Prostaglandin E₂ receptors, EP2 and EP4, differentially modulate TNF-α and IL-6 production induced by lipopolysaccharide in mouse peritoneal neutrophils

The expression and function of prostaglandin (PG) E₂ receptors were examined in mouse neutrophils exudated into the peritoneal cavity by casein treatment. Expressions of the EP2 and EP4 receptors were detected in neutrophils by Northern blot, but those of EP1 and EP3 receptors were not detected by RT-PCR. EP2-selective agonist, ONO-AE1-259, and EP4-selective agonist, ONO-AE1-329, stimulated cAMP formation in the cells. PGE₂ affected the TNF-α and IL-6 production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated neutrophils; it suppressed the TNF-α production and enhanced the IL-6 production. The PGE₂ effects were mimicked by dibutyryl cAMP. This is the first study of the enhancement of IL-6 production by cAMP-elevating reagents in neutrophils. Using neutrophils from EP2- and EP4-deficient mice in combination with EP2- and EP4-selective agonists, it was found that the augmentation of IL-6 was mediated mainly by the EP2 receptor and the suppression of TNF-α by the EP4 receptor and partially by the EP2 receptor. These findings indicate that casein-induced peritoneal neutrophils express Gs-coupled PGE₂ receptors, EP2 and EP4, which might differentially regulate the LPS-induced production of TNF-α and IL-6. (C) 2000 Academic Press.