Expression of Inflammatory Cytokines by Murine Macrophages Activated with a New Synthetic Lipopeptide JT3002

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of JT3002, a new synthetic analogue of a lipoprotein from the outer wall of a gram-negative bacterium on the production of cytokines by mouse peritoneal macrophages. Multilamellar liposomes containing different concentrations of JT3002 induced production of the inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 α, and interleukin-6 by macrophages in dose- and time-dependent manners. The presence ofinterferon-gamma enhanced production of tumor necrosis factor-α by macrophages exposed to lower concentrations of JT3002 and induced the release of nitric oxide, a potent cytolytic molecule of activated macrophages. Unlike lipopolysaccharide, JT3002 activated macrophages Independently of serum, but like lipopolysaccharide, it required protein tyrosine kinase.