The role of dual specificity phosphatase 1 (DUSP1) in inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in A549 human pulmonary epithelial cells, J774 mouse macrophages and primary mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) was investigated. iNOS expression was induced by a cytokine mixture (TNF, IFNγ and IL-1β) in A549 cells and by LPS in J774 cells, and it was inhibited by p38 MAPK inhibito...

We have previously reported that IL-10 inhibits proliferation of normal bone marrow-derived macrophages and of the monocyte/macrophage cell line J774. Activation of Stat3 was shown to be necessary and sufficient to mediate inhibition of proliferation. To investigate further the mechanism of growth arrest, we examined the effect of IL-10 on expression of cell cycle inhibitors. We found that IL-1...

Cholesteryl ester (CE) accumulation in arterial wall macrophages (foam cells) is a prominent feature of atherosclerotic lesions. We have previously shown that murine J774 macrophages, unlike mouse peritoneal macrophages, accumulate large amounts of CE from unmodified low density lipoprotein (LDL). We now report a direct comparison of acyl coenzyme A:cholesterol acyl transferase (ACAT) activity ...

After the membrane impermeant dye Lucifer Yellow is introduced into the cytoplasmic matrix of J774 cells, the dye is sequestered within cytoplasmic vacuoles and secreted into the extracellular medium. In the present work we studied the intracellular transport of Lucifer Yellow in J774 macrophages and the nature of the cytoplasmic vacuoles into which this dye is sequestered. When the lysosomal s...

A calmodulin-binding protein is present in extracts of the macrophage-like mouse cell line J774 and in extracts of thioglycollate-stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages; it is deficient in variants of J774 resistant to trifluoperazine and in resident peritoneal macrophages. The calmodulin-binding protein [CaMBP (J7)0.5] was purified from J774 and resolved from endogenous cyclic nucleotide phos...

Diarrhoeal diseases due to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli continue to be a cause of global concern. Medicinal plants have been gaining popularity as promising antidiarrhoeal agents. In the present study, four antidiarrhoeal plants, viz. Aegle marmelos, Cyperus rotundus, Psidium guajava and Zingiber officinale were screened against a heat-stable toxin-producing enterotoxigenic E. coli strain. ...

Gap junctions are connexin-formed channels that play an important role in intercellular communication in most cell types. In the immune system, specifically in macrophages, the expression of connexins and the establishment of functional gap junctions are still controversial issues. Macrophages express P2X(7) receptors that, once activated by the binding of extracellular ATP, lead to the opening...

Macrophage cell lines like J774 cells are ideal model systems for establishing the biophysical foundations of autonomous deformation and motility of immune cells. To aid comparative studies on these and other types of motile cells, we report measurements of the cortical tension and cytoplasmic viscosity of J774 macrophages using micropipette aspiration. Passive J774 cells cultured in suspension...