Hydrogen peroxide induces the production of tumor necrosis factor-α in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells via activation of p38 and stress-activated protein kinase

The effect of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) on production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha was examined in RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells. H(2)O(2), led to production of TNF-alpha up to 24 h after the treatment, but not nitric oxide in RAW C 2 264.7 cells. H(2)O(2) induced TNF-alpha production in mouse peritoneal macrophages as well as RAW 264.7 cells. The H(2)O(2) induced TNF-a production was prevented by inhibitors of p38 and stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK/JNK), and H(2)O(2) induced the phosphorylation of p38 and SAPK. Further, H(2)O(2) significantly augmented the AP-1 activity, but not nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B activity in RAW 264.7 cells. A high level of intracellular reactive oxygen radicals (ROS) was detected in H(2)O(2)-exposed RAW 264.7 cells. Ebselen, a cell permeable antioxidant, prevented the H(2)O(2)-induced TNF-alpha production. H(2)O(2) significantly enhanced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced TNF-alpha production. Therefore, H(2)O(2) was suggested to induce TNF-a production in macrophages via activating p38 and SAPK/JNK as oxidative stress-related signal pathways.