BACKGROUND Nitric oxide production by the inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease along with other proinflammatory mediators.

AIMS To examine the effects of cAMP, an intracellular mediator of several proinflammatory mediators, on iNOS expression in the human intestinal epithelial cell line, DLD-1.

RESULTS iNOS activity, protein, and mRNA were induced by a combination of interleukin 1β (0.5–5 ng/ml), interferon γ (20–200 u/ml), and tumour necrosis factor α (10–100 ng/ml). The cytokine induced NOS activity was potentiated by N⁶,2′-O-dibutyryladenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate and 8-bromoadenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate (0.1–1 mM), and the adenylate cyclase activator, forskolin (1–100 μM). This activity was inhibited by the selective iNOS inhibitor, 1400W (0.1–100 μM). These agents increased iNOS protein. The cAMP analogues potentiated iNOS at the transcriptional level as shown by effects of actinomycin D (5 μg/ml) and northern blot analyses; the nuclear factor (NF) κB inhibitor, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (10–200 μM), significantly reduced this potentiation. The cAMP potentiated iNOS activity was inhibited by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, A25 (10–200 μM) and the Janus activated kinase 2 inhibitor, B42 (10–200 μM).

CONCLUSIONS Increased intracellular cAMP is a potent stimulus of iNOS expression in combination with cytokines in DLD-1 cells, acting at the transcriptional level and involving NF-κB and the JAK-STAT pathways. Thus, proinflammatory mediators that increase cAMP levels may augment iNOS expression and NO production.