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Published on: July 3, 2013
Inducible nitric oxide synthase-mediated injury in a mouse model of acute salivary gland dysfunction
Abeer Shaalan1, Guy Carpenter1, Gordon Proctor1
1Mucosal and Salivary Biology, Dental Institute, King's College London, United Kingdom.
Aim:
Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is a key regulator of the innate immune system. The aim of the current study was to explore whether innate immune-mediated iNOS and reactive nitrogen species acutely perturb acinar cell physiology and calcium homeostasis of exocrine salivary tissues.
Methods:
Innate immunity in the submandibular gland of C57BL/6 mice was locally activated via intraductal retrograde infusion of polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly (I:C). Expressions of iNOS and the activity of the reactive nitrogen species peroxynitrite, were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Mice were pre-treated with the selective iNOS inhibitor aminoguanidine in order to substantiate the injurious effect of the nitrosative signal on the key calcium regulator sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA2b) and calcium signalling.
Results:
Challenging salivary gland innate immunity with poly (I:C) prompted upregulated expression of iNOS and the generation of peroxynitrite. Inhibition of iNOS/peroxynitrite revealed the role played by upregulated nitrosative signalling in: dysregulated expression of SERCA2b, perturbed calcium homeostasis and loss of saliva secretion.
Conclusion:
iNOS mediates disruption of exocrine calcium signalling causing secretory dysfunction following activation of innate immunity in a novel salivary gland injury model.
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