Differential induction of TNF-alpha and MnSOD by endotoxin: role of reactive oxygen species and NADPH oxidase.

Endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) is known to induce the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and the induction of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD). We have recently demonstrated that induction of TNF-alpha and MnSOD by LPS is mediated through different signal transduction pathways. In the current study, we investigated the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the induction of TNF-alpha and MnSOD messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in human monocytes. Hypoxia (1% O2) inhibited the production of superoxide (O2-) and the induction of MnSOD, but not TNF-alpha, mRNA. Diphenylene iodonium (DPI), a potent inhibitor of the reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, had no effect on LPS induction of MnSOD mRNA, whereas it markedly inhibited LPS-induced O2- production. Neither hypoxia nor DPI had any effect on LPS activation of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB. These results suggest that (1) ROS is important in the induction of MnSOD, but not TNF-alpha, mRNA by LPS, (2) ROS from sources other than NADPH oxidase is involved in LPS induction of MnSOD mRNA, and (3) ROS-mediated LPS induction of MnSOD mRNA is independent of NF-kappaB activation.