Combined inhibition of nitrergic and prostanoid pathways in J774 macrophages.
OBJECTIVE
Nitric oxide and prostaglandins are both implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The hypothesis that simultaneous inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX) was more effective than inhibition of either enzyme alone was tested.


METHODS
J774 macrophages were pre-incubated with L-NAME and/or indomethacin, prior to activation with LPS (10 micrograms/ml).


RESULTS
LPS significantly increased NO2-; PGE2 and TNF-alpha levels by 24 h. Quantitative real-time PCR demonstrated a dose-dependent reduction in the expression of COX-2 in the presence of increasing doses of L-NAME. NO2- and PGE2 production were inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by either indomethacin or L-NAME. Combined administration of L-NAME and indomethacin produced a significantly greater inhibition of NO2- and PGE2 than either inhibitor alone.


CONCLUSIONS
The data supports the therapeutic potential of combined inhibition of the prostanoid and nitrergic systems as an anti-inflammatory treatment strategy and supports the progression of this work into models of arthritis.
Day
S M
SM
University of Paisley, Paisley.
McLean
J S
JS
Lockhart
J C
JC
Ferrell
W R
WR
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000201:enzymology*; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D009573:Nitrites; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D015232:Dinoprostone; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D007213:Indomethacin