p38 but not p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase is required for nitric oxide synthase induction mediated by lipopolysaccharide in RAW 264.7 macrophages.
(9/7444)
Protein kinase C (PKC)-alpha, -betaI, and -delta are known to be involved in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 macrophages. The role of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) p44/42 and p38 in the LPS effect was studied further. LPS-mediated NO release and the inducible form of NO synthase expression were inhibited by the p38 inhibitor, SB 203580, but not by the MAPK kinase inhibitor, PD 98059. Ten-minute treatment of cells with LPS resulted in the activation of p44/42 MAPK, p38, and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase. Marked or slight activation, respectively, of p44/42 MAPK or p38 was also seen after 10-min treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, but c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase activation did not occur. Tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genestein, attenuated the LPS-induced activation of both p44/42 MAPK and p38, whereas the PKC inhibitors, Ro 31-8220 and calphostin C, or long-term treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate resulted in inhibition of p44/42 MAPK activation, but had only a slight effect on p38 activation, indicating that LPS-mediated PKC activation resulted in the activation of p44/42 MAPK. Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB)-specific DNA-protein-binding activity in the nuclear extracts was enhanced by 10-min, 1-h, or 24-h treatment with LPS. Analysis of the proteins involved in NF-kappaB binding showed translocation of p65 from the cytosol to the nucleus after 10-min treatment with LPS. The onset of NF-kappaB activation correlated with the cytosolic degradation of both inhibitory proteins of NF-kappaB, IkappaB-alpha and IkappaB-beta. IkappaB-alpha was resynthesized rapidly after loss (1-h LPS treatment), whereas IkappaB-beta levels were not restored until after 24-h treatment. SB 203580 but not PD 98059 inhibited the LPS-induced stimulation of NF-kappaB DNA-protein binding. Thus, activation of p38 but not p44/42 MAPK by LPS resulted in the stimulation of NF-kappaB-specific DNA-protein binding and the subsequent expression of inducible form of NO synthase and NO release in RAW 264.7 macrophages. (+info)
Signal transduction triggered by lipid A-like molecules in 70Z/3 pre-B lymphocyte tumor cells.
(10/7444)
The lipid A (endotoxin) moiety of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) elicits rapid cellular responses from many cell types, including macrophages, lymphocytes, and monocytes. In CD14 transfected 70Z/3 pre-B lymphocyte tumor cells, these responses include activation of the MAP kinase homolog, p38, activation of NF-kappaB, and transcription of kappa light chains, leading to the assembly of surface IgM. In this work, we explored the specificity of the response with regard to lipid structure, and the requirement for p38 kinase activity prior to NF-kappaB activation in control and CD14 transfected 70Z/3 (CD14-70Z/3) cells. A p38-specific inhibitor, SB203580, was used to block p38 kinase activity in cells. CD14-70Z/3 cells were incubated with 1-50 microM SB203580, and then stimulated with LPS. Nuclear extracts were prepared, and NF-kappaB activation was measured using an electrophoretic mobility shift assay. SB203580 did not inhibit LPS induced NF-kappaB activation. In addition, LPS failed to activate p38 tyrosine phosphorylation in 70Z/3 cells lacking CD14, in spite of rapid NF-kappaB activation and robust surface IgM production with appropriate higher doses of LPS. LPS stimulation of p38 phosphorylation, NF-kappaB activation, and surface IgM expression were all blocked completely by lipid A-like endotoxin antagonists whether or not CD14 was present. Acidic glycerophospholipids and ceramides did not mimic lipid A-like molecules either as agonists or antagonists in this system. Our data support the hypothesis that lipid A-mediated activation of cells requires stimulation of a putative lipid A sensor that is downstream of CD14, but upstream of p38 and NF-kappaB. (+info)
pp60(v-src) induction of cyclin D1 requires collaborative interactions between the extracellular signal-regulated kinase, p38, and Jun kinase pathways. A role for cAMP response element-binding protein and activating transcription factor-2 in pp60(v-src) signaling in breast cancer cells.
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The cyclin D1 gene is overexpressed in breast tumors and encodes a regulatory subunit of cyclin-dependent kinases that phosphorylate the retinoblastoma protein. pp60(c-src) activity is frequently increased in breast tumors; however, the mechanisms governing pp60(c-src) regulation of the cell cycle in breast epithelium are poorly understood. In these studies, pp60(v-src) induced cyclin D1 protein levels and promoter activity (48-fold) in MCF7 cells. Cyclin D1-associated kinase activity and protein levels were increased in mammary tumors from murine mammary tumor virus-pp60(c-src527F) transgenic mice. Optimal induction of cyclin D1 by pp60(v-src) involved the extracellular signal-regulated kinase, p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase family. Cyclin D1 promoter activation by pp60(v-src) involved a cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB)/activating transcription factor 2 (ATF-2) binding site. Dominant negative mutants of CREB and ATF-2 but not c-Jun inhibited pp60(v-src) induction of cyclin D1. pp60(v-src) induction of CREB was blocked by the p38 inhibitor SB203580 or by mutation of CREB at Ser133. pp60(v-src) induction of ATF-2 was abolished by the c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitor JNK-interacting protein-1 or by mutation of ATF-2 at Thr69 and Thr71. CREB and ATF-2, which bind to a common pp60(v-src) response element, are transcriptionally activated by distinct mitogen-activated protein kinases. Induction of cyclin D1 activity by pp60(v-src) may contribute to breast tumorigenesis through phosphorylation and inactivation of the retinoblastoma protein. (+info)
Role of interleukin (IL)-2 receptor beta-chain subdomains and Shc in p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase and p54 MAP kinase (stress-activated protein Kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase) activation. IL-2-driven proliferation is independent of p38 and p54 MAP kinase activation.
(12/7444)
We have shown recently that interleukin (IL)-2 activates the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase family members p38 (HOG1/stress-activated protein kinase II) and p54 (c-Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase I). Furthermore, the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor SB203580 inhibited IL-2-driven T cell proliferation, suggesting that p38 MAP kinase might be involved in mediating proliferative signals. In this study, using transfected BA/F3 cell lines, it is shown that both the acidic domain and the membrane-proximal serine-rich region of the IL-2Rbeta chain are required for p38 and p54 MAP kinase activation and that, as for p42/44 MAP kinase, this activation requires the Tyr338 residue of the acidic domain, the binding site for Shc. It is well established that the acidic domain of the IL-2Rbeta chain is dispensable for IL-2-driven proliferation, and thus our observations suggest that neither p38 nor p54 MAP kinase activation is required for IL-2-driven proliferation of BA/F3 cells. In addition, the tetravalent guanylhydrazone inhibitor of proinflammatory cytokine production, CNI-1493, can block the activation of p54 and p38 MAP kinases by IL-2 but has no effect on IL-2-driven proliferation of BA/F3 cells, activated primary T cells, or a cytotoxic T cell line. Furthermore, our observations provide evidence for the existence of an additional, unknown target of the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor SB203580, the activation of which is essential for mitogenic signaling by IL-2. (+info)
Specific inhibitors of p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways block inducible nitric oxide synthase and tumor necrosis factor accumulation in murine macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma.
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Whether p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades are required for inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) accumulation in RAW 264.7 murine macrophages exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma) was investigated. By use of Western blotting for iNOS detection and ELISA for quantitation of TNF secretion, three selective inhibitors of these pathways were tested (the p38 inhibitors SB202190 and SB203580 and the MEK 1,2/ERK inhibitor PD98059). Dose-related inhibition of iNOS production was demonstrated when inhibitors were added 1 h before, simultaneously with, or 1 h after LPS plus rIFN-gamma stimulation. In contrast, inhibition of TNF secretion was observed only when cells were preincubated with these agents. Thus, both the p38 and ERK pathways are involved in the up-regulation of iNOS and TNF production by murine macrophages, and specific inhibitors of these pathways block macrophage iNOS production even when added 1 h after activation of these cells. (+info)
Deficiency of the hematopoietic cell-specific Rho family GTPase Rac2 is characterized by abnormalities in neutrophil function and host defense.
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In mammals, the Rho family GTPase Rac2 is restricted in expression to hematopoietic cells, where it is coexpressed with Rac1. Rac2-deficient mice were created to define the physiological requirement for two near-identical Rac proteins in hematopoietic cells. rac2-/- neutrophils displayed significant defects in chemotaxis, in shear-dependent L-selectin-mediated capture on the endothelial substrate Glycam-1, and in both F-actin generation and p38 and, unexpectedly, p42/p44 MAP kinase activation induced by chemoattractants. Superoxide production by rac2-/- bone marrow neutrophils was significantly reduced compared to wild type, but it was normal in activated peritoneal exudate neutrophils. These defects were reflected in vivo by baseline neutrophilia, reduced inflammatory peritoneal exudate formation, and increased mortality when challenged with Aspergillus fumigatus. Rac2 is an essential regulator of multiple specialized neutrophil functions. (+info)
Regulation of Rb and E2F by signal transduction cascades: divergent effects of JNK1 and p38 kinases.
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The E2F transcription factor plays a major role in cell cycle regulation, differentiation and apoptosis, but it is not clear how it is regulated by non-mitogenic signaling cascades. Here we report that two kinases involved in signal transduction have opposite effects on E2F function: the stress-induced kinase JNK1 inhibits E2F1 activity whereas the related p38 kinase reverses Rb-mediated repression of E2F1. JNK1 phosphorylates E2F1 in vitro, and co-transfection of JNK1 reduces the DNA binding activity of E2F1; treatment of cells with TNFalpha had a similar effect. Fas stimulation of Jurkat cells is known to induce p38 kinase and we find a pronounced increase in Rb phosphorylation within 30 min of Fas stimulation. Phosphorylation of Rb correlated with a dissociation of E2F and increased transcriptional activity. The inactivation of Rb by Fas was blocked by SB203580, a p38-specific inhibitor, as well as a dominant-negative p38 construct; cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) inhibitors as well as dominant-negative cdks had no effect. These results suggest that Fas-mediated inactivation of Rb is mediated via the p38 kinase, independent of cdks. The Rb/E2F-mediated cell cycle regulatory pathway appears to be a normal target for non-mitogenic signaling cascades and could be involved in mediating the cellular effects of such signals. (+info)
Selective activation and functional significance of p38alpha mitogen-activated protein kinase in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated neutrophils.
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Activation of leukocytes by proinflammatory stimuli selectively initiates intracellular signal transduction via sequential phosphorylation of kinases. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation of human neutrophils is known to result in activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPk); however, the upstream activator(s) of p38 MAPk is unknown, and consequences of p38 MAPk activation remain largely undefined. We investigated the MAPk kinase (MKK) that activates p38 MAPk in response to LPS, the p38 MAPk isoforms that are activated as part of this pathway, and the functional responses affected by p38 MAPk activation. Although MKK3, MKK4, and MKK6 all activated p38 MAPk in experimental models, only MKK3 was found to activate recombinant p38 MAPk in LPS-treated neutrophils. Of p38 MAPk isoforms studied, only p38alpha and p38delta were detected in neutrophils. LPS stimulation selectively activated p38alpha. Specific inhibitors of p38alpha MAPk blocked LPS-induced adhesion, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation, and synthesis of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Inhibition of p38alpha MAPk resulted in a transient decrease in TNF-alpha mRNA accumulation but persistent loss of TNF-alpha synthesis. These findings support a pathway by which LPS stimulation of neutrophils results in activation of MKK3, which in turn activates p38alpha MAPk, ultimately regulating adhesion, NF-kappaB activation, enhanced gene expression of TNF-alpha, and regulation of TNF-alpha synthesis. (+info)