INTERFERON-GAMMA AND INTERLEUKIN-L-BETA INDUCE NITRIC-OXIDE FORMATIONFROM PRIMARY MOUSE ASTROCYTES

An inducible form of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) capable of producing large quantities of nitric oxide (NO) exists in some cell types. We d emonstrate by immunoprecipitation and nitrite formation that interleuk in-1 beta (Il1 beta) plus interferon-gamma (INF gamma) induce the expr ession of nitric oxide synthase in primary cultures of murine cortical astrocytes. This induction is time and dose dependent, and inhibited by the NOS inhibitor N-G-nitro-L-arginine and the protein synthesis in hibitor cycloheximide.