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Nitric oxide production and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in peritoneal macrophages of cirrhotic patients
Author(s) -
Jiménez Wladimiro,
Ros Josefa,
MoralesRuiz Manuel,
Navasa Miguel,
Solé Manuel,
Colmenero Jordi,
Sort Pau,
Rivera Francisca,
Arroyo Vicente,
Rodés Juan
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.510300310
Subject(s) - nitric oxide , nitric oxide synthase , chemistry , medicine
The present study assessed whether peritoneal macrophages isolated from cirrhotic patients produce nitric oxide (NO) and express NO synthase type II (NOS II) mRNA and protein. Patients with cirrhosis and ascites without peritonitis or with unresolved or resolved spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) were studied. Following paracentesis, ascites NO 2 −+ NO 3 −content (NOx) was measured. Peritoneal macrophages from ascites were seeded on well plates, and NO 2 −in the medium was determined. NOx was higher in patients with unresolved or resolved SBP than in cirrhotic patients without peritonitis. Macrophages of patients with SBP or resolved SBP produced NO 2 −after 30 hours in culture, but those obtained from patients without peritonitis did not. Reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and immunocytochemical analysis revealed the presence of a clear signal for NOS II mRNA and protein in macrophages of SBP patients, regardless of whether or not the infection subsided. Therefore, peritoneal macrophages isolated from cirrhotic patients with unresolved or resolved SBP produce NO and express the NOS II mRNA and protein, suggesting that NOS II may contribute to the control of SBP, or to its associated pathology, in human cirrhosis.