Aim: To study the effects of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and pre-inflammatory cytokines on nitric oxide (NO) production from cultured astrocytes.
Methods: Nitrites in supernatants were measured with Griess assay.
Results: The NO production from cultured human BT325 astrocytoma cells started when cultured for 4 h, reached the peak concentration (15.0 mumol.L-1) at 12 h, maintained a high level (15.0-17.5 mumol.L-1) up to 72 h, and was enhanced by LPS 1 mg.L-1, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) 100 kU.L-1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) 100 kU.L-1, interleukin (IL)-1 100 kU.L-1, or IL-2 100 kU.L-1. The enhancements of TNF-alpha, IL-1, IL-2, or the mixture of the above four cytokines were higher.
Conclusion: Stimulants and pre-inflammatory cytokines enhance astrocytes producing NO.