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Glucocorticoids activate or repress the expression of different genes. In murine macrophages, glucocorticoids exert opposing effects on the IFN-gamma-induced expression of Fc gamma RI and Ia mRNA and cell surface expression; they enhance IFN-gamma-induced Fc gamma RI mRNA and protein expression, yet inhibit IFN-gamma-induced Ia mRNA and protein expression. Recently, in transfected cell lines, heat shock (HS) has been shown to promote nuclear accumulation of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), resulting in potentiation of certain GR-mediated responses. In this study, we compared the effects of HS and dexamethasone (DEX) treatment on the IFN-gamma induction of Fc gamma RI and Ia mRNA in murine primary peritoneal macrophages. Our results show that HS exerted the same opposing effects on these IFN-gamma-responsive genes as DEX at 37 degrees C. The glucocorticoid antagonist RU 486 blocked both DEX and HS-induced enhancement of IFN-gamma induction of Fc gamma RI, suggesting a common GR-mediated mechanism. While RU 486 also reversed DEX-induced repression of Ia mRNA expression, supporting a GR-mediated action, it did not affect HS-mediated repression, raising the possibility of a ligand-independent HS response pathway.

IFN play a central role in the activation of macrophages by inducing the expression of several proteins which, in turn, result in increased functional capabilities. Homologous interferon responsive sequences have been found in many IFN-inducible genes, and the gene for a protein that binds these sequences (interferon consensus sequence binding protein, ICSBP) has recently been cloned. In this study, the regulation of ICSBP mRNA induction by IFN-gamma was characterized in murine thioglycolate-elicited peritoneal macrophages. Northern blot analysis revealed two ICSBP mRNA species from these cells. Steady-state levels of both of these species were elevated by IFN-gamma at doses consistent with many IFN-gamma-induced macrophage functional responses. ICSBP mRNA levels increased within 1 h of IFN-gamma treatment, peaked between 4 and 6 h, and subsequently declined to approach baseline levels by approximately 24 h. IFN-alpha, at a concentration shown previously to modulate macrophage surface markers and functions, had no effect on ICSBP message levels alone, but antagonized the IFN-gamma-induction of ICSBP mRNA. IFN-gamma-induction of ICSBP mRNA is resistant to cycloheximide but sensitive to protein kinase inhibitors (H7, H8, HA-1004, staurosporine) at doses that suggest that protein kinase C is a likely target. ICSBP mRNA induction is also inhibited by dexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid, well known as an anti-inflammatory drug capable of influencing gene expression in macrophages. The characterization of ICSBP mRNA regulation should help identify functions for this putative IFN trans-acting factor in macrophage activation.