoresistance. Mechanistically, RPL39 mediated its cancer-promoting actions through iNOS signaling, which was driven by the RNA editing enzyme adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 1.
CONCLUSION
NOS inhibitors and RNA editing modulators may offer novel treatment options for metaplastic breast cancer.
Topics: Adenosine Deaminase; Animals; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Movement; Cell Proliferation; Down-Regulation; Enzyme Inhibitors; Female; Humans; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Metaplasia; Mice; Mutation Rate; Neoplasm Transplantation; Nitrates; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Nitrites; RNA, Small Interfering; RNA-Binding Proteins; Ribosomal Proteins; STAT3 Transcription Factor; Signal Transduction; Survival Rate; Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms; Ubiquitin C; omega-N-Methylarginine
PubMed: 28040796
DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djw292 -
Journal of Bacteriology Apr 2017Dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolases (DDAHs) catalyze the hydrolysis of methylarginines to yield l-citrulline and methylamines as products. DDAHs and their central...
Dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolases (DDAHs) catalyze the hydrolysis of methylarginines to yield l-citrulline and methylamines as products. DDAHs and their central roles in methylarginine metabolism have been characterized for eukaryotic cells. While DDAHs are known to exist in some bacteria, including and , the physiological importance and genetic regulation of bacterial DDAHs remain poorly understood. To provide some insight into bacterial methylarginine metabolism, this study focused on identifying the key elements or factors regulating DDAH expression in PAO1. First, results revealed that can utilize , -dimethyl-l-arginine (ADMA) as a sole source of nitrogen but not carbon. Second, expression of the gene was observed to be induced in the presence of methylarginines, including -monomethyl-l-arginine (l-NMMA) and ADMA. Third, induction of the gene was shown to be achieved through a mechanism consisting of the putative enhancer-binding protein PA1196 and the alternative sigma factor RpoN. Both PA1196 and RpoN were essential for the expression of the gene in response to methylarginines. On the basis of the results of this study, PA1196 was given the name DdaR, for imethylarginine imethylminohydrolase egulator. Interestingly, DdaR and its target gene are conserved only among strains, suggesting that this particular species has evolved to utilize methylarginines from its environment. Methylated arginine residues are common constituents of eukaryotic proteins. During proteolysis, methylarginines are released in their free forms and become accessible nutrients for bacteria to utilize as growth substrates. In order to have a clearer and better understanding of this process, we explored methylarginine utilization in the metabolically versatile bacterium PAO1. Our results show that the transcriptional regulator DdaR (PA1196) and the sigma factor RpoN positively regulate expression of dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolases (DDAHs) in response to exogenous methylarginines. DDAH is the central enzyme of methylarginine degradation, and its transcriptional regulation by DdaR-RpoN is expected to be conserved among strains.
Topics: Amidohydrolases; Arginine; Bacterial Proteins; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; RNA Polymerase Sigma 54; omega-N-Methylarginine
PubMed: 28167521
DOI: 10.1128/JB.00001-17 -
Heart (British Cardiac Society) Mar 2001
Review
Topics: Arginine; Cardiovascular Diseases; Coronary Disease; Endothelium, Vascular; Genetic Therapy; Humans; Nitric Oxide; Risk Factors; Sepsis; Vasoconstriction; omega-N-Methylarginine
PubMed: 11179281
DOI: 10.1136/heart.85.3.342 -
Journal of Applied Physiology... Dec 2017Broxterman RM, Trinity JD, Gifford JR, Kwon OS, Kithas AC, Hydren JR, Nelson AD, Morgan DE, Jessop JE, Bledsoe AD, Richardson RS. Single passive leg movement assessment...
Broxterman RM, Trinity JD, Gifford JR, Kwon OS, Kithas AC, Hydren JR, Nelson AD, Morgan DE, Jessop JE, Bledsoe AD, Richardson RS. Single passive leg movement assessment of vascular function: contribution of nitric oxide. J Appl Physiol 123: 1468-1476, 2017. First published August 31, 2017; doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00533.2017.-The assessment of passive leg movement (PLM)-induced leg blood flow (LBF) and vascular conductance (LVC) is a novel approach to assess vascular function that has recently been simplified to only a single PLM (sPLM), thereby increasing the clinical utility of this technique. As the physiological mechanisms mediating the robust increase in LBF and LVC with sPLM are unknown, we tested the hypothesis that nitric oxide (NO) is a major contributor to the sPLM-induced LBF and LVC response. In nine healthy men, sPLM was performed with and without NO synthase inhibition by intra-arterial infusion of N-monomethyl-l-arginine (l-NMMA). Doppler ultrasound and femoral arterial pressure were used to determine LBF and LVC, which were characterized by the peak change (ΔLBF and ΔLVC) and area under the curve (LBF and LVC). l-NMMA significantly attenuated ΔLBF [492 ± 153 (l-NMMA) vs. 719 ± 238 (control) ml/min], LBF [57 ± 34 (l NMMA) vs. 147 ± 63 (control) ml], ΔLVC [4.7 ± 1.1 (l-NMMA) vs. 8.0 ± 3.0 (control) ml·min·mmHg], and LVC [0.5 ± 0.3 (l-NMMA) vs. 1.6 ± 0.9 (control) ml/mmHg]. The magnitude of the NO contribution to LBF and LVC was significantly correlated with the magnitude of the control responses ( r = 0.94 for ΔLBF, r = 0.85 for LBF, r = 0.94 for ΔLVC, and r = 0.95 for LVC). These data establish that the sPLM-induced hyperemic and vasodilatory response is predominantly (~65%) NO-mediated. As such, sPLM appears to be a promising, simple, in vivo assessment of NO-mediated vascular function and NO bioavailability. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Passive leg movement (PLM), a novel assessment of vascular function, has been simplified to a single PLM (sPLM), thereby increasing the clinical utility of this technique. However, the role of nitric oxide (NO) in mediating the robust sPLM hemodynamic responses is unknown. This study revealed that sPLM induces a hyperemic and vasodilatory response that is predominantly NO-mediated and, as such, appears to be a promising simple, in vivo, clinical assessment of NO-mediated vascular function and, therefore, NO bioavailability.
Topics: Adult; Arterial Pressure; Enzyme Inhibitors; Hemodynamics; Humans; Hyperemia; Leg; Male; Movement; Nitric Oxide; Regional Blood Flow; Vasodilation; Young Adult; omega-N-Methylarginine
PubMed: 28860173
DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00533.2017 -
Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica Oct 2009Challenges have emerged following the revival of nitric oxide (NO) from 'something old', a simple gas derived from nitrogen and oxygen with a role in the early stages of... (Review)
Review
Challenges have emerged following the revival of nitric oxide (NO) from 'something old', a simple gas derived from nitrogen and oxygen with a role in the early stages of evolution, into 'something new', an endogenously formed biological mediator regulating a wide variety of physiological functions. Although pain is a common sensation, it encompasses multiple neurobiologic components, of which NO is only one. In pain research, the study of NO is complicated by convoluted problems related mostly to the effects of NO, which are pro- or anti-nociceptive depending on the circumstances. This dual function reflects the multi-faceted roles of the NO molecule described in physiology. This review covers current information about NO and its implications in pain mechanisms. In addition, it follows the pain pathways, demonstrating the role of NO in peripheral nociceptive transmission as well in central sensitization. This knowledge may provide the scientific basis for developing new drugs that are indicated for different types of pain, drugs that may be related to the chemical links of NO. A comprehensive approach to understanding the effects of NO will help clinicians identify novel agents that combine the pharmacological profile of native drugs with a controllable manner of NO release. Inhibitors of NO synthesis may have analgesic effects and would be of interest for treating inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Unfortunately, only a few of these compounds have reached the stage of clinical pain trials.
Topics: Animals; Biopterins; Cyclic AMP; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; Enzyme Inhibitors; Humans; N-Methylaspartate; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide Donors; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Nociceptors; Pain; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; Reactive Nitrogen Species; Reactive Oxygen Species; Signal Transduction; omega-N-Methylarginine
PubMed: 19702699
DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-6576.2009.02054.x -
Eukaryotic Cell Sep 2007Protein arginine methylation is a posttranslational modification that impacts cellular functions, such as RNA processing, transcription, DNA repair, and signal...
Protein arginine methylation is a posttranslational modification that impacts cellular functions, such as RNA processing, transcription, DNA repair, and signal transduction. The majority of our knowledge regarding arginine methylation derives from studies of yeast and mammals. Here, we describe a protein arginine N-methyltransferase (PRMT), TbPRMT5, from the early-branching eukaryote Trypanosoma brucei. TbPRMT5 shares the greatest sequence similarity with PRMT5 and Skb1 type II enzymes from humans and Schizosaccharomyces pombe, respectively, although it is significantly divergent at the amino acid level from its mammalian and yeast counterparts. Recombinant TbPRMT5 displays broad substrate specificity in vitro, including methylation of a mitochondrial-gene-regulatory protein, RBP16. TbPRMT5 catalyzes the formation of omega-N(G)-monomethylarginine and symmetric omega-N(G),N(G')-dimethylarginine and does not require trypanosome cofactors for this activity. These data establish that type II PRMTs evolved early in the eukaryotic lineage. In vivo, TbPRMT5 is constitutively expressed in the bloodstream form and procyclic-form (insect host) life stages of the parasite and localizes to the cytoplasm. Genetic disruption via RNA interference in procyclic-form trypanosomes indicates that TbPRMT5 is not essential for growth in this life cycle stage. TbPRMT5-TAP ectopically expressed in procyclic-form trypanosomes is present in high-molecular-weight complexes and associates with an RG domain-containing DEAD box protein related to yeast Ded1 and two kinetoplastid-specific proteins. Thus, TbPRMT5 is likely to be involved in novel methylation-regulated functions in trypanosomes, some of which may include RNA processing and/or translation.
Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Catalysis; DEAD-box RNA Helicases; Evolution, Molecular; Genes, Protozoan; Methylation; Molecular Sequence Data; Phylogeny; Protein-Arginine N-Methyltransferases; Protozoan Proteins; Recombinant Proteins; Substrate Specificity; Trypanosoma brucei brucei; omega-N-Methylarginine
PubMed: 17601874
DOI: 10.1128/EC.00133-07 -
American Journal of Physiology. Heart... Mar 2016We tested the hypothesis that women exhibit greater vasodilator responses to β-adrenoceptor stimulation compared with men. We further hypothesized women exhibit a...
We tested the hypothesis that women exhibit greater vasodilator responses to β-adrenoceptor stimulation compared with men. We further hypothesized women exhibit a greater contribution of nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase to β-adrenergic-mediated vasodilation compared with men. Forearm blood flow (Doppler ultrasound) was measured in young men (n = 29, 26 ± 1 yr) and women (n = 33, 25 ± 1 yr) during intra-arterial infusion of isoproterenol (β-adrenergic agonist). In subset of subjects, isoproterenol responses were examined before and after local inhibition of nitric oxide synthase [N(G)-monomethyl-l-arginine (l-NMMA); 6 male/10 female] and/or cyclooxygenase (ketorolac; 5 male/5 female). Vascular conductance (blood flow ÷ mean arterial pressure) was calculated to assess vasodilation. Vascular conductance increased with isoproterenol infusion (P < 0.01), and this effect was not different between men and women (P = 0.41). l-NMMA infusion had no effect on isoproterenol-mediated dilation in men (P > 0.99) or women (P = 0.21). In contrast, ketorolac infusion markedly increased isoproterenol-mediated responses in both men (P < 0.01) and women (P = 0.04) and this rise was lost with subsequent l-NMMA infusion (men, P < 0.01; women, P < 0.05). β-Adrenergic vasodilation is not different between men and women and sex differences in the independent contribution of nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase to β-mediated vasodilation are not present. However, these data are the first to demonstrate β-adrenoceptor activation of cyclooxygenase suppresses nitric oxide synthase signaling in human forearm microcirculation and may have important implications for neurovascular control in both health and disease.
Topics: Adrenergic beta-Agonists; Adult; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; Enzyme Inhibitors; Female; Forearm; Humans; Infusions, Intra-Arterial; Isoproterenol; Ketorolac; Male; Microcirculation; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; Sex Factors; Ultrasonography, Doppler; Vasodilation; omega-N-Methylarginine
PubMed: 26747505
DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00886.2015 -
American Journal of Physiology. Heart... Mar 2016The proposed mechanistic link between the age-related attenuation in vascular function and free radicals is an attractive hypothesis; however, direct evidence of free...
The proposed mechanistic link between the age-related attenuation in vascular function and free radicals is an attractive hypothesis; however, direct evidence of free radical attenuation and a concomitant improvement in vascular function in the elderly is lacking. Therefore, this study sought to test the hypothesis that ascorbic acid (AA), administered intra-arterially during progressive handgrip exercise, improves brachial artery (BA) vasodilation in a nitric oxide (NO)-dependent manner, by mitigating free radical production. BA vasodilation (Doppler ultrasound) and free radical outflow [electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy] were measured in seven healthy older adults (69 ± 2 yr) during handgrip exercise at 3, 6, 9, and 12 kg (∼13-52% of maximal voluntary contraction) during the control condition and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition via N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), AA, and coinfusion of l-NMMA + AA. Baseline BA diameter was not altered by any of the treatments, while L-NMMA and L-NMMA + AA diminished baseline BA blood flow and shear rate. AA improved BA dilation compared with control at 9 kg (control: 6.5 ± 2.2%, AA: 10.9 ± 2.5%, P = 0.01) and 12 kg (control: 9.5 ± 2.7%, AA: 15.9 ± 3.7%, P < 0.01). NOS inhibition blunted BA vasodilation compared with control and when combined with AA eliminated the AA-induced improvement in BA vasodilation. Free radical outflow increased with exercise intensity but, interestingly, was not attenuated by AA. Collectively, these results indicate that AA improves BA vasodilation in the elderly during handgrip exercise through an NO-dependent mechanism; however, this improvement appears not to be the direct consequence of attenuated free radical outflow from the forearm.
Topics: Aged; Ascorbic Acid; Brachial Artery; Enzyme Inhibitors; Exercise; Female; Free Radicals; Hand Strength; Humans; Infusions, Intra-Arterial; Male; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Regional Blood Flow; Vasodilation; omega-N-Methylarginine
PubMed: 26801312
DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00817.2015 -
Journal of the American Society For... Jul 2019Arginine methylation is a common protein post-translational modification (PTM) that plays a key role in eukaryotic cells. Three distinct types of this modification are...
Arginine methylation is a common protein post-translational modification (PTM) that plays a key role in eukaryotic cells. Three distinct types of this modification are found in mammals: asymmetric NN-dimethylarginine (aDMA), symmetric NN-dimethylarginine (sDMA), and an intermediate N-monomethylarginine (MMA). Elucidation of regulatory mechanisms of arginine methylation in living organisms requires precise information on both the type of the modified residues and their location inside the protein amino acid sequences. Despite mass spectrometry (MS) being the method of choice for analysis of multiple protein PTMs, unambiguous characterization of protein arginine methylation may not be always straightforward. Indeed, frequent internal basic residues of Arg methylated tryptic peptides hamper their sequencing under positive ion mode collision-induced dissociation (CID), the standardly used tandem mass spectrometry method, while the relative stability of the aDMA and sDMA side chains under alternative non-ergodic electron-based fragmentation techniques, electron-capture and electron transfer dissociations (ECD and ETD), may impede differentiation between the isobaric residues. Here, for the first time, we demonstrate the potential of the negative ion mode collision-induced dissociation MS for analysis of protein arginine methylation and present data revealing that the negative polarity approach can deliver both an unambiguous identification of the arginine methylation type and extensive information on the modified peptide sequences.
Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Arginine; Peptides; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Proteins; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; omega-N-Methylarginine
PubMed: 30915654
DOI: 10.1007/s13361-019-02176-9