Inhibition by the JAK/STAT pathway of IFNgamma- and LPS-stimulated nitric oxide synthase induction in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is induced in many cell types by cytokines and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Cytokine signal transduction is believed to be mediated primarily through the JAK/STAT pathway. We therefore examined the effects of a JAK2-specific inhibitor, an antisense oligonucleotide to JAK2, and electroporation of neutralizing anti-STAT1 and anti-STAT3 antibodies on IFNgamma- and LPS-stimulated induction of iNOS in vascular smooth muscle cells. Unexpectedly, we found that the JAK/STAT pathway suppresses IFNgamma- and LPS-stimulated iNOS induction in these cells. In contrast, the JAK/STAT pathway appears to have a positive role in iNOS induction in RAW 264.7 macrophages.