FIG. 5.

Arginine metabolism and NO production are altered in cells from asthmatics. (A, B) Arginase activity in (A) airway epithelial cells and (B) platelets from all four experimental groups. (C) Arginine and (D) ornithine levels in the plasma of all four experimental groups (n = X for each group). (E) Activity of NOS (expressed as fold change of healthy lean group) in airway epithelial cells (black bars) and platelets (white bars). (F) Nitrite and nitrate levels combined (expressed as fold change of healthy lean group) in airway epithelial cells (black bars) and platelets (white bars). All data expressed from healthy lean, asthmatic lean, healthy obese, and asthmatic obese groups as mean ± SEM. Statistical significance was determined by one-way ANOVA. For cell data, n = 5 for all groups. ^#p < 0.05 and *p < 0.01. NOS, nitric oxide synthase. Color images are available online.