Induction of pulmonary Mn superoxide dismutase mRNA by interleukin-1.

We have previously demonstrated that intratracheal (IT) but not intraperitoneal (IP) administration of 5 micrograms tumor necrosis factor (TNF) or interleukin-1 (IL-1) selectively enhances pulmonary Mn superoxide dismutase (Mn SOD) mRNA, leading to increased Mn SOD protein and enzyme activity, and protects rats against O2 toxicity. In this study, we demonstrated that enhancement of pulmonary Mn SOD mRNA by TNF or IL-1 was highly dependent on the route of administration. IT insufflation of 5 micrograms TNF or IL-1 selectively enhanced levels of pulmonary but not splenic or renal Mn SOD mRNA. In contrast, IP or intravenous (i.v.) administration of TNF (5 micrograms) or IL-1 (5, 20, or 50 micrograms) had little or no effect on levels of Mn SOD mRNA in the lung, spleen, or kidney. Both TNF and IL-1, whether given by IT, IP, or i.v. administration, had no effect on levels of Cu, Zn SOD mRNA. IP administration of 2 mg/kg actinomycin D 2 h before IT insufflation of IL-1 paradoxically increased the level of pulmonary Mn SOD mRNA without affecting the level of Cu,Zn SOD or beta-actin mRNA in IL-1-treated rats. Nuclear runoff transcription assay revealed that IT insufflation of IL-1 enhanced the rate on MN SOD but not Cu,Zn SOD mRNA synthesis. We conclude that IL-1-induced increase in pulmonary Mn SOD mRNA is at least in part regulated at the transcriptional level.