pyrimidinones and Leukemia--Monocytic--Acute

HIV protease inhibitor (PI)-associated cardiovascular risk, especially atherosclerosis, has become a major concern in the clinic. Macrophages are key players in the inflammatory response and atherosclerosis formation. We have previously shown that HIV PIs induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, activate the unfolded protein response (UPR), and increase the synthesis of the inflammatory cytokines, TNF-alpha and IL-6, by regulating the intracellular translocation of RNA binding protein HuR in macrophages. However, the underlying signaling mechanisms remain unclear. We show here that the HIV PI lopinavir significantly activated the extracellular-signal regulated protein kinase (ERK), but not c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAPK. Lopinavir-induced cytosolic translocation of HuR and TNF-alpha and IL-6 synthesis was attenuated by specific chemical inhibitor of MEK (PD98058) or over-expression of dominant negative mutant of MEK1. In addition, we demonstrated that lopinavir-induced ERK activation and TNF-alpha and IL-6 expression were completely inhibited in macrophages from CHOP null mice. Taken together, these results indicate activation of the UPR plays an essential role in HIV PI-induced inflammatory cytokine synthesis and release by activating ERK, which increases the cytosolic translocation of HuR and subsequent binding to the 3'UTR of TNF-alpha and IL-6 mRNAs in macrophages.

Topics: Animals; Cell Line, Tumor; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; Gene Expression Regulation; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Interleukin-6; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute; Lopinavir; Macrophages; MAP Kinase Signaling System; Mice; Mice, Knockout; NF-kappa B; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Protein Denaturation; Pyrimidinones; Signal Transduction; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

To express and purify lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) (Lp-PLA(2)), and to establish a screening model for Lp-PL A(2) inhibitors using the expressed Lp-PLA(2).. We cloned the full-length cDNA of Lp-PLA(2) from differentiated THP-1 cells, and subcloned the cDNA into the baculovirus transfer vector pFastBac1. In addition, we introduced an N-terminal Kozak sequence for high-level translation initiation and a C-terminal sequence of 6 histidine residues for purification. The fusion enzyme was expressed in Sf9 insect cells and purified by Ni(2+) affinity chromatography. Recombinant Lp-PLA(2) activity was measured using [(3)H]PAF as a substrate, and we examined the enzyme activity of recombinant Lp-PLA(2) pretreated with the known Lp-PLA(2) inhibitor SB435495.. We successfully cloned the full-length Lp-PLA(2) gene from differentiated THP-1 cells. The fusion enzyme was expressed in Sf9 insect cells at a high level and purified efficiently through a 2-step procedure. The recombinant Lp-PLA(2) activity was measured using [(3)H]PAF as a substrate, and proved to be enzymatically active. Lp-PLA(2) inhibitor SB435495 produced a good inhibition curve for inhibition of recombinant Lp-PLA(2) with an IC(50) of 57+/-1 micromol/L.. We expressed and purified Lp-PLA(2) at a high level in insect cell-baculovirus expression system. The yield ratio was much greater than that obtained from human plasma and we established a screening model for Lp-PL A(2) inhibitors using the expressed Lp-PLA(2).

Topics: 1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase; Animals; Atherosclerosis; Baculoviridae; Biphenyl Compounds; Cell Line, Tumor; Cells, Cultured; Cloning, Molecular; DNA, Complementary; Enzyme Inhibitors; Gene Expression; Genetic Vectors; Histidine; Humans; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute; Oligopeptides; Pyrimidinones; Recombinant Fusion Proteins; Spodoptera