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Depletion and Reconstitution of Macrophages in Mice
Published on: August 1, 2012
Effects of activin A on the activities of the mouse peritoneal macrophages
Xue Jun Zhang1, Yang Li, Gui Xiang Tai
1Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
Abstract:
Activin A is a kind of pre-inflammatory factor that belongs to the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily. To investigate the effect and mechanism of activin A on the activities of mouse macrophages, the secretion of NO in the supernatant of cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages was examined by NO assay kit, and the expression of iNOS, ActRIIA and ARIP2 mRNA in mouse peritoneal macrophages was analyzed by RT-PCR. The results showed that activin A stimulated the secretion of NO and the expression of iNOS mRNA in non-activated mouse macrophages in a time- and dose-dependent manner. In contrast, activin A in the same concentration inhibited the secretion of NO in LPS-activated mouse macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. ActRIIA was highly expressed on macrophages, and activin A upregulated the ActRIIA mRNA expression in macrophages. Anti-ActRIIA antibody can block the secretion of NO from the macrophages stimulated by activin A. Furthermore, RT-PCR analysis revealed that activin A enhanced the ARIP2 mRNA expression in macrophages. These results indicated that Activin A may be a weak activator compared with LPS to mouse macrophages, and activin A may modulate the secretion of NO through ActRIIA-ARIP2 signal pathway in mouse macrophages.
Insights
Activin A, a TGF-beta factor, modulates nitric oxide (NO) secretion in mouse macrophages. It stimulates NO in non-activated cells but inhibits it in LPS-activated cells via the ActRIIA-ARIP2 pathway.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Activin A is a pre-inflammatory factor within the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily.
- Macrophages play a crucial role in immune responses, including the production of nitric oxide (NO).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of Activin A on mouse macrophage activity.
- To determine Activin A's impact on nitric oxide secretion and gene expression in macrophages.
Main Methods:
- Cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages were used.
- Nitric oxide (NO) secretion was measured using an NO assay kit.
- Messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), Activin A Receptor Type IIA (ActRIIA), and Aryl hydrocarbon receptor Interacting Protein Like 2 (ARIP2) was analyzed via RT-PCR.
Main Results:
- Activin A dose- and time-dependently stimulated NO secretion and iNOS mRNA expression in non-activated macrophages.
- Conversely, Activin A inhibited NO secretion in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated macrophages.
- Activin A upregulated ActRIIA mRNA expression, and anti-ActRIIA antibody blocked NO secretion.
- Activin A enhanced ARIP2 mRNA expression in macrophages.
Conclusions:
- Activin A acts as a weak activator of mouse macrophages compared to LPS.
- Activin A modulates macrophage NO secretion through the ActRIIA-ARIP2 signaling pathway.
