Role of IKK1 and IKK2 in lipopolysaccharide signaling in human monocytic cells

Mononuclear phagocytes play a major role in immune and inflammatory responses. Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces monocytes to express a variety of genes by activating the NF-kappa B/Rel transcription factor family. Recently, we have reported that the tumor necrosis factor and interleukin 1 signaling pathways activate two kinases, IKK1 and IKK2. Phosphorylation of the I kappa B cytoplasmic inhibitors, I kappa B alpha, I kappa B beta, and I kappa B epsilon, by these kinases triggers proteolytic degradation and the release of NF-kappa B/Rel proteins into the nucleus. At present, the role of the IKKs in LPS signaling has not been investigated. Here, we report that LPS induces IKK activity in human monocytes and THP-1 monocytic cells. The kinetics of activation of kinase activity in monocytic cells are relatively slow with maximal activity observed at 60 min, which coincides with the degradation of I kappa Bs and the nuclear translocation of NF-kappa B. In transfection experiments, overexpression of wild type IKK1, a dominant negative mutant IKK1 (K44M), or wild type IKK2 did not affect LPS-induced kappa B-dependent transcription in monocytic cells. In contrast, a dominant negative mutant of IKK2 inhibited LPS induction of kappa B-dependent transcription in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicate that LPS induction of kappa B-dependent gene expression in human monocytic cells requires activation of IKK2.