Gastrointestinal bacteria generate nitric oxide from nitrate and nitrite

Gastrointestinal bacteria generate nitric oxide from nitrate and nitrite

Denitrifying bacteria in soil generate nitric oxide (NO) from nitrite as a part of the nitrogen cycle, but little is known about NO production by commensal bacteria. We used a chemiluminescence assay to explore if human faeces and different representative gut bacteria are able to generate NO. Bacter...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nitric oxide Vol. 13; no. 4; pp. 272 - 278
Main Authors: Sobko, T., Reinders, C.I., Jansson, E.Å., Norin, E., Midtvedt, T., Lundberg, J.O.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-12-2005
Subjects:
Adult
Bifidobacteria
BOWL
Commensals
Escherichia coli
Feces - microbiology
Female
Gastrointestinal Tract - metabolism
Gastrointestinal Tract - microbiology
Humans
Inflammation
Lactobacilli
Male
Medicin och hälsovetenskap
Middle Aged
Nitrates - metabolism
Nitric Oxide - biosynthesis
Nitrites - metabolism
Probiotics
Probiotics
Commensals
Bifidobacteria
Lactobacilli
Escherichia coli
Inflammation
BOWL
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Summary:Denitrifying bacteria in soil generate nitric oxide (NO) from nitrite as a part of the nitrogen cycle, but little is known about NO production by commensal bacteria. We used a chemiluminescence assay to explore if human faeces and different representative gut bacteria are able to generate NO. Bacteria were incubated anaerobically in gas-tight bags, with or without nitrate or nitrite in the growth medium. In addition, luminal NO levels were measured in vivo in the intestines in germ-free and conventional rats, and in rats mono-associated with lactobacilli. We show that human faeces can generate NO after nitrate or nitrite supplementation. Lactobacilli and bifidobacteria generated much NO from nitrite, but only a few of the tested strains produced NO from nitrate and at much lower levels. In contrast, Escherichia coli, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, and Clostridium difficile did not produce significant amounts of NO either with nitrate or nitrite. NO generation in the gut lumen was also observed in vivo in conventional rats but not in germ-free rats or in rats mono-associated with lactobacilli. We conclude that NO can be generated by the anaerobic gut flora in the presence of nitrate or nitrite. Future studies will reveal its biological significance in regulation of gastrointestinal integrity.
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ISSN:1089-8603
1089-8611
DOI:10.1016/j.niox.2005.08.002