A decrease of RNA synthesis during macrophage activation with lipopolysaccharide--an association with novel regulating factors.

RNA synthesis during macrophage activation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was analyzed in mice. The RNA synthesis of macrophages was considerably increased early after LPS stimulation, but drastically decreased at a later period. The decrease of RNA synthesis was observed in mouse strains responding to LPS such as BALB/c, ATL and ddY, but not in nonresponder strain, C3H/HeJ. Furthermore, the decrease of RNA synthesis occurred in both alpha-amanitin resistant and sensitive RNA polymerase reactions. However, RNA polymerases in nuclei were not changed significantly in LPS-treated macrophages, but the factors affecting RNA polymerase reactions were drastically changed. Amongst these factors, the stimulating factors were decreased and a novel repressing factor was remarkably increased. The factors were partially characterized and their significance in macrophage activation is discussed.