The interaction of oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) and macrophages is generally believed to be a significant inductive step in atherogenesis. Endocytosis of ox-LDL by scavenger receptors (SR) on macrophages is one result of this interaction, as is suppressed expression of several lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated, inflammatory genes such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Events subsequent to SR ligation, including intracellular signaling events if any, have not been established. We report here that ox-LDL initiates rapid hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate 2 (PIP2) and intracellular fluxes of Ca2+ in macrophages, both of which are sensitive to pertussis toxin. ox-LDL also suppresses the LPS-induced binding of macrophage extracts to an NF kappa B sequence oligonucleotide and the LPS-initiated accumulation of RNA specific for TNF-alpha. These latter two effects are pertussis toxin-sensitive. Ligation of SR by ox-LDL thus initiates a pertussis toxin-sensitive signaling pathway in macrophages, which involves hydrolysis of PIP2 and which can suppress expression of the TNF-alpha gene by modulating activation of NF kappa B.