TY - JOUR
T1 - In vivo expression and function of recombinant GTPCH I in the rabbit carotid artery
AU - Hynes, Sean O.
AU - Smith, Leslie A.
AU - Richardson, Darcy M.
AU - Kovesdi, Imre
AU - O'Brien, Timothy
AU - Katusic, Zvonimir S.
PY - 2004/2
Y1 - 2004/2
N2 - Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is an essential co-factor for endothelial nitric oxide synthase enzymatic activity. GTP cyclohydrolase I (GTPCH I) is the rate-limiting enzyme in BH4 synthesis. This study set out to test the hypothesis that in vivo gene transfer of GTPCH I to endothelial cells could increase bioavailability of BH4, enhance biosynthesis of nitric oxide and thereby enhance endothelium-dependent relaxations mediated by nitric oxide. In vivo gene transfer was carried out by adenovirus (Ad)-mediated delivery into rabbit carotid arteries. Each artery was transduced by 20-min intraluminal incubation of 109 plaque-forming units of Ad-encoding GTPCH I (AdGTPCH) or β-galactosidase as a control. The rabbits were euthanized 72 h later, and vasomotor function of isolated arteries was assessed by isometric force recording. GTPCH I enzymatic activity, BH4, and oxidized biopterin levels were detected with the use of HPLC, and cGMP was measured with the use of radioimmunoassay. Expression of recombinant proteins was detected predominantly in endothelial cells. Both GTPCH I activity and BH4 levels were increased in arteries transduced with AdGTPCH. However, contraction to phenylephrine (10 -5 to 10-9 M), endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine (10-5 to 10-9 M) and cGMP levels were not significantly affected by increased expression of GTPCH I. Our results suggest that expression of GTPCH I in vascular endothelium in vivo increases intracellular concentration of BH4. However, under physiological conditions, it appears that this increase does not affect nitric oxide production in endothelial cells of the carotid artery.
AB - Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is an essential co-factor for endothelial nitric oxide synthase enzymatic activity. GTP cyclohydrolase I (GTPCH I) is the rate-limiting enzyme in BH4 synthesis. This study set out to test the hypothesis that in vivo gene transfer of GTPCH I to endothelial cells could increase bioavailability of BH4, enhance biosynthesis of nitric oxide and thereby enhance endothelium-dependent relaxations mediated by nitric oxide. In vivo gene transfer was carried out by adenovirus (Ad)-mediated delivery into rabbit carotid arteries. Each artery was transduced by 20-min intraluminal incubation of 109 plaque-forming units of Ad-encoding GTPCH I (AdGTPCH) or β-galactosidase as a control. The rabbits were euthanized 72 h later, and vasomotor function of isolated arteries was assessed by isometric force recording. GTPCH I enzymatic activity, BH4, and oxidized biopterin levels were detected with the use of HPLC, and cGMP was measured with the use of radioimmunoassay. Expression of recombinant proteins was detected predominantly in endothelial cells. Both GTPCH I activity and BH4 levels were increased in arteries transduced with AdGTPCH. However, contraction to phenylephrine (10 -5 to 10-9 M), endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine (10-5 to 10-9 M) and cGMP levels were not significantly affected by increased expression of GTPCH I. Our results suggest that expression of GTPCH I in vascular endothelium in vivo increases intracellular concentration of BH4. However, under physiological conditions, it appears that this increase does not affect nitric oxide production in endothelial cells of the carotid artery.
KW - Adenovirus
KW - Nitric oxide synthase
KW - Tetrahydrobiopterin
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U2 - 10.1152/ajpheart.00669.2003
DO - 10.1152/ajpheart.00669.2003
M3 - Article
C2 - 14551046
AN - SCOPUS:0942276500
SN - 0363-6135
VL - 286
SP - H570-H574
JO - American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology
JF - American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology
IS - 2 55-2
ER -