f-Met-Leu-Phe stimulates nitric oxide production in chick embryo neurons: the role of NF-kB

• Published in: Immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology Vol. 31; no. 1; pp. 51 - 63
• Main Authors: Cianciulli, Antonia, Acquafredda, Angela, Cavallo, Pasqua, Saponaro, Concetta, Calvello, Rosa, Mitolo, Vincenzo, Panaro, Maria Antonietta
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Informa UK Ltd 01.03.2009; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Active Transport, Cell Nucleus - drug effects; Animals; bcl-2-Associated X Protein - metabolism; Cells, Cultured; Chick Embryo; Cyclosporine - pharmacology; Enzyme Inhibitors - pharmacology; Escherichia coli; fMLP; I-kappa B Proteins - metabolism; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases - antagonists & inhibitors; N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine - pharmacology; neuron; Neurons - cytology; Neurons - drug effects; Neurons - metabolism; NF-kappa B - antagonists & inhibitors; NF-kappa B - metabolism; NF-kB; nitric oxide; Nitric Oxide - biosynthesis; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II - metabolism; Phosphorylation - drug effects; Protein Kinase C - antagonists & inhibitors; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - metabolism; Tosylphenylalanyl Chloromethyl Ketone - pharmacology; Transcription Factor RelA - metabolism
• ISSN: 0892-3973; 1532-2513
• DOI: 10.1080/08923970802338799

N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) is a major chemotactic factor produced by Escherichia coli and other Gram-negative bacteria. In avian models the fMLP effects and the possible expression of FPRs have been poorly investigated. This report demonstrates that fMLP stimulation in vitro is able to elicit significant cellular responses from 10-day chick embryo nerve cells. Cell treatment with 10−7 M fMLP at 37°C induces a dramatic increase of nitric oxide (NO) production, after 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. After 72 h of treatment with 10−7 M fMLP the maximum nuclear translocation of the NF-kB complex protein p65 is visible, corresponding to the greatest NO production. In this context, 72 h of fMLP stimulation lead to a marked expression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2, involved in cell survival. This suggests that activation of the NF-kB complex plays a protective role in chick neuronal cells treated with fMLP, confirmed by the significant neuronal cells degeneration observed after NF-kB inhibition with the specific inhibitor, TPCK. Overall, these data suggest a possible protective mechanism displayed by neurons against toxic molecules, like NO, released after cell exposure to bacterial products.