High Molecular Weight Kininogen Fragments Stimulate the Secretion of Interleukin-1β through the NFκ B, JNK and p38 MAP Kinase Signaling Pathways in Monocytes.

Plasma high molecular weight kininogen (HK) is cleaved in inflammatory diseases by kallikrein to cleaved HK (HKa). We have reported that HKa releases cytokines (TNFα , IL-1β , IL-6) and chemokines (IL-8 and MCP-1) from isolated human peripheral blood monocytes. At a concentration of 600nM, Glutathione -S- transferase (GST) fusion proteins of kininogen domain 3 (D3), E7P - an active fragment of domain 3 (aaG255-Q292), HK domain 5 (D5), and D5 recombinant peptide HG (aa K420-D474) each stimulated secretion of IL-1β from monocytes. Receptors on monocytes including Mac-1, LFA-1, uPAR and gC1qR are required for IL-1β secretion from monocytes. We now report the signaling pathways and evidence for synthesis of IL-1 β in monocytes stimulated by HKa. Inhibitors of signaling pathways initiated by NFkB, JNK and p38, but not ERK, decreased IL-1b release from monocytes. A specific inhibitor of NFkB, MG-132 (1, 10 and 100 μM) significantly reduced IL-1β release from monocytes by 69.7, 67.3, 88.5% respectively, when stimulated by GST-E7P. The release of IL-1β by LPS (10 μg/ml), was blocked 83.4% by MG-132 (100 μM). A specific inhibitor of JNK, SP 600125 (1, 10 and 100 μM) significantly reduced IL-1β release from monocytes by 55.7, 76.3, 78.9% respectively, when stimulated by GST-E7P. The release of IL-1β by LPS (10 μg/ml), was blocked 90.23% by SP 600125 (100 μM). A specific inhibitor of p38, SB202190 (1,10 and 100 μM) significantly reduced IL-1β release from monocytes by 27.8, 14.2, 91.0% respectively, when stimulated by E7P. The release of IL-1β by LPS (10 μg/ml), was blocked 76.8 % by SB202190 (100 μM). In contrast, the ERK activation inhibitor U0126 (1, 10 and 100 μM) failed to inhibit GST-E7P-induced release of IL-1β from monocytes but the release of IL-1β with LPS (10 μg/ml), was blocked by 77.4% at 100 μM. After monocytes (4 X 10⁶/ml) were treated with HKa (600 nM) or LPS (10 ng/ml), total RNA was extracted and RT-PCR reactions for expression of IL-1β and gC1qR mRNA using specific primers were carried out. PCR products was separated in 4% ethidium bromide-stained agarose gels and photographed. No IL-1b mRNA was detected prior to exposure to HKa or LPS but both were detected at 1 hour. In contrast, gC1qR mRNA was present without stimulation by HKa. HKa domains 3 and 5 may contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases by stimulating the synthesis and release of IL-1β from human monocytes using intracellular signaling pathways initiated by uPAR, β 2 integrins and gC1qR receptors.