iNOS expression by activated neutrophils from patients with sepsis.
BACKGROUND
Enhanced production of nitric oxide (NO) is associated with various inflammatory diseases such as sepsis. Although activated neutrophils are presumably involved in septic organ injury, the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) by these cells has not been elucidated. The authors investigated whether activated neutrophils in sepsis could induce mRNA for iNOS and produce NO.


METHODS
Peripheral blood neutrophils were obtained from healthy volunteers, and septic patients underwent a surgical operation. The neutrophils of the healthy volunteers were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and/or tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). The iNOS expression and NO production were examined by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Griess method, respectively.


RESULTS
Circulating neutrophils obtained from patients with sepsis expressed higher levels of iNOS mRNA than those from patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Resting neutrophils from normal controls did not express iNOS mRNA and thus did not produce NO. After in vitro stimulation with LPS and TNF-alpha, the neutrophils did express iNOS mRNA and thus produce NO.


CONCLUSIONS
Activated neutrophils may be one source of NO production in sepsis.
Tsukahara
Y
Y
Department of Surgery and Oncology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Morisaki
T
T
Kojima
M
M
Uchiyama
A
A
Tanaka
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018375:Neutrophil Activation / Q000502:physiology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D018746:Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C496319:NOS2 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II