Differential Role For C-Rel And C/Ebp Beta/Delta In Tlr-Mediated Induction Of Proinflammatory Cytokines

TLR stimulation triggers a signaling pathway via MyD88 and IL-1R-associated kinase 4 that is essential for proinflammatory cytokine induction. Although NF-kappa B has been shown to be one of the key transcriptional regulators of these cytokines, evidence suggests that other factors may also be important. In this study, we showed that MyD88-deficient macrophages have defective c-Rel activation, which has been linked to IL-12p40 induction, but not IL-6 or TNF-alpha. We also investigated other transcription factors and showed that C/EBP beta and C/EBP delta expression was limited in MyD88- or IL-1R-associated kinase 4-deficient macrophages treated with LPS. Importantly, the absence of both C/EBP beta and C/EBP delta resulted in the impaired induction of proinflammatory cytokines stimulated by several TLR ligands. Our results identify c-Rel and C/EBP beta/delta as important transcription factors in a MyD88-dependent pathway that regulate the induction of proinflammatory cytokines. The Journal of Immunology, 2009, 182: 7212-7221.