title: IL-12 p40 homodimer, the so-called biologically inactive molecule, induces nitric oxide synthase in microglia via IL-12R beta 1.
abstract: Earlier we have demonstrated that IL-12 p40 homodimer (p40(2)) induces the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in microglia. This study was undertaken to investigate underlying mechanisms required for IL-12 p40(2)- and IL-12 p70-induced expression of iNOS in microglia. IL-12 p40(2) alone induced the activation of both extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Interestingly, the ERK pathway coupled p40(2) to iNOS expression via C/EBP beta, but not NF-kappaB, whereas the p38 pathway relayed the signal from p40(2) to iNOS expression via both NF-kappaB and C/EBP beta. Furthermore, by using microglia from IL-12R beta 1 (-/-) and IL-12R beta 2 (-/-) mice or siRNA against IL-12R beta 1 and IL-12R beta 2, we demonstrate that p40(2) induced the expression of iNOS in microglia via IL-12R beta 1-(ERK+p38)-(NF-kappaB +C/EBP beta) pathway. In contrast, both IL-12R beta 1 and IL-12R beta 2 were involved for IL-12 p70-induced microglial expression of iNOS. Although IL-12R beta 1 coupled p70 to NF-kappaB and C/EBP beta, IL-12R beta 2 was responsible for p70-mediated activation of GAS. This study delineates a new role of IL-12R beta 1 and IL-12R beta 2 for the expression of iNOS and production of NO in microglia that may participate in the pathogenesis of neuroinflammatory diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Malabendu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jana
authors.forename: Subhajit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dasgupta
authors.forename: Utpal
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.forename: Kalipada
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pahan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000378:metabolism; D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40 / Q000378:metabolism*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D017628:Microglia / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000378:metabolism; D053707:Receptors, Interleukin-12 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C508440:Il12rb1 protein, mouse; C508443:Il12rb2 protein, mouse; D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40; D016328:NF-kappa B; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D053707:Receptors, Interleukin-12; D012709:Serum Albumin; D018664:Interleukin-12; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases