RGD Reference Report - Developmental changes in arginase expression and activity in the lung. - Rat Genome Database

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Developmental changes in arginase expression and activity in the lung.

Authors: Belik, J  Shehnaz, D  Pan, J  Grasemann, H 
Citation: Belik J, etal., Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2008 Mar;294(3):L498-504. Epub 2008 Jan 11.
RGD ID: 4143284
Pubmed: PMID:18192591   (View Abstract at PubMed)
DOI: DOI:10.1152/ajplung.00242.2007   (Journal Full-text)

Arginases compete with nitric oxide (NO) synthases for L-arginine as common substrate. Pulmonary vascular and airway diseases in which arginase activity is increased are associated with decreased NO production and reduced smooth muscle relaxation. The developmental patterns of arginase activity and type I and II isoforms expression in the lung have not been previously evaluated. Hypothesizing that lung arginase activity is developmentally regulated and highest in the fetus, we measured the expression of both arginase isoforms and total arginase activity in fetal, newborn, and adult rat lung, pulmonary artery, and bronchial tissue. In addition, intrapulmonary arterial muscle force generation was evaluated in the absence and presence of the arginase inhibitor Nomega-hydroxy-nor-L-arginine (nor-NOHA). Arginase II content, as well as total arginase activity, was highest in fetal rat lung, bronchi, and pulmonary arterial tissue and decreased with age (P<0.05), and its lung cell expression was developmentally regulated. In the presence of nor-NOHA, pulmonary arterial force generation was significantly reduced in fetus and newborn (P<0.01). No significant change in force generation was noted in bronchial tissue following arginase inhibition. In conclusion, arginase II is regulated developmentally, and both expression and activity are maximal during fetal life. We speculate that the maintenance of a high pulmonary vascular resistance and decreased lung NO production prenatally may, in part, be dependent on increased arginase expression and/or activity.

Gene Ontology Annotations    Click to see Annotation Detail View

Biological Process
TermQualifierEvidenceWithReferenceNotesSourceOriginal Reference(s)
lung development  IEP 4143284; 4143284 RGD 

Objects Annotated

Genes (Rattus norvegicus)
Arg1  (arginase 1)
Arg2  (arginase 2)


Additional Information