Cutting edge: macrophage inhibition by cyclic AMP (cAMP): differential roles of protein kinase A and exchange protein directly activated by cAMP-1

cAMP has largely inhibitory effects on components of macrophage activation, yet downstream mechanisms involved in these effects remain incompletely defined. Elevation of cAMP in alveolar macrophages (AMs) suppresses FcgammaR-mediated phagocytosis. We now report that protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitors (H-89, KT-5720, and myristoylated PKA inhibitory peptide 14-22) failed to prevent this suppression in rat AMs. We identified the expression of the alternative cAMP target, exchange protein directly activated by cAMP-1 (Epac-1), in human and rat AMs. Using cAMP analogs that are highly specific for PKA (N6-benzoyladenosine-3',5'-cAMP) or Epac-1 (8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-2'-O-methyladenosine-3',5'-cAMP), we found that activation of Epac-1, but not PKA, dose-dependently suppressed phagocytosis. By contrast, activation of PKA, but not Epac-1, suppressed AM production of leukotriene B(4) and TNF-alpha, whereas stimulation of either PKA or Epac-1 inhibited AM bactericidal activity and H(2)O(2) production. These experiments now identify Epac-1 in primary macrophages, and define differential roles of Epac-1 vs PKA in the inhibitory effects of cAMP.