The inositol 3-phosphatase PTEN negatively regulates Fcγ receptor signaling, but supports Toll-Like receptor 4 signaling in murine peritoneal macrophages

FcgammaR clustering in macrophages activates signaling events that result in phagocytosis. Phagocytosis is accompanied by the generation harmful byproducts such as reactive oxygen radicals and production of inflammatory cytokines, which mandate that the phagocytic process be subject to a tight regulation. The molecular mechanisms involved in this regulation are not fully understood. In this study, we have examined the role of the inositol 3-phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) in FcgammaR-induced macrophage function. We demonstrate that in ex vivo murine peritoneal macrophages that are deficient in PTEN expression, FcgammaR-induced Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation are enhanced. Notably, PTEN-/- macrophages showed constitutively high phosphorylation of Akt. However, PTEN did not seem to influence tyrosine phosphorylation events induced by FcgammaR clustering. Furthermore, PTEN-/- macrophages displayed enhanced phagocytic ability. Likewise, FcgammaR-induced production of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-10 was significantly elevated in PTEN-/- macrophages. Surprisingly, LPS-induced TNF-a production was down-regulated in PTEN-/- macrophages. Analyzing the molecular events leading to PTEN influence on LPS/Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling, we found that LPS-induced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases is suppressed in PTEN-/- cells. Previous reports indicated that LPS-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase activation is down-regulated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase through the activation of Akt. Our observation that Akt activation is basally enhanced in PTEN-/- cells suggests that PTEN supports TLR4-induced inflammatory responses by suppressing the activation of Akt. Thus, we conclude that PTEN is a negative regulator of FcgammaR signaling, but a positive regulator of TLR4 signaling. These findings are the first to demonstrate a role for PTEN in FcgammaR- and TLR4-mediated macrophage inflammatory response.