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Updated: Oct 7, 2026

Transfer of Manipulated Tumor-associated Neutrophils into Tumor-Bearing Mice to Study their Angiogenic Potential In Vivo
Published on: July 20, 2019
Tumor cell-specific inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase activation by tiazofurin
T Samardzic1, S Stosic-Grujicic, N Raicevic
1Institute for Biological Research Sinisa Stankovic, Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
Abstract:
The effects of tiazofurin (TR) on proliferation and cytokine-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in the L929 fibrosarcoma cell line and murine embryonic fibroblasts were investigated. Treatment with TR inhibited the growth of nonconfluent L929 cells in a dose-dependent manner. TR, at concentrations not affecting cell viability or proliferation, markedly decreased IFN-gamma + LPS-induced expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) mRNA and, subsequently, NO production in confluent L929 cultures. However, TR did not interfere with the IFN-gamma-triggered expression of mRNA for IRF-1, an important iNOS transcription factor, implying that TR interferes with some other intracellular pathway involved in iNOS induction triggered by IFN-gamma + LPS. In contrast to the results obtained in L929 cells, iNOS mRNA expression induced by IFN-gamma + LPS in murine embryonic fibroblasts was resistant to TR, indicating a tumor-selective action of this agent.
Insights
Tiazofurin (TR) inhibits L929 fibrosarcoma cell growth and nitric oxide (NO) production by decreasing inducible NO synthase (iNOS) mRNA expression. This effect appears tumor-selective, as murine embryonic fibroblasts were resistant to TR.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Nitric oxide (NO) plays a crucial role in various physiological and pathological processes.
- Inducible NO synthase (iNOS) is a key enzyme in NO production, often upregulated in cancer.
- Tiazofurin (TR) is an investigational antineoplastic agent with known effects on cell proliferation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of tiazofurin (TR) on cell proliferation.
- To determine the impact of TR on cytokine-induced nitric oxide (NO) production.
- To explore the potential tumor-selective action of TR.
Main Methods:
- Cell culture of L929 fibrosarcoma cells and murine embryonic fibroblasts.
- Treatment with varying concentrations of tiazofurin (TR).
- Assessment of cell viability, proliferation, and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) mRNA expression using techniques like RT-PCR, and measurement of NO production.
Main Results:
- Tiazofurin (TR) inhibited the proliferation of nonconfluent L929 cells in a dose-dependent manner.
- TR significantly decreased interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) + lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced iNOS mRNA expression and NO production in confluent L929 cells, without affecting cell viability.
- TR did not inhibit IFN-gamma-induced IRF-1 mRNA expression, suggesting an intracellular pathway downstream of IRF-1 is affected.
- Murine embryonic fibroblasts showed resistance to TR-mediated inhibition of iNOS induction, indicating potential tumor selectivity.
Conclusions:
- Tiazofurin (TR) exhibits anti-proliferative effects on L929 fibrosarcoma cells.
- TR effectively suppresses inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and subsequent NO production in L929 cells, independent of IRF-1.
- The observed resistance of murine embryonic fibroblasts to TR suggests a potential for tumor-selective therapeutic application of tiazofurin.
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