title: Inhibition of phosphodiesterase 4 amplifies cytokine-dependent induction of arginase in macrophages.
abstract: Arginase is greatly elevated in asthma and is thought to play a role in the pathophysiology of this disease. As inhibitors of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4), the predominant PDE in macrophages, elevate cAMP levels and reduce inflammation, they have been proposed for use in treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. As cAMP is an inducer of arginase, we tested the hypothesis that a PDE4 inhibitor would enhance macrophage arginase induction by key cytokines implicated in asthma and other pulmonary diseases. RAW 264.7 cells were stimulated with IL-4 or transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta, with and without the PDE4 inhibitor rolipram. IL-4 and TGF-beta increased arginase activity 16- and 5-fold, respectively. Rolipram alone had no effect but when combined with IL-4 and TGF-beta synergistically enhanced arginase activity by an additional 15- and 5-fold, respectively. The increases in arginase I protein and mRNA levels mirrored increases in arginase activity. Induction of arginase II mRNA was also enhanced by rolipram but to a much lesser extent than arginase I. Unlike its effect in RAW 264.7 cells, IL-4 alone did not increase arginase activity in human alveolar macrophages (AM) from healthy volunteers. However, combining IL-4 with agents to induce cAMP levels induced arginase activity in human AM significantly above the level obtained with cAMP-inducing agents alone. In conclusion, agents that elevate cAMP significantly enhance induction of arginase by cytokines. Therefore, consequences of increased arginase expression should be evaluated whenever PDE inhibitors are proposed for treatment of inflammatory disorders in which IL-4 and/or TGF-beta predominate.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Molecular Genetics & Biochemistry, W1255 Biomedical Science Tower, Univ. of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Erdely
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kepka-Lenhart
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Patti
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zeidler-Erdely
authors.forename: Mirjana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poljakovic
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Calhoun
authors.forename: Sidney M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Morris
mesh_terms: D015105:3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001119:Arginase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D002460:Cell Line; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D054703:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 4; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000201:enzymology*; D051379:Mice; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D020889:Rolipram / Q000494:pharmacology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D015847:Interleukin-4; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D015105:3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases; D054703:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 4; D001119:Arginase; D020889:Rolipram