Erythropoietin and interleukin-1β modulate nitrite production in a Swiss 3T3 cell model of rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts. (November 2002)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Baig, S.; Patel, Y.; Coussons, P.; Grant, R.
• Is Part Of: Biochemical Society transactions. Volume 30:Number 6(2002)
• Page Start: 883
• Page End: 886
• Publication Date: 2002-11
• Subjects: anaemia -- nitric oxide -- rheumatoid arthritis; EPO, erythropoietin -- rHuEPO, recombinant human EPO -- RA, rheumatoid arthritis -- IL-1β, interleukin-1β -- NOS, nitric oxide synthase -- ACD, anaemia of chronic disease -- L-NAME, N-(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester; Biochemistry -- Congresses; 572
• DOI: 10.1042/bst0300883
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0300-5127

Abstract

Abstract : Erythropoietin (EPO), a haemopoietic growth factor and a primary regulator of erythropoiesis, is widely used to treat anaemia in various chronic complications of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Fibro-blast-like cells, found in the pannus tissue of joints, are thought to contribute to the inflammatory pathology of RA. Thus for the current study we investigated the effects of recombinant human EPO (rHuEPO) on NO metabolism, using an interleukin-1β (IL-1β)-stimulated Swiss 3T3 fibroblast monolayer as a model for fibroblast activity in RA. The results show that, over 3 days, both alone and in combination with the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β (10 ng/ml), rHuEPO (25 μ-units/ml) induced significant production of nitrite in cell culture supernatants. This is an indicator of NO production by nitric oxide synthase (NOS), which is a well-documented mediator of metalloproteinase-mediated tissue remodelling in RA. It therefore appears that, through modulation of NOS-dependent NO production, rHuEPO may influence remodelling of connective tissue in RA, independently of its established erythropoietic role.