METHOD OF USING TETRACYCLINE COMPOUNDS FOR INHIBITION OF NITRIC OXIDE PRODUCTION

摘要

The invention is a method of inhibiting the production of nitric oxide (NO) in an in vivo, in vitro, or ex vivo biological system. The method employs a tetracycline compound to inhibit the production of NO and/or to inhibit the expression or activity of an inducible isoform ot nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Preferably, the tetraclycine compou nd has inhibitory activity for metalloproteinases. Also it is preferred that the tetracycline compound is provided to the biological syste m in an amount which has little or no antibacterial activity in the system. Accordingly, preferred tetraclycine compounds are tetracycline compounds which have been modified to reduce or eliminate their antimicrobial activity. The method can be used to treat medical conditions in mammals characterized by NO production mediated by iNOS, including, for example, inflammatory conditions.