Inhibition of JAKs in macrophages increases lipopolysaccharide-induced cytokine production by blocking IL-10-mediated feedback

J Immunol. 2012 Sep 15;189(6):2784-92. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1200310. Epub 2012 Aug 17.

Abstract

Macrophages are an important source of cytokines following infection. Stimulation of macrophages with TLR agonists results in the secretion of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-12, and the production of these cytokines is controlled by multiple feedback pathways. Macrophages also produce IL-10, which acts to inhibit proinflammatory cytokine production by macrophages via a JAK/STAT3-dependent pathway. We show in this paper that, Ruxolitinib, a recently described selective inhibitor of JAKs, increases TNF, IL-6, and IL-12 secretion in mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages stimulated with LPS. This effect is largely due to its ability to block IL-10-mediated feedback inhibition on cytokine transcription in macrophages. Similar results were also obtained with a second structurally unrelated Jak inhibitor, Tofacitinib. In addition, LPS induced the production of IFN-β, which was then able to activate JAKs in macrophages, resulting in the stimulation of STAT1 phosphorylation. The initial induction of IL-10 was independent of JAK signaling; however, inhibition of JAKs did reduce IL-10 secretion at later time points. This reflected a requirement for the IFN-β feedback loop to sustain IL-10 transcription following LPS stimulation. In addition to IL-10, IFN-β also helped sustain IL-6 and IL-12 transcription. Overall, these results suggest that inhibition of JAKs may increase the inflammatory potential of macrophages stimulated with TLR4 agonists.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow Cells / enzymology
  • Bone Marrow Cells / immunology*
  • Bone Marrow Cells / pathology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis*
  • Feedback*
  • Inflammation Mediators / physiology
  • Interferon Type I / physiology
  • Interleukin-10 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Interleukin-10 / physiology
  • Janus Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Janus Kinases / physiology
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology*
  • Macrophages / enzymology
  • Macrophages / immunology*
  • Macrophages / pathology
  • Mice
  • Nitriles
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacology
  • Pyrimidines
  • Signal Transduction / immunology
  • Toll-Like Receptors / physiology
  • Up-Regulation / immunology*

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Interferon Type I
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Nitriles
  • Pyrazoles
  • Pyrimidines
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • Interleukin-10
  • ruxolitinib
  • Janus Kinases