Methotrexate potentiates bradykinin-induced increase in macromolecular efflux from the hamster oral mucosa

The purpose of this study was to determine whether methotrexate modulates bradykinin-induced increase in macromolecular efflux from the in situ oral mucosa and whether this response is mediated by the L-arginine/nitric oxide biosynthetic pathway. Using intravital microscopy, we found that suffusion of methotrexate alone onto the hamster cheek pouch had no significant effects on leaky site formation and increase in clearance of fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled dextran (molecular mass, 70 kDa). However, methotrexate significantly potentiated bradykinin-induced responses (P < 0.05). These effects were associated with significant increases in nitrites concentration and guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate-like immunoreactivity in the suffusate and were abrogated by N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) but not N(G)-nitro-D-arginine methyl ester (D-NAME). L-Arginine, but not D-arginine, abolished L-NAME-induced responses. ZnCI2 and indomethacin had no significant effects on methotrexate-induced responses. Methotrexate had no significant effects on adenosine- and ionomycin-induced increases in macromolecular efflux. Collectively, these data indicate that methotrexate amplifies bradykinin-induced increase in macromolecular efflux from the in situ oral mucosa in a specific, receptor- and L-arginine/nitric oxide biosynthetic pathway-dependent fashion.