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Isolation of Intermediate Filament Proteins from Multiple Mouse Tissues to Study Aging-associated Post-translational Modifications
Published on: May 18, 2017
iNOS activity in the aged rat liver tissue.
A Patruno1, L Speranza, S Tetè
1Department of Drug Sciences, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy. antoniapatruno@unich.it
Journal of Biological Regulators and Homeostatic Agents
|February 12, 2008
Summary
Aging in rat livers shows increased inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression. This study reveals spontaneous iNOS mRNA induction and higher iNOS protein levels in older rats, suggesting a role in aging.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Hepatology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Free radical damage is a proposed mechanism for aging.
- Nitric oxide (NO) in the liver is produced by inducible NOS (iNOS) and endothelial NOS (eNOS).
- iNOS is linked to liver disease, while eNOS is involved in physiological conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression and activity of iNOS in aging rat livers.
- To determine if aging induces iNOS expression in the liver.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of young and old Wistar rat livers.
- Immunohistochemistry using anti-iNOS antibody.
- Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) for iNOS mRNA.
- Western blot analysis for iNOS protein levels.
- Measurement of nitric oxide activity.
Main Results:
- Significantly increased iNOS immunoreactivity in aged liver sections compared to young.
- Higher iNOS protein expression in the aged group.
- Spontaneous induction of iNOS mRNA in aging rat livers.
Conclusions:
- Aging in rat livers is associated with spontaneous iNOS mRNA induction.
- Increased iNOS protein levels and activity are observed in aged rat livers.
- These findings suggest a role for iNOS in the aging liver process.
