Free-fatty acid receptor-4 (FFA4) modulates ROS generation and COX-2 expression via the C-terminal β-arrestin phosphosensor in Raw 264.7 macrophages

Ameneh Cheshmehkani, Ilya S. Senatorov, Jyothi Dhuguru, Ola Ghoneim, Nader H. Moniri

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Agonism of the G protein-coupled free-fatty acid receptor-4 (FFA4) has been shown to promote numerous anti-inflammatory effects in macrophages that arise due to interaction with β-arrestin partner proteins. Humans express functionally distinct short and long FFA4 splice variants, such that FFA4-S signals through Gαq/11 and β-arrestin, while FFA4-L is intrinsically biased solely towards β-arrestin signaling. Recently, we and others have shown that phosphorylation of the FFA4 C-terminal tail is responsible for β-arrestin interactability and signaling. Given the significance of β-arrestin in the anti-inflammatory function of FFA4, the goal of this study was to examine the role of the C-terminal β-arrestin phosphosensor in FFA4 signaling induced by PMA and LPS in murine Raw 264.7 macrophages. Our data reveal for the first time that both FFA4 isoforms modulate PMA-induced ROS generation, and that abolishment of the FFA4-S, but not FFA4-L C-terminal phosphosensor, is detrimental to this effect. Furthermore, we show that while both isoforms reduce PMA-induced expression of COX-2, removal of the FFA4-S phosphosensor significantly decreases this response, suggesting that these effects of FFA4-S are β-arrestin mediated. On the contrary, FFA4-S, as well as the truncated C-terminal congener lacking the β-arrestin phosphosensor were both able to reduce LPS-induced NF-κB activity and ERK1/2 phosphorylation. However, FFA4-L and its corresponding mutant were incapable of modulating either, suggesting that these responses are mediated by G protein coupling. Taken together, our data reveal important structure-function and signaling differences between the two FFA4 isoforms, and for the first time link FFA4 to modulation of ROS in macrophages.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)139-150
Number of pages12
JournalBiochemical Pharmacology
Volume146
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 15 2017
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • COX-2
  • FFA4
  • Free-fatty acids
  • GPR120
  • Reactive oxygen species

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Pharmacology

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