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SHORT COMMUNICATION: Cytokines Induce an L‐Arginine‐Dependent Effector System in Nonmacrophage Cells
Author(s) -
Amber Ina J.,
Hibbs John B.,
Taintor Read R.,
Vavrin Zdenek
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal of leukocyte biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.819
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1938-3673
pISSN - 0741-5400
DOI - 10.1002/jlb.44.1.58
Subject(s) - biology , effector , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , arginine , genetics , amino acid
Treatment of EMT‐6 mammary adenocarcinoma cells with gamma interferon (rMuIFNγ) plus tumor necrosis factor (rMuTNFα) and/or interleukin‐1 (rHuIL‐1α) causes release of iron‐55 label, inhibition of DNA replication, and inhibition of aconitase activity. In addition, the same combinations of cytokines induce EMT‐6 cells to synthesize L‐citrulline, nitrite, and nitrate directly from L‐arginine. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can act as a cofactor in the induction of these metabolic effects when added to EMT‐6 cells in the presence of rMuIFNγ. The results show that increased levels of cytokines in the microenvironment can induce a novel effector pathway in somatic cells not specialized for host defense, resulting in specific metabolic effects as well as the inhibition of cellular proliferation.