L-arginine rescues decreased erythropoietin gene expression by stimulating GATA-2 with L-NMMA.

Background: NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) decreases the expression of nitric oxide (NO) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and increases the expression of GATA-2 mRNA and levels of GATA-2 binding activity, thereby inhibiting erythropoietin (Epo) promoter activity and causing a decrease in the expression of Epo protein. In the present study, we examined the effect of L-arginine on Epo gene expression in Hep3B cells and BDF1 mice.

Methods: Hep3B cells were incubated with and without different concentrations of L-NMMA and/or l-arginine. Anemic mice were injected with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or L-NAME and L-arginine.

Results: Incubation with L-NMMA under hypoxic conditions inhibited Epo expression, but this inhibition was recovered by the addition of L-arginine. Hypoxia induced the secretions of NO and cGMP, but the addition of L-NMMA inhibited these inductions, though these inhibitions of NO and cGMP by L-NMMA were recovered by the addition of L-arginine. Hep3B cells transfected with the Epo promoter/enhancer-luciferase gene had Epo promoter activity. This activity was inhibited by L-NMMA, but it could be recovered by the addition of L-arginine. L-NMMA induced the binding activity of GATA-2 under hypoxic conditions. This binding activity was inhibited by the addition of L-arginine. The addition of cGMP inhibited L-NMMA-induced GATA-2 binding activity in a dose-dependent manner. The results of an in vivo mouse assay revealed that L-NAME inhibited the expression of Epo, but this inhibition of Epo expression by L-NAME was rescued by pretreatment with L-arginine.

Conclusion: L-arginine rescues decreased erythropoietin gene expression by stimulating GATA-2 with NG-monomethyl-L-arginine.