*Article* **The Essential Role of Peptidylarginine Deiminases 2 for Cytokines Secretion, Apoptosis, and Cell Adhesion in Macrophage**

**Hui-Chun Yu 1, Chien-Hsueh Tung 1,2, Kuang-Yung Huang 1,2, Hsien-Bin Huang <sup>3</sup> and Ming-Chi Lu 1,2,\***


Received: 14 July 2020; Accepted: 8 August 2020; Published: 10 August 2020

**Abstract:** Objective: The study aims to investigate the functional roles of peptidylarginine deiminase 2 (PADI2) in macrophages. Methods: The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)–CRISPR-associated protein-9 nuclease (Cas9) system was used to knockout PADI2 in U937 cells. U937 cells were introduced to differentiate macrophages and were stimulated with lipopolysaccharides (LPS). The protein expression of PADI2, PADI4, and citrullinated proteins were analyzed by Western blotting. The mRNA and protein levels of interleukin 1 beta (*IL-1*β), *IL-6*, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (*TNF-*α) were analyzed using RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively. Cell apoptosis was analyzed using flow cytometry. Cell adhesion assay was performed using a commercially available fibrinogen-coated plate. Results: PADI2 knockout could markedly suppress the PADI2 protein expression, but not the PADI4 protein expression. PADI2 knockout decreased the protein levels of citrullinated nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) p65, but not those of citrullinated histone 3, resulting in the decreased mRNA expression levels of *IL-1*β and *TNF-*α in the U937 cells and *IL-1*β and *IL-6* in the differentiated macrophages and the macrophages stimulated with LPS. The cytokines levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were all dramatically decreased in the PADI2 knockout group compared with in the controls. PADI2 knockout prevented macrophages apoptosis via the decreased caspase-3, caspase-2, and caspase-9 activation. PADI2 knockout also impaired macrophages adhesion capacity through the decreased protein levels of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), phospho-FAK, paxillin, phospho-paxillin, and p21-activated kinase 1. Conclusion: This study showed that PADI2 could promote IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α production in macrophages, promote macrophage apoptosis through caspase-3, caspase-2, and caspase-9 activation and enhance cell adhesion via FAK, paxillin, and PAK1. Therefore, targeting PADI2 could be used as a novel strategy for controlling inflammation caused by macrophages.

**Keywords:** citrullination; macrophages; PADI2; inflammatory cytokines; adhesion; apoptosis
