Protease-activated receptor 2 enhances innate and inflammatory mechanisms induced by lipopolysaccharide in macrophages from C57BL/6 mice

Objective This study was conducted to investigate the effects of the synthetic PAR2 agonist peptide (PAR2-AP) SLIGRL-NH2 on LPS-induced inflammatory mechanisms in peritoneal macrophages. Methods Peritoneal macrophages obtained from C57BL/6 mice were incubated with PAR2-AP and/or LPS, and the phagocytosis of zymosan fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) particles; nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and cytokine production; and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression in macrophages co-cultured with PAR-2-AP/LPS were evaluated. Results Co-incubation of macrophages with PAR2AP (30 mu M)/LPS (100 ng/mL) enhanced LPS-induced phagocytosis; production of NO, ROS, and the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1 beta, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, IL-6, and C-C motif chemokine ligand (CCL)2; and iNOS expression and impaired the release of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 after 4 h of co-stimulation. In addition, PAR2AP increased the LPS-induced translocation of the p65 subunit of the pro-inflammatory transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) and reduced the expression of inhibitor of NF-kappa B. Conclusion This study provides evidence of a role for PAR2 in macrophage response triggered by LPS enhancing the phagocytic activity and NO, ROS, and cytokine production, resulting in the initial and adequate macrophage response required for their innate response mechanisms.