Regulation of IL-15-Stimulated TNF-α Production by Rolipram

Abstract

Abstract Agents that increase intracellular cAMP have been shown to reduce joint inflammation in experimental arthritis, presumably by lowering the release of proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α. Recent studies suggest that, in joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, TNF-α release from macrophages is triggered by their interaction with IL-15-stimulated T lymphocytes. In this report, we analyze the effect of rolipram, a cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase inhibitor, on TNF-α production in this experimental system. Cocultures of U937 cells with IL-15-stimulated T cells, but not control T cells, resulted in increased release of TNF-α. Pretreatment of T cells with rolipram or cAMP analogues inhibited the IL-15-stimulated increases in proliferation, expression of cell surface molecules CD69, ICAM-1, and LFA-1, and release of TNF-α from macrophages. Addition of PMA to T cells dramatically increased the expression of cell surface molecules, but had little or no effect on TNF-α release from either T cells or from cocultures, suggesting that other surface molecules must also be involved in T cell/macrophage contact-mediated production of TNF-α. Addition of PMA synergistically increased the proliferation of IL-15-stimulated T cells and the secretion of TNF-α from IL-15-stimulated T cell/macrophage cocultures. Rolipram and 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cAMP (CPT-cAMP) blocked these increases. Measurement of protein kinase A (PKA) activity and the use of inhibitory cAMP analogues (RpCPT-cAMP) confirmed that rolipram worked by stimulating PKA. These data suggest that PKA-activating agents, such as rolipram, can block secretion of TNF-α from macrophages by inhibiting T cell activation and expression of surface molecules.