Inhibition of JAKs in macrophages increases lipopolysaccharide-induced cytokine production by blocking IL-10-mediated feedback.
Macrophages are an important source of cytokines following infection. Stimulation of macrophages with TLR agonists results in the secretion of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-12, and the production of these cytokines is controlled by multiple feedback pathways. Macrophages also produce IL-10, which acts to inhibit proinflammatory cytokine production by macrophages via a JAK/STAT3-dependent pathway. We show in this paper that, Ruxolitinib, a recently described selective inhibitor of JAKs, increases TNF, IL-6, and IL-12 secretion in mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages stimulated with LPS. This effect is largely due to its ability to block IL-10-mediated feedback inhibition on cytokine transcription in macrophages. Similar results were also obtained with a second structurally unrelated Jak inhibitor, Tofacitinib. In addition, LPS induced the production of IFN-β, which was then able to activate JAKs in macrophages, resulting in the stimulation of STAT1 phosphorylation. The initial induction of IL-10 was independent of JAK signaling; however, inhibition of JAKs did reduce IL-10 secretion at later time points. This reflected a requirement for the IFN-β feedback loop to sustain IL-10 transcription following LPS stimulation. In addition to IL-10, IFN-β also helped sustain IL-6 and IL-12 transcription. Overall, these results suggest that inhibition of JAKs may increase the inflammatory potential of macrophages stimulated with TLR4 agonists.
Medical Research Council Protein Phosphorylation Unit, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, Scotland, UK.
Michael J
MJ
Pattison
Kirsty F
KF
Mackenzie
J Simon C
JS
Arthur
D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005246:Feedback; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000502:physiology; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000502:physiology; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology; D053612:Janus Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D009570:Nitriles; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D011743:Pyrimidines; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000502:physiology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007370:Interferon Type I; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D009570:Nitriles; D011720:Pyrazoles; D011743:Pyrimidines; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D016753:Interleukin-10; C540383:ruxolitinib; D053612:Janus Kinases