Aqueous extracts of Rhizopus oryzae induced nitric oxide production in rat hepatocyte cell line RLN-10.

Aqueous extracts of Rhizopus oryzae (Aq-ROU) have a broad range of physiological activity. Here we identified a new physiological effect of Aq-ROU in rat hepatocyte cell line RLN-10. Aq-ROU induced the accumulation of nitrite, a stable metabolite nitric oxide (NO), in cell culture medium and induced potent diaminofluorescein-FM diacetate staining in the cells. Real-time reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR analysis showed marked inducible NO synthase gene expression. Additionally, markedly enhanced expression of p22(phox) and temporally increased expression of NADPH oxidase1 indicated that superoxide was produced. Nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappa (NF-κ) B p65 increased remarkably following Aq-ROU and following lipopolysaccharide treatment, a potent activator of NF-κB. Ammonium pyrrolidine-1-carbodithioate, an inhibitor of NF-κB, inhibited NO production following Aq-ROU treatment. Our data indicate that Aq-ROU induces NO production and potentially the production of superoxide, which may contribute to the broad range of physiological effects observed for Aq-ROU ingested by animals.