IFN-alpha beta reconstitutes the deficiency in lipid A-activated AKR macrophages for nitric oxide synthase.

AKR mouse peritoneal macrophages (PM) were previously found to have a defect in their response to lipid A for nitric oxide (NO)-mediated tumor cytotoxicity, which was related to a lower level of C1q synthesis and reconstituted by exogenous IFN-gamma or C1q. We used AKR-PM as a model to further define the role of IFN-alpha beta in modulation of induction of macrophage nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in response to lipid A. Studies have revealed that AKR-PM produced a significantly lower level of IFN-alpha beta than responsive C3H-PM in response to lipid A. AKR-PM failed to increase NOS mRNA synthesis and NO generation when exposed to lipid A, although they had normal levels of TNF-alpha bioactivity and mRNA expression. This partial deficiency of AKR-PM to lipid A stimulation was reconstituted completely by exogenous IFN-alpha beta for both synthesis of NOS mRNA and release of NO. The failure of AKR-PM to produce NOS to lipid A stimulation appears to be related to reduced secretion of IFN-alpha beta and the resultant failure to express TNF-alpha type II receptor (TNF-RII) mRNA, which in turn decreases TNF-alpha binding to its receptor for autocrine induction of NOS. Insufficient synthesis and secretion of endogenous IFN-alpha beta may be the primary reason for AKR-PM refractoriness to induction of NOS in response to lipid A. furthermore, the close correlation between lack of IFN-alpha beta secretion and decreased TNF-RII mRNA synthesis may implicate a critical role for IFN-alpha beta in the upregulation of macrophage TNF-RII receptor expression for autocrine induction of NOS during lipid A stimulation.