Tristetraprolin Mediates Radiation-Induced TNF-α Production in Lung Macrophages

Dipankar Ray, Shirish Shukla, Uday Sankar Allam, Abigail Helman, Susmita Gurjar Ramanand, Linda Tran, Michael Bassetti, Pranathi Meda Krishnamurthy, Matthew Rumschlag, Michelle Paulsen, Lei Sun, Thomas P. Shanley, Mats Ljungman, Mukesh K. Nyati, Ming Zhang, Theodore S. Lawrence

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

The efficacy of radiation therapy for lung cancer is limited by radiation-induced lung toxicity (RILT). Although tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) signaling plays a critical role in RILT, the molecular regulators of radiation-induced TNF-α production remain unknown. We investigated the role of a major TNF-α regulator, Tristetraprolin (TTP), in radiation-induced TNF-α production by macrophages. For in vitro studies we irradiated (4 Gy) either a mouse lung macrophage cell line, MH-S or macrophages isolated from TTP knockout mice, and studied the effects of radiation on TTP and TNF-α levels. To study the in vivo relevance, mouse lungs were irradiated with a single dose (15 Gy) and assessed at varying times for TTP alterations. Irradiation of MH-S cells caused TTP to undergo an inhibitory phosphorylation at Ser-178 and proteasome-mediated degradation, which resulted in increased TNF-α mRNA stabilization and secretion. Similarly, MH-S cells treated with TTP siRNA or macrophages isolated from ttp (-/-) mice had higher basal levels of TNF-α, which was increased minimally after irradiation. Conversely, cells overexpressing TTP mutants defective in undergoing phosphorylation released significantly lower levels of TNF-α. Inhibition of p38, a known kinase for TTP, by either siRNA or a small molecule inhibitor abrogated radiation-induced TNF-α release by MH-S cells. Lung irradiation induced TTPSer178 phosphorylation and protein degradation and a simultaneous increase in TNF-α production in C57BL/6 mice starting 24 h post-radiation. In conclusion, irradiation of lung macrophages causes TTP inactivation via p38-mediated phosphorylation and proteasome-mediated degradation, leading to TNF-α production. These findings suggest that agents capable of blocking TTP phosphorylation or stabilizing TTP after irradiation could decrease RILT.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere57290
JournalPloS one
Volume8
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 28 2013
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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