The role of eNOS, iNOS, and NF-κB in upregulation and activation of cyclooxygenase-2 and infarct size reduction by atorvastatin

Pretreatment with atorvastatin (ATV) reduces infarct size (IS) and increases myocardial expression of phosphorylated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (p-eNOS), inducible NOS (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) in the rat. Inhibiting COX2 abolished the ATV-induced IS limitation without affecting p-eNOS and iNOS expression. We investigated 1) whether 3-day ATV pretreatment limits IS in eNOS^-/- and iNOS^-/- mice and 2) whether COX2 expression and/or activation by ATV is eNOS, iNOS, and/or NF-κB dependent. Male C57BL/6 wild-type (WT), University of North Carolina eNOS^-/- and iNOS^-/- mice received ATV (10 mg·kg ^-1·day^-1; ATV⁺) or water alone (ATV ^-) for 3 days. Mice underwent 30 min of coronary artery occlusion and 4 h of reperfusion, or hearts were harvested and subjected to ELISA, immunoblotting, biotin switch, and electrophoretic mobility shift assay. As a result, ATV reduced IS only in the WT mice. ATV increased eNOS, p-eNOS, iNOS, and COX2 levels and activated NF-κB in WT mice. It also increased myocardial COX2 activity. In eNOS^-/- mice, ATV increased COX2 expression but not COX2 activity or iNOS expression. NF-κB was not activated by ATV in the eNOS^-/- mice. In the iNOS^-/- mice, eNOS and p-eNOS levels were increased but not iNOS and COX2 levels; however, NF-κB was activated. In conclusion, both eNOS and iNOS are essential for the IS-limiting effect of ATV. The expression of COX2 by ATV is iNOS, but not eNOS or NF-κB, dependent. Activation of COX2 is dependent on iNOS.