Role of NO synthase in the development of Trypanosoma cruzi-induced cardiomyopathy in mice

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2009 May;80(5):782-7.

Abstract

Trypanosoma cruzi infection results in an increase in myocardial NO and intense inflammation. NO modulates the T. cruzi-induced myocardial inflammatory reaction. NO synthase (NOS)1-, NOS2-, and NOS3-null mice were infected with T. cruzi (Brazil strain). Infected NOS1-null mice had increased parasitemia, mortality, and left ventricular inner diameter (LVID). Chronically infected NOS1- and NOS2-null and wild-type mice (WT) exhibited increased right ventricular internal diameter (RVID), although the fold increase in the NOS2-null mice was smaller. Infected NOS3-null mice exhibited a significant reduction both in LVID and RVID. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction showed expression of NOS2 and NOS3 in hearts of infected NOS1-null and WT mice, whereas infected NOS2-null hearts showed little change in expression of other NOS isoforms. Infected NOS3-null hearts showed an increase only in NOS1 expression. These results may indicate different roles for NOS isoforms in T. cruzi-induced cardiomyopathy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chagas Cardiomyopathy / enzymology*
  • Chagas Cardiomyopathy / genetics
  • Chagas Cardiomyopathy / pathology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / genetics
  • Isoenzymes
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Myocardium / enzymology
  • Myocardium / pathology
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / genetics*
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / genetics*
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / genetics*
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / metabolism
  • Trypanosoma cruzi*

Substances

  • Isoenzymes
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
  • Nos1 protein, mouse
  • Nos2 protein, mouse
  • Nos3 protein, mouse