Macrophage deletion of p38α partially impairs lipopolysaccharide-induced cellular activation

The activation of p38 alpha, a MAPK family member, is associated with macrophage activation by microbial pattern molecules, such as LPS. The requirement of p38 alpha in inflammatory responses has been shown in a number of studies using chemical inhibitors, though the inhibitors also inhibit p38 beta and perhaps some other enzymes. In this study, we used conditional knockout of p38 alpha in macrophages to address the role of p38 alpha in macrophage activation. We found that p38 alpha deficiency causes a significant inhibition in the production of LPS-induced TNF-alpha, IL-12, and IL-18, but it has little or no effect on IL-6 or IFN-beta production. Knockout of p38a in macrophages did not affect LPS-induced activation of the other major signaling pathways (NF-kappa B, Jnk, and Erk), nor did it affect the transcriptional activity of NF-kappa B. It had little inhibitory effect on LPS-induced AP-1 activity, but it significantly inhibited LPS-induced C/EBP-beta and CREB activation, indicating that the role of p38 alpha in cytokine production in macrophages is at least in part through its regulation of C/EBP-beta and CREB activation. In addition, we also confirmed that p38 alpha is important for phagocytosis of bacteria by macrophages. Our in vivo studies with two murine models showed that p38 alpha is involved in sepsis. Collectively, our data demonstrate that p38 alpha is an important player in inflammatory responses.