Blockade of nitric oxide synthesis modulates rat immunoglobulin A

• Published in: Neuroimmunomodulation Vol. 16; no. 3; p. 155
• Main Authors: Budec, Mirela, Marković, Dragana, Djikić, Dragoslava, Mitrović, Olivera, Drndarević, Neda, Koko, Vesna, Todorović, Vera
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland 01.01.2009
• Subjects: Animals; Antibody Formation - drug effects; Antibody Formation - physiology; Cell Count; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Down-Regulation - drug effects; Down-Regulation - physiology; Enzyme Inhibitors - pharmacology; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Gastrointestinal Tract - cytology; Gastrointestinal Tract - drug effects; Gastrointestinal Tract - immunology; Immune Tolerance - drug effects; Immune Tolerance - physiology; Immunoglobulin A - blood; Lymphocytes - drug effects; Lymphocytes - immunology; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester - pharmacology; Nitric Oxide - biosynthesis; Nitric Oxide Synthase - antagonists & inhibitors; Nitric Oxide Synthase - metabolism; Peyer's Patches - cytology; Peyer's Patches - drug effects; Peyer's Patches - immunology; Rats; Rats, Wistar
• ISSN: 1423-0216
• DOI: 10.1159/000204228

Nitric oxide (NO) is known as a regulator of inflammation and immunity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of this signal molecule on the rat immunoglobulin A (IgA) system using Nomega-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME), which inhibits the activity of all isoforms of NO synthase. The experiments were performed on adult female Wistar rats showing diestrus day 1 that were treated with L-NAME (30 or 50 mg/kg, s.c.). Untreated and saline-injected animals were used as controls. The rats were sacrificed 3 h following L-NAME or saline administration. The concentration of IgA in serum and intestinal extracts was determined by a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The number of IgA-expressing cells per area unit of Peyer's patches and the intestinal lamina propria was evaluated using stereological analysis. The results showed that L-NAME decreased the level of IgA in serum and elevated its concentration in intestinal extracts. Additionally, the increased number of IgA+ cells was found in the intestinal lamina propria in both experimental groups. Obtained findings imply that endogenous NO may modulate the IgA system in the rat.