title: Combined effect of testosterone and apocynin on nitric oxide and superoxide production in PMA-differentiated THP-1 cells.
abstract: Human inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is most readily observed in macrophages from patients with inflammatory diseases like atherosclerosis. The aim of the present study was to find out the combined effect of male sex hormone; testosterone and apocynin (NADPH oxidase inhibitor) on cytokine-induced iNOS production. THP-1 cells were differentiated into macrophages by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). Expression of iNOS was induced by the addition of cytokine mixture? Testosterone was added at different concentrations (10(-6)-10(-12) M) with apocynin (1 mM). Testosterone (10(-8), 10(-10) M) inhibited NOx production in cytokine-added THP-1 cells which was further confirmed by quantikine assay of iNOS protein and RT-PCR analysis. Testosterone treatment decreased 40% of superoxide anion production. Testosterone showed inhibition of NADPH oxidase, especially expression of p67phox and p47phox (cytosol subunits). Addition of testosterone with apocynin further decreased the expression of p67phox and p47phox subunits of NADPH oxidase. The findings of the present study suggest that, testosterone; the male androgen plays an important role in the prevention of atherogenesis. Even though apocynin does not have any role on NO production, addition of apocynin together with testosterone is effective in suppressing iNOS activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai Cho, Showa Ku, 466 8550, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Packiasamy A R
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Juliet
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Sumi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daigo
authors.forename: Hisako
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsui-Hirai
authors.forename: Asaka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fukatsu
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Funami
authors.forename: Akihisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iguchi
authors.forename: Louis J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Ignarro
mesh_terms: D000098:Acetophenones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D017316:Fadrozole / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate
chemical_list: D000098:Acetophenones; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D010750:Phosphoproteins; C079789:neutrophil cytosol factor 67K; D013481:Superoxides; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D013739:Testosterone; C056165:acetovanillone; C496319:NOS2 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D019255:NADPH Oxidases; C060505:neutrophil cytosolic factor 1; D017316:Fadrozole; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate