Shigeyuki Kawachi

Role of Nitric Oxide in the Regulation of Acute and Chronic Inflammation

Recent studies by a number of different laboratories have implicated nitric oxide (NO) as an important modulator of a variety of acute and chronic inflammatory disorders. A hallmark of inflammation is the adhesion of leukocytes to post-capillary venular endothelium and the infiltration of leukocytes into the tissue interstitium. Leukocyte adhesion and infiltration is known to be dependent on interaction of the leukocytes with the endothelial cell surface via a class of glycoproteins collectively known as endothelial cell adhesion molecules (ECAMs). Several recent studies suggest that NO may modulate cytokine-induced ECAM expression in cultured endothelial cells in vitro by regulating the activation of nuclear transcription factor kappa B (NF-kappaB). This discussion reviews some of the more recent studies that assess the role of the different NOS isoforms on the inflammatory response in vivo.

Role of inducible nitric oxide synthase in the regulation of VCAM-1 expression in gut inflammation

The objectives of this study were to assess the role of the inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) on vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) expression in vivo in an acute model of inflammation induced in iNOS-deficient (iNOS-/-) mice and compare these data to those obtained by pharmacological inhibition of iNOS in a CD4+ T lymphocyte-dependent model of chronic colitis. VCAM-1 expression was quantified in vivo using the dual radiolabel monoclonal antibody technique. We found that intraperitoneal injection of 10 μg/kg tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) enhanced VCAM-1 expression by approximately twofold in the colon, cecum, and stomach but not small intestine in iNOS-/-mice compared with TNF-α-injected wild-type mice. Injection of wild-type mice with 25 μg/kg TNF-α further enhanced VCAM-1 expression by approximately twofold compared with wild-type mice injected with 10 μg/kg TNF-α; however, VCAM-1 expression was not further enhanced in any gastrointestinal organ system in iNOS-/- mice. In a second series of experiments, we found that continuous inhibition of iNOS using oral administration of N G-iminoethyl-l-lysine did not alter the enhanced levels of VCAM-1 expression in the colon nor did it alter the severity of colonic inflammation in SCID mice reconstituted with CD4+, CD45RBhigh T cells. We conclude that iNOS may regulate VCAM-1 expression in acute inflammation; however, this effect is modest and tissue specific and occurs only when VCAM-1 expression is submaximal. iNOS does not appear to modulate VCAM-1 expression in an immune model of chronic colitis.The objectives of this study were to assess the role of the inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) on vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) expression in vivo in an acute model of inflammation induced in iNOS-deficient (iNOS-/-) mice and compare these data to those obtained by pharmacological inhibition of iNOS in a CD4+ T lymphocyte-dependent model of chronic colitis. VCAM-1 expression was quantified in vivo using the dual radiolabel monoclonal antibody technique. We found that intraperitoneal injection of 10 microg/kg tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) enhanced VCAM-1 expression by approximately twofold in the colon, cecum, and stomach but not small intestine in iNOS-/- mice compared with TNF-alpha-injected wild-type mice. Injection of wild-type mice with 25 microg/kg TNF-alpha further enhanced VCAM-1 expression by approximately twofold compared with wild-type mice injected with 10 microg/kg TNF-alpha; however, VCAM-1 expression was not further enhanced in any gastrointestinal organ system in iNOS-/- mice. In a second series of experiments, we found that continuous inhibition of iNOS using oral administration of NG-iminoethyl-L-lysine did not alter the enhanced levels of VCAM-1 expression in the colon nor did it alter the severity of colonic inflammation in SCID mice reconstituted with CD4+, CD45RB(high) T cells. We conclude that iNOS may regulate VCAM-1 expression in acute inflammation; however, this effect is modest and tissue specific and occurs only when VCAM-1 expression is submaximal. iNOS does not appear to modulate VCAM-1 expression in an immune model of chronic colitis.

Cytokine and adhesion molecule expression in SCID mice reconstituted with CD4+ T cells.

Summary: The objectives of this study were to quantify colonic cytokine and endothelial cell adhesion molecule (ECAM) expression in the colons of severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice reconstituted with different subsets of CD4+ T lymphocytes. We found that animals injected with CD45RBhigh but not CD45RBlow T cells or phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) developed clinical evidence of colitis at 6‐8 weeks following reconstitution, as assessed by loss of body weight, development of loose stools and/or diarrhea, and histopathology. Concurrent with the onset of distal bowel inflammation was enhanced expression of a variety of Thl and macrophage‐derived cytokines including interferon &ggr;, tumor necrosis factor‐&agr;, interleukin (IL)‐1&bgr;, IL‐6, IL‐12, and IL‐18 lymphotoxin‐&bgr;. In addition, message levels and vascular surface expression of ICAM‐1, VCAM‐1, and MAdCAM‐1 were all significantly enhanced in the colitic SCID mice reconstituted with CD45RBhigh T cells compared with SCID mice reconstituted with PBS or CD45RBlow T cells that did not develop disease. Significant increases in some of these ECAMs were also noted in the cecum and stomach and to a lesser degree in the small bowel. Our data confirm that reconstitution of SCID mice with CD45RBhigh but not CD45RBlow T cells induces chronic colitis, and that the colonic inflammation is associated with enhanced expression of proinflammatory cytokines and different ECAMs in the colon. Furthermore, our studies demonstrate that reconstitution of SCID mice with CD45RBhigh T cells enhances ECAM expression in tissues distant from the site of active inflammation.

Brain Endothelial Adhesion Molecule Expression in Experimental Colitis

Objectives: 1) To determine if endothelial expression of adhesion molecules involved in leukocyte recruitment is increased in the brain and other organs in four different models of experimental colitis, and 2) to investigate whether leukocyte infiltration occurs in the brain of colitic animals.