Cytokines enhance nitric oxide production from human BT325 astrocytoma cells.
AIM
To study the effects of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and pre-inflammatory cytokines on nitric oxide (NO) production from cultured astrocytes.


METHODS
Nitrites in supernatants were measured with Griess assay.


RESULTS
The NO production from cultured human BT325 astrocytoma cells started when cultured for 4 h, reached the peak concentration (15.0 mumol.L-1) at 12 h, maintained a high level (15.0-17.5 mumol.L-1) up to 72 h, and was enhanced by LPS 1 mg.L-1, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) 100 kU.L-1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) 100 kU.L-1, interleukin (IL)-1 100 kU.L-1, or IL-2 100 kU.L-1. The enhancements of TNF-alpha, IL-1, IL-2, or the mixture of the above four cytokines were higher.


CONCLUSION
Stimulants and pre-inflammatory cytokines enhance astrocytes producing NO.