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The pteridine compounds neopterin and 7,8-dihydroneopterin serve as valuable indicators for the stimulation of the cellular immune system. Whether they exhibit distinct biochemical functions in the immunological process is at present under discussion. We show that neopterin, but not 7,8-dihydroneopterin, is a stimulus for iNOS gene expression in rat vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro. At a concentration of 20 microM, neopterin leads to an iNOS mRNA expression of 2.5 amol iNOS cDNA/micrograms total RNA. When cells were coincubated with 20 microM neopterin and 5 micrograms/ml lipopolysaccharide derived from Escherichia coli, at least an additive effect on iNOS mRNA expression could be detected (iNOS cDNA concentration was 5.0 amol/micrograms total RNA). We speculate that neopterin enhances the macrophage-induced extracellular toxicity. This might be of relevance in situations associated with excessive release of cytokines, neopterin, and nitric oxide, as observed in septic shock.
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H Wachter, and
D Fuchs
March 1994,
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W Schobersberger, and
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January 1999,
General pharmacology,
W Schobersberger, and
G Hoffmann, and
J Grote, and
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D Fuchs
January 1992,
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W Schobersberger, and
G Hoffmann, and
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November 1990,
FEBS letters,
W Schobersberger, and
G Hoffmann, and
J Grote, and
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February 1998,
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W Schobersberger, and
G Hoffmann, and
J Grote, and
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D Fuchs
December 2000,
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W Schobersberger, and
G Hoffmann, and
J Grote, and
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D Fuchs
February 1993,
Biochemical and biophysical research communications,
W Schobersberger, and
G Hoffmann, and
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D Fuchs
January 1998,
Progress in clinical and biological research,
W Schobersberger, and
G Hoffmann, and
J Grote, and
H Wachter, and
D Fuchs
July 1993,
Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979),
W Schobersberger, and
G Hoffmann, and
J Grote, and
H Wachter, and
D Fuchs
January 1994,
Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979),
