Ascorbate-mediated enhancement of reactive oxygen species generation from polymorphonuclear leukocytes: modulatory effect of nitric oxide.

Recent studies from our laboratory have demonstrated that ascorbate potentiated enzymatic synthesis of nitric oxide (NO) from polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). NO is known to modulate various function of PMNs such as chemotaxis, adherence, aggregation, and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The role of ascorbate in the PMN phagocytosis, ROS generation, and apoptosis was thus evaluated in the present study. Ascorbate and its oxidized and cell-permeable analog, dehydroascorbate (DHA), did not affect the phagocytosis but enhanced ROS generation and apoptosis following treatment with Escherichia coli or arachidonic acid. A detailed investigation on the DHA-mediated response indicated that inhibitors of DHA uptake, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase, NO synthase, or ROS scavengers attenuated ROS generation. In DHA-treated cells, enhanced generation of peroxynitrite was also observed; thus, ascorbate-mediated ROS and reactive nitrogen species generation might mediate cytotoxicity toward the ingested microbes and subsequently, augmented PMN apoptosis. Results of the present study have helped in delineating the role of ascorbate in the modulation of NO-mediated ROS generation from PMNs.

Vascular regulation by the L-arginine metabolites, nitric oxide and agmatine.

Research on the biochemistry and physiology of l-arginine has remained an attractive area for scientists over the last 100 years due to its diverse physiological functions in mammals. Research on l-arginine was boosted after the identification of nitric oxide (NO) and agmatine and their physiological importance. NO directly modulates ion channels, activates soluble guanylyl cyclase and other important proteins by ADP ribosylation and nitrosylation and binding to heme or iron-sulfur clusters. These modifications and interaction with heme might activate or inhibit various protein kinases, phosphatases and modulate transcription of various nuclear factors to possibly cause cardiovascular diseases like hypertension, ischemia, diabetes, atherosclerosis and angiogenesis. Agmatine holds the key to prevent the toxic effects associated with induction of NO synthesis by its ability to inhibit inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Agmatine is also synthesized from l-arginine by the enzyme arginine decarboxylase and displays a significant potential in cardiovascular system. Agmatine, with the myriad of effects on calcium homeostasis, seems to modulate various functions in the heart, brain and vasculature. The present review compiles the recent development to improve the understanding the role played by l-arginine-metabolic pathways in cardiovascular system. Though l-arginine and its metabolites are well known to affect various cardiovascular physiologies, the currently available literature is still not sufficient to validate the prophylactic/therapeutic efficacy of l-arginine. l-Arginine and its metabolites, NO and agmatine still hold the key for future research in cardiovascular system.

Role of ascorbate in the regulation of nitric oxide generation by polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

We have recently demonstrated that NO-mediated polymorphonuclear (PMN)-dependent inhibition of rat platelet aggregation is significantly enhanced in the presence of ascorbate. Consequently, the present study was undertaken to elucidate the underlying mechanisms involved in ascorbate-mediated potentiation of NO synthesis in PMNs. We observed that ascorbate or its oxidized product, dehydroascorbate (DHA), enhanced NOS activity, as measured by nitrite content, diaminofluorescein fluorescence or conversion of L-[3H]arginine to L-[3H]citrulline in rat, monkey, and human PMNs. The increase in NO generation following ascorbate treatment was due to the intracellular ascorbate as iodoacetamide-mediated inhibition of DHA to ascorbate conversion attenuated the DHA-mediated increase in NO synthesis. The augmentation of NOS activity in the PMN homogenate by tetrahydrobiopterin was significantly enhanced by ascorbate, while ascorbate alone did not influence the NOS activity. Ascorbate-mediated enhancement of NOS activity in the cultured PMNs was significantly reduced in the presence of biopterin synthesis inhibitors. Ascorbate, thus, seems to regulate the NOS activity in the PMNs through tetrahydrobiopterin.

Inhibition of platelet aggregation by rat globin.

This study was undertaken to identify and characterize the anti-aggregatory protein factor present in rat polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) supernatant. Since the purified protein exhibited sequence homology to beta globin, globin was also isolated from rat blood by acid-acetone precipitation and was purified on Superdex-75 column in FPLC. Elution of rat globin on the gel filtration column yielded two peaks of approximately 60 and 30 kDa as observed in the PMNs supernatant. Purity of globin and eluted fractions was further evaluated by SDS-PAGE. Platelet aggregation induced by agonists viz. adenosine-5'-diphosphate (ADP; 2-5 microM), arachidonic acid (AA; 10 microM), A23187 (2.50 microg/ml) was inhibited by globin and the purified fractions. ADP-induced rise in intracellular calcium levels and expression of CD62 on the platelets were reduced by both globin and active fraction of PMNs supernatant. Results obtained suggest that globin or globin-related protein present in the PMNs supernatant inhibits platelet aggregation response.