title: Serum amyloid A is an endogenous ligand that differentially induces IL-12 and IL-23.
abstract: The acute-phase proteins, C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A (SAA), are biomarkers of infection and inflammation. However, their precise role in immunity and inflammation remains undefined. We report in this study a novel property of SAA in the differential induction of Th1-type immunomodulatory cytokines IL-12 and IL-23. In peripheral blood monocytes and the THP-1 monocytic cell line, SAA induces the expression of IL-12p40, a subunit shared by IL-12 and IL-23. SAA-stimulated expression of IL-12p40 was rapid (< or = 4 h), sustainable (> or = 20 h), potent (up to 3380 pg/ml/10(6) cells in 24 h), and insensitive to polymyxin B treatment. The SAA-stimulated IL-12p40 secretion required de novo protein synthesis and was accompanied by activation of the transcription factors NF-kappaB and C/EBP. Expression of IL-12p40 required activation of the p38 MAPK and PI3K. Interestingly, the SAA-induced IL-12p40 production was accompanied by a sustained expression of IL-23p19, but not IL-12p35, resulting in preferential secretion of IL-23, but not IL-12. These results identify SAA as an endogenous ligand that potentially activates the IL-23/IL-17 pathway and present a novel mechanism for regulation of inflammation and immunity by an acute-phase protein.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Larry W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Shepard
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhixing K
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Ye
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000276:immunology; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40; D053759:Interleukin-23; D053760:Interleukin-23 Subunit p19; D007378:Interleukins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008024:Ligands; D009000:Monocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000378:metabolism; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
chemical_list: C508840:IL23A protein, human; D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40; D053759:Interleukin-23; D053760:Interleukin-23 Subunit p19; D007378:Interleukins; D008024:Ligands; D021122:Protein Subunits; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein; D018664:Interleukin-12; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases