The synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone is routinely used to stabilize patients with malignant gliomas. One putative target for glucocorticoid action is inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), which is produced by the tumor cells as well as the host immune cells. In this study, we characterize the stimulatory effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the cytokine, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha), as well as the inhibitory effect of glucocorticoids, on iNOS gene expression and activity in C6 glioma cells cultured in vitro. LPS significantly increased iNOS mRNA expression, peaking at 6 h, while nitrite formation increased with time up to 72 h. Although TNFalpha alone induced neither iNOS mRNA expression nor nitrite formation, it significantly potentiated the effect of LPS on both. iNOS activity induced by LPS with or without TNFalpha was dose-dependently inhibited by dexamethasone, reaching a maximum of approximately 83% inhibition. This was completely reversed by the addition of RU38486, an antagonist of glucocorticoid receptors (GR). Dexamethasone inhibited iNOS mRNA expression; however, the maximum inhibition obtained was only 10%. These results suggest that as for induction of iNOS activity in C6 cells in vitro, the stimulatory effect of LPS is mainly due to an action at the transcriptional level. TNFalpha does not have intrinsic inducing activity, but has potentiating effects at the transcriptional and possibly at the posttranscriptional levels in the presence of LPS. The inhibitory effect of dexamethasone is GR-mediated and is mainly due to action at the posttranscriptional level.
C6 glioma strongly express nitric oxide synthase. Rats bearing C6 tumours were pre-treated with i.v. Ng-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1) or saline before local cerebral blood flow (LCBF) or tumour capillary permeability (TCP) was measured by the [14C]iodoantipyrine autoradiographic or [14C]alpha-amino-isobutyric acid techniques. L-NAME and SIN-1 caused significant TBF alterations (-44% and +136%, respectively) with less marked (-15% and +33%) alterations in normal brain. Calculated cerebrovascular resistance changes within tumour were indeed selective. Baseline TCP was increased compared with normal brain (20-fold). L-NAME and SIN-1 administration did not alter TCP. These effects have significant implications for human malignant glioma management. Selective i.v. manipulation of LCBF, without significant changes in TCP, could increase the efficacy of chemotherapy, radiotherapy or provide better peritumoural oedema control.
Symptomatic pineal apoplexy unlike pituitary apoplexy is uncommon. A patient with an apoplectic pineal cyst, identified preoperatively using MRI and confirmed histologically presented with episodic syncope, and features of raised intracranial pressure, but no localizing neuro-ophthalmological signs. This case prompted a review of the clinicopathological features of pineal apoplexy. There are no diagnostic clinical features and the neuropathological associations of pineal region haemorrhage are diverse. There is no consistent clinicopathological syndrome of pineal apoplexy.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.