Protective effect of cyclosporin A and FK506 from nitric oxide-dependent apoptosis in activated macrophages

摘要

1. Activation of macrophages with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and low doses of inerferon-γ (IFN-γ) induced apoptotic death through a nitric oxide-dependent pathway. 2. Treatment of cells with the immunosuppressors cyclosporin A (CsA) or FK506 inhibited the activation-dependent apoptosis. 3. These drugs decreased the up-regulation of p53 and Bax characteristic of activated macrophages. Moreover, incubation of activated macrophages with CsA and FK506 contributed to maintain Higher levels of Bcl-2 than in LPS/IFN-γ treated cells.