Suppression of IL-12 production by soluble CD40 ligand: evidence for involvement of the p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway.

IL-12 is a key cytokine in skewing immune responses toward Th1-like reactions. Human monocytes/macrophages produce high amounts of bioactive IL-12 when a priming signal (IFN-gamma or GM-CSF) precedes a second signal (e.g., LPS). We and others have previously shown that preincubation with LPS before this stimulation procedure can efficiently and selectively suppress the production of IL-12 by human monocytes. In this study, we show that an almost complete suppression of IL-12 production can also be observed after preincubation of monocytes with costimulatory cell surface molecules that bind to members of the TNFR superfamily (CD40 ligand, TNF-related activation-induced cytokine (TRANCE)). The suppression of IL-12 was observable on the mRNA and protein levels and was not due to endogenous production of known IL-12 antagonists (i.e., IL-10, IL-4, and PGE(2)), to an increased number of cells undergoing apoptosis, nor to down-regulation of the IFN-gamma or CD40 receptor. Cell surface expression of the costimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86 was not reduced by the preincubation procedure, and only a moderate reduction of IL-6 production was observed. Several studies have identified signal transduction pathways that are activated by CD40 signaling, including activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases. The presence of the extracellular signal-related kinase-specific mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1/2-specific inhibitors PD98059 and U0126 abrogated suppression induced by sCD40 ligand or other second signals. This indicates that activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 contributes to the underlying mechanism of IL-12 suppression. This mechanism may be relevant in other inflammatory responses and may help to develop therapeutic strategies in Th1-mediated diseases.