Inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase and superoxide production reduces matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity and restores coronary vasomotor function in rat cardiac allografts

Abstract

The present study demonstrates for the first time that selective iNOS inhibition or SOD treatment reduces enhanced MMP-9 protein and activity associated with improvement of both, endothelium-dependent and -independent coronary vasomotor function in rat cardiac allografts. This is accompanied by reduction of nitrotyrosine and superoxide production. This suggests that the proteolytic enzyme MMP-9 is an effector molecule of oxidant-mediated coronary vasomotor dysfunction.