Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commerical Share Alike 3.0 License.-- et al.Cot/tpl2 is the only MAP3K that activates MKK1/2-Erk1/2 in Toll-like receptor-activated macrophages. Here we show that Cot/tpl2 regulates RSK, S6 ribosomal protein, and 4E-BP phosphorylation after stimulation of bone marrow-derived macrophages with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), poly I:C, or zymosan. The dissociation of the 4E-BP-eIF4E complex, a key event in the cap-dependent mRNA translation initiation, is dramatically reduced in LPS-stimulated Cot/tpl2-knockout (KO) macrophages versus LPS-stimulated wild-type (Wt) macrophages. Accordingly, after LPS activation, increased cap-dependent translation is observed in Wt macrophages but not in Cot/tpl2 KO macrophages. In agreement with these data, Cot/tpl2 increases the polysomal recruitment of the 5´ TOP eEF1α and eEF2 mRNAs, as well as of inflammatory mediator gene-encoding mRNAs, such as tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and KC in LPS-stimulated macrophages. In addition, Cot/tpl2 deficiency also reduces total TNFα, IL-6, and KC mRNA expression in LPS-stimulated macrophages, which is concomitant with a decrease in their mRNA half-lives. Macrophages require rapid fine control of translation to provide an accurate and not self-damaging response to host infection, and our data show that Cot/tpl2 controls inflammatory mediator gene-encoding mRNA translation in Toll-like receptor-activated macrophages.This work was supported by SAF 2011-24481 and Mutua Madrileña grants to S.A. and by FIS 2009-80145 and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid CM-CCG10-4911 grants to G.S. PD 0325901 was a gift from Philip Cohen, rapamycin was from Victor Calvo, and the biscitronic
pcDNA3rLuc-polIRESfLuc plasmid was generously provided by Alexey Benyumov. M.L.P. is a recipient of an FPU Fellowship from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. S.G. holds a research contract from the Ramón y Cajal Program of Spain.Peer reviewe