Effects of quercetin on gene and protein expression of NOX and NOS after myocardial ischemia and reperfusion in rabbit.

Previous studies have suggested that reactive oxygen species (ROS), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) are involved in the pathophysiology of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI). The NOX family of NADPH oxidases share the capacity to generate superoxide and ROS. Several studies have demonstrated that quercetin possesses a protective effect against MIRI. Our aim is to investigate the effects of quercetin on NOX2, eNOS, and iNOS after MIRI in rabbits. New Zealand rabbits were subjected to 30 min of myocardial ischemia followed by 12 h of reperfusion. They were then randomly assigned to four experimental groups: control, I/R (ischemia/reperfusion), quercetin (Que), I/R + Que. Gene and protein expression of NOX2, eNOS, and iNOS were compared. Both in real-time PCR and in the Western blotting studies, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion-induced NOX2 and iNOS expression were enhanced (P < 0.01) but eNOS mRNA and protein expression in I/R hearts were not significantly different from those in control (P < 0.01). Administration of quercetin reduced NOX2, eNOS, and iNOS mRNA and protein expression both in control and in I/R heart (P < 0.01). Gene and protein expression of NOX2 and iNOS were increased after MIRI. Quercetin not only inhibited myocardial ischemia-reperfusion-induced NOX2 and iNOS mRNA and protein expression but also inhibited eNOS mRNA and protein expression.