위점막은 위강내에서 생성되는 독성이 강한 활성산소종에 노출된다. Nitric oxide는 glutathione의 항상성을 유지시킴으로써 acetaminophen 유도 간독성에 대한 보호효과를 나타내었다. 본 연구는 hydrogen peroxide로 인한 위선세포 손상에 대한 nitric oxide의 작용을 규명하고자 하였다. Hydrogen peroxide는 β-D-glucose와 glucose oxidase의 반응에 의해 생성시켰으며, 위선세포에 L-arginine, N<sup>G</sup>-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester 및 N<sup>G</sup>-nitro-L-arginine을 전처리 한 후, 세포외로 유리되는 지질과산화물 및 nitrite를 정량하고 세포내 glutathione 함량을 측정하였다. 결과로서, glucose/glucose oxidase를 처리한 경우 glucose oxidase 농도의존적으로 지질과산화물 생성은 증가되었으며, nitrite 유리 및 glutathione 함량은 감소되었다. NO synthase의 기질인 L-arginine 전처리시 glucose/glucose oxidase에 의한 지질과산화 및 nitrite 유리 증가와 세포내 glutathione 감소등이 방지되었다. N<sup>G</sup>-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester 및 N<sup>G</sup>-nitro-L-arginine등 NO synthase 억제제들은 세포손상에 보호효과를 나타내지 않았다. 결론적으로 nitric oxide는 hydrogen peroxide로 인한 세포손상에 대한 보호효과가 없으며, 이는 지질과산화 반응 및 세포내 glutathione 고갈등을 억제시킴으로써 이루어진다고 사료된다.
Gatric mucosa is exposed to toxic, reactive oxygen species generated within the lumen. Nitric oxide protected acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity by maintaining glutathione homeostasis. The present study examined the role of nitric oxide in mediating hydrogen peroxide - induced damage to gastric cells. Hydrogen peroxide was generated by glucose oxidase acting on β-D-glucose. L-arginine, N<sup>G</sup>-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, or N<sup>G</sup>-nitro-L-arginine were treated to the cells with glucose/glucose oxidase. Lipid peroxidation and nitrite release and cellular content of glutathione were determined. As a result, dose - dependent increase in lipid peroxide production as well as dose - dependent decrease in nitrite release and cellular glutathione content were observed in glucose/glucose oxidase - treated cells. Pretreatment of L-arginine, a substrate for nitric oxide synthase, prevented the increase of lipid peroxide production and the reduction of nitrite release as well as glutathione content. Inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase such as N<sup>G</sup>-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester and N<sup>G</sup>-nitro-L-arginine did not protect hydrogen peroxide - induced cell damage. In conclusion, nitric oxide protects gestric cells from hydrogen peroxide possibly by inhibiting lipid peroxidation and by preserving cellular glutathione stores.