Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:4.6.1.2 (guanylate cyclase)
 8,497 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

To determine whether nitric oxide (NO) is involved in classic preconditioning (PC), the effect of NO donors as well as inhibition of the L-arginine-NO-cGMP pathway were evaluated on 1) the functional recovery during reperfusion of ischemic rat hearts and 2) cyclic nucleotides during both the PC protocol and sustained ischemia. Tissue cyclic nucleotides were manipulated with NO donors [S-nitroso-N-penicillamine (SNAP), sodium nitroprusside (SNP), or L-arginine] and inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase (N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester or N-nitro-L-arginine) or guanylyl cyclase (1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolol-[4,3-a]quinoxaline-1-one). Pharmacological elevation in tissue cGMP levels by SNAP or SNP before sustained ischemia elicited functional improvement during reperfusion comparable to that by PC. Administration of inhibitors before and during the PC protocol partially attenuated functional recovery, whereas they had no effect when given after the ischemic PC protocol and before sustained ischemia only, indicating a role for NO as a trigger but not as a mediator. Ischemic PC, SNAP, or SNP caused a significant increase in cGMP and a reduction in cAMP levels after 25 min of sustained ischemia that may contribute to the protection obtained. The results obtained suggest a role for NO (and cGMP) as a trigger in classic PC.
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PMID:Nitric oxide: a trigger for classic preconditioning? 1108 30

The role of NO in the classic ischemic preconditioning phenomenon of the myocardium is not well defined, and was investigated by using the isolated perfused rat heart as a model. Hearts were preconditioned with 3 x 5 minute ischemia in the presence and absence of the NOS inhibitors L-NAME (50 microM) and L-NNA (50 microM), and the guanylyl cyclase inhibitor ODQ (20 microM). These inhibitors significantly attenuated the protective effect of preconditioning against 25-min global ischemia (as measured by functional recovery), specifically if administered during the triggering phase. Cyclic infusions (3 x 5 min) of the NO-donors SNAP (50 microM) and SNP (100 microM) elicited protection against both 25-min global or low-flow ischemia. Hearts preconditioned with NO donors displayed significantly superior functional reserve, if stimulated with adrenaline, compared to hearts preconditioned with ischemia. Although the NO donors SNAP and SNP both activated p38 MAPK during the preconditioning protocol, protection was accompanied by significantly decreased p38 MAPK activity during sustained ischemia, as was the case in ischemic preconditioning. We conclude that (1) NO is a trigger for classic preconditioning, (2) cGMP generation plays an important role in its protection, (3) attenuation of p38 MAPK during sustained ischemia accompanies NO preconditioning and may mediate cardiac protection, and (4) preconditioning with NO may be more advantageous than using ischemia.
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PMID:Nitric oxide triggers classic ischemic preconditioning. 1207 91

Upregulation of expression of the close homolog of adhesion molecule L1 (CHL1) by reactive astrocytes in the glial scar reduces axonal regeneration and inhibits functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI). Here, we investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying upregulation of CHL1 expression by analyzing the signal transduction pathways in vitro. We show that astrogliosis stimulated by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) upregulates CHL1 expression in primary cultures of mouse cerebral astrocytes, coinciding with elevated protein synthesis and translocation of protein kinase delta (PKCdelta) from cytosol to the membrane fraction. Blocking PKCdelta activity pharmacologically and genetically attenuates LPS-induced elevation of CHL1 protein expression through a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) dependent pathway. LPS induces extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2) phosphorylation through PKCdelta and blockade of ERK1/2 activation abolishes upregulation of CHL1 expression. LPS-triggered upregulation of CHL1 expression mediated through translocation of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) to the nucleus is blocked by a specific NF-kappaB inhibitor and by inhibition of PI3K, PKCdelta, and ERK1/2 activities, implicating NF-kappaB as a downstream target for upregulation of CHL1 expression. Furthermore, the LPS-mediated upregulation of CHL1 expression by reactive astrocytes is inhibitory for hippocampal neurite outgrowth in cocultures. Although the LPS-triggered NO-guanylate cyclase-cGMP pathway upregulates glial fibrillary acid protein expression in cultured astrocytes, we did not observe this pathway to mediate LPS-induced upregulation of CHL1 expression. Our results indicate that elevated CHL1 expression by reactive astrocytes requires activation of PI3K/PKCdelta-dependent pathways and suggest that reduction of PI3K/PKCdelta activity represents a therapeutic target to downregulate CHL1 expression and thus benefit axonal regeneration after SCI.
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PMID:Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase Cdelta activation induces close homolog of adhesion molecule L1 (CHL1) expression in cultured astrocytes. 1967 67

1. Current studies indicate that nitric oxide (NO) plays a dual role as both a protective and pathogenic factor in focal cerebral ischaemia depending on the level, location, source and environment. The present study hypothesized that the NO donor ZJM-289 could inhibit cerebral ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and investigated the mechanism of the beneficial events. 2. Adult male rats were randomly divided into four groups: (i) sham operated; (ii) I/R (ischaemia for 90 min and reperfusion for 24 h) treated with vehicle; (iii) I/R treated with 0.1 mmol/kg body weight ZJM-289; and (iv) I/R treated with 0.2 mmol/kg body weight ZJM-289. We evaluated the changes in brain infarction, brain-water content, neurological deficits and histopathology. Western blot analysis was used to study the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the brain after I/R. The levels of NO and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) were also determined. 3. ZJM-289 reduced infarct volume and brain-water content in ischemic brains and promoted functional recovery. Western blotting showed significant inhibition of nNOS in ZJM-289 treated rats compared with untreated rats. However, eNOS expression in the ischemic brain was enhanced in the ZJM-289 groups. The cGMP and NO levels increased in the ZJM-289 groups after I/R. The study showed that ZJM-289 could alleviate cerebral injury after I/R through inhibition of nNOS and stimulation of the NO/soluble guanylate cyclase/cGMP pathway. Therefore, a suitable NO donor might be an effective candidate for the treatment of acute stroke by neuroprotection.
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PMID:ZJM-289, a novel nitric oxide donor, alleviates the cerebral ischaemic-reperfusion injury in rats. 2040 79

Increased levels of extracellular superoxide dismutase (ecSOD) induced by preconditioning or gene therapy protect the heart from ischemia/reperfusion injury. To elucidate the mechanism responsible for this action, we studied the effects of increased superoxide scavenging on nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability in a cardiac myocyte-specific ecSOD transgenic (Tg) mouse. Results indicated that ecSOD overexpression increased cardiac myocyte-specific ecSOD activity 27.5-fold. Transgenic ecSOD was localized to the sarcolemma and, notably, the cytoplasm of cardiac myocytes. Ischemia/reperfusion injury was attenuated in ecSOD Tg hearts, in which infarct size was decreased and LV functional recovery was improved. Using the ROS spin trap, DMPO, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy demonstrated a significant decrease in ROS in Tg hearts during the first 20 min of reperfusion. This decrease in ROS was accompanied by an increase in NO production determined by EPR using the NO spin trap, Fe-MGD. Attenuated ROS in ecSOD Tg myocytes was also supported by decreased production of peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)). Increased NO bioavailability was confirmed by attenuated guanylate cyclase-dependent (p-VASP) signaling. In conclusion, attenuation of ROS levels by cardiac-specific ecSOD overexpression increases NO bioavailability in response to ischemia/reperfusion and protects against reperfusion injury. These findings are the first to demonstrate increased NO bioavailability with attenuation of ROS by direct measurement of these reactive species (EPR, reactive fluorescent dyes) with cardiac-specific ecSOD expression. This is also the first indication that the predominantly extracellular SOD isoform is capable of cytosolic localization that affects myocardial intracellular signal transduction and function.
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PMID:Cardiomyocyte-restricted overexpression of extracellular superoxide dismutase increases nitric oxide bioavailability and reduces infarct size after ischemia/reperfusion. 2309 19

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) has been shown by several workers to protect the heart against ischaemia/reperfusion damage. Melatonin, both in the picomolar and micromolar range, significantly reduces infarct size and improves functional recovery during reperfusion. This may be due to its free radical scavenging and anti-oxidant effects, while the melatonin receptor and its marked anti-adrenergic actions may also be involved. The latter is mediated by nitric oxide (NO), guanylyl cyclase and protein kinase C (PKC). Melatonin-induced cardioprotection is associated with activation of protein kinase B (PKB), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) (the Reperfusion Injury Salvage Kinase (RISK) pathway) and signal activator and transducer 3 (STAT-3) (the Survivor Activating Factor Enhancement (SAFE) pathway) during reperfusion and inhibition of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP). Very little is known about the effect of melatonin on myocardial substrate metabolism. Melatonin was demonstrated to be involved in the regulation of whole body glucose homeostasis via its effects on pancreatic insulin secretion and may thus indirectly affect myocardial substrate metabolism in a circadian manner.
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PMID:Cardioprotective effect of melatonin against ischaemia/reperfusion damage. 2327 91