Cytokines stimulate GTP cyclohydrolase I gene expression in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells

In vascular endothelial cells, tetrahydrobiopterin serves as an essential cofactor required for enzymatic activity of nitric oxide synthase. GTP cyclohydrolase I is the rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of tetrahydrobiopterin. Previous studies have demonstrated that proinflammatory cytokines stimulate production of tetrahydrobiopterin in endothelial cells. Long-term regulation of GTP cyclohydrolase I gene expression in endothelium has not been studied. The present study was designed to determine whether the cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (INF-γ), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) stimulate tetrahydrobiopterin synthesis by increasing expression of GTP cyclohydrolase I mRNA in endothelial cells. The relative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify expression of GTP cyclohydrolase I mRNA in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Nuclear run-on assay was performed to determine the transcription rate of GTP cyclohydrolase I gene. GTP cyclohydrolase I enzymatic activity and production of tetrahydrobiopterin were measured in cell extracts. After incubation with TNF-α (2 μg/mL), INF-γ (200 U/mL), and IL-1β (5 U/mL) for 24 hours, significantly increased expression of GTP cyclohydrolase I mRNA was detected. Cytokines increased the transcription rate of GTP cyclohydrolase I 3.6-fold. This increase was associated with increased GTP cyclohydrolase I enzymatic activity and elevation of intracellular levels of tetrahydrobiopterin. An RNA synthesis inhibitor, actinomycin D (2 μg/mL), inhibited cytokine-induced expression of GTP cyclohydrolase I gene. A protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide (0.5 μg/mL), did not affect expression of GTP cyclohydrolase I mRNA but blocked the increase in enzyme activity, as well as production of tetrahydrobiopterin. Incubation of endothelial cells for 24 hours in the presence of 8-bromoadenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (10^-3 mol/L) did not affect expression of GTP cyclohydrolase I mRNA. These results demonstrate that in vascular endothelial cells, cytokines increase production of tetrahydrobiopterin by stimulating expression of GTP cyclohydrolase I gene. This effect is apparently due to increased transcription rather than stabilization of mRNA. Regulation of GTP cyclohydrolase I gene expression by cytokines may play an important role in control of endothelial nitric oxide synthesis.