Exposure to diesel exhaust up-regulates iNOS expression in ApoE knockout mice
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC (Canada)
- James Hogg Research Centre, Providence Heart and Lung Institute, St. Paul's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC (Canada)
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA (United States)
Traffic related particulate matter air pollution is a risk factor for cardiovascular events; however, the biological mechanisms are unclear. We hypothesize that diesel exhaust (DE) inhalation induces up-regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), which is known to contribute to vascular dysfunction, progression of atherosclerosis and ultimately cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Methods: ApoE knockout mice (30-week) were exposed to DE (at 200 {mu}g/m{sup 3} of particulate matter) or filtered-air (control) for 7 weeks (6 h/day, 5 days/week). iNOS expression in the blood vessels and heart was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and western blotting analysis. To examine iNOS activity, thoracic aortae were mounted in a wire myograph, and vasoconstriction stimulated by phenylephrine (PE) was measured with and without the presence of the specific inhibitor for iNOS (1400 W). NF-{kappa}B (p65) activity was examined by ELISA. The mRNA expression of iNOS and NF-{kappa}B (p65) was determined by real-time PCR. Results: DE exposure significantly enhanced iNOS expression in the thoracic aorta (4-fold) and heart (1.5 fold). DE exposure significantly attenuated PE-stimulated vasoconstriction by {approx} 20%, which was partly reversed by 1400 W. The mRNA expression of iNOS and NF-{kappa}B was significantly augmented after DE exposure. NF-{kappa}B activity was enhanced 2-fold after DE inhalation, and the augmented NF-{kappa}B activity was positively correlated with iNOS expression (R{sup 2} = 0.5998). Conclusions: We show that exposure to DE increases iNOS expression and activity possibly via NF-{kappa}B-mediated pathway. We suspect that DE exposure-caused up-regulation of iNOS contributes to vascular dysfunction and atherogenesis, which could ultimately lead to urban air pollution-associated cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. - Highlights: > Exposed ApoE knockout mice (30-week) to diesel exhaust (DE) for 7 weeks. > Examine iNOS expression and activity in the blood vessels and heart. > DE exposure enhanced iNOS protein and mRNA expression in the aorta and heart. > iNOS activity was also increased after DE exposure. > This up-regulation of iNOS may contribute to vascular dysfunction and atherogenesis.
- OSTI ID:
- 21587826
- Journal Information:
- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, Vol. 255, Issue 2; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2011.06.013; PII: S0041-008X(11)00235-3; Copyright (c) 2011 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0041-008X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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AIR POLLUTION
AORTA
ARTERIOSCLEROSIS
ENZYME IMMUNOASSAY
HAZARDS
HEART
HYPOXANTHINE PHOSPHORIBOSYLTRANSFERASE
INHALATION
KNOCK-OUT REACTIONS
LEUKOCYTES
LIPOPROTEINS
MACROPHAGES
MESSENGER-RNA
MICE
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POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION
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BIOASSAY
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BODY FLUIDS
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
CHALCOGENIDES
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DIRECT REACTIONS
DISEASES
ENZYMES
GENE AMPLIFICATION
GLYCOSYL TRANSFERASES
IMMUNOASSAY
INTAKE
LIPIDS
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NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
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OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PENTOSYL TRANSFERASES
PHAGOCYTES
POLLUTION
PROTEINS
RNA
RODENTS
SOMATIC CELLS
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VERTEBRATES