Interferon-gamma differentially regulates monocyte matrix metalloproteinase-1 and -9 through tumor necrosis factor-alpha and caspase 8.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) individually enhance monocyte matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) but induce MMP-1 only when added in combination. Because interferon-gamma (IFNgamma) is also found at inflammatory sites, we determined its effect on monocyte MMPs in the presence or absence of TNFalpha and GM-CSF. IFNgamma alone did not stimulate monocyte MMP-9 or MMP-1; however, in the presence of GM-CSF it induced MMP-1 and enhanced MMP-1 stimulated by GM-CSF and TNFalpha. IFNgamma induced MMP-1 in the presence of GM-CSF through the stimulation of TNFalpha production through a mechanism involving both p38 and ERK1/2 MAPKs, in which GM-CSF stimulated ERK1/2 whereas IFNgamma activated p38. In support of this conclusion TNFalpha neutralizing antibody and antibodies against TNF receptor I and -II blocked the induction of MMP-1 by GM-CSF and IFNgamma. In contrast to its effects on MMP-1, IFNgamma inhibited TNFalpha-induced MMP-9 through a caspase 8-dependent pathway as demonstrated by the restoration of MMP-9 with caspase 8 inhibitors. Moreover, the phosphorylation of STAT1 by IFNgamma was blocked by an inhibitor of caspase 8, indicating that STAT1 had a suppressive effect on MMP-9. Caspase 8-mediated phosphorylation of STAT1 through p38 MAPK as shown by the inhibition of IFNgamma-induced phosphorylation of p38 by caspase 8 inhibitors. Activation of caspase 8 by IFNgamma did not result in increased apoptosis. Thus IFNgamma in the presence of GM-CSF and/or TNFalpha differentially regulates monocyte MMPs through induction of TNFalpha and a novel mechanism involving caspase 8 that is independent of apoptosis.