Vasculoprotective Role of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase at Inflammatory Coronary Lesions Induced by Chronic Treatment With Interleukin-1β in Pigs in Vivo

Background We recently developed a porcine model in which chronic, local treatment with interleukin-1β (IL-1β) causes coronary arteriosclerotic changes and hyperconstrictive responses. Inflammatory cytokines are known to induce inducible NO synthase (iNOS) in the vascular smooth muscle. This study was designed to examine whether or not the production of NO by iNOS has a protective or deleterious effect on the coronary artery in vivo. Methods and Results A segment of the porcine coronary artery was aseptically wrapped with cotton mesh absorbing IL-1β suspension. We inhibited both eNOS and iNOS activity by cotreatment with L-NAME (a nonspecific inhibitor of NOS) and iNOS activity alone by aminoguanidine (a selective inhibitor of iNOS). Immunostaining showed that iNOS was absent in the normal coronary artery, whereas it was highly expressed 1 day after the application of IL-1β and thereafter downregulated until 14 days. In contrast, eNOS was well maintained throughout the study period. Two weeks after the op...