S26_ab3

The effects of nitric oxide donors and inhibitors on neutrophil functions in Behçet's disease

G. Atalay¹, E. Eksioglu-Demiralp², T. Akoglu², H. Direskeneli³

Department of 1Internal Medicine, ²Department of Hematology-Immunology and ³Department of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey.

ABSTRACT
Objective
The effects of nitric oxide donor SNAP and nitric oxide inhibitors L-NMMA and AG on the functions of neutrophils in patients with Behçet's Disease (BD) were investigated in vitro.
Methods. Oxidative burst and phagocytosis of neutrophils were evaluated by flow cytometry in patients with Behçet's disease (n = 32), inflammatory (n = 17) and healthy controls (n = 14), in the presence of L-NMMA, AG and SNAP.

Results
The stimulation index of oxidative burst was found to be significantly decreased following PMA stimulation in patients with active BD compared to inflammatory and healthy controls. Oxidative function of neutrophils were inhibited in all 3 groups in the presence of L-NMMA, AG and SNAP. L-NMMA inhibited the oxidative burst of neutrophils obtained from healthy controls more than inflammatory controls and BD (80% vs 52% and 53% respectively, p = 0.001). No significant difference of phagocytosis inhibition was found with L-NMMA, AG and SNAP and there were also no differences between the groups (% 9-39).

Conclusion
Nitric oxide donors and inhibitors may have a therapeutic role in Behçet's disease by suppresing neutrophil activity.

Key words
Behçet's disease, nitric oxide, neutrophils.

This study was supported by the Turkish Scientific and Technical Research Council (TUBITAK)(SBAG-1989).
Please address correspondence and reprint requests to: Haner Direskeneli, MD, Department of Rheumatology, Marmara University Hospital, Tophanelioglu Cad. 13/15, Altunizade, Istanbul, Turkey.
E-mail: haner@marmara.edu.tr