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Updated: Mar 24, 2026

Author Spotlight: THP-1 Macrophage Response to LPS/ATP — Unveiling the Pyroptosis, Apoptosis, and Necroptosis Spectrum
Published on: May 3, 2024
Tissue damage negatively regulates LPS-induced macrophage necroptosis
Z Li1,2,3, M J Scott1, E K Fan4
1Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
Abstract:
Infection is a common clinical complication following tissue damage resulting from surgery and severe trauma. Studies have suggested that cell pre-activation by antecedent trauma/tissue damage profoundly impacts the response of innate immune cells to a secondary infectious stimulus. Cell necroptosis, a form of regulated inflammatory cell death, is one of the mechanisms that control cell release of inflammatory mediators from important innate immune executive cells such as macrophages (Mφ), which critically regulate the progress of inflammation. In this study, we investigated the mechanism and role of trauma/tissue damage in the regulation of LPS-induced Mφ necroptosis using a mouse model simulating long-bone fracture. We demonstrate that LPS acting through Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 promotes Mφ necroptosis. However, necroptosis is ameliorated by high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) release from damaged tissue. We show that HMGB1 acting through cell surface receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) upregulates caveolin-1 expression, which in turn induces caveolae-mediated TLR4 internalization and desensitization to decrease Mφ necroptosis. We further show that RAGE-MyD88 activation of Cdc42 and subsequent activation of transcription factor Sp1 serves as a mechanism underlying caveolin-1 transcriptional upregulation. These results reveal a previous unidentified protective role of damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) molecules in restricting inflammation in response to exogenous pathogen-associated molecular pattern molecules.
Insights
Tissue damage reduces macrophage necroptosis during infection. High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) from damaged tissue protects against inflammatory cell death by downregulating Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Medicine
Background:
- Infection is a common complication after trauma and surgery.
- Antecedent tissue damage can alter innate immune cell responses to secondary infections.
- Macrophage (Mφ) necroptosis, a regulated inflammatory cell death, influences inflammatory mediator release and disease progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how trauma/tissue damage regulates lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced Mφ necroptosis.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying this regulation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a mouse model of long-bone fracture to simulate trauma.
- Investigated the roles of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), and receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE).
- Analyzed caveolin-1 expression, TLR4 internalization, and downstream signaling pathways (MyD88, Cdc42, Sp1).
Main Results:
- LPS promotes Mφ necroptosis via TLR4.
- HMGB1 released from damaged tissue ameliorates Mφ necroptosis.
- HMGB1, acting through RAGE, upregulates caveolin-1, leading to TLR4 internalization and desensitization.
- RAGE-MyD88-Cdc42-Sp1 signaling mediates caveolin-1 transcriptional upregulation.
Conclusions:
- Damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) molecules, like HMGB1, play a protective role in limiting inflammation.
- HMGB1 restricts inflammation by reducing Mφ necroptosis in response to pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs).
- This study reveals a novel mechanism of immune regulation following tissue injury.
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