Nitric oxide synthase and NAD(P)H oxidase modulate coronary endothelial cell growth

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) including nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide anion (O(2)(-)) are associated with cell migration, proliferation and many growth-related diseases. The objective of this study was to determine whether there was a reciprocal relationship between rat coronary microvascular endothelial cell (CMEC) growth and activity/expressions (mRNA and protein) of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and NAD(P)H oxidase enzymes. Proliferating namely, 50% confluent CMEC possessed approximately threefold increased activity and expression of both enzymes compared to 100% confluent cells. Treatment of CMEC with an inhibitor of eNOS (L-NAME, 100 microM) increased cell proliferation as assessed via three independent methods, i.e. cell counting, determination of total cellular protein levels and [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation. Similarly, treatment of CMEC with pyrogallol (0.3-3 mM), a superoxide anion (O(2)(-)) generator, also increased CMEC growth while spermine NONOate (SpNO), a NO donor, significantly reduced cell growth. Co-incubation of CMEC with a cell permeable superoxide dismutase mimetic (Mn-III-tetrakis-4-benzoic acid-porphyrin; MnTBAP) plus either pyrogallol or NO did not alter cell number and DNA synthesis thereby dismissing the involvement of peroxynitrite (OONO(-)) in CMEC proliferation. Specific inhibitors of NAD(P)H oxidase but not other ROS-generating enzymes including cyclooxygenase and xanthine oxidase, attenuated cell growth. Transfection of CMEC with antisense p22-phox cDNA, a membrane-bound component of NAD(P)H oxidase, resulted in substantial reduction in [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation, total cellular protein levels and expression of p22-phox protein. These data demonstrate a cross-talk between CMEC growth and eNOS and NAD(P)H oxidase enzyme activity and expression, thus suggesting that the regulation of these enzymes may be critical in preventing the initiation and/or progression of coronary atherosclerosis.