Expression of iNOS in cultured rat pulmonary artery smooth muscles is inhibited by the heat shock response

Rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells in culture were exposed to sodium arsenite or heat to examine the effect of heat shock proteins on the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The results show that heat shock proteins suppressed interleukin-1-beta-mediated iNOS gene expression. This may be a mechanism to prevent pr reduce inflammatory lung damage caused by overproduction of nitric oxide.