Abstract
Background: Hypertonic stress enhances tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α expression in activated monocytes. However, the underlying mechanism is unknown. The produced TNF-α is primarily cleaved and released by TNF-α-converting enzyme (TACE), and the surface expression of TACE is down-regulated by endocytosis. As hypertonicity inhibits endocytosis, we evaluated the mechanism of hypertonicity-induced TNF-α release from activated human monocytic THP-1 cells. Methods: THP-1 cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) in the presence or absence of hypertonic agents (150 mM sucrose or 150-300 mM NaCl). The amount of TNF-α mRNA and protein, surface expression of TACE and activation of signaling pathways (mitogen-activated protein kinase, Akt and NF-κB) were assayed. Results: Hypertonic sucrose and NaCl significantly enhanced TNF-α release from THP-1 cells upon LPS or PMA stimulation. Hypertonic sucrose and other endocytosis inhibitors increased surface expression of TACE, but their effects on TNF-α release were inconsistent. This enhancement effect by hypertonicity was not attenuated by inhibition of TACE or IκB kinase, but it was blocked by cycloheximide and a MAP/ERK kinase inhibitor. The LPS- or PMA-induced TNF-α mRNA expression was not increased; rather, it was inhibited by hypertonicity. ERK1/2 was re-activated after sucrose treatment in LPS-stimulated THP-1 cells. Conclusions: Hypertonicity-enhanced TNF-α protein synthesis from LPS- or PMA-activated THP-1 cells requires ERK activation and may proceed without TACE. General significance: A vast amount of TNF-α production was regulated by a crucial post-transcriptional manner in activated human monocytic leukemia cells, and it may possibly be contributed to the cachexia condition.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 475-484 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - General Subjects |
Volume | 1810 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Apr 2011 |
Keywords
- Endocytosis
- Hypertonicity
- LPS
- PMA
- TACE
- TNF-α
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Molecular Biology
- Biophysics
- Biochemistry