[Autophagy modulates the levels of inflammatory cytokines in macrophages induced by lipopolysaccharide].

Objective To analyze the effect of autophagy on inflammatory response in macrophages induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and investigate its molecular mechanism. Methods Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, which were separated from the femora of mice, were cultured and induced to differentiate into primary macrophages in vitro. The inflammatory cell model was established by stimulating the primary macrophages with LPS. Autophagy was inhibited by 3-methyladenine (3-MA) or promoted by rapamycin. Green fluorescent protein-microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 (GFP-LC3) plasmid was used to transfect primary macrophages and the percentage of cells with GFP-LC3 puncta were counted in the different groups. The mRNA levels of LC3B, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), IL-6 and IL-12p40 were detected by real-time quantitative PCR, and the protein levels of LC3B, nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and IκBα were determined by Western blotting. Results LC3B mRNA and protein expression levels were gradually up-regulated and the autophagosomes increased in the macrophages 2, 4 and 6 hours after treated by LPS. Compared with only LPS treatment group, autophagy inhibition by 3-MA pretreatment promoted the mRNA expressions of inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-12p40, and the autophagy induction by rapamycin pretreatment suppressed TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-12p40. Meanwhile, 3-MA or rapamycin pretreatment further regulated the protein expressions of IκBα and p-NF-kBp65 induced by LPS in macrophages. Conclusion Autophagy can suppress the LPS-induced inflammatory response in macrophages by regulating NF-κB signaling pathway.