Inhibition of cytosolic phospholipase A2 attenuates activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases in human monocytic cells

Eicosanoids and platelet-activating factor generated upon activation of cytosolic phospholipase A(2) enhance activity of transcription factors and synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines. Here, we show that selective inhibitors and antisense oligonucleotides against this enzyme suppressed expression of the interleukin-1 beta gene at the level of transcription and promoter activation in human monocytic cell lines. This inhibitory effect was due to failure of activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) through phosphorylation by upstream mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases (MKK). Consequently, phosphorylation and degradation of inhibitor-kappa B alpha (I-kappa B alpha) and subsequent cytoplasmic mobilization, DNA-binding and the transactivating potential of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB), nuclear factor-interleukin-6 (NF-IL6), activation protein-1 (AP-1) and signal-transducer-and-activator-of-transcription-1 (STAT-1) were impaired. It is concluded, that lipid mediators promote activation of MAPKs, which in turn lead to phosphorylation and liberation of active transcription factors. Since inhibition of cytosolic phospholipase A(2) ameliorates inflammation in vivo, this potency may reside in interference with the MAPK pathway. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.