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Query: UMLS:C0011849 (diabetes)
 277,896 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Nitric oxide (NO) is a critical mediator of a variety of biological functions. A range of micro-organisms, including viruses, bacteria, protozoa and helminths, is sensitive to NO produced by macrophages activated with gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) and lipopolysaccharide. In contrast, NO is involved in a number of important immunopathologies, including diabetes, graft-vs-host reaction, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and multiple sclerosis. Thus, it is crucial that the synthesis of NO is under tight regulation. This is achieved, in part, through the opposing cytokines produced by T helper 1 (Th1) and Th2 cells. Th1 cells produce IFN-gamma, which is the most powerful inducer of inducible NO synthase (iNOS). In contrast, interleukin 4 is produced by Th2 cells and inhibits the induction of iNOS at the level of transcription. Furthermore, NO is also produced by Th1 cells, whose proliferation can be inhibited by high concentrations of NO. Thus, apart from being a mediator of Th1/Th2 interaction, NO may also be an important self-regulatory molecule that prevents the over-expansion of Th1 cells which are implicated in a range of severe immunopathologies.
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PMID:Nitric oxide in infectious and autoimmune diseases. 872 41

Levels of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and NADPH-diaphorase in adrenal glands of streptozotocin-diabetic rats of 8 and 12 weeks' duration compared with control rats were assessed with histo-chemical and biochemical techniques. Adrenal glands from streptozotocin-diabetic rats of 8 weeks' duration treated with ganglioside were examined also. In the adrenal medulla of 8-weeks- and 12-weeks-diabetic rats, NOS-immunoreactive nerve fibres were increased and decreased, respectively; additional NOS-immunoreactive and NADPH-diaphorase stained cells, which appeared to be cortical cells, were located in medulla and cortex compared with controls. Increased intensity in NADPH-diaphorase staining of the cortical cells of diabetic rats was observed also. Ganglioside treatment of the 8-weeks-diabetic rats prevented the diabetic-induced increase in NOS-immunoreactive nerve fibres. Also, it reduced most of the increase in the NOS-immunoreactive and NADPH-diaphorase stained cells and the intensity of NADPH-diaphorase staining of cortical cells. With biochemical assay, a significant increase in NOS activity was found in the adrenal glands from 8-weeks-diabetic rats, and this increase was reduced by ganglioside treatment in four out of six diabetic rats. In summary, streptozotocin-induced diabetes causes an initial increase in the levels of NOS and NADPH-diaphorase in the adrenal gland of rat, which was prevented by ganglioside treatment.
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PMID:Increase in nitric oxide synthase and NADPH-diaphorase in the adrenal gland of streptozotocin-diabetic Wistar rats and its prevention by ganglioside. 873 86

The question which neurotransmitters mediate penile erection in humans is still unsettled. Although functional studies have established a role of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and nitric oxide (NO) in human penile smooth muscle relaxation, they did not allow a conclusion as to whether they are released by neurons or other cells. This article outlines the identification of numerous nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and VIP-containing axons in the human penis. More than 50% of the perivascular nerve fibres and more than 90% of the trabecular nerve fibres within the corpus cavernosum stained positive for both NOS and VIP. In contrast, endothelial cells stained only faintly for NOS-immunoreactivity, NOS/VIP-immunoreactivity was reduced (diabetes) or absent (lesion of the cavernous nerve) in penile tissue taken from patients with neurogenic impotence. These findings support the concept that NO and VIP act as neural comediators of penile erection in humans.
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PMID:Nitric oxide synthase and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide colocalization in neurons innervating the human penile circulation. 875 48

Hypertension is associated with insulin-resistant states such as diabetes and obesity. Nitric oxide (NO) contributes to regulation of blood pressure. To gain insight into potential mechanisms linking hypertension with insulin resistance we directly measured and characterized NO production from human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in response to insulin using an amperometric NO-selective electrode. Insulin stimulation of HUVEC resulted in rapid, dose-dependent production of NO with a maximal response of approximately 100 nM NO (200,000 cells in 2 ml media; ED50 approximately 500 nM insulin). Although HUVEC have many more IGF-1 receptors than insulin receptors (approximately 400,000, and approximately 40,000 per cell respectively), a maximally stimulating dose of IGF-1 generated a smaller response than insulin (40 nM NO; ED50 approximately 100 nM IGF-1). Stimulation of HUVEC with PDGF did not result in measurable NO production. The effects of insulin and IGF-1 were completely blocked by inhibitors of either tyrosine kinase (genestein) or nitric oxide synthase (L-NAME). Wortmannin (an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase [PI 3-kinase]) inhibited insulin-stimulated production of NO by approximately 50%. Since PI 3-kinase activity is required for insulin-stimulated glucose transport, our data suggest that NO is a novel effector of insulin signaling pathways that are also involved with glucose metabolism.
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PMID:Insulin-stimulated production of nitric oxide is inhibited by wortmannin. Direct measurement in vascular endothelial cells. 877 Aug 59

Aminoguanidine treatment prevents the development of nerve conduction velocity (NCV) deficits and some renal and retinal complications in diabetic rats. Pharmacological actions include inhibition of the formation of advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs) and nitric oxide (NO) synthase. The aims of the study were to determine the extent to which diabetic NCV and nerve blood flow deficits could be corrected by aminoguanidine in an intervention study, to assess the time course of drug action, and to examine the effects of cotreatment with the NO synthase inhibitor, NG-nitro-L-arginine (NOLA). A 19.3% +/- 0.9% reduction in sciatic motor NCV after 4 weeks of untreated diabetes was corrected 86.6% +/- 3.7% by aminoguanidine treatment for a further 4 weeks. Time-course studies showed that 50% of the maximal effect was attained within 6 days. Sciatic endoneurial capillary blood flow, reduced approximately 45% by diabetes, was corrected 85.6% +/- 12.1% by aminoguanidine treatment. The NCV and blood flow effects of aminoguanidine were completely blocked by cotreatment with NOLA. Thus, the data support a neurovascular mechanism for aminoguanidine involving improved NO action. The rapidity of aminoguanide's effect is consistent with inhibition of free radical production by autoxidative glycosylation or glycoxidation.
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PMID:Rapid reversal by aminoguanidine of the neurovascular effects of diabetes in rats: modulation by nitric oxide synthase inhibition. 878 3

Cytokines produced by immune system cells infiltrating pancreatic islets are candidate mediators of islet beta-cell destruction in autoimmune insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Cytokine-induced islet beta-cell destruction may be mediated by reactive oxygen intermediates. To determine the possible roles of oxygen free radicals and nitric oxide (NO) as mediators of islet beta-cell destruction, we studied the relationships among cytokine-induced beta-cell destruction, production of malondialdehyde (MDA; an end product of lipid peroxidation), and production of nitrite (the stable end product of NO). The cytokine combination of interleukin-1 beta (50 U/mL), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (10(3) U/mL), and interferon-gamma (10(3) U/mL) induced significant increases in MDA and nitrite and significant decreases in insulin and DNA in islets after 60-h incubation. A novel antioxidant (lazaroid U78518E) significantly inhibited both a strong oxidant. t-butylhydroperoxide, and the combination of cytokines from inducing MDA production, but not from increasing nitrite production in the islets. Also, the lazaroid antioxidant significantly reversed the cytokine-induced decreases in insulin and DNA contents of the islet cultures. In contrast, L-NG-monomethyl arginine, an inhibitor of NO synthase, prevented cytokine-induced nitrite production, but did not prevent cytokine-induced increases in MDA and decreases in insulin and DNA in the islet cultures. In addition, the addition of MDA to the islets produced a dose-dependent decrease in their insulin and DNA contents, and this was only partially prevented by the lazaroid antioxidant. These results suggest that cytokines may be toxic to human islet beta-cells by inducing oxygen free radicals, lipid peroxidation, and aldehyde production in the islets, and that MDA is one of the cytotoxic mediators of cytokine-induced beta-cell destruction.
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PMID:Human pancreatic islet beta-cell destruction by cytokines involves oxygen free radicals and aldehyde production. 878 69

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is an autoimmune disease characterized by the selective destruction of insulin-secreting beta cells found in islets of Langerhans. The biochemical mechanisms associated with beta-cell destruction have remained elusive. Cytokines, released from T lymphocytes, macrophages, and monocytes during islet insulitis, have been implicated as effector molecules that participate in beta-cell death. Recently, cytokine-induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and production of nitric oxide by beta cells has been suggested as one potential mechanism associated with beta-cell destruction. Treatment of rat islets with interleukin 1 (IL-1) results in a potent inhibition of insulin secretion followed by islet destruction. The inhibitory and destructive effects of this cytokine on islet function are completely prevented by the inhibition of iNOS enzymatic activity. Islets contain a heterogeneous population of both endocrine and nonendocrine cells including a low level of resident tissue macrophages ( approximately0.5% of all islet cells). The intraislet macrophage appears to one cellular source of IL-1. Activation of resident islet macrophages results in both the expression of iNOS and the release of IL-1. Intraislet macrophage production of nitric oxide (in the absence of IL-1) does not modulate beta-cell function; however, macrophage release of IL-1 and IL-1-induced iNOS expression by beta cells results in a potent inhibition of beta-cell function. These findings support a role for nitric oxide as a potential mediator of cytokine-induced inhibition of beta-cell function and implicate the intraislet macrophage as one cellular source of IL-1. Direct support for a role of nitric oxide in the development of diabetes includes the ability of inhibitors of iNOS to prevent or delay the development of this disease condition in animal models. Important to these studies has been the identification of selective inhibitors of iNOS. Many inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase have been developed; however, few selective inhibitors for the individual isoforms of NOS (inducible, endothelial, neuronal) have been described. Aminoguanidine has been identified as one of the first iNOS selective inhibitors. Aminoguanidine is over 50-fold more effective at inhibiting the enzymatic activity of iNOS than endothelial or neuronal NOS. The effects of aminoguanidine on the development of diabetes in the nonobese diabetic mouse using an adoptive transfer protocol has been evaluated. Aminoguanidine delays the onset of diabetes in this animal model by 7-10 days. These studies, which provide in vivo evidence implicating a role for nitric oxide in the development of autoimmune diabetes, also support the use of selective inhibitors of iNOS for the attenuation of disease conditions associated with the expression of iNOS and an increased production of nitric oxide.
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PMID:The Use of Aminoguanidine, a Selective iNOS Inhibitor, to Evaluate the Role of Nitric Oxide in the Development of Autoimmune Diabetes 881 41

Renal haemodynamic changes are suggested to be an early sign of diabetic glomerulopathy. The juxtaglomerular apparatus relevant to the renin angiotensin system, known to be the site of nitric oxide (NO) production, is considered to play a role in the regulation of glomerular blood flow. This study was therefore designed to clarify whether in situ expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is altered in the kidney of diabetic rats. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats with 6, 8, 12 and 32 weeks diabetes duration and age-matched normal control rats were used. The expression of a constitutive form of NOS (cNOS, neural type) and NADPH diaphorase activity in the renal cortex were studied immunohistochemically and histochemically. Diabetic rats had lower body weight and heavier kidney mass compared to control rats at each time point examined. Mean glomerular surface area was greater in 6, 8 and 12-week diabetic rats compared to age-matched control rats. cNOS reaction was localized in the macula densa and appeared less intense in diabetic rats compared to age-matched control rats. The mean number of macula densa cells positive for cNOS in each glomerulus and in each glomerular area was significantly lower in diabetic rats compared to control rats at any time examined. In contrast, NADPH diaphorase activity was detected in both juxtaglomerular arterioles and macula densa cells. The staining reaction of NADPH diaphorase in the arterioles remained positive but appeared less intense in macula densa cells in diabetic rats. These results suggest that NO production in macula densa cells may be reduced in diabetic rats, modulating the vasodilatory function of afferent arterioles. Further investigation on the changes in inducible NOS as well as endothelial cNOS are necessary to clarify mechanisms of haemodynamic changes in the diabetic kidney.
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PMID:Expression of nitric oxide synthase in macula densa in streptozotocin diabetic rats. 881 3

The radical nitric oxide (NO) is a possible mediator of pancreatic beta-cell damage in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). NO is produced by the enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS), in a reaction where arginine is the main substrate. There are different isoforms of NOS, but in the context of immune mediated beta-cell damage the inducible form of NOS (iNOS) is the most relevant. The beta-cell iNOS is similar and encoded by the same gene on chromosome 17 as the iNOS expressed in macrophages and other nucleated cells. iNOS activation depends on gene transcription and de novo enzyme synthesis, and NO seems to induce a negative feedback on iNOS expression. While iNOS mRNA is induced by interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) alone in rodent insulin-producing cells, a combination of two (IL-1 beta + interferon gamma) (IFN-gamma) or three (IL-1 beta + IFN gamma + tumour necrosis factor alpha) cytokines is required for iNOS activation in human pancreatic islets. The promoter region of the murine iNOS gene has at least 25 binding sites for different transcription factors, and the nuclear transcription factor kappa B is necessary for cytokine-induced iNOS transcription in both rodent and human pancreatic islets. The nature of other transcription factors relevant for iNOS regulation in these cells remains to be determined. Induction of iNOS is paralleled by induction of several other cytokine-dependent genes in beta cells, including argininosuccinate synthetase, cyclooxygenase and manganese superoxide dismutase. Some of these genes may contribute to beta-cell damage, while others are probably involved in beta-cell defence and/or repair. Regulation of iNOS and other related genes in beta cells is complex, and differs in several aspects from that observed in macrophages. There are also important differences in iNOS regulation between rodent and human pancreatic islets. A detailed knowledge of the molecular regulation of these genes in beta cells may be instrumental in the development of new approaches to prevent beta-cell destruction in early IDDM.
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PMID:The harmony of the spheres: inducible nitric oxide synthase and related genes in pancreatic beta cells. 885 9

Nitric oxide (NO) is believed to mediate the phenomenon known as endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR). NO synthase produces NO from its precursor, arginine (ARG). We have previously demonstrated impaired EDR in diabetic blood vessels. In this study, we investigated a possible mechanism for defective EDR in experimental diabetes and whether pancreatic islet transplantation could reverse established endothelial dysfunction. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were maintained for 8 or 12 weeks. NO-mediated EDR was assessed in isolated thoracic rings ex vivo. A group of untreated diabetic rats received syngeneic islet transplantation at 8 weeks of diabetes and were tested for EDR after 4 weeks of euglycemia. EDR to acetylcholine was impaired in untreated diabetic rings. Endothelium-independent relaxation to nitroglycerin was unaltered. In vitro incubation of diabetic rings with 3 mM L-ARG (but not D-ARG) improved EDR to acetylcholine in rings from 8-week but not 12-week diabetic rats. L-ARG did not alter EDR in control rings nor relaxation to nitroglycerin in control or diabetic rings. Islet transplantation at 8 weeks of diabetes normalized blood glucose, plasma arginine and total glycosylated hemoglobin while restoring normal EDR. In conclusion, a defect in substrate/supply for NO synthesis is acutely reversed by ARG supplementation at early but not at later stages of diabetes. Also, preemptive surgical intervention with islet transplantation prior to the ARG-insensitive phase is an effective strategy to reverse established endothelial dysfunction in diabetes mellitus.
Diabetes Res Clin Pract 1996 Jul
PMID:Restoration of vascular endothelial function in diabetes. 886 54


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