Macrophages release cytokines that may contribute to pulmonary inflammation in conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Thus, inhibition of macrophage cytokine production may have therapeutic benefit. p38 MAPK may regulate cytokine production, therefore, the effect of two p38 MAPK inhibitors, SB239063 and SD‐282, on the release of TNF‐α, GM‐CSF and IL‐8 from human macrophages was investigated.

Cytokine release was measured by ELISA. Immunoblots and mRNA expression studies were performed to confirm p38 MAPK isoform expression and activity. Macrophages were isolated from lung tissue of current smokers, ex‐smokers and emphysema patients and exposed to lipopolysaccharide. These cells then released cytokines in a concentration‐dependent manner.

SB239063 only inhibited TNF‐α release (EC₅₀ 0.3±0.1 μM). Disease status had no effect on the efficacy of SB239063. SD‐282 inhibited both TNF‐α and GM‐CSF release from macrophages (EC₅₀ 6.1±1.4 nM and 1.8±0.6 μM respectively) but had no effect on IL‐8 release. In contrast, both inhibitors suppressed cytokine production in monocytes.

The differential effects of p38 MAPK inhibitors between macrophages and monocytes could not be explained by differences in p38 MAPK isoform expression or activity. However, the stability of TNF‐α mRNA was significantly increased in macrophages compared to monocytes. These data suggest a differential involvement for p38 MAPK in macrophage cytokine production compared with monocytes. These effects are not due to lack of p38 activation or p38α expression in macrophages but may reflect differential effects on the stability of cytokine mRNA.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2006) 149, 393–404. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706885