ERK/Egr-1 signaling pathway is involved in CysLT2 receptor-mediated IL-8 production in HEK293 cells

The CysLT₂ receptor is involved in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, differentiation of colorectal cancers, bleomycin-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis. However, the signal transduction of cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 2 (CysLT₂) in inflammatory responses remains to be clarified. In HEK293 cells stably expressing hCysLT₁, hCysLT₂ and rGPR17, we determined the signaling pathways for interleukin-8 (IL-8) production after CysLT₂ receptor activation. HEK293 cells were stably transfected with the recombinant plasmids of pcDNA3.1(+)-hCysLT₁, pcDNA3.1(+)-hCysLT₂ and pcDNA3.1-rGPR17. Leukotriene C₄ (LTC₄) and LTD₄ were used as the agonists to induce IL-8 production and the related changes in signal molecules. We found that LTC₄ and LTD₄ significantly induced IL-8 promoter activation in the HEK293 cells stably expressing hCysLT₂, but not in those expressing hCysLT₁ and rGPR17. In hCysLT₂-HEK293 cells, LTC₄ induced elevation of intracellular calcium, ERK1/2 phosphorylation and Egr-1 expression, and stimulated IL-8 expression and release. These responses were blocked by the selective CysLT₂ receptor antagonist HAMI3379. The ERK1/2 inhibitor U0126 inhibited Egr-1 and IL-8 expression as well as IL-8 release, but the JNK and p38 inhibitors did not have the inhibitory effects. Down-regulation of Egr-1 by RNA interference with its siRNA inhibited the LTC₄-induced IL-8 expression and release. In conclusion, these findings indicate the ERK-Egr-1 pathway of CysLT₂ receptors mediates IL-8 production induced by the pro-inflammatory mediators LTC₄ and LTD₄.