Stimulation of Fc gamma receptors in rat peritoneal macrophages induces the expression of nitric oxide synthase and chemokines by mechanisms showing different sensitivities to antioxidants and nitric oxide donors.

The induction of nitric oxide (NO) production and the expression of cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC-1) were studied in rat peritoneal adherent cells stimulated with insoluble immune complexes containing rabbit IgG Ab and OVA as the cognate Ag (IC). Incubation with IC at concentrations as low as 10 microg/ml induced NO production and the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) protein. This was accompanied by the expression of CINC-1 mRNA and the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB). However, the expression of iNOS and CINC-1 mRNA induced by IC showed a different temporal pattern and a different sensitivity to both the antioxidant agent pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) and modulation by NO itself. Whereas iNOS mRNA and protein expression were blunted by PDTC and NO-generating compounds, CINC-1 mRNA expression was either enhanced or not affected by PDTC and NO donors. The time course of NF-kappaB activation was parallel to that of iNOS induction and was influenced in the same sense as iNOS induction by antioxidants, NO donors, the protease inhibitor N-tosyl phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone, and inhibitors of protein tyrosine phosphorylation reactions. These data indicate the existence in rat macrophages of a signaling mechanism triggered by Fc gammaR occupancy that leads to nuclear signaling, is initiated by protein tyrosine phosphorylation reactions, and shows specific sensitivities to antioxidants and NO. Whereas trans-activation of the iNOS gene can be fully explained by the stimulation of NF-kappaB, induction of CINC-1 mRNA expression seems influenced by additional regulatory elements.