Aryl hydrocarbon receptor negatively regulates LPS-induced IL-6 production through suppression of histamine production in macrophages

Int Immunol. 2011 Oct;23(10):637-45. doi: 10.1093/intimm/dxr072. Epub 2011 Sep 19.

Abstract

Macrophages play a pivotal role in innate immune responses to pathogens via toll-like receptors. We previously demonstrated that aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ahr) in combination with signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (Stat1) negatively regulates pro-inflammatory cytokine production by inhibiting nuclear factor-κB activation in macrophages after LPS stimulation. Here, we show that Ahr also negatively regulates production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 by suppressing histamine production in macrophages stimulated by LPS. We found that Ahr-Sp1 complex, independent of Stat1, represses histidine decarboxylase expression by inhibiting LPS-induced Sp1 phosphorylation on Ser residues in macrophages; this leads to suppression of histamine production. Moreover, we found that loratadine and chlorpromazine, histamine 1 receptor (H1R) antagonists, more effectively impair the production of LPS-induced IL-6 than that of other inflammatory cytokines in Ahr(-/-) macrophages. Collectively, these results demonstrate that Ahr negatively regulates IL-6 production via H1R signaling through the suppression of histamine production in macrophages following LPS stimulation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / deficiency
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Histamine / biosynthesis*
  • Interleukin-6 / biosynthesis*
  • Lipopolysaccharides / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology*
  • Macrophages / drug effects*
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Macrophages / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / deficiency
  • Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Histamine H1 / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Sp1 Transcription Factor / metabolism

Substances

  • Ahr protein, mouse
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • Interleukin-6
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon
  • Receptors, Histamine H1
  • Sp1 Transcription Factor
  • Histamine