TAK1 targeting by glucocorticoids determines JNK and IκB regulation in Toll-like receptor–stimulated macrophages

Abstract

Glucocorticoids potently attenuate the production of inflammatory mediators by macrophages, a primary effector of innate immunity. Activation of different macrophage Toll-like receptors (TLRs) by their respective ligands presents a powerful system by which to evaluate stimulus-dependent glucocorticoid effects in the same cell type. Here, we test the hypothesis that glucocorticoids, acting through the glucocorticoid receptor, modulate macrophage activation preferentially depending upon the TLR-selective ligand and TLR adapters. We established that 2 adapters, Trif, MyD88, or both, determine the ability of glucocorticoids to suppress inhibitor of κB (IκB) degradation or Janus kinase (JNK) activation. Moreover, the sensitivity of transforming growth factor β–activated kinase 1 (TAK1) activation to glucocorticoids determines these effects. These findings identify TAK1 as a novel target for glucocorticoids that integrates their anti-inflammatory action in innate immunity signaling pathways.