The inhibition of retinal inducible nitric oxide synthase overexpression and the attenuation of experimental uveitis by anti-inflammatory drugs in rats.
OBJECTIVE
The effect of a steroid and a non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug on the inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS II) in rats suffering from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced uveoretinitis was studied.


METHODS
Rats were injected with LPS to induce uveitis and divided into three groups: treated with LPS only, LPS + dexamethasone and LPS + indomethacin, respectively.


METHODS
Retinal, peritoneal macrophages and white blood cells were isolated. The activity and the expression of NOS II were followed by citrulline formation and Western blotting, respectively. Phagocytosis of bacteria was also measured.


RESULTS
The best induction of NOS II was achieved by the intravitreal administration of LPS. Dexamethasone and indomethacin significantly decreased the activity and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in retinal tissue, peritoneal macrophages and white blood cells. LPS treatment also increased phagocytosis and neither dexamethasone nor indomethacin reversed this effect.


CONCLUSIONS
The beneficial effects of these drugs in experimental uveitis are mediated, at least partly, by their inhibitory effect on NOS II induction.
Szabó
A
A
2nd Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Farkas
A
A
Vámos
R
R
Bajor
T
T
Hrabák
A
A
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002956:Citrulline / Q000378:metabolism; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D007249:Inflammation; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D010587:Phagocytosis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012160:Retina / Q000201:enzymology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014605:Uveitis / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D002956:Citrulline; D003907:Dexamethasone; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat; D007213:Indomethacin