Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-1 beta are potent ac
tivators of the transcription factor NF-kappaB, induced during inflammatory
conditions. We have previously shown that both secretory and cytosolic pho
spholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) are involved in TNF-alpha- and IL-1 beta -induced
NF-kappaB activation. In this study, we have addressed the mechanism of PLA
, involvement with respect to downstream arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites
and the functional coupling between PLA(2)s mediating NF-kappaB activation.
We show that in addition to inhibitors of secretory and cytosolic PLA2s, 5
-lipoxygenase inhibitors attenuate TNF-alpha- and IL-1 beta -stimulated NF-
KB activation. Exogenous addition of leukotriene B-4 (LTB4) restored NF-kap
paB activation reduced by 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors or an LTB4 receptor ant
agonist, thus identifying LTB4 as a mediator in signaling to NF-kappaB. TNF
-alpha- and IL-1 beta -induced AA release from cellular membranes was accom
panied by phosphorylation of cytosolic PLA(2). Inhibitors of secretory PLA(
2) and of 5-lipoxygenase/LTB4 functionality markedly reduced AA release and
nearly completely abolished cytosolic PLA2 phosphorylation. This demonstra
tes that secretory PLA(2) through 5-lipoxygenase metabolites, is an essenti
al upstream regulator of cytosolic PLA2 and AA release. Our results therefo
re suggest the existence of a functional link between secretory and cytosol
ic PLA2 in cytokine-activated keratinocytes, providing a molecular explanat
ion for the participation of both secretory and cytosolic PLA(2) in arachid
onic acid signaling and NF-KB activation in response to proinflammatory cyt
okines.