title: Phagocytosis of apoptotic and necrotic thymocytes is inhibited by PAF-receptor antagonists and affects LPS-induced COX-2 expression in murine macrophages.
abstract: There is evidence that apoptotic cells and oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) particles have common ligands on their surface consisting of oxidized phospholipids which bind to scavenger receptors in macrophages leading to phagocytosis. Some effects of oxLDL binding to its receptor(s) were shown to be inhibited by Platelet Activating Factor (PAF)-receptor antagonists. Thus, we investigated the effect of PAF-receptor antagonists on the phagocytosis of apoptotic, necrotic and viable thymocytes by murine peritoneal macrophages. It was found that phagocytosis of altered cells is significantly increased compared to viable cells, a phenomenon reversed by pre-treatment of macrophages with PAF-receptor antagonists (WEB2170 and CV3988), PAF or oxLDL. Phagocytosis of altered cells induced negligible expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) but strongly potentiated the LPS-induced expression of this enzyme. This phenomenon was restricted to altered cells and was reversed by pre-treatment of macrophages with PAF-receptor antagonists. These findings indicate that apoptotic and necrotic cells share common ligands with PAF and oxLDL and suggest the involvement of PAF-like receptors in the enhanced clearance of these cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1730, 05508-900 São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Soraya Imon
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Patricia Dias
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: João Gustavo P
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Amarante Mendes
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jancar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001381:Azepines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000494:pharmacology; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009336:Necrosis; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D010742:Phospholipid Ethers / Q000494:pharmacology; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D014230:Triazoles / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D001381:Azepines; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D010742:Phospholipid Ethers; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D014230:Triazoles; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; C039351:platelet activating factor receptor; C037913:CV 3988; C063964:bepafant; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2