Tumor necrosis factor-alpha stimulates the expression of C-C chemokine ligand 2 gene in fibroblasts from the human nasal polyp through the pathways of mitogen-activated protein kinase.

BACKGROUND

Recruitment of macrophages is crucial to the pathogenesis of the nasal polyp (NP) because this disease is believed to be inflammation related. Information regarding the expression of C-C chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), an essential modulator of monocyte chemotaxis in nasal polyp fibroblasts (NPFs), remains unavailable. In this study, the effects of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a on CCL2 expression in NPFs and the signaling pathway involved were investigated.

METHODS

Primary cultures of NPFs were established from NPs. The expressions of CCL2, c-Fos, and c-Jun mRNAs in NPF after TNF-a stimulation were detected by Northern blot. Western blot was used to examine the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. Activator protein (AP) 1/DNA interactions were evaluated by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA).

RESULTS

Northern blot showed that TNF-alpha stimulated CCL2 gene expression in NPFs. Significant increase of B-Raf, phosphorated MAPK including mitogen-activated ERK-activate kinase (MEK)1/2, extracellular signal-related kinase 1/2, and p38 were detected by Western blot. c-Fos and c-Jun mRNAs were induced by TNF-alpha, and PD98059 (MEK inhibitor) and SB203580 (p38 inhibitor) abolished the up-regulation of c-Fos. EMSA revealed that TNF-a increased AP-1/DNA binding, and PD98059 and SB203580 attenuated this reaction, possibly via reducing c-Fos synthesis. PD98059 and curcunmin (AP-1 inhibitor) markedly suppressed the TNF-alpha-induced CCL2 expression, whereas the effect of SB203580 was less noted.

CONCLUSION

TNF-alpha induces CCL2 transcription in NPFs. B-Raf/MEK/ERK signaling cascade and to a less extent the p38 pathway are responsible for c-Fos activation and the subsequent AP-1/DNA interaction leading to CCL2 expression.