Interleukin-1-induced nitric oxide production modulates glutathione synthesis in cultured rat hepatocytes

Interleukin-1-mediated nitric oxide (NO) synthesis by cultured rat hepatocytes plays an important role in modulating glutathione (GSH) formation in these cells. Inhibition of NO synthesis decreases GSH production by inhibiting enzyme activity of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase. Analysis shows that reduced enzyme activity is caused by the ablation of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase gene transcription. However, NO synthesis inhibition has no effect on the uptake of cysteine, cystine and methionine.