Unique Effect of Arachidonic Acid on Human Neutrophil TNF Receptor Expression: Up-Regulation Involving Protein Kinase C, Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase, and Phospholipase A2

Arachidonic acid (AA) regulates the function of many cell types, including neutrophils. Although much emphasis has been placed on agonist-induced down-regulation of TNFR, our data show that AA caused a rapid (10-20 min) and dose-dependent (0.5-30 micro M) increase in the surface expression of both classes of TNFR (TNFR1 and TNFR2) on human neutrophils. This increased TNFR expression correlated with an increase in TNF-induced superoxide production. In contrast, the omega3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, and linolenic acid failed to stimulate TNFR expression. Although fMLP and LPS reduced the neutrophil expression of TNFR, when pretreated with AA, fMLP caused an increase in TNFR expression. Consistent with this result was the finding that AA prevented the fMLP-induced receptor release in neutrophil cultures. AA also caused an increase in TNFR expression in matured HL-60 cells (neutrophil-like cells), but a decrease in nonmatured cells and HUVEC. The AA effects were independent of the lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase pathways, but dependent on protein kinase C, the extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2, and cytosolic phospholipase A(2). The data demonstrate a unique effect of AA in the inflammatory reaction, through its action on neutrophil TNFR expression, and suggest that AA may regulate the response of neutrophils to TNF by altering its receptor number.