The mediating role of cPLA2 in IL-1 beta and IL-6 release in LPS-induced HeLa cells

Studies were conducted to characterize a HeLa cell model by which the roles of the 85-kDa phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) in interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) release could be evaluated. At first, untreated HeLa cells were compared with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated HeLa cells. The latter resulted in cPLA2 overexpression and an increased trend of IL-1 beta and IL-6 release. The indicated doses of 85-kDa cPLA2 antisense oligonucleotide directed against the initiation site were then used to block cPLA2 in LPS-induced HeLa cells. The process led to a dose-dependent decrease in cPLA2 protein with no noticeable change of cPLA2 mRNA. Compared with that of LPS added only, a reduction of IL-1 beta and IL-6 levels in the supernatants of transfected cells following the repression of cPLA2 was observed. These results suggested that 85-kDa cPLA2 may mediate the signalling cascades by which IL-1 beta and IL-6 were released in LPS-induced HeLa cells.