TNF‐α, inefficient by itself, potentiates IL‐1β‐induced PGHS‐2 expression in human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells: requirement of NF‐κB and p38 MAPK pathways

Prostaglandin H synthase-2 (PGHS-2), is an inducible enzyme involved in various inflammatory responses. We established here that interleukin-1β (IL-1β) but not tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) increased its expression in human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMEC). However, associated with IL-1β, TNF-α greatly potentiated this enzyme induction. Although unable to induce PGHS-2 expression by itself, TNF-α promoted a similar transcription nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation to IL-1β. This effect was more pronounced when cells were co-exposed to both cytokines. HPMEC pre-treatment with MG-132, a proteasome inhibitor, prevented NF-κB activation as well as more distal signalling response, indicating that NF-κB activation is required but not sufficient for PGHS-2 expression. Both IL-1β and TNF-α failed to activate c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK). In addition, PD98059, a p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation inhibitor, did not decrease PGHS-2 expression. However, SB 203580, a p38 MAPK inhibitor, suppressed PGHS-2 induction by IL-1β alone or combined with TNF-α, demonstrating that p38 MAPK but not p42/44 MAPK or JNK cascades are required for PGHS-2 up-regulation. Finally, TNF-α, unlike IL-1β, was unable to promote p38 MAPK phosphorylation, indicating that the failure of TNF-α to induce PGHS-2 expression is linked, at least in part, to its inability to activate p38 MAPK signalling pathway. Altogether, these data enhanced our understanding of PGHS-2 regulation in HPMEC and emphasize the heterogeneity of cellular responses to proinflammatory cytokines. British Journal of Pharmacology (2002) 136, 1005–1014. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0704811