Macrophage Inflammatory Gene Expression Research Articles

Regulation of macrophage inflammatory protein-2 gene expression in response to oligodeoxynucleotide containing CpG motifs in RAW 264.7 cells

Macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) is a mouse C-X-C chemokine that plays an important role in the recruitment of neutrophils. The unregulated production of MIP-2 has been associated with inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, glomerulonephritis, and sepsis. We have shown that the MIP-2 gene expression is transcriptionally activated by synthetic oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) containing unmethylated CpG dinucleotides in the context of particular base sequences (CpG-ODN) in a CpG sequence-dependent manner. Inhibition of NF-κB nuclear localization by coexpression of a mutant IκBα protein blocked CpG-ODN-induced transcription from a MIP-2 promoter–reporter construct, showing that NF-κB activation is required for MIP-2 gene expression in the CpG-ODN-signaling pathway. We also provided evidence that NF-κB and c-Jun contributes to the expression of MIP-2 gene in response to CpG-ODN, since ectopical expression of NF-κB and c-Jun in RAW 246.7 cells leads to dramatically increase the ability of CpG-ODN 1826(S) in MIP-2 promoter activity. These results perhaps give more insights into understanding of the mechanisms involved in transient inflammatory arthritis induction by CpG-ODN treatment.

Reciprocal regulation of inflammation and lipid metabolism by liver X receptors.

Macrophages have important roles in both lipid metabolism and inflammation and are central to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The liver X receptors (LXRs) are established mediators of lipid-inducible gene expression, but their role in inflammation and immunity is unknown. We demonstrate here that LXRs and their ligands are negative regulators of macrophage inflammatory gene expression. Transcriptional profiling of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophages reveals reciprocal LXR-dependent regulation of genes involved in lipid metabolism and the innate immune response. In vitro, LXR ligands inhibit the expression of inflammatory mediators such as inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in response to bacterial infection or LPS stimulation. In vivo, LXR agonists reduce inflammation in a model of contact dermatitis and inhibit inflammatory gene expression in the aortas of atherosclerotic mice. These findings identify LXRs as lipid-dependent regulators of inflammatory gene expression that may serve to link lipid metabolism and immune functions in macrophages.

Inhibition of LPS-stimulated pathways in macrophages by the flavonoid luteolin.

1: We have previously shown that the flavonoid luteolin inhibits the expression of pro-inflammatory molecules induced by LPS. In the present study we tested the ability of luteolin to block signalling pathways implicated in LPS-induced inflammatory gene expression in macrophages. 2: Exposure of the murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 to LPS increased phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase family members ERK1/2, p38 and JNK1/2 in a time-dependent manner. Pretreatment of RAW 264.7 with luteolin inhibited the LPS-induced ERK1/2 and p38, but not JNK1/2, phosphorylation, and blocked the LPS-induced TNF-alpha release. 3: To investigate which of these pathways contribute to the inhibitory effects of luteolin on TNF-alpha release, cells were pretreated with pharmacological inhibitors of these pathways; PD98059 and SB203580 when used alone failed to inhibit TNF-alpha release, whereas pretreatment with both agents attenuated TNF-alpha release. 4: We have previously shown that luteolin blocks Akt phosphorylation in response to LPS in RAW 264.7 macrophages. To determine the role of Akt in TNF-alpha release, cells were transiently transfected with a dominant negative form of Akt (K179M). Overexpression of K179M Akt did not alter LPS-induced TNF-alpha release, suggesting that inhibition of this kinase does not mediate the inhibitory action of luteolin. 5: In addition, DRB (a pharmacological inhibitor of CK2) blocked TNF-alpha release in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas co-treatment of cells with luteolin and DRB did not have an additive effect. 6: We conclude that luteolin interferes with LPS signalling by reducing the activation of several MAPK family members and that its inhibitory action on TNF-alpha release correlates with inhibition of ERK, p38 and CK2 activation.

Role of soluble metals in oil fly ash-induced airway epithelial injury and cytokine gene expression.

Particulate matter (PM) metal content and bioavailability have been hypothesized to play a role in the health effects epidemiologically associated with PM exposure, in particular that associated with emission source PM. Using rat tracheal epithelial cells in primary culture, the present study compared and contrasted the acute airway epithelial effects of an emission source particle, residual oil fly ash (ROFA), with that of its principal constitutive transition metals, namely iron, nickel, and vanadium. Over a 24-h period, exposure to ROFA, vanadium, or nickel plus vanadium, but not to iron or nickel, resulted in increased epithelial permeability, decreased cellular glutathione, cell detachment, and lytic cell injury. Treatment of vanadium-exposed cells with buthionine sulfoximine further increased cytotoxicity. Conversely, treatment with the radical scavenger dimethylthiourea inhibited the effects in a dose-dependent manner. RT-PCR analysis of RNA isolated from ROFA-exposed rat tracheal epithelial cells demonstrated significant macrophage inflammatory protein-2 and interleukin-6 gene expression as early as 6 h after exposure, whereas gene expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase was maximally increased 24 h postexposure. Again, vanadium (not nickel) appeared to be mediating the effects of ROFA on gene expression. Treatment with dimethylthiourea inhibited both ROFA- and vanadium-induced gene expression in a dose-dependent manner. Corresponding effects were observed in interleukin-6 and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 synthesis. In summary, generation of an oxidative stress was critical to induction of the ROFA- or vanadium-induced effects on airway epithelial gene expression, cytokine production, and cytotoxicity.

Induction and Regulation of Macrophage Metalloelastase by Hyaluronan Fragments in Mouse Macrophages

Although the metalloproteinase murine metalloelastase (MME) has been implicated in lung disorders such as emphysema and pulmonary fibrosis, the mechanisms regulating MME expression are unclear. Low m.w. fragments of the extracellular matrix component hyaluronan (HA) that accumulate at sites of lung inflammation are capable of inducing inflammatory gene expression in macrophages (Mphi). The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of HA fragments on the expression of MME in alveolar Mphi. The mouse alveolar Mphi cell line MH-S was stimulated with HA fragments over time, total RNA was isolated, and Northern blot analysis was performed. HA fragments induced MME mRNA in a time-dependent fashion, with maximal levels at 6 h. HA fragments also induced MME protein expression as well as enzyme activity. The induction of MME gene expression was specific for low m.w. HA fragments and dependent upon new protein synthesis; it occurred at the level of gene transcription. We also examined the effect of HA fragments on MME expression in inflammatory alveolar Mphi from bleomycin-injured rat lungs. Although normal rat alveolar Mphi did not express MME mRNA in response to HA fragments, alveolar Mphi from the bleomycin-treated rats responded to HA fragment stimulation by increasing MME mRNA levels. Furthermore, baseline and HA fragment-induced MME gene expression in alveolar Mphi from bleomycin-treated rats was inhibited by IFN-gamma. These data suggest that HA fragments may be an important mechanism for the expression of MME by Mphi in inflammatory lung disorders.

Transforming growth factor-beta primes macrophages to express inflammatory gene products in response to particulate stimuli by an autocrine/paracrine mechanism.

Macrophages maintain an essential role in orchestrating the host inflammatory response by selectively mobilizing portions of their large secretory repertoire in response to phagocytic as well as other stimuli. For example, after exposure to the inflammatory particulate stimulus zymosan (or its derivative beta 1,3-glucan), monocyte/macrophages synthesize and release lysosomal hydrolases, mobilize arachadonic acid, and secrete cytokines such as TNF-alpha and IL-8. However, the mechanisms by which particulate stimuli promote the selective synthesis and release of macrophage-derived inflammatory gene products are unknown. Given the previously reported potential of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) as an important mediator of the inflammatory response in vivo, we investigated the role of TGF-beta in the regulation of particulate-induced macrophage inflammatory gene expression. We determined that TGF-beta primed macrophages to synthesize lysosomal hydrolases and express platelet-derived growth factor-B mRNA transcripts in response to both submaximal doses of beta 1,3-glucan and the nonspecific phagocytic stimulus latex particles, which by themselves did not induce expression of either inflammatory gene product. The endogenous production of active TGF-beta was shown to regulate inflammatory gene expression by demonstrating that: 1) beta 1,3-glucan stimulated both TGF-beta mRNA expression and protein release into conditioned media; 2) supernatants from stimulated macrophages primed for lysosomal hydrolase synthesis, and this effect was blocked by anti-TGF-beta antibodies; and 3) anti-TGF-antibodies blocked beta 1,3-glucan-stimulated lysosomal hydrolase synthesis. Collectively, these data describe a novel function for TGF-beta as a priming agent for macrophage inflammatory gene expression and suggest a mechanism for local amplification of the inflammatory response.

Induction of macrophage inflammatory protein-1 beta gene expression in human monocytes by lipopolysaccharide and IL-7.

HuMIP-1 beta is a member of a gene family of inflammatory cytokines whose expression is induced by proinflammatory and mitogenic stimuli. The gene was rapidly induced in human peripheral blood monocytes by either LPS or IL-7. However, IL-7 was unable to induce HuMIP-1 beta mRNA in peripheral blood T cells. The induction of HuMIP-1 beta mRNA in monocytes by IL-7 or LPS was inhibited by IL-4. The 5'-regulatory region of the HuMIP-1 beta gene was cloned and sequenced. An analysis of this sequence revealed three consensus-binding sites for the nuclear factor PU.1 and three potential glucocorticoid response elements. However, the HuMIP-1 beta gene appears to be unresponsive to dexamethasone. Also present in the 5'-regulatory region was a LPS-responsive element located within 455 bp 5' to the start of transcription.