| Abstrakt: |
In this study, the role of cyclic GMP, the end product of the NO‐cyclic GMP signalling pathway, in the regulation of ecNOS was investigated. Bovine pulmonary endothelial cells were exposed to 8‐bromo‐cyclic GMP and its effect on NO production, ecNOS protein, and mRNA levels was analyzed. Endothelial cells on exposure to 8‐bromo‐cyclic GMP produced significantly increased amounts of NO, detected as increased cyclic GMP in cocultures with vascular smooth muscle cells both under basal conditions and with agonist stimulation. 8‐Bromo‐cyclic GMP significantly increased the ecNOS protein and mRNA levels as detected on Western and Northern blots respectively. This 8‐bromo‐cyclic GMP mediated increase of NO production, ecNOS protein and mRNA levels suggests that cyclic GMP up‐regulates the expression of ecNOS. Thus, there may be an intercellular feedback mechanism involved at the molecular level in the expression of the NO‐cyclic GMP signalling pathway in blood vessels. |
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