Immunological role of prostaglandin E2 production in mouse auditory cells in response to LPS

The effect of LPS on the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in mouse HEI-OC1 auditory cells was examined. HEI-OC1 auditory cells constitutively produce a small amount of PGE2. LPS augmented the PGE2 production via enhanced cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) expression. LPS-induced augmentation of COX2 expression was dependent on up-regulation of COX2 mRNA expression. LPS induced the production of TNF-α, but not IL-1β· An anti-TNF-α neutralizing Ab significantly inhibited PGE2 production and COX2 mRNA expression in response to LPS. LPS-induced PGE2 production was prevented by a series of pharmacological signaling inhibitors to NF-κB and MAPKs. Pam3CSK4 as a TLR2 ligand, as well as LPS as a TLR4 ligand, augmented the PGE2 production. However, poly I:C as a TLR3 ligand, imiquimod as a TLR7 ligand and CpG DNA as a TLR9 ligand did not augment it. HEI-OC1 cells expressed TLR2, TLR4 and TLR9, but not TLR3 or TLR7. The putative role of LPS-induced PGE2 production in auditory cells is discussed.