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Foam cell formation is the most important process in atherosclerosis, and low density lipoprotein oxidation by reactive oxygen species (ROS) is the key step in the conversion of macrophages to foam cells. This study reveals the control mechanism of the gene for NADPH oxidase 1 (Nox1), which produces ROS in the formation of foam cells by stimulating TLR4. Treatment of macrophages by the TLR4 agonist LPS stimulated ROS production and ROS-mediated macrophage to foam cell conversion. This LPS-induced ROS production and foam cell formation could be abrogated by pretreatment of macrophages with N-acetyl cysteine or apocynin. LPS increased Nox1 promoter activity, and resultant expression of mRNA and protein. Small interfering RNA mediated inhibition of Nox1 expression decreased LPS-induced ROS production and foam cell formation. LPS-mediated Nox1 expression and the responses occurred in a calcium-independent phospholipase A2 (iPLA2)-dependent manner. The iPLA2β-specific inhibitor S-BEL or iPLA2β small interfering RNA attenuated LPS-induced Nox1 expression, ROS production, and foam cell formation. In addition, activation of iPLA2β by LPS caused Akt phosphorylation and was followed by increased Nox1 expression. These results suggest that the binding of LPS and TLR4 increases Nox1 expression through the iPLA2β-Akt signaling pathway, and control ROS production and foam cell formation.

CpG oligodeoxunucleotide (ODN) plays an important role in immune cell function. The present study examined whether temporal control of toll-like receptor (TLR)-9 by CpG ODN can regulate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). CpG ODN induced the release of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a and the expression of TNF receptor (TNFR)-II, but not of TNFR-I, in a time-dependent manner and stimulated significant, though delayed, MMP-9 expression. The endosomal acidification inhibitors, chloroquine or bafilomycin A, inhibited CpG ODN-induced TNF-a, TNFR-II, and MMP-9 expression. CpG ODN induced the phosphorylation of Akt, and the inhibition of Akt by LY294002 suppressed CpG ODNinduced TNF-a, TNFR-II, and MMP-9 expressions. Moreover, neutralizing TNF-a antibody significantly suppressed CpG ODN-induced MMP-9 expression, suggesting the involvement of TNF-a. These observations suggest that CpG ODN may play important roles in macrophage activation by regulating the expression of MMP-9 via a TLR-9/Akt/TNF-a-dependent signaling pathway.

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