title: Induction of ceruloplasmin synthesis by IFN-gamma in human monocytic cells.
abstract: Ceruloplasmin is a 132-kDa glycoprotein abundant in human plasma. It has multiple in vitro activities, including copper transport, lipid pro- and antioxidant activity, and oxidation of ferrous ion and aromatic amines; however, its physiologic role is uncertain. Although ceruloplasmin is synthesized primarily by the liver in adult humans, production by cells of monocytic origin has been reported. We here show that IFN-gamma is a potent inducer of ceruloplasmin synthesis by monocytic cells. Activation of human monoblastic leukemia U937 cells with IFN-gamma increased the production of ceruloplasmin by at least 20-fold. The identity of the protein was confirmed by plasmin fingerprinting. IFN-gamma also increased ceruloplasmin mRNA. Induction followed a 2- to 4-h lag and was partially blocked by cycloheximide, indicating a requirement for newly synthesized factors. Ceruloplasmin induction in monocytic cells was agonist specific, as IL-1, IL-4, IL-6, IFN-alpha, IFN-beta, TNF-alpha, and LPS were completely ineffective. The induction was also cell type specific, as IFN-gamma did not induce ceruloplasmin synthesis in endothelial or smooth muscle cells. In contrast, IFN-gamma was stimulatory in other monocytic cells, including THP-1 cells and human peripheral blood monocytes, and also in HepG2 cells. Ceruloplasmin secreted by IFN-gamma-stimulated U937 cells had ferroxidase activity and was, in fact, the only secreted protein with this activity. Monocytic cell-derived ceruloplasmin may contribute to defense responses via its ferroxidase activity, which may drive iron homeostasis in a direction unfavorable to invasive organisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, The Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH 44195, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mazumder
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Mukhopadhyay
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prok
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Cathcart
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Fox
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D002570:Ceruloplasmin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D002570:Ceruloplasmin