Endothelial nitric oxide synthase/soluble guanylate cyclase system in human nasal polyps

The aim of our study was to analyze the level of expression of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)/soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) system in nasal polyps and control nasal mucosae. The study was performed in polyps from 15 patients and nasal mucosae from 11 subjects operated on the nasal septum (control group). The expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) was determined in nasal mucosae. Western blot analysis demonstrated that eNOS protein was overexpressed in the nasal polyps with respect to control nasal mucosae. Immunohistochemistry also demonstrated that the vascular endothelium of nasal polyps contained higher amounts of eNOS protein than control nasal mucosae. Moreover, the beta(1) subunit of sGC was also overexpressed in the nasal polyps, which was associated with an increased content of cyclic GMP in the nasal polyps with respect to nasal control mucosae. In human nasal polyposis, there is an overexpression of the eNOS/sGC system. Further studies are needed to assess whether this overexpression is involved in the genesis of nasal polyposis.

Lead-induced downregulation of soluble guanylate cyclase in isolated rat aortic segments mediated by reactive oxygen species and cyclooxygenase-2

Lead exposure is a known cause of hypertension. Although most studies have focused on lead-induced endothelial dysfunction and on the involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS), it has been recently demonstrated that the vascular wall of lead-exposed rats has both an altered the endothelium-independent relaxing response and a reduced expression of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC). The aim of the present study was to determine in in vitro incubated rat isolated aortic segments if lead downregulates sGC expression, analyzing the involvement of ROS and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). The experiments were performed in isolated aortic segments from Wistar rats that were incubated with lead for 24 h. Lead significantly reduced sGC-beta(1) subunit expression in a concentration-dependent manner. The maximal reduction in sGC-beta(1) subunit expression was achieved with 1 ppm lead. Vitamin C (30 micromol/L) partially restored sGC-beta( 1) subunit expression in lead (1 ppm)-exposed aortic segments. A similar protection of sGC-beta(1) subunit expression was obtained with both a protein kinase A inhibitor, H89 (1 micromol/L) and with rofecoxib (1 micromol/L), an inhibitor of COX-2 activity. Moreover, lead exposure increased COX-2 expression in the arterial wall. While vitamin C reduced both COX-2 expression and superoxide anion production related to lead exposure, rofecoxib failed to modify superoxide anion generation in lead-incubated aortic segments. In conclusion, the present results suggest the involvement of ROS and COX-2 in the downexpression of sGC-beta(1) subunit induced by lead in the rat vascular wall.