Activation of PI3K is indispensable for interleukin 7-mediated viability, proliferation, glucose use, and growth of T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells

Interleukin (IL)-7 is essential for normal T cell development. Previously, we have shown that IL-7 increases viability and proliferation of T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cells by up-regulating Bcl-2 and down-regulating the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27kip1. Here, we examined the signaling pathways via which IL-7 mediates these effects. We investigated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK)-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt (protein kinase B) pathways, which have active roles in T cell expansion and have been implicated in tumorigenesis. IL-7 induced activation of the MEK-Erk pathway in T-ALL cells; however, inhibition of the MEK-Erk pathway by the use of the cell-permeable inhibitor PD98059, did not affect IL-7-mediated viability or cell cycle progression of leukemic cells. IL-7 induced PI3K-dependent phosphorylation of Akt and its downstream targets GSK-3, FOXO1, and FOXO3a. PI3K activation was mandatory for IL-7-mediated Bcl-2 up-regulation, p27kip1 down-regulation, Rb hyperphosphorylation, and consequent viability and cell cycle progression of T-ALL cells. PI3K signaling was also required for cell size increase, up-regulation of CD71, expression of the glucose transporter Glut1, uptake of glucose, and maintenance of mitochondrial integrity. Our results implicate PI3K as a major effector of IL-7-induced viability, metabolic activation, growth and proliferation of T-ALL cells, and suggest that PI3K and its downstream effectors may represent molecular targets for therapeutic intervention in T-ALL.     

Inhibition of human T cell activation by novel Src kinase inhibitors is dependent upon the complexity of the signal delivered to the cell

The activity of a novel series of protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors that are selective for the Src family has been assessed. The activity of these compounds [named CT-SKI (Celltech Src kinase inhibitors)] was investigated by assessing their potential to modulate T cell receptor activation, an event thought to involve the Src kinases Lck and Fyn. This series of compounds contained low-nanomolar inhibitors of Src kinases with selectivity over Csk, epidermal growth factor receptor kinase, protein kinase C, and zeta-associated 70-kDa protein. These compounds were shown to attenuate anti-CD3-induced T cell proliferation and block interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, and interferon-gamma production, and CD25 expression in anti-CD3-activated T cells. In addition, inhibition of anti-CD3-induced, but not phorbol ester and calcium ionophore-induced IL-2 production, correlated with inhibition of in vitro Lck kinase activity. When more complex stimuli were used to activate T cells, as in the mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR), these inhibitors proved to be less effective and inhibition of the MLR did not correlate with inhibition of isolated Lck enzyme. Interestingly, inhibition of anti-CD3-induced proliferation could be reversed by the addition of exogenous IL-2, indicating that signaling through the IL-2 receptor may not be critically dependent on any functional Src enzymes.     

Protein tyrosine kinase p56-Lck regulates lymphocyte function- associated 1 adhesion molecule expression, granule exocytosis, and cytolytic effector function in a cloned T cell [published erratum appears in J Exp Med 1995 Jan 1;181(1):442]

Elevated levels of p56-Lck kinase activity were achieved in an interleukin 2 (IL-2)-dependent cloned cytolytic T cell CTLL-2 through gene transfer approaches. CTLL-2-Lck cells remained dependent on IL-2 for growth and survival in culture but exhibited markedly elevated, IL- 2-independent cytolytic activity against a variety of tumor targets. This immune cell effector function was similar to the non-major histocompatibility complex-restricted cytolytic activity previously described for lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells, and involved a cytolytic mechanism that was independent of protein synthesis in either the T cells or the tumor targets. Characterization of CTLL-2-Lck cells revealed markedly elevated levels of both the alpha (CD11a) and beta (CD18) chains of the cell adhesion molecule lymphocyte function- associated 1 (LFA-1) and increased binding of these T cells to a recombinant protein representing the extracellular domain of the LFA- ligand, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1). Antibodies to CD11a partially abrogated cytolytic killing of tumor target cells by CTLL-2- Lck cells, suggesting that the upregulation in LFA protein levels potentially accounts at least in part for the phenotype of these T cells. Gene transfer-mediated elevations in p56-Lck kinase activity in an IL-3-dependent myeloid cell clone 32D.3 also resulted in increased LFA-1 expression, demonstrating that the findings are not unique to CTLL-2 cells. In addition to upregulation of LFA-1 expression, CTLL-Lck cells also exhibited more efficient exocytosis of cytotoxic granules upon activation with Ca(2+)-ionophore and phorbol ester, relative to control transfected and untransfected CTLL-2 cells. The findings functionally link the Lck kinase to a T cell effector pathway involved in cell-mediated cytotoxicity.     

Blockade of inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness in immune-sensitized mice by dominant-negative phosphoinositide 3-kinase-TAT

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) is thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of asthma by effecting the recruitment, activation, and apoptosis of inflammatory cells. We examined the role of class IA PI3K in antigen-induced airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness by i.p. administration into mice of Deltap85 protein, a dominant negative form of the class IA PI3K regulatory subunit, p85alpha, which was fused to HIV-TAT (TAT-Deltap85). Intraperitoneal administration of TAT-Deltap85 caused time-dependent transduction into blood leukocytes, and inhibited activated phosphorylation of protein kinase B (PKB), a downstream target of PI3K, in lung tissues in mice receiving intranasal FMLP. Antigen challenge elicited pulmonary infiltration of lymphocytes, eosinophils and neutrophils, increase in mucus-containing epithelial cells, and airway hyperresponsiveness to methacholine. Except for modest airway neutrophilia, these effects all were blocked by treatment with 3-10 mg/kg of TAT-Deltap85. There was also significant reduction in IL-5 and IL-4 secretion into the BAL. Intranasal administration of IL-5 caused eosinophil migration into the airway lumen, which was attenuated by systemic pretreatment with TAT-Deltap85. We conclude that PI3K has a regulatory role in Th2-cell cytokine secretion, airway inflammation, and airway hyperresponsiveness in mice.     

Interleukin 2 (IL-2)-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of IL-2 receptor p75 [published erratum appears in J Exp Med 1990 Jun 1;171(6):2183]

We have recently established a mAb named TU11 mAb specific for the p75 subunit of human IL-2 receptor (IL-2R). The present study using TU11 mAb demonstrates the IL-2-induced phosphorylation of IL-2Rp75 on tyrosine residues in IL-2-dependent T cells. The tyrosine phosphorylation is mediated by the high affinity IL-2R, correlates with the IL-2-induced cell growth, and rapidly increases during the first 5 min of IL-2 stimulation. Phosphorylation of serine and threonine residues of IL-2Rp75 is also detected, but its IL-2 dependency is not significant during at least the first 5 min. These results suggest some roles of a tyrosine kinase associated with IL-2Rp75 in the IL-2-induced signal-transducing pathway.     

Receptor-mediated endocytosis of albumin by kidney proximal tubule cells is regulated by phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase.

Receptor-mediated endocytosis of albumin is an important function of the kidney proximal tubule epithelium. We have measured endocytosis of [125I]-albumin in opossum kidney cells and examined the regulation of this process by phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase). Albumin endocytosis was inhibited by both wortmannin (IC50 6.9 nM) and LY294002 (IC50 6.5 microM) at concentrations that suggested the involvement of PI 3-kinase in its regulation. Recycling rates were unaffected. We transfected OK cells with either a wild-type p85 subunit of PI 3-kinase, or a dominant negative form of the p85 subunit (Deltap85) using the LacSwitch expression system. Transfects were screened by immunoblotting with anti-PI 3-kinase antibodies. Under basal conditions, transfects demonstrated no expression of p85 or Deltap85, but expression was briskly induced by treatment of the cells with IPTG (EC50 13.7 microM). Inhibition of PI 3-kinase activity by Deltap85 was confirmed by in vitro kinase assay of anti-phosphotyrosine immunoprecipitates from transfected cells stimulated with insulin. Expression of Deltap85 resulted in marked inhibition of albumin endocytosis, predominantly as a result of reduction of the Vmax of the transport process. Expression of p85 had no significant effect on albumin uptake. The results demonstrate that PI 3-kinase regulates an early step in the receptor-mediated endocytosis of albumin by kidney proximal tubular cells.     

Angiotensin II inhibits insulin signaling in aortic smooth muscle cells at multiple levels. A potential role for serine phosphorylation in insulin/angiotensin II crosstalk.

To investigate potential interactions between angiotensin II (AII) and the insulin signaling system in the vasculature, insulin and AII regulation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) phosphorylation and phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase activation were examined in rat aortic smooth muscle cells. Pretreatment of cells with AII inhibited insulin-stimulated PI 3-kinase activity associated with IRS-1 by 60%. While AII did not impair insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor (IR) beta-subunit, it decreased insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 by 50%. AII inhibited the insulin-stimulated association between IRS-1 and the p85 subunit of PI 3-kinase by 30-50% in a dose-dependent manner. This inhibitory effect of AII on IRS-1/PI 3-kinase association was blocked by the AII receptor antagonist saralasin, but not by AT1 antagonist losartan or AT2 antagonist PD123319. AII increased the serine phosphorylation of both the IR beta-subunit and IRS-1. In vitro binding experiments showed that autophosphorylation increased IR binding to IRS-1 from control cells by 2.5-fold versus 1.2-fold for IRS-1 from AII-stimulated cells, suggesting that AII stimulation reduces IRS-1's ability to associate with activated IR. In addition, AII increased p85 serine phosphorylation, inhibited the total pool of p85 associated PI 3-kinase activity, and decreased levels of the p50/p55 regulatory subunit of PI 3-kinase. These results suggest that activation of the renin-angiotensin system may lead to insulin resistance in the vasculature.     

The Phosphotyrosine Phosphatase SHP-2 Participates in a Multimeric Signaling Complex and Regulates T Cell Receptor (TCR) coupling to the Ras/Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) Pathway in Jurkat T Cells

Src homology 2 (SH2) domain–containing phosphotyrosine phosphatases (SHPs) are increasingly being shown to play critical roles in protein tyrosine kinase–mediated signaling pathways. The role of SHP-1 as a negative regulator of T cell receptor (TCR) signaling has been established. To further explore the function of the other member of this family, SHP-2, in TCR-mediated events, a catalytically inactive mutant SHP-2 was expressed under an inducible promoter in Jurkat T cells. Expression of the mutant phosphatase significantly inhibited TCR-induced activation of the extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK)-2 member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family, but had no effect on TCR-ζ chain tyrosine phosphorylation or TCR-elicited Ca²⁺ transients. Inactive SHP-2 was targeted to membranes resulting in the selective increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of three membrane-associated candidate SHP-2 substrates of 110 kD, 55-60 kD, and 36 kD, respectively. Analysis of immunoprecipitates containing inactive SHP-2 also indicated that the 110-kD and 36-kD Grb-2–associated proteins were putative substrates for SHP-2. TCR-stimulation of Jurkat T cells expressing wild-type SHP-2 resulted in the formation of a multimeric cytosolic complex composed of SHP-2, Grb-2, phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3′-kinase, and p110. A significant proportion of this complex was shown to be membrane associated, presumably as a result of translocation from the cytosol. Catalytically inactive SHP-2, rather than the wild-type PTPase, was preferentially localized in complex with Grb-2 and the p85 subunit of PI 3′-kinase, suggesting that the dephosphorylating actions of SHP-2 may regulate the association of these signaling molecules to the p110 complex. Our results show that SHP-2 plays a critical role in linking the TCR to the Ras/MAPK pathway in Jurkat T cells, and also provide some insight into the molecular interactions of SHP-2 that form the basis of this signal transduction process.     

Lck regulates the tyrosine phosphorylation of the T cell receptor subunits and ZAP-70 in murine thymocytes

The Src-family and Syk/ZAP-70 family of protein tyrosine kinases (PTK) are required for T cell receptor (TCR) functions. We provide evidence that the Src-family PTK Lck is responsible for regulating the constitutive tyrosine phosphorylation of the TCR zeta subunit in murine thymocytes. Moreover, ligation of the TCR expressed on thymocytes from Lck-deficient mice largely failed to induce the phosphorylation of TCR- zeta, CD3 epsilon, or ZAP-70. In contrast, we find that the TCR-zeta subunit is weakly constitutively tyrosine phosphorylated in peripheral T cells isolated from Lck-null mice. These data suggest that Lck has a functional role in regulation of TCR signal transduction in thymocytes. In peripheral T cells, other Src-family PTKs such as Fyn may partially compensate for the absence of Lck.     

信号转导与血小板激活

血小板通过一系列信号转导机制，主要包括磷脂酶C-β(PLC-β)通路、酪氨酸蛋白激酶(PTK)通路、磷脂酰肌醇-3激酶(PI3-K)通路、丝裂原激活的蛋白激酶(MAPK)通路、环磷酸腺苷-蛋白激酶A(cAMP—PKA)通路和磷脂酶A2(PLA2)花生四烯酸通路等介导被激活。本文就血小板信号转导及其激活作一概述。     

Stimulation of CD28 triggers an association between CD28 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in Jurkat T cells

The T cell surface molecule CD28 can provide costimulatory signals that permit the full activation of T cells. Here we demonstrate that stimulation of CD28, either by B7, its natural ligand, or by the anti- CD28 monoclonal antibody 9.3, induces an association between CD28 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) in Jurkat T cells, raising the possibility that an interaction with PI3-K contributes to CD28-mediated signaling. To examine the mechanism of the association, we synthesized tyrosine-phosphorylated oligopeptides corresponding to each of the four tyrosines in the CD28 cytoplasmic domain. When added to lysates of B7- stimulated Jurkat cells, the oligopeptide corresponding to Tyr 173 inhibits the coimmunoprecipitation of PI3-K with CD28; the other oligopeptides have no effect. Tyr 173 is contained within the sequence YMNM, a motif that is also found in the platelet-derived growth factor receptor and that, when phosphorylated, forms a high affinity binding site for the p85 subunit of PI3-K. These observations suggest that phosphorylation of Tyr 173 may mediate the interaction between CD28 and PI3-K. However, because CD28 is not known to be phosphorylated, it remains possible that CD28 interacts with PI3-K through a mechanism independent of tyrosine phosphorylation.     

Characterization of selective resistance to insulin signaling in the vasculature of obese Zucker (fa/fa) rats

Both insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia have been reported to be independent risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. However, little is known regarding insulin signaling in the vascular tissues in insulin-resistant states. In this report, insulin signaling on the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathways were compared in vascular tissues of lean and obese Zucker (fa/fa) rats in both ex vivo and in vivo studies. Ex vivo, insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor beta subunits (IRbeta) in the aorta and microvessels of obese rats was significantly decreased compared with lean rats, although the protein levels of IRbeta in the 2 groups were not different. Insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrates 1 and 2 (IRS-1 and IRS-2) and their protein levels were decreased in the aorta of obese rats compared with lean rats. The association of p85 subunit to the IRS proteins and the IRS-associated PI 3-kinase activities stimulated by insulin in the aorta of obese rats were significantly decreased compared with the lean rats. In addition, insulin-stimulated serine phosphorylation of Akt, a downstream kinase of PI 3-kinase pathway, was also reduced significantly in isolated microvessels from obese rats compared with the lean rats. In euglycemic clamp studies, insulin infusion greatly increased tyrosine phosphorylation of IRbeta- and IRS-2-associated PI 3-kinase activity in the aorta of lean rats, but only slight increases were observed in obese rats. In contrast, insulin stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of MAP kinase (ERK-1/2) equally in isolated microvessels of lean and obese rats, although basal tyrosine phosphorylation of ERK-1/2 was higher in the obese rats. To our knowledge, these data provided the first direct measurements of insulin signaling in the vascular tissues, and documented a selective resistance to PI 3-kinase (but not to MAP kinase pathway) in the vascular tissues of obese Zucker rats.     

Stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase causes acidic pH-induced contraction in spontaneously hypertensive rat aorta

Acidic pH induced a contraction (APIC) in isolated aortas from spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and Wistar Kyoto rats, but failed to produce any response in age-matched Wistar rat aorta. This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins is a molecular mechanism underlying the APIC. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors, genistein and tyrphostin 23 inhibited the APIC in a concentration-dependent manner. APIC was inhibited by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) inhibitors, LY-294002 [2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one hydrochloride] and wortmannin. Consistent with the results from tension measurement experiments, Western blot analysis showed that acidic pH induced an appreciable increment of tyrosine phosphorylation of 85-kDa protein (p85) in SHR aorta, which was completely inhibited by tyrphostin 23, whereas in Wistar rat aorta, the protein tyrosine phosphorylation was not observed. Further investigations using immunoprecipitation followed by Western blotting confirmed an increase in the tyrosine phosphorylation of p85. Analysis by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by silver staining of the gel revealed that amounts of multiple proteins with molecular sizes of 120, 130, 210, and 225 kDa were increased at acidic pH, which were immunoprecipitated with anti-phosphotyrosine antibody. Western blotting using a specific anti-PI3-kinase antibody identified the p85 as the regulatory subunit of PI3-kinase, whereas 120-, 130-, and 225-kDa proteins were identified by mass spectrometry as pro-alpha2 (I) collagen, collagen alpha1 (I) chain, and fibernectin I, respectively. As assayed by Western blotting using anti-myosin light chain (MLC) antibody, acidic pH induced a stimulation of MLC phosphorylation, and the stimulated MLC phosphorylation was abolished by tyrphostin 23 and LY-294002. These results suggest that acidic pH induces an increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of PI3-kinase, resulting in the MLC phosphorylation-dependent contraction of SHR aorta.     

Neutral endopeptidase inhibits prostate cancer cell migration by blocking focal adhesion kinase signaling

Neutral endopeptidase 24.11 (NEP, CD10) is a cell-surface enzyme expressed by prostatic epithelial cells that cleaves and inactivates neuropeptides implicated in the growth of androgen-independent prostate cancer (PC). NEP substrates such as bombesin and endothelin-1 induce cell migration. We investigated the mechanisms of NEP regulation of cell migration in PC cells, including regulation of phosphorylation on tyrosine of focal adhesion kinase (FAK). Western analyses and cell migration assays revealed an inverse correlation between NEP expression and the levels of FAK phosphorylation and cell migration in PC cell lines. Constitutively expressed NEP, recombinant NEP, and induced NEP expression using a tetracycline-repressive expression system inhibited bombesin- and endothelin-1-stimulated FAK phosphorylation and cell migration. This results from NEP-induced inhibition of neuropeptide-stimulated association of FAK with cSrc protein. Expression of a mutated catalytically inactive NEP protein also resulted in partial inhibition of FAK phosphorylation and cell migration. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments show that NEP associates with tyrosine-phosphorylated Lyn kinase, which then binds the p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) resulting in an NEP-Lyn-PI3-K protein complex. This complex competitively blocks FAK-PI3-K interaction, suggesting that NEP protein inhibits cell migration via a protein-protein interaction independent of its catalytic function. These experiments demonstrate that NEP can inhibit FAK phosphorylation on tyrosine and PC cell migration through multiple pathways and suggest that cell migration which contributes to invasion and metastases in PC cells can be regulated by NEP.     

Signal transduction via CD40 involves activation of lyn kinase and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase, and phosphorylation of phospholipase C gamma 2

CD40 is a 50-kD glycoprotein that plays an important role in B cell survival, memory, and immunoglobulin isotype switch. Engagement of the CD40 antigen by monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) results in increased protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) activity, which plays an important role in mediating the biologic effects of CD40. We demonstrate, using an in situ phosphorylation technique, that CD40 cross-linking by the anti- CD40 mAb 626.1 resulted within 1 min in increased phosphorylation of the src type kinase, lyn, in Daudi B cell lines and remained sustained for up to 20 min. The activity of lyn kinase, as measured by immune complex kinase assay, was also increased after CD40 engagement, with similar kinetics. In contrast, the phosphorylation and activity of fyn, fgr, and lck kinases demonstrated minimal changes following stimulation of Daudi cells with mAb 626.1 over this same time period. CD40 engagement also resulted in phosphorylation of phospholipase C gamma 2 of phosphatidylinositol (PLC gamma 2) and phosphatidylinositol (PI)-3- kinase. Phosphorylation of PI-3-kinase was shown to be associated with an increase in its enzymatic activity. These results suggest that lyn plays an important role in CD40-mediated PTK activation and identify PLC gamma 2 and PI-3-kinase targets for CD40-mediated phosphorylation, suggesting a role for these two enzymes in CD40 signal transduction.     

Phospatidylinositol 3-kinase expression in human breast cancer.

Phospatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) expression was analysed by Western blotting with monoclonal antibodies to the p85 subunit in a series of tumour and adjacent mammary gland samples collected at surgery from 33 breast cancer patients. Seventy-nine percent of the investigated pairs of the samples were characterised by an increased level of PI 3-kinase in the tumour in comparison with the adjacent mammary gland. PI 3-kinase activation was not associated with tumour steroid receptor status, histologic grade and other clinico-morphological characteristics. Furthermore, immunoblotting of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in the tumours with increased PI 3-kinase and corresponding adjacent tissues revealed no association between EGFR and PI 3-kinase activation. Thus, increased PI 3-kinase expression appears to be a widespread feature of breast cancer not associated with the main biological markers of its prognosis and hormone sensitivity.     

Dependence on the MUC1-C oncoprotein in non-small cell lung cancer cells

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells are often associated with constitutive activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) → Akt → mTOR pathway. The mucin 1 (MUC1) heterodimeric glycoprotein is aberrantly overexpressed in NSCLC cells and induces gene signatures that are associated with poor survival of NSCLC patients. The present results show that the MUC1 C-terminal subunit (MUC1-C) cytoplasmic domain associates with PI3K p85 in NSCLC cells. We show that inhibition of MUC1-C with cell-penetrating peptides blocks this interaction with PI3K p85 and suppresses constitutive phosphorylation of Akt and its downstream effector, mTOR. In concert with these results, treatment of NSCLC cells with the MUC1-C peptide inhibitor GO-203 was associated with downregulation of PI3K → Akt signaling and inhibition of growth. GO-203 treatment was also associated with increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induction of necrosis by a ROS-dependent mechanism. Moreover, GO-203 treatment of H1975 (EGFR L858R/T790M) and A549 (K-Ras G12S) xenografts growing in nude mice resulted in tumor regressions. These findings indicate that NSCLC cells are dependent on MUC1-C both for activation of the PI3K → Akt pathway and for survival.     

Gi-mediated activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway by receptor mimetic basic secretagogues of connective tissue-type mast cells: bifurcation of arachidonic acid-induced release upstream of MAPK.

The family of basic secretagogues of connective tissue mast cells act as receptor mimetic agents, which trigger exocytosis by directly activating G proteins. We now demonstrate that pertussis toxin (Ptx)-sensitive Gi proteins, activated by compound 48/80 (c48/80), a potent member of this family, also activate the p42/p44 MAP kinases (MAPKs). This activation was potentiated by the protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor vanadate, whereas the tyrphostin AG-18, a competitive inhibitor of protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs); the protein kinase C inhibitors K252a and GF109203X; the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI-3K) inhibitors wortmannin and LY294002; and EGTA have abolished this activation. These results suggest that c48/80 activated the p42/p44 MAPKs via a mechanism that involves PTKs, protein kinase C, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase and Ca2+ as mediators. Protein tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of the p42/p44 MAPKs were closely correlated with stimulation of arachidonic acid (AA) release by c48/80 but not with histamine secretion. However, whereas PD98059, the inhibitor of the MAPK kinase has abrogated MAPK activation, this inhibitor failed to effect release of AA. We therefore conclude that by activating Ptx-sensitive Gi protein(s), the basic secretagogues of mast cells stimulate multiple signaling pathways, which diverge to regulate the production and release of the different inflammatory mediators. Whereas the signaling pathway responsible for triggering histamine release is PTK independent, the pathway responsible for the stimulation of AA release bifurcates downstream to PTKs but upstream to the activation of MAPKs.