26 sCD14 in macrophages from patients with cystic fibrosis: Origin and involvement in inflammatory functions

Abstract

Objective Macrophages may play a significant role in the initiating stages leading to chronic inflammation/infection in cystic fibrosis (CF), via an inability to act as a suppressor cell. In a previous study demonstrating impaired function of CF macrophage, we have shown high production of soluble CD14 (sCD14). The aim of the present work is to determine origin and function of sCD14 in blood monocyte-derived macrophages from stable adult CF patients. Methods To study origin, sCD14 is measured by ELISA in supernatant of macrophages from healthy subjects (non-CF) treated with PI-PLC or cholesterol. The involvement of sCD14 in inflammation, was investigated by analysis of NF-kB and caspase 1 pathways in non-CF macrophages treated by sCD14. Measurement of gene expression was done by qPCR and proteins were quantified by ELISA and Western blot. Results Treatment with PI-PLC increased sCD14 level in the supernatant of non-CF macrophages whereas cholesterol did not modified it. Furthermore high secretion of sCD14 from CF macrophages was decreased by an inhibitor of PI-PLC. Treatment with sCD14 increased pro-IL-1β, IL-8 and TNF-α expression resulting from NF-kB activation through IkBa phosphorylation, this effect was inhibited by NF-kB inhibitors. Also, activation of caspase 1 by cleavage of pro-caspase 1 allowed the secretion of mature IL-1β, inhibited by an inhibitor of caspase 1. However, inflammasome complex involved in caspase 1 activation remains to be determined. Conclusion This data show that origin of sCD14 is partly due to the action of lipases cutting the GPI tail that serves as a membrane anchor to CD14. Furthermore sCD14 have a role in chronic inflammation in CF.