Regulative effect of nitric oxide on tumor necrosis factor-α production in lipopolysaccharide - induced hamster alveolar macrophage

Alveolar macrophages (AM ) of hamster were collected by bronchial alveolar lavage (BAL). The AMs were seeded in 24-well tissue cultured plates. The different nitric oxide synthase (NOS ) inhibitor and nitric oxide (NO) donor were added into these wells after lipopolysacharide (LPS ) stimulated, and then NO and TNF-a in cultured supernatants were tested. Result:Both NO and TNF-α levels in supernatants increased markedly (p0.01 ) after LPS stimulating. Upregulation of activated AM-stimulated TNF-αsynthesis by specific iNOS inhibitor and suppression of TNF-α production by NO donor were found. Conclusion.NO and TNF-α are two important cytokine secreted by activate AM. NO might play a regulating role in the production of TNF-α in the course of inflammatory response.