Treatment of mesangial cells with recombinant human interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) or recombinant human tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) dose-dependently increased cGMP formation. Both IL-1 beta and TNF alpha-stimulated formation of cGMP occurred after a initial lag period of 4 to 8 hours. Treatment of cells with actinomycin D, cycloheximide or dexamethason completely abolished cytokine-induced cGMP formation. Furthermore, the guanylate cyclase inhibitor Methylene blue completely blocked IL-1 beta- and TNF alpha-stimulated cGMP generation. NG-mono-methyl-L-arginine attenuated IL-1 beta- and TNF alpha-induced cGMP production, an effect that was reversed by L-arginine.
