Connexin 43 (Cx43), which is highly expressed in the heart and especially in cardiomyocytes, interferes with the expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms. Conversely, Cx43 gene expression is down-regulated by nitric oxide derived from the inducible NOS. Thus, a complex interplay between Cx43 and NOS expression appears to exist. As cardiac mitochondria are supposed to contain a NOS, we...

Nitric oxide is a short-lived reactive mediator that inhibits bone marrow (BM) cell proliferation induced by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). The present studies show that nitric oxide also inhibits macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF)-induced growth of mouse BM cells, an effect that was dependent on the presence of an inflammatory mediator and blocked by the n...

BACKGROUND The inducible isoform of the nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) produces large amounts of nitric oxide in response to cytokine stimulation. Previous investigations have demonstrated iNOS expression in the setting of acute and chronic rejection in experimental cardiac transplant models. The goal of this study was to investigate whether iNOS is upregulated in human transplant coronary artery...

Nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to decrease cardiac performance, induce global hypotension, and generate oxygen free-radicals. Nitric oxide is produced from the conversion of L-arginine to L-citrulline by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and is a component of many cellular second messenger systems. It is not clearly understood if NO and iNOS are compensatory mechanisms or pathological pr...

Disturbances in nitric oxide synthase isozyme system and the impairment in salivary mucin synthesis are well-recognized features associated with oral mucosal inflammatory responses to periodontopathic bacterium, P. gingivalis. In this study, using rat sublingual gland acinar cells, we report that P. gingivalis LPS-induced impairment in mucin synthesis and associated suppression in Akt kinase ac...

OBJECTIVE To determine effects of the selectin inhibitor TBC1269 on neutrophil-mediated pulmonary damage during acute Mannheimia haemolytica-induced pneumonia in newborn calves. ANIMALS Eighteen 1- to 3-day-old colostrum-deprived calves. PROCEDURE Mannheimia haemolytica or saline (0.9% NaCl) solution was inoculated in both cranial lung lobes of 12 and 6 calves, respectively. Calves were eut...

We investigated and evaluated the mechanisms of erectile dysfunction (ED) in a rat model of long-term ketamine administration. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 32) were divided into four groups: namely the control group receiving intraperitoneal injection of saline, 1-month, 2-month and 3-month groups receiving daily intraperitoneal injection of ketamine (100 mg/kg/day) for 1, 2, and 3 month...

Objective(s): Artemisia species are important medicinal plants throughout the world. Some species are traditionally used for their anti-inflammatory effect. The present study was designed to isolate sesquiterpene fractions from several Artemisia species and evaluate their anti-inflammatory activities on key mediators and signaling molecules involved in regulation of in...

Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) play a crucial role in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) exacerbating the chronic inflammatory process. Endogenous and diet antioxidants can neutralize these compounds. The apple is widely consumed, with several antioxidant activity compounds. The present study evaluated the effects of concentrated apple extract (CAE) in acetic acid induced colitis....

BACKGROUND/AIMS Stabilization of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1α) is proposed to provide a protective host-response to C. difficile intoxication. Here, we aimed to elucidate whether nitric oxide and/or reactive oxygen species produced during C. difficile toxin exposure could influence HIF-1α stability and initiate protection against epithelial cell damage. METHODS/RESULTS HIF-1α and indu...