Isatins inhibit cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase in a mouse macrophage cell line

Isatin is a versatile compound with a diversity of effects. We designed to investigate the inhibitory effect of isatin derivatives on lipopolysaccharide/interferon-gamma-induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) proteins, production of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha), and their capacity to scavenge NO. Isatins inhibit TNF-alpha production and iNOS and COX-2 protein expression resulting on reduced levels of NO and PGE(2). Our results indicate isatin and it derivatives as inhibitors of iNOS and COX-2 enzymes, which might be used as anti-inflammatory and antitumoral agents.