title: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha modulates monocyte/macrophage apoprotein E gene expression.
abstract: apo E has been shown to modulate cholesterol balance in arterial wall cells. Production of apo E by macrophages in atherosclerotic plaques could thereby influence the development of the plaque lesion. Cytokines, including TNF alpha, have been identified in human lesions, therefore, we undertook a series of studies to evaluate the effect of TNF alpha on monocyte/macrophage apo E production. The addition of TNF alpha to freshly isolated human monocytes led to a four- to fivefold increase of apo E mRNA abundance. The addition of TNF alpha to fully differentiated macrophages either had no effect or modestly inhibited apo E mRNA expression. THP1 human monocytic cells also responded to TNF alpha in a phenotype-specific manner. Treatment of these cells with TNF alpha produced a dose- and time-dependent increase in apo E mRNA. This increase was reflected in apo E synthesis and was associated with inhibition of DNA synthesis, and with induction of c-fos and ICAM-1 gene expression. Cell-permanent analogues of ceramide did not reproduce TNF alpha effect on apo E, but antagonists of protein kinase C did inhibit its effect. TNF alpha induction of apo E mRNA abundance was associated with stimulation of apo E promoter-dependent gene transcription. In summary, TNF alpha stimulates apo E gene transcription, mRNA abundance, and protein synthesis in the monocyte/macrophage in a phenotype-specific manner. Such regulation could significantly modify the amount of apo E present in vessel wall lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Rush Medical College, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mazzone
mesh_terms: D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002460:Cell Line; D002518:Ceramides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010586:Phagocytes; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014162:Transfection; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D002518:Ceramides; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D011493:Protein Kinase C