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. 1993 Dec;110(4):1401–1406. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1993.tb13976.x

Selective inhibition by dexamethasone of induction of NO synthase, but not of induction of L-arginine transport, in activated murine macrophage J774 cells.

A R Baydoun 1, R G Bogle 1, J D Pearson 1, G E Mann 1
PMCID: PMC2175842  PMID: 7508326

Abstract

1. Effects of dexamethasone on induction of nitric oxide (NO) synthase and L-arginine transport by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were examined in a murine cultured macrophage cell line J774. Metabolism of L-arginine to L-citrulline and subsequent changes in intracellular amino acids pools were correlated with changes in nitrite production. 2. Despite a high intracellular concentration of arginine in activated J774 cells, LPS (1 microgram ml-1, 8 h) induced a 2.4 fold increase in arginine transport. Treatment of cells with cycloheximide (1 microgram ml-1) inhibited the time-dependent (1-8 h) induction of NO synthase and arginine transport mediated by LPS. 3. Induction of NO synthase by LPS (1 microgram ml-1, 24 h) alone was accompanied by a marked increase in arginine utilisation leading to decreased intracellular arginine levels and elevated intracellular and extracellular L-citrulline levels. These changes were further enhanced in the presence of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma, 100 units ml-1, 24 h). 4. Dexamethasone (1 microM) abolished the increases in both nitrite and citrulline production induced by LPS alone but only partially reversed the combined effects of LPS and IFN-gamma. In contrast, treatment of cells with dexamethasone (10 microM) had no effect on the LPS-mediated induction of arginine transport or the decrease in intracellular arginine concentration. 5. We conclude that induction of arginine transporter activity in LPS-stimulated J774 cells involves de novo synthesis of carrier proteins, which increases transport of exogenous arginine during enhanced NO production.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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Selected References

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