Regulation of prostaglandin E2production by the superoxide radical and nitric oxide in mouse peritoneal macrophages

Abstract
The purpose of this study was to elucidate the role of NO and O-2 on enzymatic components of cyclooxygenase (COX) pathway in peritoneal macrophages. Activation of murine peritoneal macrophages by lipopolysaccharides (LPS) resulted in time-dependent production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). This stimulation was also accompanied by the production of other reactive oxygen species such as superoxide (O-2), and by increased expression of COX-2. Our results provide evidence that O-2 may be involved in the pathways that result in arachidonate release and PGE2 formation by COX-2 in murine peritoneal macrophages stimulated by LPS. However, we were not able to demonstrate that NO participates in the regulation of PG production under our experimental conditions.