• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.71-77
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• 2010

Purpose: To determine whether upregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) transcription and translation is related to radicular pain in a model of lumbar disc herniation. Also, to investigate the temporal changes of mRNA expression of iNOS and the identity of iNOS and transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) 1 channel expression cells in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) of a model of lumbar disc herniation. Methods: A lumbar disc herniated rat model was developed by implantation of the autologous nucleus pulposus, harvested from the coccygeal vertebra of each tail, on the left L5 nerve root just proximal to the DRG. Rats were tested for mechanical allodynia of the plantar surface of both hind paws 2 days before surgery and 1, 5, 10, 20 and 30 days postoperatively. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to follow iNOS mRNA expression. To stain iNOS and TRPV1 in DRG, an immunohistochemical study was done 10 days after surgery. Results: A significant drop in mechanical withdrawal threshold on the ipsilateral and contralateral hind paws was observed 1 day after surgery and was prolonged to 30 days in rats with lumbar disc herniation. The expression of mRNA for iNOS peaked at postoperative day 10 on both sides of the DRG. iNOS-positive sensory neurons in the DRG varied in size from large to small diameter cells. A majority of small and intermediate sensory neurons were TRPV1-positive cells. Double immunofluorescence staining for TRPV1 and iNOS revealed that most intermediate TRPV1-positive sensory neurons co-localized with iNOS-positive neurons. Conclusion: Nucleus pulposus-induced mechanical allodynia can be generated without mechanical compression. This pain is related to temporal changes in expression of iNOS mRNA in the DRG. Co-localization of TRPV1 and iNOS in intermediate neurons of the DRG is correlated with pain modality and intensity.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.141-146
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• 2012

Veronica peregrina (Scrophylariaceae) has been widely used as a Korean traditional medicine for the treatment of various pathological conditions including infection, hemorrhage and gastric ulcer. In the current study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of methanolic extracts of V. Peregrina (VPM) on the LPS-mediated nitric oxide (NO) production in mouse (C57BL/6) peritoneal macrophages. NO production was significantly down-regulated by the treatment of VPM dose dependently. To evaluate the mechanism of the inhibitory action of VPM on NO production, we performed iNOS enzyme activity assay and checked the change of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) levels by Western blotting. Although VPM did not affect iNOS enzyme activity, iNOS protein expression was attenuated by VPM indicating VPM inhibits NO production via suppression of iNOS enzyme expression. In addition, VPM attenuated the expression of another pro-inflammatory mediator such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in a dose dependent manner. We also found that VPM can reduce trypsin-induced paw edema in mice. Based on this study, we suggest that V. peregrina may be beneficial in diseases which related to macrophage-mediated inflammatory disorders.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.233-239
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• 1995

To verify the effect of immunosuppressants on the endotoxin-induced increase in iNOS activity, the action of immunosuppressants, dexamethasone (1.5 mg/kg), azathioprine (5 mg/kg/day) and cyclosporine (10 mg/kg), were evaluated in mice pretreated with LPS. The intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (10 mg/kg) increased the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in the brain and liver to maximum at 1 and 3 hours, respectively. The increase in NOS activity was blocked by the treatment with NOS inhibitor, LNAME(300 mg/kg) and aminoguanidine(100 mg/kg); a protein inhibitor, cycloheximide (10 mg/kg); and a transcription inhibitor of inducible NOS(iNOS), dexamethasone(1.5 mg/kg). Immunosuppressants, azathioprine (5 mg/kg) and cyclosporine (10 mg/kg), effectively blocked the increase in NOS activity. These results suggest that iNOS expression plays an important role in LPS-induced the increase in NOS activity and that immunosuppressants can be used as candidate for therapeutic agents in endotoxemia.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.337-341
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• 2006

The present study was designed to investigate the protein expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and guanylyl cyclase (GC) activity in ischemia/perfusion (I/R) renal injury in rats. Renal I/R injury was experimentally induced by clamping the both renal pedicle for 40 min in Sprague-Dawley male rats. The renal expression of NOS isoforms was determined by Western blot analysis, and the activity of guanylyl cyclase was determined by the amount of guanosine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) formed in response to sodium nitroprusside (SNP), NO donor. I/R injury resulted in renal failure associated with decreased urine osmolality. The expression of inducible NOS (iNOS) was increased in I/R injury rats compared with controls, while endothelial NOS (eNOS) and neuronal NOS (nNOS) expression was decreased. The urinary excretion of NO metabolites was decreased in I/R injury rats. The cGMP production provoked by SNP was decreased in the papilla, but not in glomerulus. These results indicate an altered regulation of NOS expression and guanylyl cyclase activity in I/R-induced nephropathy.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.214-220
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• 1999

Present study was aimed to examine whether indomethacin affected the production of NO in the rat paw exudate by carrageenin. Paw edema and nitrite/nitrate levels in the paw exudate were maximal after 4 h and remained elevated up to 10 h, whereas indomethacin (10 mg/kg, po) significantly inhibited the carrageenin-induced paw edema and levels of nitrate in the paw exudate. However, paw edema and nitrite/nitrite levels were increased thereafter for 10 h. Indomethacin also enhanced the expression of iNOS mRNA and protein 4 h after carrageenin infection. Indomethacin inhibited the level of $PGE_2$ in the paw exudate in a time-dependent manner. These results suggest the possibility that indomethacin may potentiate expression of iNOS and subsequently increase nitrite/nitrate level in the late phase of carrageenin-induced rat paw inflammation possibly by suppressing cycloxygenase activity.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.225-230
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• 2013

To better understand the role of macrophages in early stages of experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM), we compared the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and arginase-1, markers for classically activated M1 and alternatively activated M2 macrophages, respectively, in the hearts of EAM-affected and control rats. Immunohistochemical evidence revealed that both iNOS-positive and arginase 1-positive macrophages were found in EAM lesions, while some cells were co-localized with both markers. This finding suggests that the increased level of arginase-1, which is partly from M2 macrophages, contributes to the modulation of EAM, possibly through the reduction of nitric oxide in the lesion.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.181-187
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• 1998

Nitric Oxide (NO), derived from L-arginine, is produced by two types (constitutive and inducible) of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). The NO produced in large amounts by the inducible NOS is known to be responsible for the vasodilation and hypotension observed in septic shock. We have found three polyacetylene compounds which inhibited the production of NO in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells. Their structures were identified as panauynol, ginsenoyne A and PQ-6 by the spec- troscopic analysis (IC50 values were 32.3 $\mu$M, 2.3 $\mu$M, 1.5 $\mu$M, respectively). These polyacetylenes may be useful candidates for the development of new drug to treat endotoxemia and inflammation accompanied by the overproduction of NO.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.378.1-378.1
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• 2002

Prostaglandins (PGs) and nitric oxide (NO) are essential to maintain homeostasis and defensa systems in human beings. However. overproduced PGs and NO by inducible cyclooxygenase (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), respectively. cause tissue damages. chronic inflammation. and carcinogenesis. In this view. the potential COX-2 or iNOS inhibitors have been considered as anti-inflammatory or cancer chemopreventive agents. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.286.1-286.1
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• 2003

Chrysin, a natural flavone compound contained in plants. has anti-inflammatory activity. Its anti-inflammatory effect has been previously explained in part by the suppression of promoter activities of inducible pro-inflammatory enzymes (cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitrogen synthase (iNOS)). Nitrate production triggered by the activation of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) was most highly suppressed by the treatment of chrysin, follwed by 5-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavone (Ch-2), 5,7-diacetylflavone (Ch-4) in cultured Raw 264.7 cells. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.121.2-121.2
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• 2003

Synthetic polymers, biological polymer such as collagen and gelatin are employed extensively as backbones in the construction of hydrogels or cell/tissue scaffoldings for various biomedical applications. In the present study, we investigated the effect of collagen and gelatin on the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene expression in the mouse macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. The production of nitric oxide and expression level of iNOS mRNA were induced by both of collagen and gelatin in dose-dependent manner. (omitted)