p38丝裂原活化蛋白激酶信号转导对肿瘤细胞凋亡的调控

p38丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(p38MAPK)信号通路是丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(MAPK)家族的一条重要途径,可被多种细胞外刺激而激活,近年来研究发现在细胞凋亡中发挥重要作用.p38MAPK可通过活化半胱天冬氨酸蛋白酶(caspase)家族成员、调节Bcl-2家族成员的活性、活化p53、参与Fas-FasL通路等多种途径介导肿瘤细胞的凋亡过程.     

Anti-tumor effect of beta-elemene in glioblastoma cells depends on p38 MAPK activation

beta-Elemene, a natural plant drug extracted from Curcuma wenyujin, has been used as an antitumor drug for different tumors, including glioblastoma. However, the mechanism of its anti-tumor effect is largely unknown. Here we report that anti-proliferation of glioblastoma cells induced by beta-elemene was dependent on p38 MAPK activation. Treatment of glioblastoma cell lines with beta-elemene, led to phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, cell-cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase and inhibition of proliferation of these cells. Inhibition of p38 MAPK reversed beta-elemene-mediated anti-proliferation effect. Furthermore, the growth of glioblastoma cell-transplanted tumors in nude mice was inhibited by intraperitoneal injection of beta-elemene. Taken together, our findings indicate that activation of p38 MAPK is critical for the anti-proliferation effect of beta-elemene and that p38 MAPK might be a putative pharmacological target for glioblastoma therapy.     

MiR-125b acts as an oncogene in glioblastoma cells and inhibits cell apoptosis through p53 and p38MAPK-independent pathways

Background:

We have recently identified miR-125b upregulation in glioblastoma (GMB). The aim of this study is to determine the correlation between miR-125b expression and malignant grades of glioma and the genes targeted by miR-125b.

Methods:

Real-time PCR was employed to measure the expression level of miR-125b. Cell viability was evaluated by cell growth and colony formation in soft-agar assays. Cell apoptosis was determined by Hoechst 33342 staining and AnnexinV-FITC assay. The Luciferase assay was used to confirm the actual binding sites of p38MAPK mRNA. Western blot was used to detect the gene expression level.

Results:

The expression level of miR-125b is positively correlated with the malignant grade of glioma. Ectopic expression of miR-125b promotes the proliferation of GMB cells. Knockdown of endogenous miR-125b inhibits cell proliferation and promotes cell apoptosis. Further studies reveal that p53 is regulated by miR-125b. However, downregulation of the endogenous miR-125b also results in p53-independent apoptotic pathway leading to apoptosis in p53 mutated U251 cells and p53 knockdown U87 cells. Moreover, p38MAPK is also regulated by miR-125b and downregulation of miR-125b activates the p38MAPK-induced mitochondria apoptotic pathway.

Conclusion:

High-level expression of miR-125b is associated with poor outcomes of GMB. MiR-125b may have an oncogenic role in GMB cells by promoting cell proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis.     

p85β alters response to EGFR inhibitor in ovarian cancer through p38 MAPK-mediated regulation of DNA repair

EGFR signaling promotes ovarian cancer tumorigenesis, and high EGFR expression correlates with poor prognosis. However, EGFR inhibitors alone have demonstrated limited clinical benefit for ovarian cancer patients, owing partly to tumor resistance and the lack of predictive biomarkers. Cotargeting EGFR and the PI3K pathway has been previously shown to yield synergistic antitumor effects in ovarian cancer. Therefore, we reasoned that PI3K may affect cellular response to EGFR inhibition. In this study, we revealed PI3K isoform-specific effects on the sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells to the EGFR inhibitor erlotinib. Gene silencing of PIK3CA (p110α) and PIK3CB (p110β) rendered cells more susceptible to erlotinib. In contrast, low expression of PIK3R2 (p85β) was associated with erlotinib resistance. Depletion of PIK3R2, but not PIK3CA or PIK3CB, led to increased DNA damage and reduced level of the nonhomologous end joining DNA repair protein BRD4. Intriguingly, these defects in DNA repair were reversed upon erlotinib treatment, which caused activation and nuclear import of p38 MAPK to promote DNA repair with increased protein levels of 53BP1 and BRD4 and foci formation of 53BP1. Remarkably, inhibition of p38 MAPK or BRD4 re-sensitized PIK3R2-depleted cells to erlotinib. Collectively, these data suggest that p38 MAPK activation and the subsequent DNA repair serve as a resistance mechanism to EGFR inhibitor. Combined inhibition of EGFR and p38 MAPK or DNA repair may maximize the therapeutic potential of EGFR inhibitor in ovarian cancer.     

幽门螺杆菌对人胃癌MKN45细胞p38MAPK信号转导通路激活作用的研究

背景与目的: 环氧合酶2(cyelooxygenase-2,COX-2)是花生四烯酸转化为前列腺素(prostaglandins,PGs)代谢中重要的限速酶,幽门螺杆菌(Helicobacterpylori,Hp)感染诱导胃黏膜COX-2的过度表达是胃癌发生的重要环节,但Hp感染胃黏膜细胞COX-2表达的机制尚不清楚.本研究旨在揭示Hp对人胃癌MKN45细胞COX-2表达和p38MAPK信号通路的影响,探讨COX-2表达的可能机制.方法: 采用实时荧光定量PCR(real time-PCR)检测Hp标准株NCTC11637感染对人胃痛MKN45细胞COX-2 mRNA转录的影响,Western blot检测坳COX-2蛋白表达的影响和p38MAPK信号通路的激活及其下游因子ATF-2的表达.结果: Hp感染人胃癌MKN45细胞后,COX-2 mRNA的表达明显上调,Hp感染3、6、9、12 h后COX-2 mRNA的表达量分别为正常值的3倍、7.2倍、5.1倍和4.3倍,各时间组COX-2 mRNA表达均明显高于对照组(P＜0.01);Up与MKN45细胞共培养24 h后,COX-2蛋白的表达亦显著增加(P＜0.01).Hp感染MKN45 20 min后,p38MAPK信号通路被激活,60 min达峰值;p38MAPK下游因子ATF-2的表达也明显增加,2 h达高峰,随着作用时间的延长,表达逐渐下降,24 h仍有表达.结论: Hp感染能诱导人胃癌MKN45细胞COX-2的表达;激活p38MAPK信号通路,增加其下游因子ATF-2的表达,可能是其诱导COX-2表达的机制.     

p38MAPK 在结肠癌细胞凋亡中的作用及与COX-2 的关系

 目的 探讨结肠癌细胞p38MAPK介导celecoxib（COX-2选择性抑制剂）抗肿瘤的作用及与COX-2的关系。方法 用MTT法检测celecoxib对人结肠癌HT-29细胞生长的作用，用Western blot法测定各组细胞COX-2和Phosph—p38MAPK蛋白表达量，采用流式细胞术检测celecoxib和SB203580（p38MAPK特异性抑制剂）作用后HT-29细胞凋亡和细胞周期分布。结果 p38MAPK和COX-2蛋白表达量与对照组（0．23±0.12）（0.95±0．14）相比，celecoxib可使p38MAPK蛋白表达水平明显升高（0．62±0．11），而使COX-2蛋白表达水平降低（0、44±0．11）；SB203580使p38MAPK（0.12±0．05）及COX-2蛋白（0、23±0．13）表达水平均降低；SB203580和celecoxib共同作用后，p38MAPK表达量介于celecoxib和SB203580作用之间（0．43±0．12），COX-2表达量下降最为显著（0．15±0．10））。celecoxib和eeleeoxib＋SB203580均可显著诱导HT-29细胞凋亡（P〈0．01和P〈0．05），与对照纽（4．31％）相比，其凋亡率分别为40．95％、26．24％。结论 在HT29细胞中，celecoxib可通过活化p38MAPK而诱导结肠癌细胞凋亡，p38MAPK是COX-2的上游激酶，COX-2的表达水平受p38MAPK调控，并且COX-2可能对p38MAPK有负反馈调节作用。celecoxib是通过COX-2及其以外的p38MAPK通路诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡而发挥抗肿瘤作用的。     

p38 MAPK inhibits breast cancer metastasis through regulation of stromal expansion

p38 MAPK signaling controls cell growth, proliferation and the cell cycle under stress conditions. However, the function of p38 activation in tumor metastasis is still not well understood. We report that p38 activation in breast cancer cells inhibits tumor metastasis but does not substantially modulate primary tumor growth. Stable p38 knockdown in breast cancer cells suppressed NF‐κB p65 activation, inhibiting miR‐365 expression and resulting in increased IL‐6 secretion. The inhibitory effect of p38 signaling on metastasis was mediated by suppression of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) migration to the primary tumor and sites of metastasis, where MSCs can differentiate into cancer‐associated fibroblasts to promote tumor metastasis. The migration of MSCs to these sites relies on CXCR4‐SDF1 signaling in the tumor microenvironment. Analysis of human primary and metastatic breast cancer tumors showed that p38 activation was inversely associated with IL‐6 and vimentin expression. This study suggests that combination analysis of p38 MAPK and IL‐6 signaling in patients with breast cancer may improve prognosis and treatment of metastatic breast cancer.     

p38delta/MAPK13 as a diagnostic marker for cholangiocarcinoma and its involvement in cell motility and invasion

Cholangiocarcinoma (CC) and hepatocellularcarcinoma (HCC) are two main forms of liver malignancies, which exhibit differences in drug response and prognosis. Immunohistotochemical staining for cytokeratin markers has been used to some success in the differential diagnosis of CC from HCC. However, there remains a need for additional markers for increased sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis. In this study, we have identified a p38 MAP kinase, p38δ (also known as MAPK13 or SAPK4) as a protein that is upregulated in CC relative to HCC and to normal biliary tract tissues. We performed microarray gene expression profiling on 17 cases of CC, 12 cases of adjacent normal liver tissue, and three case of normal bile duct tissue. p38δ was upregulated in 16 out of 17 cases of CC relative to normal tissue. We subsequently performed immunohistochemical staining of p38δ in 54 cases of CC and 54 cases of HCC. p38δ staining distinguished CC from HCC with a sensitivity of 92.6% and a specificity of 90.7%. To explore the possible functional significance of p38δ expression in CC, we examined the effects of overexpression and knockdown of p38δ expression in human CC cell lines. Our results indicate that p38δ is important for motility and invasion of CC cells, suggesting that p38δ may play an important role in CC metastasis. In summary, p38δ may serve as a novel diagnostic marker for CC and may also serve as a new target for molecular based therapy of this disease.     

p38MAPK基因对人胶质瘤细胞BT325生长周期的影响

目的　研究 p3 8MAPK基因对人多形性胶质母细胞瘤BT3 2 5生长周期的影响。 方法　利用脂质体介导法将p3 8MAPK基因导入BT3 2 5细胞中 ,用免疫细胞化学染色和Western blot检测其在转染前后的表达情况 ,用HE染色、透射电镜和流式细胞仪等研究其对细胞形态和生长周期的影响。结果　pCMV 5 p3 8MAPK组p3 8MAPK蛋白表达阳性 ,细胞形态发生变化 ,G1%增多 ,而S %和G2 %减少 ,并出现凋亡峰。结论　p3 8MAPK基因可影响BT3 2 5细胞的生长周期 ,并诱导BT3 2 5细胞凋亡。     

p38 MAPK在喹乙醇诱导HepG2细胞凋亡中的作用

目的:研究p38 MAPK信号通路在喹乙醇诱导的HepG2细胞凋亡中的作用。方法:分别用不同浓度(0、200、400、800μg/ml)的喹乙醇染毒HepG2细胞24 h和800μg/ml喹乙醇染毒HepG2细胞不同时间(0、0.5、1、2、4、6、12、24 h)后,采用Westernblot法检测细胞内磷酸化p38蛋白和p38总蛋白的表达情况,以p38 MAPK磷酸化水平反映p38 MAPK信号通路的活性。分别采用0、10、20μmol/L的p38 MAPK特异性抑制剂SB203580预处理HepG2细胞1 h后,再用800μg/ml喹乙醇染毒24 h,采用Annexin VFITC/PI法检测细胞凋亡。结果:随着喹乙醇染毒浓度和时间的增加,HepG2细胞的p38磷酸化蛋白表达量逐步增加,其中800μg/ml喹乙醇染毒细胞24 h的实验组与对照组相比,p38磷酸化蛋白的表达量明显上调(P0.01)。10、20μmol/L的SB203580对喹乙醇诱导细胞凋亡有促进作用,细胞的凋亡率分别为35.4%±2.83%、40.2%±3.98%,较喹乙醇对照组(23.1%±3.59%)明显升高(P0.05)。结论:喹乙醇能激活p38 MAPK信号通路,且p38 MAPK信号通路的激活参与抑制喹乙醇介导的HepG2细胞凋亡的过程。     

p38MAPK在介导TNF-α诱导大鼠胶质瘤细胞凋亡中的作用

目的 :探讨p38MAPK在介导TNF α所致大鼠胶质瘤细胞C6凋亡中的作用。方法 :应用MTT法检测TNF α处理的C6细胞的增殖活性 ,采用透射电镜和流式细胞仪观察凋亡的发生 ,应用SABC法和Westernblot检测p38MAPK的表达 ,应用流式细胞仪及SABC法观察 p38MAPK特异性抑制剂SB2 0 2 1 90对TNF α诱导C6细胞凋亡的影响。结果 :TNF α(2× 1 0 5U/L)对C6细胞增殖的抑制率为 43 .75 % ,透射电镜下可见典型的凋亡细胞 ,流式细胞仪检测凋亡率为 37.5 % ,SABC法和Westernblot显示P38MAPK表达阳性 ;加入SB2 0 2 1 90后 ,其凋亡率为 7.0 % ,未见P38MAPK表达。结论 :TNF α能诱导C6细胞凋亡和 p38MAPK表达 ,p38MAPK的活化促进了C6细胞凋亡的发生     

c-Abl activates p38 MAPK independently of its tyrosine kinase activity: Implications in cisplatin-based therapy

Activation of p38 MAPK is a critical requisite for the therapeutics activity of the antitumor agent cisplatin. In this sense, a growing body of evidences supports the role of c-Abl as a major determinant of p38 MAPK activation, especially in response to genotoxic stress when triggered by cisplatin. Here, we demonstrate that p38 MAPK activation in response to cisplatin does not require the tyrosine kinase activity of c-Abl. Indeed, c-Abl can activate the p38 MAPK signaling pathway by a mechanism that is independent of its tyrosine kinase activity, but that instead involves the ability of c-Abl to increase the stability of MKK6. Similar results were obtained in chronic myeloid leukemia-derived cell lines, in which a chimeric Bcr/Abl protein mimics the effects of c-Abl overexpression on p38 MAPK activation. These findings may explain why a clinically used c-Abl inhibitor, imatinib mesylate, fails to inhibit the p38 MAPK pathway alone or in combination with cisplatin, and provide evidence of a novel signaling mechanism in which these antitumor agents act.     

A role for p38 MAPK in head and neck cancer cell growth and tumor-induced angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis

We have recently gained a remarkable understanding of the mutational landscape of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, the nature of the dysregulated signaling networks contributing to HNSCC progression is still poorly defined. Here, we have focused on the role of the family of mitogen activated kinases (MAPKs), extracellular regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAPK in HNSCC. Immunohistochemical analysis of a large collection of human HNSCC tissues revealed that the levels of the phosphorylated active form of ERK1/2 and JNK were elevated in less than 33% and 16% of the cases, respectively. Strikingly, however, high levels of active phospho-p38 were observed in most (79%) of hundreds of tissues analyzed. We explored the biological role of p38 in HNSCC cell lines using three independent approaches: treatment with a specific p38 inhibitor, SB203580; a retro-inhibition strategy consisting in the use of SB203580 combined with the expression of an inhibitor-insensitive mutant form of p38α; and short-hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) targeting p38α. We found that specific blockade of p38 signaling significantly inhibited the proliferation of HNSCC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Indeed, we observed that p38 inhibition in HNSCC cancer cells reduces cancer growth in tumor xenografts and a remarkable decrease in intratumoral blood and lymphatic vessels. We conclude that p38α functions as a positive regulator of HNSCC in the context of the tumor microenvironment, controlling cancer cell growth as well as tumor-induced angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis.     

STAT3和p38MAPK在胃癌中的表达及临床意义

[目的]探讨STAT3和p38MAPK在胃癌中的表达及临床意义.[方法]采用免疫组化法检测80例胃癌组织及40例癌旁组织中STAT3和p38MAPK的表达.[结果]80例胃癌组织中STAT3的阳性表达率为72.5％,明显高于癌旁组织的17.5％ (P＜0.001); STAT3的表达与胃癌患者性别、年龄、浸润深度无关(P＜0.05),而与分化程度、淋巴结转移、TNM分期、远处转移有关(P＜0.001).80例胃癌组织中p38MAPK的阳性表达率为71.3％,明显高于癌旁组织的12.5％(P＜0.05);p38MAPK的表达与胃癌患者性别、年龄、淋巴结转移无关(P＞0.05),而与分化程度、浸润深度、TNM分期、远处转移有关(P＜0.001).胃癌中STAT3和p38MAPK的表达呈正相关(r=0.6986,P＜0.01).[结论]胃癌中STAT3和p38MAPK均过表达,可能与胃癌的发生发展有关.     

p38 MAPK turns hepatocyte growth factor to a death signal that commits ovarian cancer cells to chemotherapy-induced apoptosis

We recently showed that Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF), known as a survival factor, unexpectedly enhances apoptosis in human ovarian cancer cells treated with the front-line chemotherapeutics cisplatin (CDDP) and paclitaxel (PTX). Here we demonstrate that this effect depends on the p38 mitogen-activated kinase (MAPK). In fact, p38 MAPK activity is stimulated by HGF and further increased by the combined treatment with HGF and either CDDP or PTX. The expression of a dominant negative form of p38 MAPK abrogates apoptosis elicited by drugs, alone or in combination with HGF. HGF and drugs also activate the ERK1/2 MAPKs, the PI3K/AKT and the AKT substrate mTOR. However, activation of these survival pathways does not hinder the ability of HGF to enhance drug-dependent apoptosis. Altogether data show that p38 MAPK is necessary for HGF sensitization of ovarian cancer cells to low-doses of CDDP and PTX and might be sufficient to overcome activation of survival pathways. Therefore, the p38 MAPK pathway might be a suitable target to improve response to conventional chemotherapy in human ovarian cancer.     

脑胶质瘤细胞化疗耐药中p38MAPK信号通路的作用

探讨p38MAPK信号通路在脑胶质瘤细胞化疗耐药中的作用及相关机制。 方法 在 前期建立U251/TMZ胶质瘤耐药细胞株的基础上,用特异性阻断剂SB203580阻断耐药细胞株中 p38MAPK信号通路,替莫唑胺作用下检测耐药株的细胞活性变化,同时检测MDR1、TopoⅡ、BCL-2 等耐药相关基因的蛋白表达变化。 结果 阻断通路后替莫唑胺作用下细胞的抑制率明显低于未阻 断组,两组之间比较差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）,阻断后耐药细胞中BCL-2、MDR1的表达明 显升高,TopoⅡ的表达明显降低,与未阻断的耐药细胞相比较差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结 论 U251/TMZ胶质瘤耐药细胞中p38MAPK信号通路被阻断后细胞的耐药性增强,其机制可能与耐药 株中耐药相关基因BCL-2、TopoⅡ、MDR1的表达变化有关。     

Ceramide induces p38 MAPK-dependent apoptosis and Bax translocation via inhibition of Akt in HL-60 cells

Ceramide induces apoptosis through caspase activation, cytochrome c release, and Bax translocation in HL-60 cells. However, the upstream signal transduction pathways that induce Bax translocation during ceramide-mediated apoptosis have not been well defined yet. In this study, the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) was found to be critical for the induction of apoptosis and subcellular redistribution of Bax. Pharmacological inhibition of p38 MAPK with SB203580 or expression of a dominant-negative p38 MAPK attenuated DNA fragmentation, caspase-3 activation, and Bax translocation in response to ceramide. Overexpression of Akt also led to suppression of Bax translocation to mitochondria during ceramide-induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells. We also provide evidence for cross-talk between p38 MAPK and Akt pathways. Expression of myr-Akt or inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) with LY294002 had no effect on p38 MAPK activation by ceramide as assessed by phosphorylation, while inhibition of p38 MAPK by a pharmacological inhibitor or a dominant-negative p38 inhibited Akt dephosphorylation in response to ceramide, suggesting that ceramide-induced p38 MAPK activation negatively regulates the Akt pathway.     

Hibiscus polyphenol-rich extract induces apoptosis in human gastric carcinoma cells via p53 phosphorylation and p38 MAPK/FasL cascade pathway

In view of the continuing need for effective anticancer agents, and the association of diet with reduced cancer risk, edible plants are increasingly being considered as sources of anticancer drugs. Hibiscus sabdariffa Linne (Malvaceae), an attractive plant believed to be native to Africa, is cultivated in the Sudan and Eastern Taiwan. Polyphenols had been demonstrated previously to possess antioxidative and antitumor promoting effects. In this study, investigations were conducted to examine the mechanism of the anticancer activity of H. sabdariffa L., Hibiscus polyphenol-rich extracts (HPE). Using HPLC assay, HPE was demonstrated to contain various polyphenols. HPE induced cell death of eight kinds of cell lines in a concentration-dependent manner. Among them human gastric carcinoma (AGS) cells were the most susceptible to HPE (0.95 mg/mL HPE inhibited its growth by 50%). Our results revealed that AGS cells underwent DNA fragmentation, and had an increase in the distribution of hypodiploid phase (apoptotic peak, 52.36%) after a 24-h treatment with HPE (2.0 mg/mL). This effect of HPE in AGS cells might be mediated via p53 signaling and p38 MAPK/FasL cascade pathway, as demonstrated by an increase in the phosphorylation of p53 and the usage of a specific p38 inhibitor, SB203580. Thus, our data present the first evidence of HPE as an apoptosis inducer in AGS cells and these findings may open interesting perspectives to the strategy in human gastric cancer treatment.     

Pharmacological inhibition of p38 MAPK reduces tumor growth in patient-derived xenografts from colon tumors

Colorectal cancer is a major health problem and the second cause of cancer related death in western countries. Signaling pathways that control tissue homeostasis are often deregulated during tumorigenesis and contribute to tumor development. Studies in mouse models have shown that the p38 MAPK pathway regulates homeostasis in colon epithelial cells but also plays an important role in colon tumor maintenance. In this study, we have investigated the role of p38 MAPK signaling in patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) from three different human colon tumors representing clinical heterogeneity and that recapitulate the human tumor conditions both at histological and molecular levels. We have found that PH797804, a chemical inhibitor of p38 MAPK, reduces tumor growth of the three PDXs, which correlates with impaired colon tumor cell proliferation and survival. The inhibition of p38 MAPK in PDXs results in downregulation of the IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway, which is a key regulator of colon tumorigenesis. Our results show the importance of p38 MAPK in human colon tumor growth using a preclinical model, and support that inhibition of p38 MAPK signaling may have therapeutic interest for colon cancer treatment.