Prostaglandin E2 downregulates interleukin-12 production through EP4 receptors in human monocytes stimulated with lipopolysaccharide from Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and interferon-γ

In the present study, we examined the effect of prostaglandin (PG) E-2 on interleukin (IL)-12 production in monocytes stimulated with a combination of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and interferon-gamma (A. actinomycetemcomitans-LPS/IFN-gamma). Indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, enhanced IL-12 production, but inhibited PGE(2) generation in A. actinomycetemcomitans -LPS/IFN-gamma-stimulated monocytes. Exogenous PGE(2) inhibited IL-12 release in the cells. EP2, EP3 and EP4 receptor mRNA expression was detected in monocytes by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. 11-deoxy-PGE(1) (an EP2/EP4 agonist) inhibited IL-12 production in A. actinomycetemcomitans-LPS/IFN-gamma-challenged monocytes, whereas butaprost (an EP2 agonist) or ONO-AP-324 (an EP3 agonist) had no effect on IL-12 production. Dibutyryl cAMP, a cAMP analogue, and forskolin, an adenylate cyclase activator, mimicked depression of IL-12 production by PGE(2). From these results, we suggest that PGE(2) inhibits IL-12 production via EP4 receptors by cAMP-dependent pathways in A. actinomycetemcomitans-LPS/IFN-gamma-challenged monocytes.