Nitric oxide contributes to hypoxia-reoxygenation-induced P-glycoprotein expression in rat brain endothelial cells

Ischemia-reperfusion leads to increased levels at the blood-brain barrier of the multidrug efflux transporter, P-glycoprotein that provides protection to the brain by limiting access of unwanted substances. This is coincident with the production of nitric oxide. This present study using immortalized rat brain endothelial cells (GPNTs) examines whether following hypoxia-reoxygenation, nitric oxide contributes to the alterations in P-glycoprotein levels. After 6 h of hypoxia, both nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species, detected intracellularly using fluorescent monitoring dyes, were produced in the subsequent reoxygenation phase coincident with increased P-glycoprotein. The evidence that nitric oxide can directly affect P-glycoprotein expression was sought by applying S-nitroso-N-acetyl-DL: -penicillamine that as shown increased the nitric oxide generation. Sodium nitroprusside, though more effective at increasing P-glycoprotein expression, appeared to produce different reactive species. Real time RT-PCR analysis revealed the predominant form of nitric oxide synthase in these cells to be endothelial, inhibition of which partially prevented the increase in P-glycoprotein during reoxygenation. These data indicate that the production of nitric oxide by endothelial nitric oxide synthase during reoxygenation can influence P-glycoprotein expression in cells of the blood-rat brain barrier, highlighting another route by which nitric oxide may protect the brain.