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which they are named; eNOS in vascular cells, nNOS in the CNS and peripheral nerves, and<br />

iNOS within the immune cells, although these divisions are not so strict as first thought and<br />

some cells therefore can produce two different types <strong>of</strong> the enzyme (Nathan 1992). <strong>The</strong><br />

enzymes are coded for on differing chromosomes; chromosome 7 for eNOS (Zl-22 kb,26<br />

exons), chromosome l2for nNOS (150kb, 29 exons) and chromosome 17 foriNOS (37kb,26<br />

exons) (Marsden, Heng et al. 1993). <strong>The</strong> characteristics <strong>of</strong> the NOS enzymes are listed in<br />

Table 3.3 (Byrnes, Bush et al. 1996).<br />

Table 3.3: <strong>The</strong> characteristics <strong>of</strong> the nitric oxide synthase isoenzymes<br />

Enzyme<br />

nNOS<br />

Constitutive/<br />

inducible<br />

constitutive<br />

Type NO<br />

oroduclion<br />

picomoles<br />

Galcium/<br />

calmodulin<br />

dependent<br />

Ghromosome<br />

location<br />

7: 26 exons<br />

span<br />

21 kb<br />

eNOS constitutive ill picomoles dependent 12i 28 exons<br />

span<br />

>100 kb<br />

iNOS inducible tl nanomoles independsnt 17: 26 exons<br />

span<br />

37 kb<br />

a CNS' central nervous system; PNS, peripheral nervous system; |NANC, inhibitory noradrenergic<br />

noncholinergic<br />

b TNF, tumor necrosis factor; lL, interleukin.<br />

This table is taken from Byrnes CA, Bush A, Shinebourne EA "Measuring expiratory nitric oxide in<br />

humans" Methods in Enzymology 1996; 26g:45g-413 (Byrnes, Bush et d. rbsoi.<br />

3.4.1 Constitutive nitric oxide wnthases<br />

Activation <strong>of</strong> the two constitutive isoenzymes (nNOS and eNOS) depends on the levels <strong>of</strong><br />

calmodulin and calcium. <strong>The</strong> NOS enzyme lies dormant until an increase in cellular calcium<br />

in the presence calmodulin occurs. A calcium concentration <strong>of</strong> 200 to 400 nanomoles allows<br />

half the maximum activity <strong>of</strong> the enzyme. This results in a sustained release <strong>of</strong> NO over<br />

several minutes, with picomole amounts <strong>of</strong> NO released, and this acts locally. <strong>The</strong> enzymes<br />

are stimulated by a number <strong>of</strong> mediators, depending on where they are situated, and these<br />

include bradykinin, acetylcholine, calcium ionophore, histamine, leukotriene, platelet<br />

activating factor (serotonin/thrombin) and exercise. In this way these enzymes participate in<br />

maintaining physiological balance within systems as discussed in the previous Chapter 2.3.4.<br />

<strong>The</strong> nNOS was the first <strong>of</strong> the isoenzymes to be purified and cloned (Bredt, Hwang et al.<br />

l99l; Schmidt, Pollock et al. 1991). <strong>The</strong>re is wide expression and high activity <strong>of</strong> nNOS<br />

isoenzyme in the brain and throughout the peripheral nervous system in the NANC nerves,<br />

81<br />

Gells" in which<br />

enzvme is found<br />

cNS: especially<br />

cerebellum<br />

PNS: gut,<br />

bladder,<br />

reproductive<br />

organs<br />

iNANC neruac<br />

endothelial cells,<br />

mast c€lls,<br />

platelets,<br />

smooth muscle<br />

cells. neutroohils<br />

macrophages,<br />

neutrophils,<br />

airway epithelial<br />

cells,<br />

fibroblasts, mast<br />

cells<br />

Enzyme.<br />

stimulationo<br />

acetylcholine,<br />

bra)kinin,<br />

Ca'* ionophore<br />

histamins,<br />

leukotrieng,<br />

PAF<br />

serotonin,<br />

thrombin,<br />

shear stress<br />

ilpoporysacnand<br />

e,<br />

y-interferon,<br />

TNFq,<br />

TNFp, tll, tL2,<br />

leptochoic acid,<br />

picolinic acid

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