Neuronal NOS localises to human airway cilia

作者：Jackson Claire L^*; Lucas Jane S; Walker Woolf T; Owen Holly; Premadeva Irnthu; Lackie Peter M

来源：Nitric Oxide-Biology and Chemistry, 2015, 44: 3-7.

DOI：10.1016/j.niox.2014.11.003

• NOS
• EC 1.14.13.39
• nNOS
• Cilia
• Airway
• Epithelium

Background: Airway NO synthase (NOS) isoenzymes are responsible for rapid and localised nitric oxide (NO) production and are expressed in airway epithelium. We sought to determine the localisation of neuronal NOS (nNOS) in airway epithelium due to the paucity of evidence.
Methods and results: Sections of healthy human bronchial tissue in glycol methacrylate resin and human nasal polyps in paraffin wax were immunohistochemically labelled and reproducibly demonstrated nNOS immunoreactivity, particularly at the proximal portion of cilia; this immunoreactivity was blocked by a specific nNOS peptide fragment. Healthy human epithelial cells differentiated at an air-liquid interface (ALI) confirmed the presence of all three NOS isoenzymes by immunofiuorescence labelling. Only nNOS immunoreactivity was specific to the ciliary axonemeand co-localised with the cilia marker beta-tubulin in the proximal part of the ciliary axoneme.
Conclusions: We report a novel localisation of nNOS at the proximal portion of cilia in airway epitheliurn and conclude that its independent and local regulation of NO levels is crucial for normal cilia function.

• 出版日期2015-1-30