The role of cyclic AMP in the lipopolysaccharide-induced suppression of thymidine kinase activity in macrophage

Cellular metabolism of substance P produces neurokinin-1 receptor peptide agonists with diminished cyclic AMP signaling

Substance P (SP) is released from sensory nerves in the arteries and heart. It activates neurokinin-1 receptors (NK1Rs) causing vasodilation, immune modulation, and adverse cardiac remodeling. The hypothesis was tested: SP and SP metabolites activate different second messenger signaling pathways. Macrophages, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts metabolized SP to N- and C-terminal metabolites to varying extents. SP 5-11 was the most abundant metabolite followed by SP 1-4, SP 7-11, SP 6-11, SP 3-11, and SP 8-11. In NK1R-expressing human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells, SP and some C-terminal SP metabolites stimulate the NK1R, promoting the dissociation of several Gα proteins, including Gαs and Gαq from their βγ subunits. SP increases intracellular calcium concentrations ([Ca]i) and cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) accumulation with similar -log EC50 values of 8.5 ± 0.3 and 7.8 ± 0.1 M, respectively. N-terminal metabolism of SP by up to five amino acids and C-terminal deamidation of SP produce peptides that retain activity to increase [Ca]i but not to increase cAMP. C-terminal metabolism results in the loss of both activities. Thus, [Ca]i and cAMP signaling are differentially affected by SP metabolism. To assess the role of N-terminal metabolism, SP and SP 6-11 were compared with cAMP-mediated activities in NK1R-expressing 3T3 fibroblasts. SP inhibits nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activity, cell proliferation, and wound healing and stimulates collagen production. SP 6-11 had little or no activity. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression is increased by SP but not by SP 6-11. Thus, metabolism may select the cellular response to SP by inhibiting or redirecting the second messenger signaling pathway activated by the NK1R.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Endothelial cells, macrophages, and fibroblasts metabolize substance P (SP) to N- and C-terminal metabolites with SP 5-11 as the most abundant metabolite. SP activates neurokinin-1 receptors to increase intracellular calcium and cyclic AMP. In contrast, SP metabolites of N-terminal metabolism and C-terminal deamidation retain the ability to increase calcium but lose the ability to increase cyclic AMP. These new insights indicate that the metabolism of SP directs cellular functions by regulating specific signaling pathways.

Cholecystokinin inhibits inducible nitric oxide synthase expression by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated peritoneal macrophages

Cholecystokinin (CCK) was first described as a gastrointestinal hormone. However, apart from its gastrointestinal effects, studies have described that CCK also plays immunoregulatory roles. Taking in account the involvement of inducible nitric oxide synthase- (iNOS-) derived NO in the sepsis context, the present study was undertaken to investigate the role of CCK on iNOS expression in LPS-activated peritoneal macrophages. Our results revealed that CCK reduces NO production and attenuates the iNOS mRNA expression and protein formation. Furthermore, CCK inhibited the nuclear factor- (NF-) κB pathway reducing IκBα degradation and minor p65-dependent translocation to the nucleus. Moreover, CCK restored the intracellular cAMP content activating the protein kinase A (PKA) pathway, which resulted in a negative modulatory role on iNOS expression. In peritoneal macrophages, the CCK-1R expression, but not CCK-2R, was predominant and upregulated by LPS. The pharmacological studies confirmed that CCK-1R subtype is the major receptor responsible for the biological effects of CCK. These data suggest an anti-inflammatory role for the peptide CCK in modulating iNOS-derived NO synthesis, possibly controlling the macrophage activation through NF-κB, cAMP-PKA, and CCK-1R pathways. Based on these findings, CCK could be used as an adjuvant agent to modulate the inflammatory response and prevent systemic complications commonly found during sepsis.

Lipopolysaccharide-induced sensitization of adenylyl cyclase activity in murine macrophages

LPS is known to modulate macrophage responses during sepsis, including cytokine release, phagocytosis, and proliferation. Although agents that elevate cAMP reverse LPS-induced macrophage functions, whether LPS itself modulates cAMP and whether LPS-induced decreases in proliferation are modulated via a cAMP-dependent pathway are not known. Murine macrophages (RAW264.7 cells) were treated with LPS in the presence or absence of inhibitors of prostaglandin signaling, protein kinases, CaM, Giproteins, and NF-κB translocation or transcription/translation. LPS effects on CaMKII phosphorylation and the expression of relevant adenylyl cyclase (AC) isoforms were measured. LPS caused a significant dose (5–10,000 ng/ml)- and time (1–8 h)-dependent increase in forskolin-stimulated AC activity that was abrogated by pretreatment with SN50 (an NF-κB inhibitor), actinomycin D, or cycloheximide, indicating that the effect is mediated via NF-κB-dependent transcription and new protein synthesis. Furthermore, LPS decreased the phosphorylation state of CaMKII, and pretreatment with a CaM antagonist attenuated the LPS-induced sensitization of AC. LPS, cAMP, or PKA activation each independently decreased macrophage proliferation. However, inhibition of NF-κB had no effect on LPS-induced decreased proliferation, indicating that LPS-induced decreased macrophage proliferation can proceed via PKA-independent signaling pathways. Taken together, these findings indicate that LPS induces sensitization of AC activity by augmenting the stimulatory effect of CaM and attenuating the inhibitory effect of CaMKII on isoforms of AC that are CaMK sensitive.

Role of the cyclic AMP-protein kinase A pathway in lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide synthase expression in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Involvement of cyclooxygenase-2

The signaling pathway for lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) release in RAW 264.7 macrophages involves the protein kinase C and p38 activation pathways (Chen, C. C., Wang, J. K., and Lin, S. B. (1998) J. Immunol. 161, 6206-6214; Chen, C. C., and Wang, J. K. (1999) Mol. Pharmacol. 55, 481-488). In this study, the role of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) pathway was investigated. The PKA inhibitors, KT-5720 and H8, reduced LPS-induced NO release and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression. The direct PKA activator, Bt(2)cAMP, caused concentration-dependent NO release and iNOS expression, as confirmed by immunofluorescence studies. The intracellular cAMP concentration did not increase until after 6 h of LPS treatment. Two cAMP-elevating agents, forskolin and cholera toxin, potentiated the LPS-induced NO release and iNOS expression. Stimulation of cells with LPS or Bt(2)cAMP for periods of 10 min to 24 h caused nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation in the nuclei, as shown by detection of NF-kappaB-specific DNA-protein binding. The PKA inhibitor, H8, inhibited the NF-kappaB activation induced by 6- or 12-h treatment with LPS but not that induced after 1, 3, or 24 h. The cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors, NS-398 and indomethacin, attenuated LPS-induced NO release, iNOS expression, and NF-kappaB DNA-protein complex formation. LPS induced COX-2 expression in a time-dependent manner, and prostaglandin E(2) production was induced in parallel. These results suggest that 6 h of treatment with LPS increases intracellular cAMP levels via COX-2 induction and prostaglandin E(2) production, resulting in PKA activation, NF-kappaB activation, iNOS expression, and NO production.

Proliferation-independent induction of macrophage cyclin D2, and repression of cyclin D1, by lipopolysaccharide

D-type cyclins are induced in response to mitogens and are essential and rate-limiting for G1 phase progression in normal mammalian cells. Macrophages proliferating in response to colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) express cyclin D1 and to a lesser extent cyclin D2 but not cyclin D3. Previously we showed that the macrophage-activating agent lipopolysaccharide (LPS) blocks CSF-1-induced proliferation and cyclin D1 expression in macrophages. Here we report upon the effect of LPS on expression of cyclin D2 in normal mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM). Unexpectedly we found that this anti-mitogen raised levels of CSF-1-stimulated cyclin D2 mRNA and protein. Furthermore, LPS alone induced cyclin D2 but not cyclin D1. Inhibition of the MEK/ERK (MAPK/ERK kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase) mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway repressed LPS-induced cyclin D2 mRNA, whereas inhibition of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase enhanced expression. However, in contrast to cyclin D1, cyclin D2 in bone marrow-derived macrophages did not appear to be regulated by protein kinase A pathways. The present data (a) show elevation of a D-type cyclin in the absence of proliferation, (b) demonstrate inverse regulation of two distinct D-type cyclins under identical conditions, and (c) suggest that cyclin D2 plays a role in macrophage activation by LPS.

Effects of selective phosphodiesterase 3 inhibition in the perfused liver of the rat after endotoxin treatment

1. This study was designed to investigate the role of rat phosphodiesterase 3 (RPDE3) in regulation of liver metabolism in sepsis. We studied the effects of the phosphodiesterase 3 inhibitor (PDI), enoximone, alone and in combination with regulating factors of hepatic carbohydrate metabolism and bile secretion in the perfused liver of rats treated 4 h earlier with endotoxin. In addition, cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP levels were determined in the effluate and bile by radio immunoassay methods. 2. After endotoxin treatment, infusion of enoximone at three concentrations (1 microM, 10 microM) resulted in an increased glucose output from -1.4 +/- 0.9 to 7.8 +/- 2.5 mumol l-1 20 min-1. Bile acid-independent bile flow increased also, in a dose-dependent manner. 3. In untreated livers, cyclic AMP release increased in the effluate from 1000 +/- 73 fmol g-1 min-1 to 1710 +/- 143 fmol g-1 min-1 when enoximone (10 microM) was administered. In bile from untreated livers, the level of cyclic AMP was also significantly increased by enoximone. After endotoxin treatment, the enoximone (10 microM) effect on cyclic AMP levels in effluate and bile was greatly reduced. Levels of cyclic GMP in the effluate and bile appeared unchanged in the presence of enoximone. 4. During co-infusion of glucagon (1 nM) and enoximone (10 microM), cyclic nucleotide levels in the effluate and bile of livers after endotoxin treatment were determined. In the effluate, cyclic AMP release increased from 827 +/- 144 fmol g-1 min-1 to 17802 +/- 2821 fmol g-1 min-1 when glucagon was administered. The presence of enoximone enhanced cyclic AMP further to 41696 +/- 920 fmol g-1 min-1. The same changes in cyclic AMP release were found in bile. Levels of cyclic GMP in the effluate and bile were not significantly affected by the administration of glucagon and the PDI. 5. Glucose release was determined during glucagon, sympathetic nerves stimulation and phenylephrine administration in the presence and absence of enoximone. The addition of enoximone to glucagon increased glucose release by 8.2 +/- 2.8 mumol g-1 20 min-1, without alteration of lactate balance. The PDI enhanced the glycogenolytic effects of nerve stimulation and of phenylephrine, accompanied by a reduction in lactate production. 6. Enoximone significantly enhanced the bile acid independent bile flow after glucagon, nerves stimulation and after administration of phenylephrine. Bile acid secretion was unaffected by the PDI. The vasoconstrictor effect of nerve stimulation was reduced by the PDI. 7. We conclude that endotoxin treatment reduces the ability of the PDI, enoximone, to increase cyclic AMP release in the perfused liver. The significant increase in cyclic AMP release after stimulation with glucagon and enoximone favours the view that RPDE3 is involved in the degradation of cyclic AMP in the liver after exposure to endotoxin. Additionally, the inhibition of the RPDE3 results in glucose release, vasodilatation and choleresis in endotoxin pretreated livers.