Regulation of inflammatory responses.

Abstract

Leukocytes play an important role in host defense and inflammatory disease. The effects of leukocytes are mediated by bacterial peptide, n-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP), which interacts with a G protein-related kinase receptor to produce acute (degranulation) and chronic (chemokine production) inflammatory mediators. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of fMLP receptor phosphorylation by G protein-related kinase, GRK2, on degranulation and chemokine production. Here we show over-expression of GRK2 decreases degranulation and increases chemokine production. These studies suggest that receptor phosphorylation plays a unique role in "turning off" acute inflammation and simultaneously "turning on" a chronic inflammatory response. This study has relevance to many inflammatory diseases, including many in the oral cavity.