Rifampin augments cytokine-induced nitric oxide production in human alveolar epithelial cells

Rifampin increased nitric oxide production and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in alveolar cells stimulated with cytokines. Nitric oxide concentrations after induction with cytokines, cytokines with 10 μg/ml rifampin, and cytokines with 50 μg/ml rifampin were 3.2, 4.5, and 8.8 μM, respectively (P < 0.02 versus cytokines alone). This indicates that rifampin modulates the immune response.