Urea induces macrophage proliferation by inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthesis.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in chronic renal failure and is associated with the proliferation of macrophages within atherosclerotic lesions.

METHODS: Because the progression of atherosclerosis as a consequence of decreased nitric oxide synthesis has been described, we investigated the correlation between the inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) by urea, macrophage proliferation as assayed by cell counting, tritiated thymidine incorporation and measurement of cell protein, and macrophage apoptosis.

RESULTS: Urea induces a dose-dependent inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthesis in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated mouse macrophages (RAW 264.7) with concomitant macrophage proliferation. Macrophage proliferation, as determined by cell counting, became statistically significant at 60 mM urea, corresponding to a blood urea nitrogen level of 180 mg/100 ml, concentrations seen in uremic patients. iNOS protein expression showed a dose-dependent reduction, as revealed by immunoblotting when cells were incubated with increasing amounts of urea. The decrease of cytosolic DNA fragments in stimulated macrophages incubated with urea shows that the proliferative actions of urea are associated with a decrease of NO-induced apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that the inhibition of iNOS-dependent NO production caused by urea enhances macrophage proliferation as a consequence of diminished NO-mediated apoptosis.