title: mRNA and protein stability regulate the differential expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory genes in endotoxin-tolerant THP-1 cells.
abstract: The products of proinflammatory genes such as interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) initiate many of the events associated with sepsis. Transcription of these genes is subsequently down-regulated, whereas expression of anti-inflammatory genes such as secretory interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (sIL-1 RA) is maintained. Differential expression is associated with endotoxin tolerance, a cellular phenomenon common to sepsis and characterized by reduced proinflammatory gene expression after repeated exposure to lipopolysaccharide. As a model for endotoxin tolerance, we examined the expression of COX-2 and sIL-1 RA in a human promonocyte cell line, THP-1. We observed a 5-fold decrease in COX-2 protein in endotoxin-tolerant cells relative to control cells. In contrast, sIL-1 RA protein increased 5-fold in control and tolerant cells and remained elevated. Decreased COX-2 production is due to repressed transcription and not enhanced mRNA degradation. In addition, COX-2 protein is turned over rapidly. Transcription of sIL-1 RA is also repressed during tolerance. However, sIL-1 RA mRNA is degraded more slowly than COX-2 mRNA, allowing continued synthesis of sIL-1 RA protein that is very stable. These results indicate that differential expression during endotoxin tolerance occurs by transcriptional repression of COX-2 and by protein and mRNA stabilization of sIL-1 RA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Section of Infectious Diseases, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, USA.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Learn
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Mizel
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: McCall
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics*; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: C507763:IL1RN protein, human; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D007375:Interleukin-1; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases