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Heparin and low molecular weight heparin decrease nitric oxide production by human polymorphonuclear cells
A E Beltrán1, F Concepción, D Manzanares
1Laboratorio de Farmacología, Centro de Química Farmacéutica, La Habana, Cuba. cqf@infomed.sld.cu
Background:
Heparin and heparin derivatives with low anticoagulant activity exhibit a wide spectrum of biological functions affecting adhesion, activation and trafficking of leukocytes.
Methods:
We investigated the in vitro effect of heparin and a low molecular weight heparin derivative (LMWH) on nitric oxide (NO) production by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN).
Results:
N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP)-stimulated NO production was significantly decreased by heparin at doses of 0.5 and 5 micrograms/mL, while LMWH was only effective at doses of 50 and 200 micrograms/mL by means of a mechanism not related to NO synthase (NOS) activity.
Conclusions:
These results support the hypothesis that heparin and LMWH derivatives may offer therapeutic benefit for inflammatory diseases where NO plays a protagonic role.