Pn. Bories et al., Up-regulation of nitric oxide production by interferon-gamma in cultured peritoneal macrophages from patients with cirrhosis, CLIN SCI, 97(4), 1999, pp. 399-406
We previously described a long-lasting overproduction of nitric oxide (NO)
in cirrhotic patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. The aim of th
e present study was to investigate the presence of the inducible NO pathway
in peritoneal macrophages. Ascitic fluids were collected from 29 patients
with cirrhosis, aged between 35 and 82 years. Peritoneal macrophages were i
solated and cultured in the presence or absence of 1 mu g/ml lipopolysaccha
ride and/or 500 units/ml interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) for 6 days. NO produc
tion was measured as nitrate + nitrite (NOx), inducible NO synthase (iNOS)
protein expression was analysed by immunocytochemistry and Western blot ana
lysis using a specific anti-(human iNOS) antibody, and the catalytic activi
ty of NOS was revealed by cytochemical staining for NADPH-dependent diaphor
ase. Cultured macrophages spontaneously released small amounts of NOx [medi
an (10-90th percentile) of 18 separate experiments: 3.3 (0-8) mu mol/l]. Ad
dition of lipopolysaccharide alone or in combination with IFN-gamma to the
culture medium did not change the levels of NOx, while IFN-gamma alone dram
atically increased NO production [13.4 (3.5-28.3) mu mol/l; P < 0.001]. Mac
rophages were stimulated by IFN-gamma to a greater extent in patients with
recent spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (n = 13) than in those in a stable
clinical condition (n = 18) [19.8 (10.5-30.1) and 10.0 (3.2-14.5) mu mol/l
respectively; P < 0.001]. Macrophages freshly isolated or stimulated with
IFN-gamma expressed iNOS protein, as shown by Western blot and immunocytoch
emical analysis, and stained for NADPH diaphorase. Our findings demonstrate
the presence of iNOS protein in peritoneal macrophages from cirrhotic pati
ents. The role of IFN-gamma appears to be a determinant for the up-regulati
on of NO production, particularly under conditions of infection. Therefore
peritoneal macrophages producing large amounts of NO at the site of infecti
on may contribute to maintaining splanchnic vasodilation in these patients.