Lipopolysaccharide LPS-mediated soluble TNF receptor release and TNF receptor expression by monocytes. Role of CD14, LPS binding protein, and bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein.

Previously we demonstrated that two soluble(s) tumor necrosis factor receptors, TNF-R55 as well as sTNF-R75, are constitutively released in vitro by monocytes, and that this release was markedly enhanced after activation. Because LPS is an important activator of monocytes, we investigated the effect of LPS on sTNF-R release by monocytes. It was found that release of sTNF-R75, but not (or minimally) release of sTNF-R55, was enhanced after activation with LPS, reaching plateau levels after approximately 2 days. CD14, one of the membrane receptors for LPS, is an intermediate in this process, as shown in experiments using mAb directed against CD14. Under serum-free conditions, LPS-induced sTNF-R75 release was less as compared with release in the presence of serum, suggesting involvement of serum proteins. Addition of LPS binding protein (LBP) enhanced the LPS-induced sTNF-R75 release under serum-free conditions, but had no effect in the presence of serum. On the other hand, bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI), known to possess LPS neutralizing activity, inhibited LPS-induced sTNF-R75 release. Furthermore, cell surface expression of both types of TNF-R was shown to be controlled by LPS, LBP, and BPI. LPS caused, within 1 h, a complete reduction of TNF-R55 as well as TNF-R75 expression, followed by enhanced re-expression of both receptors after 24 h. The down-modulation of expression was increased by LBP, whereas BPI counteracted the LPS-induced down-regulation. The LPS-enhanced release of sTNF-R75, capable of inactivation of TNF, as well as LPS-induced initial down-modulation of TNF-R expression leading to postulated temporary unresponsiveness to TNF may share in a physiological mechanism to carefully control the effects of TNF.