Interleukin (IL)-2 activation of p21ras in murine myeloid cells transfected with human IL-2 receptor beta chain.

The T cell growth factor interleukin-2 (IL-2) induces p21ras activation in T lymphocytes. To determine whether the IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) can regulate p21ras when expressed in a non-T cell environment we have examined the ability of IL-2 to activate p21ras in 32D murine myeloid progenitor cells transduced with human IL-2R beta chains. These cells are denoted beta 53 cells. 32D cells normally proliferate in response to IL-3 but the expression of the IL-2R beta chain confers IL-2 responsiveness to the cells. Our data show that IL-3 is able to activate p21ras in the parental 32D cells and both IL-2 and IL-3 can stimulate p21ras in the IL-2R-expressing beta 53 clone of 32D. In T lymphocytes, activation of protein kinase C (PKC) with phorbol esters is sufficient to stimulate p21ras. However, in 32D and beta 53 cells activation of PKC with phorbol esters does not result in p21ras activation even though these cells express functional PKC. It appears, therefore, that a PKC-mediated pathway for p21ras regulation exists in T lymphocytes but not in 32D cells. The IL-2R can couple to p21ras independently of the concomitant presence of the PKC pathway for p21ras regulation. These data imply that multiple intracellular mechanisms may exist to regulate p21ras and that cells of different lineages may differ with regard to p21ras regulation.     

细胞外信号调节激酶在TPPB促进PC12产生可溶性淀粉样前体蛋白中的作用

目的：观察在蛋白激酶C(PKC)激动剂TPPB促进可溶性淀粉样前体蛋白(sAPPα)释放过程中参与的信号转导通路。方法:以1 μmol/L的TPPB作用于PC12细胞3 h，同时加入信号转导通路的抑制剂，Western印迹法检测上清液内sAPPα的含量和细胞外信号调节激酶(p42/44MAPK)及磷酸化的p42/44MAPK的表达。结果:1 μmol/L的TPPB作用于PC12细胞3 h可以显著增加上清液内sAPPα的含量，细胞外信号调节激酶抑制剂U0126、c-Jun氨基末端激酶抑制剂SP600125和蛋白酪氨酸激酶抑制剂genistein可以部分消除此作用；而p38MAPK抑制剂SB203580对sAPPα的含量无显著影响。1 μmol/L的TPPB可以使磷酸化的p42/44MAPK表达增加，而对总的p42/44MAPK无显著影响。结论:细胞外信号调节激酶、c-Jun氨基末端激酶和蛋白酪氨酸激酶可能参与TPPB促进sAPPα生成的过程。     

Mechanisms of H4/ICOS costimulation: effects on proximal TCR signals and MAP kinase pathways

H4/ICOS is a costimulatory molecule related to CD28. Its effects on early TCR signals have been analyzed in mouse CD4(+) Th2 cells, expressing H4/ICOS at higher levels than Th1 clones. Anti-H4/ICOS antibodies strongly enhanced CD3-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of ZAP-70, zeta, or Vav, as well as extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAP kinase activation in these cells. The association of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI-3K) to H4/ICOS was enhanced by H4/ICOS cross-linking, and PI-3K inhibitors inhibited ERK and JNK activation and IL-4/IL-10 secretion, but not p38 MAP kinase or ZAP-70 activation. H4/ICOS-mediated activation of JNK, but not ERK or p38, is partially dependent on the expression of CD4 by the cells, whereas H4/ICOS costimulation is partially independent on CD28 expression. Cytochalasin D, an inhibitor of actin polymerization, inhibited ZAP-70, MAP kinase activation, or IL-4/IL-10 secretion. Neither cyclosporin A nor inhibitors of PKC produced detectable inhibition of ZAP-70 phosphorylation or MAP kinase activation in these Th2 cells. Cyclosporin A strongly inhibited IL-4, but not IL-10 secretion. ERK or JNKinhibitors partially inhibited IL-4 and IL-10 secretion, while PKC or p38 inhibitors had no significant effects on IL-4 or IL-10 secretion. Taken together, our data show clear similarities of costimulation mechanisms between H4/ICOS and CD28 during the early steps of TCR activation.     

Molecular mechanisms of lipopolysaccharide-induced cyclooxygenase-2 expression in human neutrophils: involvement of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway and regulation by anti-inflammatory cytokines

Neutrophils are an important cellular source of proinflammatory mediators, whose regulation may be of potential benefit for the treatment of a number of inflammatory diseases. However, the mechanisms of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neutrophil activation and its regulation by anti-inflammatory cytokines have not yet been fully elucidated. Recent studies have revealed that mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) play a crucial role in the generation of proinflammatory mediators in some cell types. Therefore, we conducted this study to determine whether MAPK activation could be involved in prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) production and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression in LPS-stimulated human neutrophils. PD98059 (MEK1 inhibitor) and SB203580 (p38(MAPK) inhibitor) reduced PGE(2) production as well as COX-2 expression in LPS-stimulated neutrophils. In addition, both extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) and p38(MAPK) were phosphorylated and activated in time- and dose-dependent manners. Since we previously showed that IL-10 and IL-4 similarly inhibited COX-2 expression in LPS-stimulated neutrophils, we next tested the effects of IL-10 and IL-4 on the phosphorylation and activation of both kinases. IL-10 inhibited the phosphorylation and activation of p38(MAPK), but not ERK. In addition, IL-4 caused a marginal inhibition in the activation of p38(MAPK). Taken together, these results suggest that both ERK and p38(MAPK) pathways are involved in LPS-induced COX-2 expression and PGE(2) production in neutrophils, and IL-10 and IL-4 inhibit neutrophil prostanoid synthesis by down-regulating the activation of p38(MAPK).     

Differential activation of T cell cytokine production by the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway

Stimulation of T cells via the T cell receptor (TCR) activates a number of signaling pathways that are potentially involved in the elicitation of physiological responses, such as the production of cytokines. The extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) are a group of molecules activated in response to TCR ligation, whose role in T cell cytokine production is controversial. In this study, we have asked whether ERK activation is coupled to the production of a number of T cell-derived cytokines, and whether particular cytokines are differentially affected by ERK activation. To address these questions, we have utilized a constitutively active version of the immediate upstream activator of both ERK1 and ERK2, mitogen-activated/extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (MEK1), to activate ERK signaling selectively in the absence of other TCR-activated signaling pathways. The effect of constitutive MEK/ERK activation on T cell cytokine production was measured by transiently co-transfecting newly activated mouse T cells with DNA encoding constitutively active MEK1 (CA-MEK1) and the human interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor α chain (hCD25), purifying hCD25⁺ transfectants by flow-cytometric cell sorting, and measuring the production of IL-3, IL-4, interferon (IFN)-γ and granulocyte/macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) either in the presence or absence of ionomycin stimulation. Newly activated T cells were used in these experiments as they more closely resemble T cells activated in vivo than do transformed T cells or long-term established T cell clones. CA-MEK1 expression led to constitutive ERK activation, which acted synergystically with ionomycin treatment to stimulate cytokine production. Furthermore, these experiments revealed a hierarchy of cytokine responsiveness to MEK/ERK activation, such that the production of IL-3 was most affected, followed by GM-CSF, IFN-γ, and IL-4.     

Synergy of tumor necrosis factor with protein kinase C activators on T cell activation

The ability of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha to activate T lymphocytes in combination with other stimuli has been studied. TNF was strongly co-mitogenic with low doses of anti-CD3 antibodies or phorbol esters (those which are strong activators of protein kinase C, PKC) but poorly with phytohemagglutinin or concanavalin A. No synergism was seen with the calcium ionophore A23187. TNF was co-mitogenic with several phorbol esters known to activate PKC but was uneffective with inactive phorbol esters such as methyl-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. Furthermore, H-7 a known inhibitor of PKC, inhibited the proliferative response of T cells induced by esters plus TNF. This effect took place at low doses of TNF and was also observed with purified T lymphocytes indicating that the effect of TNF was not dependent on accessory cells. This proliferative effect of TNF was inhibited by an anti-interleukin 2 receptor (IL2R) antibody, MAR 108, which blocks IL2 binding to its receptor. Although PKC activation induced CD25 (IL2R) expression but very little IL2 synthesis, TNF did not synergize by augmenting the synthesis of this lymphokine in peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated with phorbol esters. By contrast, TNF strongly increased the membrane level of CD25 and to a lesser extent that of the activation antigen, 4F2, over the levels already induced by phorbol esters on T cells. More interestingly, TNF significantly increased the number of high-affinity IL2R on purified T cells in the presence of phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate. Our results indicate that TNF is co-mitogenic with those stimuli which strongly activate PKC and suggest that TNF may play a role on T cell activation increasing the number of effective IL2/IL2R interactions when these are limiting.     

Protein tyrosine kinases couple the interleukin-2 receptor to p21ras

The T cell growth factor interleukin-2 (IL-2) induces p21^ras activation in T lymphocytes. We have previously shown that a protein kinase C (PKC)-mediated pathway for p21^ras regulation exists in T cells and that the IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) can couple to p21^ras independently of the presence of the PKC pathway for p21^ras regulation. Our data show that in conditions where cellular protein tyrosine kinases (PTK) were efficiently down-regulated by pretreatment with the specific PTK inhibitor herbimycin, the IL-2-induced activation of p21^ras was blocked. Herbimycin did not inhibit the PKC-mediated pathway for p21^ras regulation. Thus, the data indicate that PTK are involved in the coupling of the IL-2R to p21^ras.     

The p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade is involved in the induction and maintenance of astrocyte stellation mediated by protein kinase C

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is known to be involved in the differentiation of various types of cells. To understand the role of p44/42 MAPK (ERK1/2) in astrocyte differentiation, we investigated the effects of U0126 and PD98059, specific inhibitors of the MAPK-activating enzyme MEK, on astrocyte morphology in culture. Cultured rat cortical astrocytes exhibited flattened, polygonal morphology in the absence of stimulation, but differentiated into process-bearing stellate cells in response to the membrane-permeable cyclic AMP analog dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dBcAMP) or the protein kinase C (PKC) activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). dBcAMP-induced astrocyte stellation was not affected by MEK inhibitors, while PMA-induced astrocyte stellation was significantly blocked by U0126 (0.1-10 microM) and PD98059 (10-30 microM). Western blot analysis with an antibody specific for phosphorylated ERK1/2 revealed that PMA, but not dBcAMP, induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. The PMA-induced astrocyte stellation and ERK1/2 phosphorylation were blocked by specific PKC inhibitors, GF-109203X (0.01-1 microM) and calphostin C (1 microM). In addition, when U0126 or PD98059 was added after treatment with PMA, stellate astrocytes returned to polygonal. These results suggest that the MEK/ERK cascade is involved in the induction and maintenance of astrocyte stellation mediated by PKC, but not by cyclic AMP signaling.     

Histamine H1 receptor-stimulated interleukin 8 and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor production by bronchial epithelial cells requires extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling via protein kinase C

BACKGROUND: Histamine stimulates the release of several cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-8 and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor, from bronchial epithelial cells. However, the functional individual histamine receptor subtype and intracellular signaling in bronchial epithelial cells are poorly defined. METHODS: Using human primary epithelial cells and the NCI-H292 cell line, we examined the expression of histamine receptor subtypes and histamine-induced second messenger. We also evaluated the involvements of mitogen-activated protein kinase, protein kinase C (PKC) and epidermal growth factor receptor in cytokine expression caused by histamine. RESULTS: Histamine H1 receptor (H1R) was the only subtype expressed in both types of cells. Histamine elevated intracellular calcium ion without affecting cAMP levels. Histamine induced the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2. Histamine also phosphorylated PKC and myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate. Ro-31-8220, a PKC inhibitor, and PD98059, a mitogen-activated protein/ERK kinase inhibitor, suppressed the histamine-induced ERK activation and the production of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor and IL-8. On the contrary, histamine had no effect on the phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor, and its specific inhibitor AG1478 failed to inhibit the histamine-induced ERK activation. Olopatadine, an H1 antagonist, completely blocked the histamine-related responses, whereas H2 and H3 antagonists did not. Histamine also augmented the IL-8 production caused by IL-4 or tumor necrosis factor-alpha. CONCLUSIONS: The H1R-PKC-ERK pathway may play crucial roles in eliciting cytokine production from bronchial epithelial cells stimulated by histamine, leading to airway inflammation.     

Distinct roles of Ca2+, calmodulin, and protein kinase C in H2O2-induced activation of ERK1/2, p38 MAPK, and protein kinase B signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells

We have shown earlier that extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) and protein kinase B (PKB), two key mediators of growth-promoting and proliferative responses, are activated by hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) in A10 vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). In the present studies, using a series of pharmacological inhibitors, we explored the upstream mechanisms responsible for their activation in response to H(2)O(2). H(2)O(2) treatment of VSMC stimulated ERK1/2, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and PKB phosphorylation in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. BAPTA-AM and EGTA, chelators of intracellular and extracellular Ca(2+), respectively, inhibited H(2)O(2)-stimulated ERK1/2, p38 MAPK, and PKB phosphorylation. Fluphenazine, an antagonist of the Ca(2+)-binding protein calmodulin, also suppressed the enhanced phosphorylation of ERK1/2, p38 MAPK, and PKB. In contrast, the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors G? 6983 and R? 31-8220 attenuated H(2)O(2)-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation, but had no effect on p38 MAPK and PKB phosphorylation. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the activation of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent pathways represents a key component mediating the stimulatory action of H(2)O(2) on ERK1/2, p38 MAPK, and PKB phosphorylation. On the other hand, PKC appears to be an upstream modulator of the increased ERK1/2 phosphorylation, but not of p38 MAPK and PKB in response to H(2)O(2) in VSMC.     

Growth factor-dependent activation of the MAPK pathway in human pancreatic cancer: MEK/ERK and p38 MAP kinase interaction in uPA synthesis

Increased expression of the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) receptor (c-met) and urokinase type plasminogen (uPA) correlated with the development and metastasis of cancers. To investigate the role of HGF/c-met signaling on metastasis in cancer cells stimulated with HGF, we examined the effects of a specific MEK1 inhibitor (PD98059) and a p38 MAP kinase inhibitor (SB203580) on HGF-induced uPA expression in pancreatic cancer cell lines, L3.6PL and IMIM-PC2. Pretreatment of PD98059 decreased HGF-mediated phosphorylation of extracellular receptor kinase (ERK), uPA secretion and expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, SB203580 pretreatment increased HGF-stimulated ERK phosphorylation, uPA secretion and expression of MMPs. SB203580 also reversed the inhibition of HGF-mediated ERK activation and uPA secretion in the PD98059-pretreated cells. These results suggest that ERK activation by HGF might play important roles in the metastasis of pancreatic cancer and the p38 MAPK pathway also involved in the HGF-mediated uPA secretion and metastasis by regulation of ERK pathway. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor herbimycin A, but not genistein, specifically inhibits signal transduction by the T cell antigen receptor.

Several lines of evidence implicate a regulatory tyrosine phosphorylation in the activation of phospholipase C (PLC) by the T cell antigen receptor (TCR). These include studies using inhibitors of protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs). In Jurkat T cells expressing the heterologous human muscarinic receptor (HM1), PLC activity can be induced by either the TCR or HM1. HM1 activates PLC via a guanine nucleotide binding protein. We have studied the selectivity of the effects of the PTK inhibitors, herbimycin A and genistein, in this system. The results indicate that these inhibitors have different mechanisms of action, and suggest that herbimycin A, but not genistein, is a specific inhibitor of PTKs in T cells. Herbimycin A markedly inhibited both the resting and induced levels of phosphotyrosine-containing proteins, including the gamma 1 isozyme of PLC and the zeta chain of the TCR, and prevented activation of PLC by anti-TCR mAb. Herbimycin A did not inhibit activation of PLC by HM1. Genistein had a much less pronounced effect than herbimycin A on the appearance of tyrosine phosphoproteins. Moreover, genistein inhibited activation of PLC by both the TCR and HM1, and inhibition was only partial. Genistein was cytotoxic and markedly inhibited protein synthesis in both Jurkat cells and human peripheral lymphocytes. Herbimycin A was not cytotoxic. These findings confirm the role of a regulatory tyrosine phosphorylation in activation of PLC by the TCR. Herbimycin A was a selective inhibitor of a subclass of PTKs in Jurkat cells. In contrast, inhibition of signal transduction and later events in T cells by genistein may be due to effects other than direct inhibition of PTK activity.     

Protein kinase C-activating phorbol esters augment expression of T cell receptor genes

Tumor-promoting phorbol esters (PE) can modulate cellular functions and cell surface determinant expression in a variety of cell types, including T lymphocytes, presumably by activating the enzyme, protein kinase C (PKC). To examine whether PKC might be involved in regulating the expression of genes encoding the antigen-specific T cell receptor (TCR), we cultured the murine thymoma line, EL4, in the presence of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) and analyzed the expression of TCR alpha or beta-chain genes by Northern blots. TPA stimulation of an interleukin 2 (IL 2)-producing variant, EL4+, induced a 3-4-fold increase in TCR beta, but not alpha, chain mRNA. Maximal increase was obtained with 3 ng/ml TPA and 12 h of stimulation. This effect appeared related to PKC activation because other tumor-promoting PE known to be PKC activators, but not inactive PE, induced the same increase. TPA stimulation of EL4+ cells also induced de novo expression of the IL 2 gene and subsequent secretion of this lymphokine. However, the increased expression of the TCR beta-chain gene and the induction of the IL 2 gene were not linked since expression of TCR beta-chain mRNA was increased to a similar degree in EL4+ and IL 2-nonproducing EL4- sublines, and cyclosporin A selectively blocked TPA-induced IL 2-gene expression in EL4+ cells without affecting the increase in TCR beta-chain mRNA. These findings suggest that PKC activation, an event that supposedly occurs after antigen-mediated triggering of the TCR, can regulate the expression of at least some of the genes encoding this receptor.     

Activation of protein kinase C attenuates early signals in Fas-mediated apoptosis

Activation of protein kinase C (PKC) has been reported to inhibit Fas (APO-1, CD95)-mediated apoptosis in different cellular systems. Human Jurkat leukemic T cells express the Fas antigen in the cell membrane and undergo apoptosis upon cross-linking by anti-Fas monoclonal antibodies (mAb). Cleavage of the apoptosis-associated protease CPP32 and its substrate poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase are observed after the engagement of Fas antigen with mAb. In this report, we show that all these effects are substantially inhibited by the activation of PKC with a phorbol ester. Bisindolylmaleimide, an inhibitor of PKC, prevents phorbol ester-induced down-regulation of Fas signaling. Inhibition of Fas-mediated cell death by phorbol ester is also observed in other human leukemic T cell lines. Cross-linking of Fas antigen by mAb results in the rapid increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of several protein substrates which is further elevated in the presence of the protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, orthovanadate. Furthermore, orthovanadate markedly enhances the cell death response to Fas mAb in different human leukemic T cell lines and human T cell blasts. These effects of orthovanadate on early tyrosine phosphorylation and cell death are clearly diminished by PKC activation. These results strongly suggest that tyrosine phosphorylation is involved in Fas signaling in apoptosis and that PKC plays a negative role in Fas-mediated apoptosis by counteracting at a very early stage the signals generated following cross-linking of this receptor.     

CD19 signal transduction in normal human B cells: linkage to downstream pathways requires phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, protein kinase C and Ca2+

CD19 is required for normal antibody responses in mice. We have shown that CD19 enhances the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 2 by membrane (m) IgM but otherwise little is known of CD19 signaling in primary human cells. We now ask which pathways link CD19 with ERK2 in human tonsillar B cells. In analyses of signaling intermediates, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor wortmannin partially suppressed the release of Ca2+ induced by coligation of CD19 and mIgM but the selective PKC inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide I (BIM-I) did not. The Ca2+ chelator 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid, BIM-I and wortmannin each had only a small effect on ERK2 activation induced by surface IgM alone but blocked the enhancement of that activation by CD1 9/mIgM coligation. To analyze the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade, we measured activation of Raf, MAPK- or ERK kinase (MEK) 1 and ERK2. CD19 consistently enhanced activation of ERK2 and MEK1. However, synergistic activation of Raf was variably observed. In subpopulation analyses, synergistic activation of Raf1 was consistently observed in the IgDlow but not in the IgDhigh cells. Thus, in normal human B cells, PI3K is upstream of the Ca2+ response while PI3K, Ca2+ release and protein kinase C are all required for ERK2 activation, and CD19 enhances the MAPK cascade at multiple levels, depending on the state of differentiation.