Objective: To select efficient fragments which can inhibit gene expression of thromboxane synthase and production of thromboxane A2.
Methods: Rat peritoneal macrophages were incubated with oligonucleotides (ODNs) and endotoxin (which was composed of lipopolysaccharide) for 24 hours. The TXB2 content was determined by RIA. Thromboxane synthase (TXS) mRNA expression was measured with RNA dot hybridization.
Results: The concentration of TXB2 in ODN I group was (69.7 +/- 10.9) pg/microgram cell protein, lower than those in control group (100.6 +/- 28.6) pg/microgram cell protein (P < 0.05, n = 4), TXS mRNA expression level in ODN I group was decreased as compared to those in control group. Neither in ODN II nor in ODN III group were there any changes on TXB2 contents and TXS mRNA levels.
Conclusions: ODN I can inhibit the production of TXA2 and the gene expression of thromboxane synthase from macrophages stimulated by endotoxin.