Biomaterial Database

Effects of magnesium on nitric oxide synthase activity in endothelial cells. 1995

A B Howard, and R W Alexander, and W R Taylor

Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.

Magnesium modulates endothelium-dependent vasodilation in intact blood vessels. Therefore, the effects of magnesium on nitric oxide (NO) release by isolated endothelial cells and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in endothelial cell homogenates were studied. Unstimulated and bradykinin-stimulated NO release by porcine aortic endothelial cell (PAEC) monolayers were unaffected by 30 min of exposure to magnesium concentrations varying from 0.010 to 10.0 mM. In contrast, when A-23187-stimulated cells were exposed to 0.01, 3.16, and 10.0 mM MgCl2, NO release was decreased by 11.3 +/- 1.8, 11.7 +/- 3.0, and 20.3 +/- 7.2%, respectively, compared with cells exposed to 1.0 mM MgCl2 (P < 0.01). These data suggested that a change in the intracellular magnesium concentration had an effect on NO release, in contrast to a change in the extracellular concentration, which did not have an effect. To further assess this possibility, crude NOS extracts were prepared from PAEC and exposed to MgCl2. NOS activity was measured via the conversion of L-[3H]arginine to L-[3H]citrulline. Increasing the concentration of MgCl2 by 1.0, 3.16, and 10.0 mM caused a 16.0 +/- 6.8, 17.1 +/- 1.7, and 38.6 +/- 5.3% decrease in citrulline formation, respectively (P < 0.05), suggesting a direct inhibition of NOS by MgCl2. No significant difference in the degree of inhibition of NOS activity was found between MgSO4 and MgCl2, thus ruling out a nonspecific chloride effect. In addition, increasing the concentration of NaCl to 15 mM had no effect on NOS activity, ruling out a nonspecific osmotic effect [101.6 +/- 10.5% of control activity, P = not significant (NS)].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008274	Magnesium	A metallic element that has the atomic symbol Mg, atomic number 12, and atomic weight 24.31. It is important for the activity of many enzymes, especially those involved in OXIDATIVE PHOSPHORYLATION.
D009569	Nitric Oxide	A free radical gas produced endogenously by a variety of mammalian cells, synthesized from ARGININE by NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE. Nitric oxide is one of the ENDOTHELIUM-DEPENDENT RELAXING FACTORS released by the vascular endothelium and mediates VASODILATION. It also inhibits platelet aggregation, induces disaggregation of aggregated platelets, and inhibits platelet adhesion to the vascular endothelium. Nitric oxide activates cytosolic GUANYLATE CYCLASE and thus elevates intracellular levels of CYCLIC GMP.	Endogenous Nitrate Vasodilator,Mononitrogen Monoxide,Nitric Oxide, Endothelium-Derived,Nitrogen Monoxide,Endothelium-Derived Nitric Oxide,Monoxide, Mononitrogen,Monoxide, Nitrogen,Nitrate Vasodilator, Endogenous,Nitric Oxide, Endothelium Derived,Oxide, Nitric,Vasodilator, Endogenous Nitrate
D002118	Calcium	A basic element found in nearly all tissues. It is a member of the alkaline earth family of metals with the atomic symbol Ca, atomic number 20, and atomic weight 40. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and combines with phosphorus to form calcium phosphate in the bones and teeth. It is essential for the normal functioning of nerves and muscles and plays a role in blood coagulation (as factor IV) and in many enzymatic processes.	Coagulation Factor IV,Factor IV,Blood Coagulation Factor IV,Calcium-40,Calcium 40,Factor IV, Coagulation
D002478	Cells, Cultured	Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others.	Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D004730	Endothelium, Vascular	Single pavement layer of cells which line the luminal surface of the entire vascular system and regulate the transport of macromolecules and blood components.	Capillary Endothelium,Vascular Endothelium,Capillary Endotheliums,Endothelium, Capillary,Endotheliums, Capillary,Endotheliums, Vascular,Vascular Endotheliums
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001011	Aorta	The main trunk of the systemic arteries.	Aortas
D013552	Swine	Any of various animals that constitute the family Suidae and comprise stout-bodied, short-legged omnivorous mammals with thick skin, usually covered with coarse bristles, a rather long mobile snout, and small tail. Included are the genera Babyrousa, Phacochoerus (wart hogs), and Sus, the latter containing the domestic pig (see SUS SCROFA).	Phacochoerus,Pigs,Suidae,Warthogs,Wart Hogs,Hog, Wart,Hogs, Wart,Wart Hog
D019001	Nitric Oxide Synthase	An NADPH-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of L-ARGININE and OXYGEN to produce CITRULLINE and NITRIC OXIDE.	NO Synthase,Nitric-Oxide Synthase,Nitric-Oxide Synthetase,Nitric Oxide Synthetase,Oxide Synthase, Nitric,Synthase, Nitric Oxide