Ae. Beltran et al., Heparin and low molecular weight heparin decrease nitric oxide production by human polymorphonuclear cells, ARCH MED R, 30(2), 1999, pp. 116-119
Background Heparin and heparin derivatives with low anticoagulant activity
exhibit a wide spectrum of biological functions affecting adhesion, activat
ion and trafficking of leukocytes.
Methods. We investigated the in vitro effect of heparin and a low molecular
weight heparin derivative (LMWH) on nitric oxide (NO) production by human
polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN).
Results. N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP)-stimulated NO produ
ction was significantly decreased by heparin at doses of 0.5 and 5 mu g/mL,
while LMWH was only effective at doses of 50 and 200 mu g/mL by means of a
mechanism not related to NO synthase (NOS) activity.
Conclusions. These results support the hypothesis that heparin and LMWH der
ivatives may offer therapeutic benefit for inflammatory diseases where NO p
lays a protagonic role. (C) 1999 IMSS. Published by Elsevier Science Inc.