Heparin and low molecular weight heparin decrease nitric oxide production by human polymorphonuclear cells.
BACKGROUND
Heparin and heparin derivatives with low anticoagulant activity exhibit a wide spectrum of biological functions affecting adhesion, activation and trafficking of leukocytes.


METHODS
We investigated the in vitro effect of heparin and a low molecular weight heparin derivative (LMWH) on nitric oxide (NO) production by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN).


RESULTS
N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP)-stimulated NO production was significantly decreased by heparin at doses of 0.5 and 5 micrograms/mL, while LMWH was only effective at doses of 50 and 200 micrograms/mL by means of a mechanism not related to NO synthase (NOS) activity.


CONCLUSIONS
These results support the hypothesis that heparin and LMWH derivatives may offer therapeutic benefit for inflammatory diseases where NO plays a protagonic role.
Beltrán
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AE
Laboratorio de Farmacología, Centro de Química Farmacéutica, La Habana, Cuba. cqf@infomed.sld.cu
Concepción
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F
Manzanares
D
D
Garrido
G
G
Glaria
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LA
Rojas
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A
D006493:Heparin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008706:Methemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine; D006493:Heparin; D008706:Methemoglobin