title: Nitric oxide production and nitric oxide synthase type 2 expression by cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus) macrophages reflect the same pattern as human macrophages.
abstract: Our knowledge of the antibacterial role of nitric oxide (NO) during infection is based on studies of murine macrophages, which secrete large amounts of NO. In contrast, human macrophages produce very little NO and its relevance as an antibacterial mediator during infection of humans is uncertain. We have defined bone marrow-derived macrophages from cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus). These macrophages display phenotypical and functional characteristics similar to other rodent and human macrophages. The most interesting finding was the low level of NO production which is in contrast to findings for murine macrophages, but consistent with those of humans. In spite of these low levels, inhibition of NO production led to a decrease in killing of bacteria. Cotton rats are highly susceptible to a variety of human pathogens and therefore offer a rodent model of infectious diseases with similar characteristics to humans in terms of NO production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Biosciences, The Ohio State University, 1925 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carsillo
authors.forename: Vijay Kumar
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Kutala
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Puschel
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.forename: Periannan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kuppusamy
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Niewiesk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000276:immunology; D016205:Sigmodontinae / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D013481:Superoxides / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D013481:Superoxides; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II