Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
2007-7-20
pubmed:abstractText
Nitric oxide synthase 1 (NOS1) is a major determinant of bronchial responsiveness in mice and has been proposed as an asthma gene in man. Nevertheless, how nitric oxide production by NOS1 contributes to airway responsiveness remains unclear. Although NOS1 is usually closely associated with nerves, it has also been found in a variety of other cell types, particularly epithelium. We sought to better understand the role of NOS1 by determining its major site of expression in murine airways. Using nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (diaphorase), which non-selectively detects nitric oxide synthase (NOS), we found strong evidence of NOS in the airways largely restricted to the airway epithelium and trachea glands. In contrast, diaphorase staining of NOS1-deficient mutant mice demonstrated a marked reduction in epithelial cells of the trachea but not bronchioles, suggesting that the epithelium is the major site of NOS1 expression. This was supported by immunohistochemistry, which also demonstrated significant staining in glands and to a lesser degree in airway smooth muscle. Double immunofluorescence staining of tracheas for NOS1 and the nerve marker PGP 9.5 failed to demonstrate co-localization, indicating that nerves are not an important source of NOS1 in the murine airway wall. Finally, removal of the trachea epithelium by digestion resulted in a marked decrease in NOS1 detection by Western blotting, confirming the epithelium as the major site of NOS1 expression in the murine airway. These findings support the notion that the role of NOS1 in murine bronchial responsiveness involves the epithelium of the central airways.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Aug
pubmed:issn
1089-8603
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
17
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
25-32
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2007
pubmed:articleTitle
Localization and distribution of NOS1 in murine airways.
pubmed:affiliation
Meakins-Christie Laboratories and Respiratory Division, Department of Medicine McGill University, 3626 rue St., Urbain, Montreal, Que., Canada.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't