Open AccessDexamethasone Inhibits Nitric Oxide Synthase mRNA Induction by Interleukin-la and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells
Author(s) -
Takeshi Marumo,
Toshio Nakaki,
Kiyoshi Nagata,
Masaaki Miyata,
H. Adachi,
Hiroyasu Esumi,
Hiromichi Suzuki,
Takao Saruta,
Ryuichi Kato
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
japanese journal of pharmacology/japanese journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1347-3506
pISSN - 0021-5198
DOI - 10.1254/jjp.63.361
Subject(s) - nitric oxide synthase , nitric oxide , tumor necrosis factor alpha , nitrite , lipopolysaccharide , vascular smooth muscle , endocrinology , medicine , dexamethasone , interleukin , chemistry , biology , cytokine , nitrate , smooth muscle , organic chemistry
The effects of interleukin-1 alpha, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and dexamethasone on the induction of nitric oxide synthase mRNA in rat aortic smooth muscle cells were studied. Neither interleukin-1 alpha (up to 100 U/ml) nor tumor necrosis factor-alpha (up to 5000 U/ml) was capable of inducing nitrite/nitrate production and nitric oxide synthase mRNA in smooth muscle cells. In contrast, treatment for 12 hr or longer with a combination of the two synergistically induced nitrite/nitrate and cyclic GMP production in cell culture media and nitric oxide synthase mRNA, both of which were prevented by dexamethasone. Contamination with bacterial lipopolysaccharide, which may affect the induction of nitric oxide synthase, was below 30 pg/ml in all experiments. Our findings show that dexamethasone and these cytokines regulate the induction of nitric oxide synthase at the mRNA level in vascular smooth muscle cells.