在Fas诱导Bel-7402细胞凋亡中p38MAPK调节Bcl-2的表达

目的:探讨p38MPAK是否参与Fas和AD诱导Bel-7402细胞的凋亡过程,以及p38MPAK和bcl-2的关系,进一步揭示p38MAPK的凋亡途径.方法:在Fas和AD作用24h后,用MTT法检测Bel-7402细胞的活力,用Western-blot和RT- PCR法检测p38MAPK,p-p38MAPK和Bcl-2 expression,用免疫荧光法对p-p38MAPK进行细胞定位.结果:随着Fas浓度的增加,Bel-7402细胞的活力明显抑制,p38MAPK和p-p38MAPK表达明显增高(P<0.01),且p-p38MAPK由胞质易位到胞核.Bcl-2的表达明显降低(P<0.01),并且这种降低趋势被p38MAPK抑制剂SB203580所阻止.结论:p38MAPK参与Fas诱导的凋亡途径,以磷酸化形式激活后抑制Bcl一2的表达,进而促进细胞凋亡.     

p38MAPK对大鼠肾小球系膜细胞表达COX-2的影响

目的 探讨p38丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（p38MAPK）和环氧化酶2（COX-2）的关系,从而研究p38MAPK和COX-2在糖尿病肾病（DN）中的作用机制.方法 分别以高葡萄糖、高胰岛素、过氧化氢和糖基化终产物孵育大鼠肾小球系膜细胞系HBZY-1;先以p38MAPK特异抑制剂SB203580预处理细胞系HBZY-1,再给予上述4种因素孵育细胞系HBZY-1,观察细胞系HBZY-1 p38MAPK和COX-2的表达.结果 高葡萄糖、高胰岛素、过氧化氢和糖基化终产物均可独立激活p38MAPK,使其磷酸化表达量增加,COX-2表达也明显增加;SB203580预处理后,COX-2表达被显著抑制.结论 p38MAPK调控COX-2的表达,表明p38MAPK是COX-2的上游激酶之一,p38MAPK和COX-2可能在DN的发生发展过程中起重要作用.     

p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and c-Jun-NH2-terminal kinase regulate interleukin-8 and RANTES production in hyperosmolarity stimulated human bronchial epithelial cells

OBJECTIVE: We have previously shown that p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) regulates, at least in part, hyperosmolarity induced interleukin (IL)-8 expression in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEC). In the previous study, hyperosmolarity also activated c-Jun-NH2-terminal kinase (JNK); however, the role of the JNK signalling pathway has not been determined. In the present study, we examined the role of the JNK signalling pathway in hyperosmolarity induced IL-8 and RANTES production by BEC using the novel inhibitor of the JNK signalling pathway CEP 11004 in order to clarify these issues. METHODS: Bronchial epithelial cells that had been pre-incubated with SB 203580, CEP 11004 or a combination of these were exposed to a hyperosmolar medium and then the p38 MAPK and JNK phosphorylation activity in these cells and IL-8 and RANTES concentrations in the culture supernatants were determined. RESULTS: The results showed that: (i) hyperosmolarity induced the threonine and tyrosine phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and JNK; (ii) SB 203580, as the specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK activity, and CEP 11004 attenuated hyperosmolarity induced p38 MAPK and JNK activity, respectively; (iii) SB 203580 and CEP 11004, but not PD 98059, partially attenuated IL-8 and RANTES production; and (iv) a combination of SB 203580 and CEP 11004 attenuated IL-8 and RANTES production in an additive fashion. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that p38 MAPK and the JNK pathway regulate hyperosmolarity induced IL-8 and RANTES production by BEC.     

p38丝裂原活化蛋白激酶抑制剂减少大鼠肝脏炎症细胞因子的表达

目的 观察p38丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(MAPK)抑制剂SB203580阻断p36 MAPK信号通路,减少脑死亡大鼠肝脏促炎细胞因子表达的作用.方法 雄性Wistar大鼠30只,体质量180～200 g,随机分3组,每组10只.脑死亡组:诱导大鼠及死亡;脑死亡+SB203580组:大鼠脑死亡诱导成功后,经阴茎背静脉注射SB203580(10 mg/kg);两组大鼠脑死亡诱导成功,行人工呼吸6 h后,若平均动脉压大于80 mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa),则为脑死亡供体,获取肝脏待检.对照组:正常大鼠麻醉后取肝脏待检.逆转录-聚合酶链反应检测肝脏肿瘤坏死因子(TNF)α和白细胞介素(IL)-1β的mRNA表达,Western blot检测肝脏TNF α和IL-1 β的蛋白质表达以及磷酸化p38 MAPK的表达.多个样本间比较行One-Way ANOVA分析,SNK法行两两样本间比较.结果 脑死亡组大鼠肝脏出现p38 MAPK磷酸化,磷酸化p38 MAPK的相对表达量比对照组明显增加(0.190±0.004比0.001±0.002),差异有统计学意义(q=172.53,P＜0.01);肝脏TNF α的mRNA和蛋白质表达量分别为0.670±0.012和0.240±0.003,较对照组(分别为0.130±0.013和0.001±0.002)明显增加(q值分别为123.99和243.09,P值均＜0.01);肝脏IL-1 β的mRNA和蛋白质表达量分别为0.560±0.009和0.190±0.003,较对照组(分别为0.160±0.010和0.001±0.002)明显增加(q值分别为135.35和192.23,P值均＜0.01).脑死亡SB203580组大鼠肝脏p38 MAPK磷酸化下降,磷酸化p38 MAPK的表达量(0.120±0.004)比脑死亡组明显下降(q=63.90,P＜0.05),但仍明显高于对照组(q=108.63,P＜0.01);肝脏TNF α的mRNA和蛋白质表达量分别为0.430±0.016和0.180±0.004,较脑死亡组明显下降(q值分别为55.11和61.03,P值均＜0.01),但仍高于对照组(q值分别为68.89和182.06,P值均＜0.01);肝脏IL-1β的mRNA和蛋白质表达量分别为0.270±0.009和0.140±0.004,较脑死亡组明显下降(q值分别为98.13和50.85,P值均＜0.01),但仍高于对照组(q值分别为37.22和141.38,P值均＜0.01).结论 SB203580能抑制p38 MAPK的磷酸化,阻断p38 MAPK信号通路,减少脑死亡大鼠肝脏促炎细胞因子表达,降低肝脏免疫原性.     

川芎嗪对哮喘小鼠p38蛋白激酶及类胰蛋白酶表达的影响

目的探讨川芎嗪对哮喘小鼠p38蛋白激酶（p38MAPK）及类胰蛋白酶表达的影响。方法将30只BALB/c小鼠随机分为3组：A组（对照组）、B组（哮喘组）及C组（川芎嗪组）,每组10只,采用鸡卵清蛋白（OVA）与免疫佐剂（氢氧化铝）腹腔注射致敏及用1%OVA生理盐水溶液雾化激发的方法制备哮喘小鼠模型,C组小鼠于每次激发前1 h腹腔注射川芎嗪（80mg/kg/d）,每天1次,持续5 d,A组腹腔注射等量生理盐水致敏及雾化吸入。行HE染色镜下观察各组肺组织病理改变,并采用免疫组织化学染色SP法半定量测定行肺组织中p38MAPK及类胰蛋白酶表达情况。结果 C组小鼠肺组织HE染色病理改变较B组有减轻,且免疫组化结果显示测定C组小鼠肺组织较B组p38MAPK及类胰蛋白酶MOD有降低（P〈0.05）。结论川芎嗪减轻哮喘气道炎症,部分机制可能是通过影响p38蛋白激酶信号通路及肥大细胞活化实现。     

Involvement of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in acquired gemcitabine-resistant human urothelial carcinoma sublines

Resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs is one of the major challenges in the treatment of cancer. A better understanding of how resistance arises and what molecular alterations correlate with resistance is the key to developing novel effective therapeutic strategies. To investigate the underlying mechanisms of gemcitabine (Gem) resistance and provide possible therapeutic options, three Gem-resistant urothelial carcinoma sublines were established (NG0.6, NG0.8, and NG1.0). These cells were cross-resistant to arabinofuranosyl cytidine and cisplatin, but sensitive to 5-fluorouracil. The resistant cells expressed lower values of [hENT1 × dCK/RRM1 × RRM2] mRNA ratio. Two adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette proteins ABCD1 as well as multidrug resistance protein 1 were elevated. Moreover, cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinases 2 and 4 were upregulated, whereas extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity were repressed significantly. Administration of p38 MAPK inhibitor significantly reduced the Gem sensitivity in NTUB1 cells, whereas that of an extracellular signal-regulated kinase MAPK inhibitor did not. Furthermore, the Gem-resistant sublines also exhibited higher migration ability. Forced expression of p38 MAPK impaired the cell migration activity and augmented Gem sensitivity in NG1.0 cells. Taken together, these results demonstrate that complex mechanisms were merged in acquiring Gem resistance and provide information that can be important for developing therapeutic targets for treating Gem-resistant tumors.     

IL-1β activates p44/42 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases via different pathways in cat esophageal smooth muscle cells

AIM: To examine the pathway related to the IL-1beta-induced activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases in cat esophageal smooth muscle cells. METHODS: Culture of the esophageal smooth muscle cells from cat was prepared. Specific inhibitors were treated before applying the IL-1beta. Western blot analysis was performed to detect the expressions of COX, iNOS and MAP kinases. RESULTS: In the primary cultured cells, although IL-1beta failed to upregulate the COX and iNOS levels, the levels of the phosphorylated forms of p44/42 MAP kinase and p38 MAP kinase increased in both concentration- and time-dependent manner, of which the level of activation reached a maximum within 3 and 18 h, respectively. The pertussis toxin reduced the level of p44/42 MAP kinase phosphorylation. Tyrphostin 51 and genistein also inhibited this activation. Neomycin decreased the density of the p44/42 MAP kinase band to the basal level. Phosphokinase C (PKC) was found to play a mediating role in the IL-1beta-induced p44/42 MAP kinase activity. In contrast, the activation of p38 MAP kinase was inhibited only by a pretreatment with forskolin, and was unaffected by the other compounds. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, IL-1beta-induced p44/42 MAP kinase activation is mediated by the Gi protein, tyrosine kinase, phospholipase C (PLC) and PKC. The pathway for p38 MAP kinase phosphorylation is different from that of p44/42 MAP kinase, suggesting that it plays a different role in the cellular response to IL-1beta.     

The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway--a potential target for intervention in infarction, hypertrophy, and heart failure

The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38s) are stress-activated Ser/Thr kinases. Their activation has been associated with various pathological stressors in the heart. Activated p38 is implicated in a wide spectrum of cardiac pathologies, including hypertrophy, myocardial infarction, as well as systolic and diastolic heart failure. In this review, the specific contribution of different isoforms of p38 kinases to cardiac diseases as well as TAB-1-mediated non-canonical activation pathway are discussed as a rationale for inhibiting p38 activity to treat cardiac hypertrophy, ischemic injury, and heart failure. Finally, a summary of current clinical trials targeting p38 kinases in cardiovascular diseases is provided to highlight the potential promise as well as existing challenges of this therapeutic approach. This article is part of a special issue entitled “Key Signaling Molecules in Hypertrophy and Heart Failure.”     

The activation of p38alpha, and not p38beta, mitogen-activated protein kinase is required for ischemic preconditioning

Numerous studies show that pharmacological inhibition of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38s) before lethal ischemia prevents conditioning. However, these inhibitors have off-target effects and do not discriminate between the alpha and beta isoforms; the activation of which is thought to have diverse and perhaps opposing actions with p38α aggravating, and p38β reducing, myocardial injury. We adopted a chemical genetic approach using mice in which either the p38α (DRα) or p38β (DRβ) alleles were targeted to substitute the “gatekeeper” threonine residue for methionine, thereby preventing the binding of a pharmacological inhibitor, SB203580. Isolated, perfused wild-type (WT), DRα and DRβ mouse hearts underwent ischemic preconditioning with 4 cycles of 4 min ischemia/6 min reperfusion, with or without SB203580 (10 µM), followed by 30 min of global ischemia and 120 min of reperfusion. In WT and DRβ hearts, SB203580 completely abolished the reduction in myocardial infarction seen with preconditioning and also the phosphorylation of downstream substrates of p38. These effects of SB203580 were not seen in DRα hearts. Furthermore ischemic preconditioning occurred unaltered in p38β null hearts. Contrary to expectation the activation of p38α, and not p38β, is necessary for ischemic preconditioning. Since p38α is also the isoform that leads to lethal myocardial injury, it is unlikely that targeted therapeutic strategies to achieve isoform-selective inhibition will only prevent the harmful consequences of activation.     

IL-1β activates p44/42 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases via different pathways in cat esophageal smooth muscle cells

AIM: To examine the pathway related to the IL-1β-induced activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP)kinases in cat esophageal smooth muscle cells.METHODS: Culture of the esophageal smooth muscle cells from cat was prepared. Specific inhibitors were treated before applying the IL-1β. Western blot analysis was performed to detect the expressions of COX, iNOS and MAP kinases.RESULTS: In the primary cultured cells, although IL-1βfailed to upregulate the COX and iNOS levels, the levels of the phosphorylated forms of p44/42 MAP kinase and p38 MAP klnase increased in both concentration- and time-dependent manner, of which the level of activation reached a maximum within 3 and 18 h, respectively.The pertussis toxin reduced the level of p44/42 MAP kinase phosphorylation. Tyrphostin 51 and genistein also inhibited this activation. Neomycin decreased the density of the p44/42 MAP kinase band to the basal level.Phosphokinase C (PKC) was found to play a mediating role in the IL-1β-induced p44/42 MAP kinase activity.In contrast, the activation of p38 MAP kinase was inhibited only by a pretreatment with forskolin, and was unaffected by the other compounds.CONCLUSION: Based on these results, IL-1β-Induced p44/42 MAP kinase activation is mediated by the Gi protein, tyrosine kinase, phospholipase C (PLC) and PKC. The pathway for p38 MAP kinase phosphorylation is different from that of p44/42 MAP kinase, suggesting that it plays a different role in the cellular response to IL-1β.     

p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor LY2228820 enhances bortezomib-induced cytotoxicity and inhibits osteoclastogenesis in multiple myeloma; therapeutic implications

The interaction between multiple myeloma (MM) cells and the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment induces proliferation and survival of MM cells, as well as osteoclastogenesis. This study investigated the therapeutic potential of novel p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) inhibitor LY2228820 (LY) in MM. Although cytotoxicity against MM cell lines was modest, LY significantly enhanced the toxicity of bortezomib by down-regulating bortezomib-induced heat shock protein 27 phosphorylation. LY inhibited interleukin-6 secretion from long term cultured-BM stromal cells and BM mononuclear cells (BMMNCs) derived from MM patients in remission. LY also inhibited macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha secretion from patient MM cells and BMMNCs as well as normal CD14 positive osteoclast precursor cells. Moreover, LY significantly inhibited in vitro osteoclastogenesis from CD14 positive cells induced by macrophage-colony stimulating factor and soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand. Finally, LY also inhibited in vivo osteoclatogenesis in a severe combined immunodeficiency mouse model of human MM. These results suggest that LY represents a promising novel targeted approach to improve MM patient outcome both by enhancing the effect of bortezomib and by reducing osteoskeletal events.     

补体C1q肿瘤坏死因子相关蛋白1通过激活p38信号通路增加内皮细胞黏附

目的探讨补体C1q肿瘤坏死因子相关蛋白1(CTRP1)对人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVEC)黏附分子表达及黏附功能的影响及其分子机制。方法体外实验采用培养HUVEC和人单核细胞白血病细胞株THP-1细胞。(1)采用不同浓度rCTRP1(10、100、1 000μg/L)刺激HUVEC 24 h,用实时荧光定量PCR和Western blot分别检测血管细胞黏附分子1(VCAM-1)和细胞间黏附分子1(ICAM-1) m RNA和蛋白表达水平;(2)不同浓度rCTRP1(10、100、1 000μg/L)或TNF-α(10μg/L)分别刺激HUVEC 24 h,通过共孵育HUVEC和THP-1在倒置荧光显微镜下观察单个核细胞-内皮细胞黏附情况;(3)对照组:生理盐水和BSA(10μg)为阴性对照,TNF-α(3μg)为阳性对照;实验组:rCTRP1(3、10μg)分别腹腔注射小鼠,倒置显微镜下实时观察小鼠肠系膜上动脉中白细胞的滚动及黏附情况;(4) 1 000μg/L rCTRP1刺激HUVEC(15、30、60 min),采用Western blot检测p38、ERK、JNK、p65的磷酸化水平,应用SB203580抑制p38MAPK信号通路后,Western blot检测黏附分子VCAM-1、ICAM-1的蛋白表达。结果 (1)rCTRP1刺激HUVEC后,黏附分子VCAM-1和ICAM-1的m RNA和蛋白表达水平显著升高(P0.05),呈剂量依赖性,尤以ICAM-1明显;(2)体外实验:随着CTRP1刺激剂量增加,单个核细胞-内皮细胞黏附数显著增加,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);体内实验:小鼠腹腔注射rCTRP1后,血管内白细胞滚动速度显著下降,黏附在内皮的细胞数目显著增加,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05);(3) rCTRP1刺激HUVEC后p38和p65磷酸化水平显著增加,ERK、JNK磷酸化水平无明显变化,SB203580抑制p38MAPK信号通路后,rCTRP1诱导的VCAM-1和ICAM-1蛋白表达显著下降(P0.05)。结论 CTRP1诱导内皮细胞分泌VCAM-1和ICAM-1,增加内皮细胞黏附能力,其机制可能是通过激活p38MAPK信号通路。     

小檗碱对脂多糖诱导的COX-2表达的影响

目的:研究中药小檗碱对脂多糖(LPS)诱导的COX-2表达的影响。方法:取人外周静脉血分离及培养单个核细胞,分为3组:空白对照组、LPS组、LPS+小檗碱组。分别在培养后30 min,6 h,12 h,24 h提取细胞,行RT-PCR法测定COX-2 mRNA水平,Western blot法测定p38MAPK,p-p38MAPK,ERK,p-ERK及COX-2蛋白水平。同时加入选择性p38MAPK抑制剂(SB203580),以及特异性ERK抑制剂(PD098059)分别测定COX-2 mRNA及蛋白水平。结果:与空白对照组相比,LPS组COX-2 mRNA及蛋白表达明显增强(P<0.01)。与LPS组相比,LPS+小檗碱组COX-2 mRNA及蛋白表达明显抑制(P<0.05),且随着浓度增加,抑制作用更明显,在给药后12 h,小檗碱对COX-2抑制作用最强。与LPS组相比,LPS+小檗碱组P38MAPK活性水平差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。但是与LPS组相比,LPS+小檗碱组ERK活性水平差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。加入p38MAPK抑制剂以及ERK抑制剂之后,COX-2 mRNA及蛋白水平降低明显...     

p38丝裂原活化蛋白激酶对HBZY-1系膜细胞株表达NF-κB和MCP-1的调控

目的 探讨p38丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, p38MAPK)与NF-κB、单核细胞趋化蛋白1(monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, MCP-1)之间的关系,从而研究p38MAPK和NF-κB、MCP-1在糖尿病肾病中的作用机制.方法 分别以高葡萄糖、高胰岛素、H2O2和糖基化终产物孵育大鼠肾小球系膜细胞株HBZY-1;先以p38MAPK特异抑制剂SB203580预处理细胞株HBZY-1,再给予上述4种因素孵育细胞株HBZY-1,观察其p38MAPK和NF-κB、MCP-1的表达.结果 高葡萄糖、高胰岛素、H2O2和糖基化终产物均可独立激活p38MAPK,使其磷酸化表达量增加,NF-κB、MCP-1表达也明显增加;SB203580预处理后,NF-κB、MCP-1表达被显著抑制.结论 p38MAPK可能通过激活NF-κB、MCP-1而诱导糖尿病时肾脏的损害,p38MAPK和NF-κB、MCP-1在糖尿病肾病的发生发展过程中可能起重要作用.     

细小病毒H-1感染对有丝分裂原激活蛋白激酶信号传导相关基因表达的影响

目的 探讨具有选择性杀伤和抑制肿瘤细胞生长特性的细小病毒H－1所诱导的胃癌细胞死亡的信号传导通路及可能机制。方法 采用RT－PCR的方法，检测H－1病毒感染后胃癌细胞HGC27的有丝分裂原激活蛋白激酶（MAPK）信号传导途径相关基因在mRNA水平的表达改变。结果 MAPK信号传导相关基因的扩增结果显示：在H－1病毒感染HGC27细胞48h后，细胞CREB基因的表达明显增高，ERK1、STAT2、p38-γ、MEK2、β－RAF、MTK1基因的表达明显降低，而JNK2、ETS2、ERK2大mRNA水平的表达无明显改变。结论 细小病毒H－1的细胞毒作用可能与其影响胃癌细胞MAPK信号传导途径中相关基因的表达有关。即H－1病毒通过干预癌细胞信号传导的特定通路而诱导细胞死亡。由此我们认为，可修饰改造的细小病毒H－1，将是抗肿瘤研究中的一个非常有价值的工具。     

丝裂原激活蛋白激酶磷酸酶-1和p38在内膜损伤后血管平滑肌细胞表型转化过程中的表达变化

目的:观察动脉内膜损伤后血管平滑肌细胞(VSMC)表型转化和p38MAPK及丝裂原激活蛋白激酶磷酸酶-1(MKP-1)表达的动态变化。方法:分别用免疫组化、免疫印迹(Westernblot)和逆转录-聚合酶链反应方法检测假损伤组(S组)和损伤组损伤后不同时间点血管壁中增殖细胞核抗原(PCNA)、平滑肌α肌动蛋白(SMα-actin)、p38蛋白和MKP-1mRNA及蛋白表达的变化。结果:①S组中膜VSMC及内皮细胞PCNA为阴性表达;中膜于损伤后1~14d,新生内膜(NI)于5~14d阳性细胞率逐渐增加,28d后开始逐渐减少,NI阳性率高于中膜。②S组中膜SMα-actin表达为阳性,内皮为阴性;中膜阳性表达于损伤后1d开始减少,3d最为明显,5d后开始逐渐增加,NI阳性表达弱于中膜。③S组中膜p38呈阴性或弱阳性;损伤后1~35d呈持续高表达,NI阳性表达强于中膜。p38与PCNA表达变化呈正相关。④S组中膜MKP-1呈弱阳性或阳性表达;损伤后1d即开始下降,14~28d稍有回升,至35d仍未回到S组水平,NI阳性表达稍弱于中膜。MKP-1与PCNA表达变化呈负相关。结论:VSMC增殖能力与其表型转化密切相关,p38MAPK和MKP-1参与了损伤后VSMC表型转化的信号转导及其调节。     

Cardiac expression and subcellular localization of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase member, stress-activated protein kinase-3 (SAPK3)

Despite the interest in the roles that mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) play in the heart, the role of the different MAPK isoforms has been relatively poorly defined. A third isoform of p38 MAPK, known variously as stress-activated protein kinase-3 (SAPK3), p38- gamma or ERK6, has been previously shown to differ from p38- alpha/ beta both in its molecular weight and its lack of inhibition by the compound SB203580. We have generated monoclonal antibodies with specificity for SAPK3 demonstrated by immunoblot analysis, immunofluorescence studies, and cloning of SAPK3 from a rat heart cDNA expression library. By immunoblotting, we confirmed high expression of SAPK3 in fast, slow and mixed fibre types of murine skeletal muscle and observed significant expression restricted to heart, lung, thymus and testes. In addition to expression in normal heart (human, mouse, rat, dog and pig), we observed constant expression in diseased human heart, as well as control and hypertrophic cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. Immunolocalization in cultured cardiac myocytes followed by confocal microscopy showed punctate, non-nuclear SAPK3 staining. In contrast, p38- alpha/ beta staining was non-punctate and distributed throughout the cytosol and nucleus. Whereas treatment with Leptomycin B to prevent nuclear export processes promoted higher levels of p38- alpha/ beta staining in cardiac myocyte nuclei, there was no apparent change in SAPK3 localization under these conditions. These differences between p38- alpha/ beta and SAPK3 probably reflect the specialized functions of SAPK3 and emphasize the need to evaluate SAPK3 upstream activators and downstream targets in the heart.     

Cytokine-induced osteoprotegerin expression protects pancreatic beta cells through p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signalling against cell death

Aims/hypothesis Pro-inflammatory cytokines play a crucial role in immune-mediated beta cell destruction, an essential mechanism in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes mellitus. Microarray analysis recently identified osteoprotegerin (OPG; now known as tumour necrosis factor receptor superfamily, member 11b [TNFRSF11B]) as a cytokine-induced gene in beta cells. The aim of the present study was to characterise the functional role and signalling pathways of OPG that are involved in cytokine-induced beta cell death. Materials and methods As cellular models, the rat beta cell line INS-1E and human primary pancreatic islets were employed. The effects of IL-1β and TNF-α on OPG expression were characterised by northern blot and immunoassay. The effect of OPG on beta cell survival was assessed by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Signalling pathways were evaluated by western blot analysis using antibodies against p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2. Results The INS-1E cell line and primary pancreatic islets expressed OPG mRNA and secreted OPG protein, both of which were enhanced by IL-1β and TNF-α. Exposure to IL-1β resulted in sustained phosphorylation of p38 MAPK in INS-1E cells and subsequent cell death. Administration of exogenous OPG prevented both IL-1β-induced beta cell death and sustained p38 MAPK phosphorylation. Conclusions/interpretation Our data indicate that cytokine-induced production of OPG may protect beta cells from further damage. This protective effect is, at least in part, mediated through inhibition of p38 MAPK phosphorylation. Thus OPG is an autocrine or paracrine survival factor for beta cells.