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. 1991 Sep;59(9):3213–3218. doi: 10.1128/iai.59.9.3213-3218.1991

Mechanisms involved in mycobacterial growth inhibition by gamma interferon-activated bone marrow macrophages: role of reactive nitrogen intermediates.

I E Flesch 1, S H Kaufmann 1
PMCID: PMC258155  PMID: 1908829

Abstract

Murine bone marrow-derived macrophages are able to inhibit the growth of Mycobacterium bovis after stimulation with recombinant gamma interferon. This antimycobacterial activity was inhibited by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, a specific inhibitor of nitrite and nitrate synthesis from L-arginine. Furthermore, there was a complete lack of mycobacterial growth inhibition in a medium deficient in L-arginine. Nitrite is generated by gamma interferon-activated bone marrow-derived macrophages after infection with M. bovis, and a correlation between mycobacterial growth inhibition and nitrite production was observed. These results indicate that reactive nitrogen intermediates derived from L-arginine are crucially involved in macrophage antimycobacterial activity.

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Selected References

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