Biomaterial Database

Plant nitrate reductase gene fragments enhance nitrite production in activated murine macrophage cell lines. 1994

J G Bruno, and J E Parker, and J L Kiel

Radio Frequency Radiation Division, Armstrong Laboratory, Brooks Air Force Base, TX 78235.

Nitrate reductase (NR) gene fragments (1.1 kb and 800 bp) from the barley plant were incorporated into pSV2neo and transfected by electroporation into a variety of cell lines of different functionality. Only transfected murine macrophage cell lines demonstrated appreciably enhanced NO2- production (i.e., NR activity) both in the presence and absence of exogenous nitrate (NO3-). Addition of NO3- caused the greatest increase in NO2- production when macrophages were primed with interferon-gamma (INF-gamma) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Transfection of RAW 264.7 murine macrophages led to isolation of several novel neomycin-resistant subpopulations designated NR10(1), NR10(2) (both containing the 1.1 kb NR fragment) and NR800(5) (containing the 800 bp NR fragment). Similarly transfected nonleukocytic and leukocytic stem cell lines showed no significant NO2- production. Outside of the macrophage cell lines, only the murine T cell line EL-4 showed evidence of mild nitrite production enhancement. The mechanism of enhanced NO2- formation in NR transfected murine macrophages is unknown. However, study of these novel cells may lead to greater understanding of the expression of a plant NR in mammalian cells and highly controlled production of a cytotoxic molecule (NO2-) in macrophages.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008262	Macrophage Activation	The process of altering the morphology and functional activity of macrophages so that they become avidly phagocytic. It is initiated by lymphokines, such as the macrophage activation factor (MAF) and the macrophage migration-inhibitory factor (MMIF), immune complexes, C3b, and various peptides, polysaccharides, and immunologic adjuvants.	Activation, Macrophage,Activations, Macrophage,Macrophage Activations
D008264	Macrophages	The relatively long-lived phagocytic cell of mammalian tissues that are derived from blood MONOCYTES. Main types are PERITONEAL MACROPHAGES; ALVEOLAR MACROPHAGES; HISTIOCYTES; KUPFFER CELLS of the liver; and OSTEOCLASTS. They may further differentiate within chronic inflammatory lesions to EPITHELIOID CELLS or may fuse to form FOREIGN BODY GIANT CELLS or LANGHANS GIANT CELLS. (from The Dictionary of Cell Biology, Lackie and Dow, 3rd ed.)	Bone Marrow-Derived Macrophages,Monocyte-Derived Macrophages,Macrophage,Macrophages, Monocyte-Derived,Bone Marrow Derived Macrophages,Bone Marrow-Derived Macrophage,Macrophage, Bone Marrow-Derived,Macrophage, Monocyte-Derived,Macrophages, Bone Marrow-Derived,Macrophages, Monocyte Derived,Monocyte Derived Macrophages,Monocyte-Derived Macrophage
D009565	Nitrate Reductases	Oxidoreductases that are specific for the reduction of NITRATES.	Reductases, Nitrate
D009573	Nitrites	Salts of nitrous acid or compounds containing the group NO2-. The inorganic nitrites of the type MNO2 (where M	Nitrite
D010944	Plants	Multicellular, eukaryotic life forms of kingdom Plantae. Plants acquired chloroplasts by direct endosymbiosis of CYANOBACTERIA. They are characterized by a mainly photosynthetic mode of nutrition; essentially unlimited growth at localized regions of cell divisions (MERISTEMS); cellulose within cells providing rigidity; the absence of organs of locomotion; absence of nervous and sensory systems; and an alternation of haploid and diploid generations. It is a non-taxonomical term most often referring to LAND PLANTS. In broad sense it includes RHODOPHYTA and GLAUCOPHYTA along with VIRIDIPLANTAE.	Plant
D002460	Cell Line	Established cell cultures that have the potential to propagate indefinitely.	Cell Lines,Line, Cell,Lines, Cell
D005796	Genes	A category of nucleic acid sequences that function as units of heredity and which code for the basic instructions for the development, reproduction, and maintenance of organisms.	Cistron,Gene,Genetic Materials,Cistrons,Genetic Material,Material, Genetic,Materials, Genetic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014162	Transfection	The uptake of naked or purified DNA by CELLS, usually meaning the process as it occurs in eukaryotic cells. It is analogous to bacterial transformation (TRANSFORMATION, BACTERIAL) and both are routinely employed in GENE TRANSFER TECHNIQUES.	Transfections