Cytosolic phospholipase A2 Group IValpha but not secreted phospholipase A2 Group IIA, V, or X induces interleukin-8 and cyclooxygenase-2 gene and protein expression through peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors gamma 1 and 2 in human lung cells.

It has been reported that interleukin-8 (IL-8) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression is regulated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma synthetic ligands. We have shown previously that cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) is able to activate gene expression through PPAR-gamma response elements (Pawliczak, R., Han, C., Huang, X. L., Demetris, A. J., Shelhamer, J. H., and Wu, T. (2002) J. Biol. Chem. 277, 33153-33163). In this study we investigated the influence of cPLA2 and secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) Group IIA, Group V, and Group X on IL-8 and COX-2 expression in human lung epithelial cells (A549 cells). We also studied the results of cPLA2 activation by epidermal growth factor (EGF) and calcium ionophore (A23187) on IL-8 and COX-2 reporter gene activity, mRNA level, and protein synthesis. cPLA2 overexpression and activation increased both IL-8 and COX-2 reporter gene activity. Overexpression and activation of Group IIA, Group V, or Group X sPLA2s did not increase IL-8 and COX-2 reporter gene activity. Methyl arachidonyl fluorophosphate, a cPLA2 inhibitor, inhibited the effect of A23187 and of EGF on both IL-8 and COX-2 reporter gene activity, steady state levels of IL-8 and COX-2 mRNA, and IL-8 and COX-2 protein expression. Small inhibitory RNAs directed against PPAR-gamma1 and -gamma2 blunted the effect of A23187 and of EGF on IL-8 and COX-2 protein expression. Moreover small inhibitory RNAs directed against cPLA2 decreased the effect of A23187 and EGF on IL-8 and COX-2 protein expression. These results demonstrate that cPLA2 has an influence on IL-8 and COX 2 gene and protein expression at least in part through PPAR-gamma.