Title:LPS Up-Regulates Cystathionine γ -Lyase Gene Expression in Primary Human Macrophages via NF-κB/ERK Pathway
Volume: 14
Issue: 2
Author(s): Alireza Badiei, Steven Gieseg, Sian Davies, Mohd Izani Othman and Madhav Bhatia
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Hydrogen sulfide, CSE, human macrophages.
Abstract: Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an endogenous inflammatory mediator produced by the activity
of cystathionine γ–lyase (CSE) in mammals. Macrophages are a key element of the immune system
and play a crucial role in inflammation. To determine the role of H2S and macrophages in
inflammation, we investigated the expression of CSE in human primary macrophages. Our results
show that H2S is produced by the activity of CSE in these cells. To investigate the role of common
signalling pathway in biosynthesis of CSE in human primary macrophages, specific inhibitors were used to block NF-κB,
ERK, p38 and JNK. Inhibition of NF-κB, ERK significantly reduced levels of CSE gene and protein expression in these
cells but inhibition of JNK and p38 did not have an inhibitory effect on the expression of CSE gene in macrophages.
Inhibition of NF-κB and ERK prevented the effect of LPS on H2S synthesizing activity in human primary macrophages.
These data showed that H2S acts as an inflammatory mediator via NF-κB/ERK pathway in macrophages.
