title: Mechanisms of suppression of macrophage nitric oxide release by transforming growth factor beta.
abstract: Activated mouse peritoneal macrophages produce nitric oxide (NO) via a nitric oxide synthase that is inducible by interferon gamma (IFN-gamma): iNOS. We have studied the mechanisms by which transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta) suppresses IFN-gamma-stimulated NO production. TGF-beta treatment reduced iNOS specific activity and iNOS protein in both cytosolic and particulate fractions as assessed by Western blot with monospecific anti-iNOS immunoglobulin G. TGF-beta reduced iNOS mRNA without affecting the transcription of iNOS by decreasing iNOS mRNA stability. Even after iNOS was already expressed, TGF-beta reduced the amount of iNOS protein. This was due to reduction of iNOS mRNA translation and increased degradation of iNOS protein. The potency of TGF-beta as a deactivator of NO production (50% inhibitory concentration, 5.6 +/- 2 pM) may reflect its ability to suppress iNOS expression by three distinct mechanisms: decreased stability and translation of iNOS mRNA, and increased degradation of iNOS protein. This is the first evidence that iNOS is subject to other than transcriptional regulation.
authors.affiliation: Beatrice and Samuel A. Seaver Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Cornell University Medical College, New York, New York 10021.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Vodovotz
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bogdan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paik
authors.forename: Q W
authors.initials: QW
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nathan
mesh_terms: D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D005260:Female; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases