INHIBITION OF INDUCIBLE NITRIC-OXIDE SYNTHASE MESSENGER-RNA EXPRESSION BY BASIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTOR IN HUMAN MICROGLIAL CELLS

The effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on inducible nitri c oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA expression in human cultured ramified mic roglial cells was investigated. Using RT-PCR and Southern blot analysi s, we found that bFGF prevented the iNOS gene expression as induced by LPS/TNF alpha. Also, bFGF dose-dependently inhibited nitrite levels i n treated cell supernatants. That the early presence of bFGF during LP S/TNF alpha induction was essential indicates that iNOS gene expressio n can be transcriptionally regulated.