Regulation of hepatic eNOS by caveolin and calmodulin after bile duct ligation in rats

Vijay Shah1, Sheng Cao1, Helen Hendrickson1, Janet Yao1, and Zvonimir S. Katusic2

1 Gastrointestinal Research Unit and 2 Anesthesia Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905


    ABSTRACT
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ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

In carbon tetrachloride-induced liver cirrhosis, diminution of hepatic endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity may contribute to impaired hepatic vasodilation and portal hypertension. The mechanisms responsible for these events remain unknown; however, a role for the NOS-associated proteins caveolin and calmodulin has been postulated. The purpose of this study is to characterize the expression and cellular localization of the NOS inhibitory protein caveolin-1 in normal rat liver and to then examine the role of caveolin in conjunction with calmodulin in regulation of NOS activity in cholestatic portal hypertension. In normal liver, caveolin protein is expressed preferentially in nonparenchymal cells compared with hepatocytes as assessed by Western blot analysis of isolated cell preparations. Additionally, within the nonparenchymal cell populations, caveolin expression is detected within both liver endothelial cells and hepatic stellate cells. Next, studies were performed 4 wk after bile duct ligation (BDL), a model of portal hypertension characterized by prominent cholestasis, as evidenced by a significant increase in serum cholesterol in BDL animals. After BDL, caveolin protein levels from detergent-soluble liver lysates are significantly increased as assessed by Western blot analysis. Immunoperoxidase staining demonstrates that this increase is most prominent within sinusoids and venules. Additionally, caveolin-1 upregulation is associated with a significant reduction in NOS catalytic activity in BDL liver lysates, an event that is corrected with provision of excess calmodulin, a protein that competitively binds eNOS from caveolin. We conclude that, in cholestatic portal hypertension, caveolin may negatively regulate NOS activity in a manner that is reversible by excess calmodulin.

endothelial nitric oxide synthase; portal hypertension; protein interactions; cholesterol


    INTRODUCTION
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

CAVEOLIN-1 IS A 22-kDa integral membrane protein implicated in regional signal transduction pathways (33). For example, caveolin has been demonstrated to bind with endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and thereby directly inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production (5). Conversely, the calcium regulatory protein calmodulin competitively dissociates eNOS from caveolin, thereby reversing the inhibitory effects of caveolin on NOS activity (6, 7, 11, 21, 22). In addition to such distinct cell signaling functions, caveolin is also a cholesterol-binding protein and provides a functional scaffold for lipid-rich plasmalemmal vesicles termed caveolae (8, 19, 33). Prominent increases in hepatic caveolin protein levels have been detected in independent experimental models of liver disease, suggesting specific pathophysiological sequelae for caveolin upregulation (10, 32). For example, an increase in caveolin expression is detected in a carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced model of experimental liver cirrhosis (32). In this model, the increase in caveolin protein level has been implicated in the development of impaired liver endothelial cell (LEC) NOS activity and ensuing vasoconstriction and portal hypertension observed in this model (32).

The cellular distribution of caveolin protein in normal liver and the mechanisms that regulate caveolin protein expression are unclear. Although most studies note that caveolin protein is expressed at only low levels under normal conditions in liver (23, 32), the cellular distribution within normal liver is debated. For example, some studies suggest the presence of caveolin protein in normal LEC (10, 32) while other studies report dissimilar results describing an enrichment in hepatocyte populations (25). Additionally, mechanisms of regulation of caveolin expression and signaling function remain unclear. A recent analysis of the caveolin gene promoter suggests a direct link between cholesterol influx and caveolin gene expression in cultured cells (3). In liver, this concept is supported by the detection of an increase in caveolin protein levels in a murine model of Niemann-Pick disease type C, which is characterized by prominent lipid accumulation in the liver (10). These studies raise the possibility that alterations in lipid metabolism may play a role in regulation of caveolin-1 expression and ensuing impairment of eNOS function in portal hypertensive liver.

Therefore, the goals of this study were to 1) examine the cellular and subcellular localization of caveolin in normal liver, 2) analyze caveolin expression in an animal model of portal hypertension associated with hyperlipidemia, and 3) determine whether caveolin-mediated inhibition of NOS activity is reversible by calmodulin in portal hypertensive liver.


    METHODS
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ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

Isolation and culture of liver cells. All tissue culture reagents, including MEM, FBS, penicillin, and streptomycin, were obtained from GIBCO. Rat hepatocytes and nonparenchymal cells (NPC) were isolated from normal Fisher rats as previously described (30, 31). In brief, the liver was digested with a collagenase perfusion. The digest was filtered, and the hepatocytes were separated by centrifugation at 400 rpm. The supernatant was centrifuged at 400 rpm a second time to remove remaining hepatocytes and then centrifuged at 1,600 rpm, resulting in an NPC pellet. In some experiments, LEC and, alternatively, hepatic stellate cells (HSC), were further separated from the NPC fraction using centrifugal elutriation and density gradient centrifugation, respectively (17, 18, 31). For HSC isolation, after centrifugation to obtain the NPC fraction, NPC were resuspended in a Krebs buffer that was layered on an Accudenz gradient consisting of a layer of 15.6% and a layer of 8.2%. Gradients were centrifuged at 20,000 rpm for 25 min at 20°C. The band above the 8.2% Accudenz was retrieved, and cells were resuspended in culture media and plated on plasticware. HSC cell purity was confirmed by 1) immunohistochemical expression of smooth muscle alpha -actin after several days in culture, 2) lack of expression of eNOS by Western blot analysis of HSC lysates, and 3) characteristic phase-contrast morphology. LEC were purified by centrifugal elutriation as previously described using a Beckman JE-6B elutriator and rotor (31). LEC purity was confirmed by the ability of >95% of cells to take up Di-I-acetylated low-density lipoprotein (31). Additionally, we have previously found that fenestrae and sieve plates are abundantly detected in these cells up to 20 h after culture by transmission electron microscopy (31). Freshly isolated cells were plated on human placental collagen (Sigma, St. Louis, MO)-coated 100-mm dishes.

Animals and bile duct ligation. Bile duct ligation (BDL) was performed as previously described (34). In brief, male Fisher rats weighing 225-275 g were anesthetized. Laparotomy was performed under sterile technique, and the common bile duct was isolated and tied in two locations. The duct was ligated between the sutures, and animals were closed. In sham animals, surgery was identical, except no ties were placed and the duct was not ligated. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bilirubin from sham and BDL animals were assayed commercially through the Mayo Clinical Laboratory.

Immunoprecipitation and Western blotting. Liver tissue or, alternatively, cell fractions were homogenized in a lysis buffer [50 mM Tris · HCl, 0.1 mM EGTA, 0.1 mM EDTA, 100 mM leupeptin, 1 mM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, 1% (vol/vol) Nonidet P-40, 0.1% SDS, and 0.1% deoxycholic acid; pH 7.5 (32)]. Protein quantification of samples was performed using the Lowry assay. eNOS immunoprecipitation was performed by incubating equal aliquots of detergent-soluble protein lysate from whole liver with excess eNOS monoclonal antibody (mAb; Transduction Laboratories, Lexington, KY) overnight, after preclearing of samples with Pansorbin (32). For immunoprecipitation studies, lysis buffer was prepared in the absence of both SDS and deoxycholic acid. Immunocomplexes were bound by incubating protein samples with protein A beads for 1 h at 4°C. Complexes were washed three times in the lysis buffer described above in the absence of detergents. Bound proteins were eluted by boiling samples in Laemmli loading buffer. Immunoprecipitated proteins or, alternatively, detergent-soluble protein lysates were separated by SDS-PAGE on a 12% acrylamide gel, and proteins were electroblotted on nitrocellulose membranes. The membranes were washed in Tris-buffered saline with 0.1% Tween, blocked in 5% milk, and incubated with eNOS mAb or, alternatively, caveolin polyclonal antibody (pAb; Transduction Laboratories). Membranes were stained with Ponceau S to confirm equal protein loading and transfer between lanes. Densitometric quantification of Western blot signal intensity of autoradiograms was performed using the National Institutes of Health Scion Image.

Immunohistochemistry. Caveolin-1 immunohistochemistry was performed as previously described (32). In brief, slides were pretreated with 1.0 mM EDTA, pH 8, before incubation with caveolin-1 pAb. Blocking and detection were performed using an Envision kit from Dako (Carpinteria, CA). Negative control slides were incubated with appropriate serum substituted for the primary antibody.

Indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. Immunofluorescence was performed as previously described (31). In brief, LEC were fixed in 2% paraformaldehyde and incubated in caveolin-1 pAb. Primary antibody was detected using an FITC-coupled secondary antibody. Washes were performed with PBS-0.1% BSA after both primary and secondary antibody incubation. Cells were mounted in anti-fade (Molecular Probes, Eugene, OR) and visualized using a conventional fluorescence microscope (5100TV; Zeiss).

NOS activity assay. The conversion of L-[3H]arginine to L-[3H]citrulline was used to determine NOS activity. Briefly, liver tissue was homogenized in a lysis buffer identical to that described for Western blot. Samples were incubated at 37°C with a buffer containing 1 mM NADPH, 3 µM tetrahydrobiopterin, 2.5 mM CaCl2, 50 mM L-valine, 10 µM L-arginine, and 0.2 µCi L-[3H]arginine with 0.1 µM calmodulin, which is the standard concentration used in this assay (21), or, alternatively, 1.0 µM calmodulin, a 10-fold excess. To determine NOS activity, triplicate samples were incubated for 20 min in the presence and absence of nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 1 mM) or vehicle. The reaction was terminated by the addition of 1 ml of cold stop buffer (20 mM HEPES, 2 mM EDTA, and 2 mM EGTA, pH 5.5), and the reaction mix was applied to a Dowex AG 50WX-8 resin column. Radiolabeled counts per minute of L-citrulline generation were measured and used to determine L-NAME-inhibited NOS activity.

Assay of serum cholesterol. Serum cholesterol was measured using a spectrophotometric assay (Sigma Chemicals) that is based on the conversion of a cholesterol-coupled chromogen to a quinoneimine dye. The dye was detected at an absorbance of 500 nm using a spectrophotometer. Cholesterol calculations were made by determining the absorbance of calibrator and blank samples in addition to test samples.

Statistical analysis. All data are given as means ± SE. Data were analyzed using paired and unpaired Student's t-tests as appropriate.


    RESULTS
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ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

Caveolin-1 protein is detected in LEC. To examine the relative abundance of caveolin expression in the major liver cell types, we performed cell fractionation and isolation from normal rat liver. First, freshly isolated hepatocyte and NPC fractions were separated, and cell lysates were prepared for Western blot analysis. As depicted in Fig. 1A, in normal liver, caveolin protein is enriched in NPC lysate (lanes 3 and 4 depict 100 µg of protein lysate from two representative NPC lysates) compared with hepatocyte lysate (lanes 1 and 2 depict 100 µg of protein lysate from two representative hepatocyte lysates). To further examine caveolin expression in NPC cell types, we purified and cultured HSC and LEC, which constitute the majority of NPC. As seen in Fig. 1B, caveolin protein is detected in both of these cell populations (lane 1 depicts 50 µg protein from a representative HSC lysate, whereas lanes 2 and 3 depict 50 µg of protein from two representative LEC lysates). To further establish the specificity of caveolin expression in LEC and to determine the subcellular localization of the protein, we performed immunofluorescence microscopy in LEC using a caveolin pAb. As shown in Fig. 2B, the caveolin-1 immunofluorescence signal was detected in a predominantly perinuclear distribution in LEC with additional vesicular staining also observed. Note the lack of caveolin immunofluorescence in the plasma membrane where specialized vesicles termed caveolae reside. When nonimmune serum was substituted for caveolin pAb, no significant immunofluorescence signal was detected (Fig. 2A). These studies indicate that, in liver, caveolin is detected in LEC and is distributed predominantly in a perinuclear pattern.


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Fig. 1.   Caveolin-1 protein levels are enriched in liver endothelial cells (LEC). A: parenchymal and nonparenchymal fractions of liver cells were isolated. Equal amounts of protein lysates were prepared for gel electrophoresis and Western blot analysis. As seen in the representative blot, caveolin protein levels in two representative hepatocyte lysates (HEP) are low compared with two representative nonparenchymal cell (NPC) lysates (n = 3). B: LEC and hepatic stellate cells (HSC) were purified and cultured from NPC populations as described in METHODS and prepared for gel electrophoresis and Western blot analysis. Caveolin protein is detected in both cell populations (n = 3).



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Fig. 2.   Subcellular localization of caveolin-1 in LEC. LEC were isolated and cultured on glass coverslips for several hours. Cells were then fixed and prepared for immunofluorescence analysis using a caveolin pAb. A: no immunofluorescence was detected in cells when nonimmune serum was substituted for caveolin pAb. B: caveolin immunofluorescence signal is detected in a predominantly perinuclear distribution in LEC (large arrow) with minimal signal detected in plasma membrane regions of the cell where caveolae reside (small arrow).

Increased serum cholesterol after BDL. An increase in caveolin expression in cultured cells has been linked to hyperlipidemia (3, 5, 13). To examine this paradigm in an experimental model of portal hypertension, we performed studies in the BDL rat, a model characterized by prominent cholestasis and liver injury, as evidenced by elevated bilirubin and ALT and AST levels (Table 1). We first examined cholesterol levels from serum samples of sham animals and animals after BDL. As shown in Fig. 3, serum cholesterol levels, as assessed by a spectrophotometric assay, were significantly increased in BDL animals compared with sham animals (P < 0.05, sham vs. BDL; n = 6), suggesting significant intrahepatic cholesterol retention.

                              
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Table 1.   Biochemical determinations



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Fig. 3.   Serum cholesterol is increased after bile duct ligation (BDL). Serum cholesterol was examined in sham and BDL animals 4 wk after BDL using a spectrophotometric assay. Serum cholesterol levels are significantly increased by ~3-fold in BDL animals compared with sham animals. *P < 0.05 (n = 6).

Hepatic caveolin-1 protein levels are increased after BDL. To determine whether cholestasis and ensuing hypercholesterolemia are associated with elevated caveolin-1 protein levels in the liver, detergent-soluble liver lysates were prepared from sham and BDL animals 4 wk after BDL. As shown in Fig. 4A, top, caveolin protein levels were increased significantly in BDL animals compared with sham animals, while the depicted Ponceau stain of the membrane demonstrated no increase in the levels of several highly expressed liver proteins (Fig. 4A, bottom). Additionally, these findings were paralleled by an increase in caveolin bound to eNOS in BDL liver lysates compared with sham animals (Fig. 4B). In Fig. 4C, a densitometric analysis depicts the significant increase in hepatic caveolin protein levels after BDL (P < 0.05, sham vs. BDL; n = 6). To determine the cellular location of this increase in caveolin expression after BDL, we next performed immunoperoxidase staining using a caveolin pAb. As shown in Fig. 5A, in sham animals only low levels of caveolin protein are detected in liver, predominantly in a sinusoidal pattern and consistent with the cell fractionation studies depicted in Fig. 1. After BDL, immunoperoxidase staining was more intense and was detected within hepatic vascular endothelium, including the central vein (Fig. 5B) and sinusoids. These studies indicate that caveolin protein levels are increased in hepatic vasculature after BDL, similar to that previously observed in the CCl4-induced model of liver cirrhosis (32).


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Fig. 4.   Caveolin-1 protein levels are increased in liver lysates after BDL. Caveolin protein levels and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) immunoprecipitates (IP) were examined in detergent-soluble liver lysates 4 wk after BDL and compared with sham animals. A: representative Western blot depicting an increase in caveolin protein levels in liver lysates after BDL compared with sham (top) while no increase is detected in the expression of other prominent liver proteins as assessed by Ponceau stain of transferred proteins (bottom). B: increase in caveolin protein levels in BDL liver lysates is paralleled by an increase in caveolin bound to eNOS as assessed by coimmunoprecipitation analysis. C: densitometric analysis demonstrating a significant increase in hepatic caveolin protein levels in BDL animals compared with sham. *P < 0.05 (n = 6).



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Fig. 5.   Caveolin-1 expression is increased in hepatic vasculature after BDL. Sections of liver tissue were obtained from sham and BDL animals and fixed in formalin for immunohistochemical staining for caveolin. A: in sham liver, only low level of immunostaining for caveolin is detected, predominantly within sinusoids. B: in BDL animals, immunostaining for caveolin is more prominent and detected in sinusoids and veins. Note the intense staining in a central vein (arrow).

Diminished NOS activity in liver after BDL and correction with excess calmodulin. To determine whether enhanced caveolin expression, which is detected after BDL, is associated with diminution of NOS catalysis, NOS activity assays were performed by measuring the conversion of radiolabeled L-arginine to L-citrulline in detergent-soluble lysates from liver in rats after BDL and in sham rats. As seen in Fig. 6, hepatic NOS activity was significantly lower in BDL animals compared with sham animals at 0.1 µM calmodulin, which is the standard concentration of calmodulin used in this assay (P<= 0.05; n = 6; see Ref. 32). Because the eNOS-caveolin interaction is disrupted by excess calmodulin (6, 7, 11, 21, 22), we next sought to determine whether the provision of a 10-fold excess in calmodulin in the NOS assay could reverse the deficiency in NOS activity detected in BDL liver lysates. Although an increase in the concentration of calmodulin from 0.1 to 1.0 µM does not affect NOS activity in sham liver, the excess calmodulin significantly increases NOS activity in BDL lysates, thereby correcting the deficient NOS activity detected in BDL liver (P <=  0.05; n = 6). These studies indicate that hepatic eNOS catalytic activity is reduced after BDL and that the deficiency can be corrected by the provision of excess calmodulin in this in vitro assay.


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Fig. 6.   Diminished hepatic NOS catalytic activity after BDL and correction by excess calmodulin. Detergent-soluble lysates were prepared from liver tissue harvested from sham and BDL animals and assessed for NOS catalytic activity (nitro-L-arginine methyl ester inhibited conversion of L-arginine to L-citrulline). Experiments were performed in the presence of either 0.1 (open bars) or 1.0 (filled bars) µM calmodulin, while concentrations of all other cofactors and substrates were maintained identical. NOS catalytic activity is significantly reduced in liver lysates from BDL animals compared with sham animals in the presence of 0.1 µM calmodulin, which is the amount of calmodulin routinely used in this assay. *P <=  0.05 (n = 6). In the presence of 1.0 µM calmodulin, NOS activity in sham liver lysates is not changed significantly compared with 0.1 µM calmodulin. However, NOS activity is significantly increased in BDL liver lysates with supplementation of 1.0 µM calmodulin compared with 0.1 µM calmodulin. **P <=  0.05 (n = 6).


    DISCUSSION
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

Caveolin-1 has been implicated as a negative regulator of eNOS activity (4, 21, 22). The findings in this study demonstrate that caveolin expression in liver vasculature is increased after BDL, a model of portal hypertension characterized by prominent cholestasis. Additionally, these studies demonstrate that the deficiency in NOS catalytic activity detected in this model can be corrected by excess calmodulin, a protein that disrupts the eNOS-caveolin protein interaction (6, 7, 11, 21, 22). Furthermore, these studies suggest an association in the liver between these events and hypercholesterolemia.

Caveolin-1 protein levels in normal liver are low, and prior studies examining the cellular localization of caveolin in liver by immunohistochemistry have detected predominantly a low-intensity sinusoidal pattern of staining (10, 25, 32). However, this pattern of expression has led to varied interpretations. While some groups interpret this pattern as indicative of expression within sinusoidal cells (10, 32), others have interpreted this histochemical distribution to indicate that caveolin expression is exclusive to the basolateral hepatocyte membrane domain (25). In support of the latter viewpoint, investigators have isolated luminal endothelial cell plasma membranes (presumably containing the cellular pool of caveolae) from rat liver and have been unable to detect caveolin protein (23). In this study, we address this issue by first separating sinusoidal and parenchymal cell fractions from the liver and directly examining caveolin protein levels in each fraction. In our analysis, caveolin protein levels are clearly in abundance within freshly isolated sinusoidal NPC compared with freshly isolated hepatocytes. Additionally, upon further analysis, caveolin protein is detected within cultured LEC and cultured HSC within the NPC fraction of liver cells. Although these studies may appear to be inconsistent with the aforementioned study demonstrating a lack of caveolin protein within enriched plasma membrane fractions of LEC, the discrepancies in detection of caveolin in LEC may be clarified by our immunofluorescence microscopy analysis which demonstrates that caveolin in LEC is expressed predominantly in a perinuclear distribution rather than in plasmalemmal caveolae, thereby accounting for the lack of detection of caveolin protein within LEC plasma membranes. Enrichment of caveolin within a perinuclear distribution in cells rather than in plasma membrane caveolae is observed in specific cell types under physiological and pathopharmacological conditions (1, 19, 33). For example, in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells, a significant component of caveolin protein is detected within perinuclear Golgi membranes rather than plasmalemmal caveolae (19). Additionally, a recent detailed confocal microscopic analysis of intact cardiac endocardium clearly demonstrates the prominent Golgi localization of caveolin in endothelial cells in vivo (1). Furthermore, pharmacological disruption of the structural integrity of caveolae with cholesterol oxidase also precipitates a recycling of caveolin to Golgi membranes in a perinuclear distribution, thereby supporting the concept that caveolin can reside independently from plasmalemmal caveolae (8, 33). This Golgi membrane pool of caveolin has been postulated to bind and transport cholesterol between the Golgi and the plasma membrane caveolae, within lipid "rafts" or vesicles, although more diverse functions are also likely (8). The physiological basis for caveolin enrichment within Golgi of LEC is unclear, but, interestingly, the caveolin-regulated protein eNOS, although enriched within caveolae within a variety of endothelial cell types (9), also targets predominantly to Golgi membranes in LEC (31). Thus, despite the dearth of both caveolin and eNOS within LEC plasma membranes, inhibitory interactions of caveolin with eNOS likely occur within Golgi membranes and/or Golgi-associated caveolin-coated vesicles.

Although caveolin protein levels in normal liver are low, enhanced expression has been implicated in the development of experimental portal hypertension (32). For example, it has recently been demonstrated that increases in hepatic caveolin expression occur in CCl4-induced cirrhosis (32). Increases in caveolin expression were associated with enhanced caveolin binding with eNOS, diminished NO production, and impaired hepatic vasodilatory responses in this model (32). Additionally, preliminary studies suggest a similar paradigm in human cirrhosis (4). In the present study, hepatic NOS activity is also diminished in the BDL model of portal hypertension in conjunction with enhanced caveolin expression. A causative role for caveolin in the process of NOS inhibition is supported by the demonstration that addition of excess calmodulin, a protein that disrupts the eNOS-caveolin protein interaction, corrects the deficient NOS activity in BDL liver lysates detected in the cell-free NOS assay system. However, excess calmodulin may also potentiate deficient NOS activity in BDL liver lysates through alternative mechanisms, as calmodulin also binds and activates other proteins, including the putative eNOS-activating protein, Hsp 90 (11).

The factors within the liver that upregulate caveolin protein are unclear; however, studies in cultured cells suggest a direct link between cellular cholesterol levels and enhanced caveolin expression and signaling. For example, Feron et al. (5) detected an increase in caveolin protein levels in bovine aortic endothelial cells incubated in cholesterol-enriched serum with an associated enhancement of binding of caveolin with eNOS and diminished NO production. Similar findings demonstrating cholesterol-dependent regulation of caveolin have also been observed in MDCK cells (13). In further support of this concept, Bist et al. (3) have recently identified a response element within the caveolin-1 promoter region essential for the cholesterol-dependent regulation of the caveolin-1 gene. In the present studies, the increase in caveolin protein levels detected in the BDL liver also occurs in the context of marked increases in serum cholesterol, demonstrating an association between hypercholesterolemia and increased caveolin expression and signaling in hepatic vasculature. We speculate that serum cholesterol may be a causative factor for caveolin expression and signaling in our studies based on in vitro cellular and molecular studies by others (3, 5, 13); however, serum cholesterol levels are not prominently increased in all models of liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension, and thus factors other than cholesterol are also likely to contribute to regulation of caveolin and eNOS. For example, there are other factors coexisting between the BDL and CCL4 models of liver injury, including alterations in cytokine expression and shear stress patterns, both of which may alter caveolin and NOS expression and function, resulting in similar hemodynamic disturbances in both models (15, 24, 33).

The role of a diminution of NOS activity in the pathogenesis of intrahepatic vasoconstriction and portal hypertension remains unsettled. While some investigators detect impaired hepatic eNOS activity and NO-dependent responses in CCL4-induced cirrhotic rats (12, 28, 32), this observation has not been universal throughout other models of intrahepatic vasoconstriction and portal hypertension (20). In the present study, we do detect a diminution of NOS activity in liver lysates in the BDL rat, consistent with prior studies in the CCL4-treated rat model of portal hypertension (32). Interestingly, despite the prominent intrahepatic vasoconstriction observed in this model, an increase in hepatic NOS activity has also been observed after BDL (20). These temporal variations in NOS activity are likely related to induction of inducible NOS (iNOS). For example, iNOS mRNA levels have been detected in nonparenchymal liver cell types during the first 8 days after BDL surgery (27); however, in our study, we did not detect iNOS protein levels from whole liver homogenates 4 wk after BDL, as assessed by Western blot analysis. Although this does not exclude the presence of untranslated iNOS mRNA transcripts, the prominent decrease in NOS activity in this study suggests that iNOS induction, in contradistinction to earlier time points, is not prominent in our animals 4 wk after BDL. The BDL rat has also been used to delineate the vascular component of portal hypertension as these animals develop increased intrahepatic resistance and increased portal pressure in the absence of fully developed cirrhosis at 4 wk (Fig. 5; see Ref. 14). The detection of reversibly diminished NOS activity preceding the onset of overt cirrhosis suggests that these regulatory events may contribute to the development of the vascular component of portal hypertension.

Recent experimental evidence supports the concept that the vascular component of portal hypertension may occur through flow and pressure regulation within the sinusoids, with LEC-derived NO acting abluminally on activated, contractile stellate cells (26). On the basis of this concept, reduced NO production from LEC may result in intrasinusoidal and intrahepatic vasoconstriction, perhaps through diminished NO-dependent stellate cell relaxation (12, 28, 29, 32). However, important hepatic resistance changes also occur in extrahepatic sites (2, 16). Thus delineation of the relative roles of these locales in flow regulation and further elucidation of the cellular mechanisms of NOS regulation in liver are likely to advance the understanding of portal hypertension.


    ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This work was supported by National Institutes of Health Grants DK-02529 (V. Shah) and HL-53524 (Z. S. Katusic), the Northern Heartland Affiliate of the American Heart Association (V. Shah), and the Mayo Clinic Foundation.


    FOOTNOTES

Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: V. Shah, GI Research Unit, Al 2-435, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905 (E-mail: shah.vijay{at}mayo.edu).

The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. The article must therefore be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.

Received 21 August 2000; accepted in final form 18 December 2000.


    REFERENCES
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

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