Suppression of TNF-alpha mRNA expression in LPS-primed macrophages occurs at the level of nuclear factor-kappa B activation, but not at the level of protein kinase C or CD14 expression.

Previously, we reported that preexposure of proteose peptone-elicited murine peritoneal exudate macrophages (P-PEM) to a low dose of LPS suppressed the expression of TNF-alpha mRNA, but not of IL-1 beta mRNA, induced by a second round of LPS exposure. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying this hyporesponsiveness to LPS, we focused on two molecules: nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B and CD14. Activation of NF-kappa B induced by a second round of LPS was suppressed in LPS-primed P-PEM much like the suppression of TNF-alpha mRNA expression. However, protein kinase C (PKC), a candidate as an activator of NF-kappa B, was not desensitized by LPS priming. LPS-induced TNF-alpha production was not affected by depletion of PKC, and LPS could not induce translocation of PKC. CD14 expression showed no significant difference between control and primed P-PEM. In contrast with J774.1 cells and thioglycolate medium-elicited macrophages (T-PEM), P-PEM exhibited serum-independent TNF-alpha production, and a polyclonal Ab to murine CD14 had no inhibitory effect on the LPS-induced TNF-alpha production by P-PEM. These results suggest that priming by LPS causes blockage at an early step, at least before the activation of NF-kappa B, in the LPS signal transduction pathway, but not at the expression of CD14. Our results also suggest that, in P-PEM, in contrast to J774.1 cells and T-PEM, neither PKC nor CD14 is involved in the LPS-induced activation and suppression of TNF-alpha gene expression.