LPS stimulation activates IKK and different MAP kinase pathways, as well as the PI3K-AktmTOR-p70 S6k pathway, a negative regulator of these MyD88-dependent intracellular signals. Here, we show that Cot/tpl2, a MAP3K responsible for the activation of the MKK1-Erk1/2, controls P-Ser473 Akt and P-Thr389 p70 S6k phosphorylation in LPS-stimulated macrophages. Analysis of the intracellular signalling in Cot/tpl2 KO macrophages versus WT macrophages reveals lower IjBa recovery and higher phosphorylation of JNK and p38a after 1 h of LPS stimulation. Moreover, Cot/tpl2 deficiency increases LPS-induced NO synthase 2 (NOS2) expression in macrophages. Inhibition of the PI3K pathway abolishes the differences in IjBa and NOS2 expression between Cot/tpl2 KO and WT macrophages following LPS administration. Furthermore, in zymosan-and polyI:C-stimulated macrophages, Cot/tpl2 mediates P-Ser473 Akt phosphorylation, increases IjBa levels and decreases NOS2 expression. In conclusion, these data reveal a novel role for the Cot/tpl2 pathway in mediating TLR activation of the Akt-mTOR-p70 S6k pathway, allowing Cot/tpl2 to fine-control the activation state of other signalling pathways.Key words: Akt . Cot/tpl2 . Macrophage . NO synthase 2 . p70 S6k . TLR See accompanying Commentary by Martinez Supporting Information available online IntroductionStimulation of TLRs by the different PAMPs triggers macrophage activation, starting a specific functional program that culminates in the production of inflammatory mediators. With the exception of TLR3, TLRs use MyD88 as a central intracellular adaptor, thereby activating multiple downstream intracellular pathways including IKK. TLR3 and TLR4 recruit the TRIF adaptor, which also activates IKK, but specifically activating TBK1 and the transcription factor IRF3 (reviewed in [1,2]). Translocation of IRF3 to the nucleus is necessary, although not sufficient, to induce IFN-b expression [3]. Most TLRs also activate the PI3K-Akt-mTOR-p70 S6k pathway, which is considered to be a negative regulator of TLR activation in macrophages and myeloid dendritic cells. Inhibition of this PI3K-Akt-mTOR-p70 S6k pathway in TLR-activated cells augments NO synthase 2 (NOS2) expression [4][5][6][7][8].Adequate TLR4 stimulation induces the formation of a TLR receptor complex that recruits proteins such as MyD88 and p85 PI3 K [9]. PI3K subsequently activates the Akt-mTOR-p70 S6k pathway. Moreover, TLR-bound MyD88 recruits IRAK4 and IRAK1. The phosphorylation of IRAK1 by IRAK4 facilitates TRAF6 [1,10]). Activated IKK-b phosphorylates p105 NF-kB at multiple residues [11][12][13], which targets the rapid degradation of p105 NF-kB to p50 NF-kB [11][12][13][14]. In resting cells, Cot/tpl-2 forms a stable and inactive complex with p105 NF-kB and ABIN2 (A20-binding inhibitor of NF-kB2), among other proteins, protecting Cot/tpl-2 from degradation. The partial proteolysis of p105 NFkB to p50 NF-kB releases Cot/tpl-2 from the complex [15][16][17][18][19][20]. Dissociated and adequately phosphorylated Cot/tpl2 [21][22][23][24] fully...

Cot/tpl2 (also known as MAP3K8) has emerged as a new and potentially interesting therapeutic anti-inflammatory target. Here, we report the first study of Cot/tpl2 involvement in acute peripheral inflammation in vivo. Six hours after an intraplantar injection of zymosan, Cot/tpl2 ؊/؊ mice showed a 47% reduction in myeloperoxidase activity, concomitant with a 46% lower neutrophil recruitment and a 40% decreased luminol-mediated bioluminescence imaging in vivo. Accordingly, Cot/tpl2 deficiency provoked a 25-30% reduction in luminolmediated bioluminescence and neutrophil recruitment together with a 65% lower macrophage recruitment 4 h following zymosan-induced peritonitis. Significantly impaired levels of G-CSF and GM-CSF and of other cytokines such as TNF␣, IL-1␤, and IL-6, as well as some chemokines such as MCP-1, MIP-1␤, and keratinocyte-derived chemokine, were detected during the acute zymosan-induced intraplantar inflammatory response in Cot/ tpl2 ؊/؊ mice. Moreover, Cot/tpl2 deficiency dramatically decreased the production of the hypernociceptive ligand NGF at the inflammatory site during the course of inflammation. Most importantly, Cot/tpl2 deficiency significantly reduced zymosan-induced inflammatory hypernociception in mice, with a most pronounced effect of a 50% decrease compared with wild type (WT) at 24 h following intraplantar injection of zymosan. At this time, Cot/ tpl2 ؊/؊ mice showed significantly reduced NGF, TNF␣, and prostaglandin E 2 levels compared with WT littermates. In conclusion, our study demonstrates an important role of Cot/tpl2 in the NGF, G-CSF, and GM-CSF production and myeloperoxidase activity in the acute inflammatory response process and its implication in inflammatory hypernociception. 2). Cot/tpl2, also known as MAP3K8, is the sole MAP3K that activates the MKK1/ 2-ERK1/2 pathway in response to stimulation of the TLR/IL-1 receptor superfamily, as well as in response to the activation of some receptors of the TNF family (3-10). However, Cot/tpl2 does not participate in the activation of ERK1/2 by stimulation of the C-type lectin receptor dectin-1 (11). In resting cells, Cot/tpl-2 forms a stable and inactive complex with p105 NF-B and ABIN2 (A20-binding inhibitor of NF-B2), among other proteins, to protect Cot/tpl-2 from degradation. Adequate TLR/IL-1 receptor stimulation induces the activation of the IKK complex; active IKK␤ kinase phosphorylates p105 NF-B, triggering its partial degradation to p50 NF-B (12-15). Cot/tpl2 is then dissociated from the complex and with an adequate phosphorylation state (16 -19) is capable of activating MKK1 and consequently ERK1/2 (6, 20 -22) prior to being rapidly degraded through the proteasome pathway (6,20,23). Cot/tpl2 is required to process pre-TNF␣ to its mature secreted form in LPS-stimulated macrophages (24). In addition, in different isolated cell types Cot/tpl2 controls the secretion of other cytokines and chemokines such as IL-8, MCP-1, MIP-1␤, KC,10,[24][25][26][27]. Moreover, Cot/tpl2 activation is necessary for the production of PGE 2 ...