Nitric oxide mediates the suppressive effect of testosterone on cell proliferative response to myelin basic protein.
This study assessed whether the in vitro effect of testosterone on the proliferative response of mononuclear cells to myelin basic protein (MBP) could be mediated by nitric oxide (NO). Testosterone but not cholesterol supplementation specifically suppressed the proliferative response of rat mononuclear cells to MBP and in parallel increased the NO level. NG-monomethyl 1-l-arginine, an inhibitor of NO synthesis, reverted the suppression of the testosterone-induced proliferative response to MBP. These results indicate that changes in the production of NO by testosterone are able to alter the specific T cell proliferation induced by the encephalitogenic MBP and in this way; it could be one of the molecular mechanisms that modulate the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).
Macció
Daniela R
DR
Departamento de Química Biológica - Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba (CIQUIBIC-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
Fozzatti
Laura
L
Ditamo
Yanina
Y
Masini-Repiso
Ana M
AM
Roth
German A
GA
D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000276:immunology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000276:immunology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine / Q000494:pharmacology
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D013739:Testosterone