Ghrelin Protection against Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Gastric Mucosal Cell Apoptosis Involves Constitutive Nitric Oxide Synthase-Mediated Caspase-3 S-Nitrosylation

Figure 5

Effect of nitric oxide synthase inhibitors on the ghrelin (Gh-) induced changes in gastric mucosal cell apoptosis and the activity of caspase-3. The cells, preincubated with 30 $\mu$M PP2, 300 $\mu$M L-NAME (LN), 20 $\mu$M 1400 W (14 W), 300 $\mu$M ascorbate (As), or 20 $\mu$M SH-5 (SH), were treated with Gh at 0.5 $\mu$g/mL and incubated for 16 h in the presence of 100 ng/mL of H. pylori LPS. Values represent the means ± SD of five experiments. ${}_{}{}^{*}P<.05$ compared with that of control. ${}_{}{}^{**}P<.05$ compared with that of LPS alone. ${}_{}{}^{***}P<.05$ compared with that of Gh+LPS.