Leila Pirdel - College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Ardebil Branch, Ardebil, Iran
Ahmad Zavaran Hosseini - Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

Objective(s) Previous studies have demonstrated that the nitric oxide (NO) dependent death of murine peritoneal macrophages activated in vitro with IFN-g and LPS is mediated through apoptosis. In the present study, we investigated the synergistic effect of LPS, IFN-g and iron on NO production and apoptosis. Materials and Methods After determination of iron cytotoxicity, the peritoneal macrophages of Balb/c mice were cultured with iron, LPS, and IFN-g separately, or a mixture of these for ۱۸ hr at ۳۷ ◦C. Then after ۱۸ hr incubation, the level of NO in supernatant was measured by the Griess method. At the same time, after incubation with ethidium bromide and acridine orange dye, the apoptotic macrophages were detected by fluorescence microscopy. Results NO production was significantly greater than the control group in macrophages exposed to iron,LPS, or IFN-g  alone (P=۰.۰۲), while no significant difference was detected in apoptosis rate in the presence of LPS (P=۰.۰۸). However, the differences were remarkable between NO production and apoptosis rate in the presence of iron, LPS and IFN-g (P≤۰.۰۵). Conclusion These findings indicate the immunostimulatory effect of iron on NO production by IFN-g and LPS.  

Apoptosis, Interferon gamma, Iron, Lipopolysaccharide, Macrophage, Nitric oxide