scholarly journals Calcium Ionophore, Calcimycin, Kills Leishmania Promastigotes by Activating Parasite Nitric Oxide Synthase

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Igor Grekov ◽  
António R. Pombinho ◽  
Tatyana Kobets ◽  
Petr Bartůněk ◽  
Marie Lipoldová
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Nitric Oxide Synthase ◽  
Mechanism Of Action ◽  
Calcium Ionophore ◽  
Resazurin Assay ◽  
Nos Inhibitors ◽  
Human Leishmaniasis ◽  
Leishmania Promastigotes ◽  
Constitutive Nitric Oxide Synthase ◽  
Oxide Synthase

Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. There is no vaccine against human leishmaniasis and the treatment of the disease would benefit from a broader spectrum and a higher efficacy of leishmanicidal compounds. We analyzed the leishmanicidal activity and the mechanism of action of the calcium ionophore, calcimycin. L. major promastigotes were coincubated with calcimycin and the viability of the cells was assessed using resazurin assay. Calcimycin displayed dose-dependent effect with IC50 = 0.16 μM. Analysis of propidium iodide/LDS-751 stained promastigotes revealed that lower concentrations of calcimycin had cytostatic effect and higher concentrations had cytotoxic effect. To establish the mechanism of action of calcimycin, which is known to stimulate activity of mammalian constitutive nitric oxide synthase (NOS), we coincubated L. major promastigotes with calcimycin and selective NOS inhibitors ARL-17477 or L-NNA. Addition of these inhibitors substantially decreased the toxicity of calcimycin to Leishmania promastigotes. In doing so, we demonstrated for the first time that calcimycin has a direct leishmanicidal effect on L. major promastigotes. Also, we showed that Leishmania constitutive Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent nitric oxide synthase is involved in the parasite cell death. These data suggest activation of Leishmania nitric oxide synthase as a new therapeutic approach.

Role of nitric oxide synthase isoforms in glucose-stimulated insulin release

2002 ◽  
Vol 283 (1) ◽  
pp. C296-C304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ragnar Henningsson ◽  
Albert Salehi ◽  
Ingmar Lundquist
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Nitric Oxide Synthase ◽  
Insulin Release ◽  
Type Ii Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
No Production ◽  
No Donor ◽  
Nos Inhibitors ◽  
Constitutive Nitric Oxide Synthase ◽  
Oxide Synthase

The role of islet constitutive nitric oxide synthase (cNOS) in insulin-releasing mechanisms is controversial. By measuring enzyme activities and protein expression of NOS isoforms [i.e., cNOS and inducible NOS (iNOS)] in islets of Langerhans cells in relation to insulin secretion, we show that glucose dose-dependently stimulates islet activities of both cNOS and iNOS, that cNOS-derived nitric oxide (NO) strongly inhibits glucose-stimulated insulin release, and that short-term hyperglycemia in mice induces islet iNOS activity. Moreover, addition of NO gas or an NO donor inhibited glucose-stimulated insulin release, and different NOS inhibitors effected a potentiation. These effects were evident also in K+-depolarized islets in the presence of the ATP-sensitive K+ channel opener diazoxide. Furthermore, our results emphasize the necessity of measuring islet NOS activity when using NOS inhibitors, because certain concentrations of certain NOS inhibitors might unexpectedly stimulate islet NO production. This is shown by the observation that 0.5 mmol/l of the NOS inhibitor N G-monomethyl-l-arginine (l-NMMA) stimulated cNOS activity in parallel with an inhibition of the first phase of glucose-stimulated insulin release in perifused rats islets, whereas 5.0 mmol/l of l-NMMA markedly suppressed cNOS activity concomitant with a great potentiation of the insulin secretory response. The data strongly suggest, but do not definitely prove, that glucose indeed has the ability to stimulate both cNOS and iNOS in the islets and that NO might serve as a negative feedback inhibitor of glucose-stimulated insulin release. The results also suggest that hyperglycemia-evoked islet NOS activity might be one of multiple factors involved in the impairment of glucose-stimulated insulin release in type II diabetes mellitus.

scholarly journals Involvement of nitric oxide, which was synthesized by constitutive nitric oxide synthase, and prostaglandin on diarrhea induced by castor oil in rats.

1997 ◽  
Vol 110 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masayuki UCHIDA ◽  
Kei MATSUEDA ◽  
Yumi KATO ◽  
Ryousuke SHODA ◽  
Shigeru YAMATO ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Nitric Oxide Synthase ◽  
Castor Oil ◽  
Constitutive Nitric Oxide Synthase ◽  
Oxide Synthase

Inhibition of tetrahydrobiopterin biosynthesis impairs endothelium-dependent relaxations in canine basilar artery

1997 ◽  
Vol 273 (2) ◽  
pp. H718-H724 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Kinoshita ◽  
S. Milstien ◽  
C. Wambi ◽  
Z. S. Katusic
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Superoxide Dismutase ◽  
Nitric Oxide Synthase ◽  
Endothelial Function ◽  
Isometric Force ◽  
Cerebral Arteries ◽  
Calcium Ionophore ◽  
Nitric Oxide Donor ◽  
Ionophore A23187 ◽  
Oxide Synthase

Tetrahydrobiopterin is an essential cofactor in biosynthesis of nitric oxide. The present study was designed to determine the effect of decreased intracellular tetrahydrobiopterin levels on endothelial function of isolated cerebral arteries. Blood vessels were incubated for 6 h in minimum essential medium (MEM) in the presence or absence of a GTP cyclohydrolase I inhibitor, 2,4-diamino-6-hydroxypyrimidine (DAHP, 10(-2) M). Rings with and without endothelium were suspended for isometric force recording in the presence of a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin (10(-5) M). In arteries with endothelium, DAHP significantly reduced intracellular levels of tetrahydrobiopterin. DAHP in combination with a precursor of the salvage pathway of tetrahydrobiopterin biosynthesis, sepiapterin (10(-4) M), not only restored but increased levels of tetrahydrobiopterin above control values. In DAHP-treated arteries, endothelium-dependent relaxations to bradykinin (10(-10)-10(-6) M) or calcium ionophore A23187 (10(-9)-10(-6) M) were significantly reduced, whereas endothelium-independent relaxations to a nitric oxide donor, 3-morpholinosydnonimine (10(-9)-10(-4) M), were not affected. When DAHP-treated arteries with endothelium were incubated with sepiapterin (10(-4) M) or superoxide dismutase (150 U/ml), relaxations to bradykinin and A23187 were restored to control levels. In contrast, superoxide dismutase did not affect endothelium-dependent relaxations in arteries incubated in MEM. A nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (10(-4) M), abolished relaxations to bradykinin or A23187 in control arteries and in DAHP-treated arteries. These studies demonstrate that in cerebral arteries, decreased intracellular levels of tetrahydrobiopterin can reduce endothelium-dependent relaxations. Production of superoxide anions during activation of dysfunctional endothelial nitric oxide synthase appears to be responsible for the impairment of endothelial function.

Evaluation of the long-term pancreatic effects of constitutive nitric oxide synthase inhibition in dogs

2004 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. Kolaja ◽  
R. R. Bell ◽  
D. Janssen ◽  
P. T. Manning ◽  
M. J. Schlosser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Nitric Oxide Synthase ◽  
Constitutive Nitric Oxide Synthase ◽  
Oxide Synthase

A radiometric analysis of nitric oxide synthase activity in Hymenolepis diminuta

Parasitology ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 120 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. B. TERENINA ◽  
M. V. ONUFRIEV ◽  
N. V. GULYAEVA ◽  
A. M. LINDHOLM ◽  
M. K. S. GUSTAFSSON
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Free Radical ◽  
Nitric Oxide Synthase ◽  
Nadph Diaphorase ◽  
Hymenolepis Diminuta ◽  
Complete Reduction ◽  
Radiometric Analysis ◽  
Nos Inhibitors ◽  
Oxide Synthase ◽  
Nitric Oxide Synthase Activity

The free radical nitric oxide (NO) is a neuronal messenger which is synthesized from L-arginine and O2 by nitric oxide synthase (NOS). In the synthesis NO and L-citrulline are produced in a stoichiometric 1[ratio ]1 relation. The activity of NOS was analysed in homogenates of the rat tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta by measuring the formation of L-[3H]citrulline after incubation with L-[3H]arginine. The nature of NOS in H. diminuta was determined by studying the effect of 3 types of NOS inhibitors: (1) L-NAME, (2) EGTA, (3) 7-nitro-indazole. All inhibitors caused a significant but not complete reduction in the formation of L-[3H]citrulline. The results are discussed against the background of nerve cells and fibres positive for NADPH-diaphorase staining in H. diminuta.

Repeated treatment with nitric oxide synthase inhibitor attenuates learned helplessness development in rats and increases hippocampal BDNF expression

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 127-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Alves Stanquini ◽  
Caroline Biojone ◽  
Francisco Silveira Guimarães ◽  
Sâmia Regiane Joca
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Nitric Oxide Synthase ◽  
Learned Helplessness ◽  
Positive Control ◽  
Repeated Treatment ◽  
Bdnf Expression ◽  
Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibitor ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Nos Inhibitors ◽  
Oxide Synthase

BackgroundNitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors induce antidepressant-like effects in animal models sensitive to acute drug treatment such as the forced swimming test. However, it is not yet clear if repeated treatment with these drugs is required to induce antidepressant-like effects in preclinical models.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to test the effect induced by acute or repeated (7 days) treatment with 7-nitroindazole (7-NI), a preferential inhibitor of neuronal NOS, in rats submitted to the learned helplessness (LH) model. In addition, we aimed at investigating if 7-NI treatment would increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein levels in the hippocampus, similarly to the effect of prototype antidepressants.MethodsAnimals were submitted to a pre-test (PT) session with inescapable footshocks or habituation (no shocks) to the experimental shuttle box. Six days later they were exposed to a test with escapable footshocks. Independent groups received acute (a single injection after PT or before test) or repeated (once a day for 7 days) treatment with vehicle or 7-NI (30 mg/kg).ResultsRepeated, but not acute, treatment with 7-NI attenuated LH development. The effect was similar to repeated imipramine treatment. Moreover, in an independent experimental group, only repeated treatment with 7-NI and imipramine increased BDNF protein levels in the hippocampus.ConclusionThe results suggest the nitrergic system could be a target for the treatment of depressive-like conditions. They also indicate that, similar to the positive control imipramine, the antidepressant-like effects of NOS inhibition could involve an increase in hippocampal BDNF levels.

scholarly journals 7-Nitro indazole, a neuron-specific nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, produces amnesia in the chick.

1994 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 213-216
Author(s):  
C Hölscher
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Synaptic Plasticity ◽  
Nitric Oxide Synthase ◽  
Blood Vessel ◽  
Passive Avoidance ◽  
Avoidance Task ◽  
Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibitor ◽  
Nos Inhibitors ◽  
Synthase Inhibitor ◽  
Oxide Synthase

7-Nitro indazole (7-NI), which is selective for the neuronal isoform of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), was tested in a passive avoidance task in the chick. Injection of 50 mg/kg i.p. pretraining had amnesic effects for the task when tested 30 min, 2 or 24 hr after training. Injections post-training had no effect. Because 7-NI does not inhibit the endothelial isoform of NOS, it does not affect blood vessel relaxation, as nonspecific inhibitors do. This effect on blood vessels could explain the amnestic effects produced by nonspecific NOS inhibitors. The results support the theory that NO is a neuronal transmitter that is important in processes of synaptic plasticity and learning.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document