Decrease in lung nitric oxide production after peritonitis in mice with sickle cell disease*

Measuring exhaled nitric oxide in animal models: methods and clinical implications

Animal models such as rats and mice are useful for studying the multiple roles of nitric oxide (NO) in various respiratory disorders. The production of NO is catalyzed by the three isoforms of the enzymes (NO synthases; NOS). Indirect assessment of NOS gene or protein expression only provides partial information on the role of NO in health and lung disease. NO can also be measured in exhaled air by invasive or non-invasive approaches as a direct and quantitative marker of NO production in animal models. Whilst addressing the different methods of exhaled NO analysis in small animals (rats and mice), this review also focuses on the possible clinical implications, and discusses the advantages and limitations of these methods.

Prediction of nosocomial infection acquisition in ventilated patients by nasal nitric oxide: proof-of-concept study

The development of biomarkers able to predict the occurrence of nosocomial infection could help manage preventive strategies, especially in medical patients whose degree of acquired immunosuppression may be variable. We hypothesized that the NO fraction present in the airways (upper and lower) of critically ill patients under mechanical ventilation could constitute such a biomarker. We conducted an observational proof-of-concept study in a medical intensive care unit of a teaching hospital. Forty-five patients (26 men; 72 [25th-75th percentiles] years [56-82]; Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, 63 [50-81], 14 infected) under mechanical ventilation (>3 days) underwent on day 1 and day 3 of their stay: nasal and exhaled (partitioned in bronchial and alveolar sources) bedside NO measurements, determination of urine NO end products and plasma cytokine (IL-6, IL-10) concentrations, and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score calculation. Nosocomial infection incidence was recorded during the 15 subsequent days. Fifteen patients (33%) acquired a nosocomial infection (16 infections, 15 ventilator-associated pneumonia and 1 bacteremia). Nasal NO was the only marker significantly different between patients with and without subsequent infection (day 1, 52 ppb [20-142] vs. 134 [84-203], P = 0.038; day 3, 98 ppb [22-140] vs. 225 [89-288], P = 0.006, respectively). Nasal NO fraction 148 ppb or less at day 3 had an 80% sensitivity, a 70% specificity, and an odds ratio of 2.7 (95% confidence interval, 1.9-3.8) to predict acquisition of nosocomial infection. Nonsurvivors had a higher IL-6 concentration on day 3 (P = 0.014), whereas their nasal NO fractions were not significantly different. Nasal NO seems to be a relatively sensitive and specific biomarker of subsequent nosocomial infection acquisition (at least for ventilator-associated pneumonia), which warrants confirmation in a multicenter trial.

Nitric oxide metabolism and the acute chest syndrome of sickle cell anemia

OBJECTIVE

To review the role of endothelial dysfunction and nitric oxide metabolism in the pathogenesis of the acute chest syndrome.

DATA SOURCE

A thorough literature search of PubMed for publications relevant to acute chest syndrome and nitric oxide metabolism in sickle cell disease was performed using search terms that included acute chest syndrome, sickle cell disease, nitric oxide metabolism, arginine, nitrite, nitrate, exhaled nitric oxide, nitric oxide synthase, and oxidant injury. We identified randomized controlled trials, case reports, editorials, and review articles from English-language and non-English-language studies of adult, pediatric, animal, and human subjects that describe the pathophysiology of acute chest syndrome, the biology of nitric oxide relevant to the pathophysiology of sickle cell disease, and the evidence for the role of endothelial dysfunction and abnormal nitric oxide metabolism in acute chest syndrome. We identified and reviewed 350 publications by the initial search and subsequent bibliography review. The articles most pertinent to the topic of this article were selected to support the discussion.

RESULTS

Acute chest syndrome is the leading cause of acute respiratory system dysfunction and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with sickle cell disease. Evidence is available to support decreased nitric oxide production, increased nitric oxide consumption, and abnormal metabolism of nitric oxide in patients with acute chest syndrome. Moreover, substrate availability is disturbed, and alternate pathways for substrate and nitric oxide metabolism exist.

CONCLUSIONS

Abnormalities of nitric oxide metabolism are prevalent during acute illness and baseline health in patients with sickle cell disease. Further investigation is needed to understand the clinical significance of aberrant nitric oxide metabolism as well as the potential for therapeutic manipulation of the arginine-nitric oxide pathway in patients with sickle cell disease.

Role of nitric oxide synthase/arginase balance in bronchial reactivity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Competition between nitric oxide synthases (NOSs) and arginases for their common substrate l-arginine could be involved in the regulation of cholinergic airway reactivity and subsequent airway remodeling. The aims of this study were to evaluate the relationships between the expression of this enzymatic balance and the effects of NOS and arginase inhibition on bronchoconstrictive response to acetylcholine of patients without and with early chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Twenty-two human bronchi [15 COPD (9 GOLD-0, 6 GOLD-1, -2-A), 7 nonsmokers] were investigated for immunohistochemistry and modulation of acetylcholine-induced airway constriction. Significantly increased expression of NOS2 in immunoblots of bronchial tissue and staining in smooth muscle cells was evidenced in patients with COPD compared with control subjects, whereas no modification of arginase expression was evidenced. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and NOS2 expression were negatively correlated (rho=-0.54, P=0.027). Pharmacological experiments demonstrated that resting tension was elevated in COPD compared with control subjects (2,243+/-154 vs. 1,574+/-218 mg, P=0.03) and was positively correlated with the expression of NOS2 (rho=0.61, P=0.044), whereas constrictor response to acetylcholine was similar [active tension, sensitivity (-logEC10), and reactivity (slope)]. The sole effect of the specific arginase inhibitor Nomega-hydroxy-nor-L-arginine (1 microM) was to decrease sensitivity in COPD patients, whereas 1 mM NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester unexpectedly decreased resting tension because of a non-cGMP-dependent effect. In conclusion, an upregulation of NOS2 expression in COPD patients is involved in airway tone regulation and functional airflow limitation, whereas increased arginase activity is involved in airway sensitivity.