Abstract

We assessed the role of cyclic nucleotides in modulating lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) generation in human peripheral blood monocytes. Exposure of monocytes to LPS (3 ng/ml) evoked a delayed, time-dependent generation of TNF-alpha that reached a maximum level 5-6 hr after LPS challenge and remained constant for up to 24 hr. This effect was concentration dependent and resulted in a 20-40-fold increase in the release of TNF-alpha that was sensitive to actinomycin D and cycloheximide. Treatment of monocytes with agents reputed to activate the cAMP/cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) cascade in general inhibited LPS-induced TNF-alpha generation. Thus, the beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists albuterol and procaterol partially (approximately 40%) suppressed TNF-alpha generation in a propranolol-sensitive manner. Furthermore, 8-bromo-cAMP, cholera toxin, prostaglandin E2, and a number of drugs (i.e., rolipram (ZK 62711), denbufylline (BRL 30892), Ro 20-1724, benafentrine (AH 21-132), that inhibit the phosphodiesterase (PDE) 4 isoenzyme family abolished cytokine generation. In contrast, forskolin, inhibitors of PDE3 and PDE5, and activators of soluble and particulate guanylyl cyclase were essentially inactive. Interestingly, rolipram failed to potentiate the inhibitory effect of albuterol on LPS-induced TNF-alpha biosynthesis but, paradoxically, synergized with albuterol in the generation of cAMP and in the activation of PKA. When PGE2 was used to activate adenylyl cyclase, however, rolipram potentiated cAMP accumulation, PKA activation, and inhibition of TNF-alpha generation. In contrast, forskolin did not increase the cAMP content of monocytes in the absence or presence of rolipram. Collectively, these data suggest that LPS-induced TNF-alpha generation by human peripheral blood monocytes is due to increased transcription and subsequent translation of the TNF-alpha gene and that these effects are suppressed by a range of agents that activate the cAMP/PKA cascade. However, the failure of rolipram to potentiate the inhibitory effect of albuterol and procaterol on TNF-alpha generation suggests that beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists may affect gene expression and/or post-transcriptional regulatory processes by, at least in part, a cAMP-independent mechanism(s).