Activation of mitogen activated protein kinase pathways and melanogenesis by novel nitro-derivatives of 7-hydroxycomarin in human malignant melanoma cells.

6-Nitro-7-hydroxycoumarin (6-NO2-7-OHC) and 3,6,8-trinitro-7-hydroxycoumarin (3,6,8-NO2-7-OHC) have previously been shown to be potent and selective anti-proliferative agents in a human melanoma cell line. These agents functioned by decreasing DNA synthesis, through an inhibition of the S phase regulatory protein, cyclin A. However, the key molecular target(s) for these drugs remained undefined. Here, we attempted to elucidate the exact nature of the relationship between drug exposure and signal transduction, particularly their effects on the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades, and the consequent effect on cell growth, death and differentiation. Comparative studies were carried out using 7-hydroxycoumarin (7-OHC). Both nitro-derivatives were found to alter the phosphorylation status of ERK1/ERK2 and p38. However, 7-OHC exerted this effect only at higher concentrations and longer incubation times. Also, none of the three drugs had any effect on SAPK phosphorylation. Tyrosinase activity assays and morphological studies were used to show drug-induced effects on cellular differentiation. Unlike 7-OHC, both 6-NO2-7-OHC and 3,6,8-NO2-7-OHC caused a dramatic increase in tyrosinase activity in a manner similar to the cAMP elevating agent, forskolin. Also, the MEK inhibitor (PD98059) in combination with nitro-derivatives stimulated an even greater increase in tyrosinase activity when compared to either drug. In addition, the p38 inhibitor (SB203580) reduced the activity of both drugs. Morphological examination of treated cells showed nitro-derivatives caused changes consistent with altered cellular differentiation. Taken together, we have established that exposure of human malignant melanoma cells to these drugs leads to a modulation of p38 MAP kinase phosphorylation. This implies that these drugs may function by altering both melanogenesis and cellular differentiation. However, their effect on the levels of these proteins rather than their phosphorylation status remains to be determined. Therefore, additional studies are underway in order to identify the exact binding partners for these drugs.     

Activation of mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) during carbon tetrachloride intoxication in the rat liver

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄: 4 ml/kg body weight as a 1:1 mixture of CCl₄ and mineral oil) was orally administered to rats. After 12 h the activity of plasma AST (aspartate aminotransferase) and ALT (alanine aminotransferase) was significantly higher than that of the control group and plasma AST and ALT activities increased thereafter. These results indicated that the necrotic process was active at about 12 h and developed thereafter. After 2–24 h of CCl₄ administration, the hepatic level of vitamin C, the most sensitive indicator of oxidative stress, decreased significantly, indicating that oxidative stress was significantly enhanced as early as 2 h after CCl₄ intoxication and thereafter. Phosphorylated JNK (c-Jun NH₂-terminal kinase) and phospho-ERK1/2 (extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2) were significantly increased transiently 1–3 h after treatment with CCl₄, while phosphorylated p38 decreased significantly 1–24 h after CCl₄ treatment. These results indicated that the change in MAPKs (mitogen activated protein kinases) slightly preceded that in vitamin C, the most sensitive chemical indicator of oxidative stress.     

p38 MAPK信号传导通路及其抑制剂的研究现状

丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（mitogen-activated protein kinases,MAPKs）级联反应是细胞内重要的信号传导系统之一,p38 MAPK信号传导通路是MAPK通路的分支之一,它通过转录因子磷酸化而改变基因的表达水平,参与多种胞内信息传递过程,能对广泛的细胞外刺激发生反应,介导细胞生长、发育、分化及死亡全过程。近年研究发现,p38 MAPK在许多疾病的发病过程中具有重要作用,其抑制剂也在相关疾病的动物模型和临床试验中获得令人可喜的成果。     

Manganese modulation of MAPK pathways: effects on upstream mitogen activated protein kinase kinases and mitogen activated kinase phosphatase‐1 in microglial cells

Multiple studies demonstrate that manganese (Mn) exposure potentiates inflammatory mediator output from activated glia; this increased output is associated with enhanced mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK: p38, ERK and JNK) activity. We hypothesized that Mn activates MAPK by activating the kinases upstream of MAPK, i.e. MKK‐3/6, MKK‐1/2 and MKK‐4 (responsible for activation of p38, ERK, and JNK, respectively), and/or by inhibiting a major phosphatase responsible for MAPK inactivation, MKP‐1. Exposure of N9 microglia to Mn (250 µm ), LPS (100 ng ml^?1) or Mn + LPS increased MKK‐3/6 and MKK‐4 activity at 1 h; the effect of Mn + LPS on MKK‐4 activation was greater than the rest. At 4 h, Mn, LPS, and Mn + LPS increased MKK‐3/6 and MKK‐1/2 phosphorylation, whereas MKK‐4 was activated only by Mn and Mn + LPS. Besides activating MKK‐4 via Ser257/Thr261 phosphorylation, Mn (4 h) prevented MKK‐4's phosphorylation on Ser80, which negatively regulates MKK‐4 activity. Exposure to Mn or Mn + LPS (1 h) decreased both mRNA and protein expression of MKP‐1, the negative MAPK regulator. In addition, we observed that at 4 h, but not at 1 h, a time point coinciding with increased MAPK activity, Mn + LPS markedly increased TNF‐α, IL‐6 and Cox‐2 mRNA, suggesting a delayed effect. The fact that all three major groups of MKKs, MKK‐1/2, MKK‐3/6 and MKK‐4, are activated by Mn suggests that Mn‐induced activation of MAPK occurs via traditional mechanisms, which perhaps involve the MAPKs furthest upstream, MKKKs (MAP3Ks). In addition, for all MKKs, Mn‐induced activation was persistent at least for 4 h, indicating a long‐term effect. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

丝裂原活化蛋白激酶38在糖尿病小鼠肾组织中的表达

目的研究丝裂原活化蛋白激酶38（p38MAPK）在链脲左菌素（STZ）诱导的糖尿病小鼠肾组织中的表达及活化情况,从分子信号角度探讨糖尿病肾病。肾纤维化的发病机制。方法采用STZ腹腔注射诱导小鼠糖尿病模型,并检测血糖、血肌酐、24h尿白蛋白排泄率、肾小球细胞外基质;用免疫组织化学方法检测糖尿病小鼠肾组织磷酸化p38MAPK和TGFβ的表达,用RT-PCR的方法检测肾组织p38MAPK和TGFβmRNA的表达。结果腹腔注射STZ后,模型组小鼠均出现明显的多食、多饮、多尿和体质量下降等糖尿病症状,血糖明显升高,血肌酐水平明显增高,24h尿白蛋白排泄率明显增加,肾小球细胞外基质明显增宽。正常。肾组织有基础的磷酸化p38MAPK和p38MAPKmRNA表达,糖尿病形成后4周,磷酸化p38MAPK和p38MAPKmRNA在肾组织中的表达明显增高,并持续增加到8周,第12周至16周磷酸化p38MAPK和p38MAPKmRNA的表达有所减少。正常肾组织有基础的TGFβ1蛋白和mRNA表达。糖尿病形成后4周,TGFβ1蛋白和mRNA在。肾组织中的表达均明显增高,并持续增加到12周,第16周肾组织TGFβ1的表达有所减少。肾组织磷酸化p38MAPK和TGFβ1的表达趋势一致,并呈明显正相关（r=0．64,P〈0．01）,且与肾小球细胞外基质的积聚密切相关。结论p38MAPK的表达和活化可能通过介导TGFβ1的表达参与了小鼠糖尿病肾病模型肾纤维化的发生。     

Activation of cardiac chloride conductance by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein.

1. Genistein (GST), an inhibitor of protein tyrosine kinase (PTK), Na3VO4 (VO4), an inhibitor of phosphotyrosine phosphatase (PTPase), and forskolin (FSK), an activator of the cyclic AMP-dependent, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) Cl- channel, were applied to guinea-pig ventricular myocytes to probe for a possible role of tyrosine phosphorylation in the regulation of cardiac Cl- channels. 2. Myocytes in the standard whole-cell configuration were pulsed to various potentials and Cl- current (ICl) measured as the difference from control background current. GST (1-500 microM) activated a current that had similar biophysical properties (time- and voltage-independent; Cl(-)-dependent reversal potential and outward rectification) as ICl activated by 5 microM FSK. The EC50 for activation of Cl- conductance (gCl) by GST was approximately 100 microM, and gCl activated by GST (500 microM) was as large as gCl activated by maximally-effective FSK (5 microM). Daidzein, a GST analogue with little effect on PTK, was at least one order less effective than GST. 3. GST responses were rapidly and reversibly inhibited by 0.1-1 mM VO4 treatments that had little effect on FSK-activated ICl. 4. Niflumic acid (100-200 microM) reversibly depressed GST (100 microM)-activated gCl by 55%. 5. GST (50 microM) strongly incremented current in myocytes with cyclic AMP-dependent CFTR ICl already activated by maximally-effective FSK 5 microM. 6. Based on these results, and on evidence of a synergistic interaction between GST and FSK, we conclude that inhibition of tyrosine phosphorylation by GST causes an activation of cardiac CFTR that is not mediated by an elevation of cyclic AMP.     

Role of p38 mitogen activated protein kinase in a model of osteosarcoma-induced pain

The focus of this work was to examine the potential role of p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38) in a mouse model of bone cancer (osteosarcoma) pain. To generate osteosarcoma and sham animals, osteosarcoma cells or medium were injected into the medullary canal of the femur. Initially, ipsilateral tactile allodynia was observed in both groups, but by 12 days post-surgery, thresholds in the sham group returned towards baseline while hypersensitivity in the osteosarcoma group lasted throughout the study. An increase in phosphorylated p38 was detected by western blotting in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and spinal cord day 14 after surgery. Immunohistochemistry showed that p38 was phosphorylated in DRG and spinal dorsal horn neurons at this time point. Two doses of a selective p38 inhibitor, SCIO-469, were administered in the chow starting 5 days post-surgery and continued throughout the study. Treatment with SCIO-469 led to a decrease in osteosarcoma-induced clinical score but had no effect on the allodynia. Bone erosion and tumor growth were also examined but no significant reduction of bone erosion or tumor growth was observed in the SCIO-469 treated mice. These data suggest that the p38 signaling pathway does not play a major role in bone cancer-mediated pain.     

Role of p38 mitogen activated protein kinase in a model of osteosarcoma-induced pain

The focus of this work was to examine the potential role of p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38) in a mouse model of bone cancer (osteosarcoma) pain. To generate osteosarcoma and sham animals, osteosarcoma cells or medium were injected into the medullary canal of the femur. Initially, ipsilateral tactile allodynia was observed in both groups, but by 12 days post-surgery, thresholds in the sham group returned towards baseline while hypersensitivity in the osteosarcoma group lasted throughout the study. An increase in phosphorylated p38 was detected by western blotting in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and spinal cord day 14 after surgery. Immunohistochemistry showed that p38 was phosphorylated in DRG and spinal dorsal horn neurons at this time point. Two doses of a selective p38 inhibitor, SCIO-469, were administered in the chow starting 5 days post-surgery and continued throughout the study. Treatment with SCIO-469 led to a decrease in osteosarcoma-induced clinical score but had no effect on the allodynia. Bone erosion and tumor growth were also examined but no significant reduction of bone erosion or tumor growth was observed in the SCIO-469 treated mice. These data suggest that the p38 signaling pathway does not play a major role in bone cancer-mediated pain.     

Reciprocal regulation of extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 and mitogen activated protein kinase phosphatase-3

Mitogen activated protein kinase phosphatase-3 (MKP-3) is a putative tumor suppressor. When transiently overexpressed, MKP-3 dephosphorylates and inactivates extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2. Little is known about the roles of endogenous MKP-3, however. We previously showed that MKP-3 is upregulated in cell lines that express oncogenic Ras. Here we tested the roles of endogenous MKP-3 in modulating ERK1/2 under conditions of chronic stimulation of the Ras/Raf/MEK1/2/ERK1/2 pathway by expression of oncogenic Ras. We used two cell lines: H-ras MCF10A, breast epithelial cells engineered to express H-Ras, and DLD-1, colon cancer cells that express endogenous Ki-Ras. First, we found that MKP-3 acts in a negative feedback loop to suppress basal ERK1/2 when oncogenic Ras stimulates the Ras/Raf/MEK1/2/ERK1/2 cascade. ERK1/2 was required to maintain elevated MKP-3, indicative of a negative feedback loop. Accordingly, knockdown of MKP-3, via siRNA, increased ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Second, by using siRNA, we found that MKP-3 helps establish the sensitivity of ERK1/2 to extracellular activators by limiting the duration of ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Third, we found that the regulation of ERK1/2 by MKP-3 is countered by the complex regulation of MKP-3 by ERK1/2. Potent ERK1/2 activators stimulated the loss of MKP-3 within 30 min due to an ERK1/2-dependent decrease in MKP-3 protein stability. MKP-3 levels recovered within 120 min due to ERK1/2-dependent resynthesis. Preventing MKP-3 resynthesis, via siRNA, prolonged ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Altogether, these results suggest that under the pressure of oncogenic Ras expression, MKP-3 reins in ERK1/2 by serving in ERK1/2-dependent negative feedback pathways.     

Role of mitogen activated protein kinases and protein kinase C in cadmium-induced apoptosis of primary epithelial lung cells

Cadmium acetate (CdAc) induced apoptosis in primary alveolar type 2 cells and Clara cells from rat lung. Phosphorylation of the MAPKs ERK1/2, p38 and JNK was markedly increased in both cell types 15 min to 2 h after start of exposure to 10 microM CdAc. The phosphorylation of all the MAPKs remained elevated or was progressively increased up to 12 h. The p38 inhibitor SB202190 reduced the Cd-induced apoptosis, whereas the ERK and JNK inhibitors, PD98059 and JNKI1, respectively, did not have any significant effect. The activity of total PKC and the isoforms PKC(alpha) and PKC(delta) seemed initially to be high in type 2 cells and Clara cells. Exposure to 10 microM CdAc did not further increase the total PKC activity or phosphorylation levels of the specific isoforms. However, the PKC inhibitors, GF109203X and rottlerin partially reduced the Cd-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, exposure to GF109203X reduced the phosphorylation of p38 in Clara cells. In conclusion, the MAPK p38 seemed to be involved in the Cd-induced apoptosis in Clara cells and type 2 cells. The activity of PKC isoforms is suggested to have a permissive role in the apoptotic process, located upstream of p38 phosphorylation.     

Stearoyl lysophosphatidylcholine enhances the phagocytic ability of macrophages through the AMP-activated protein kinase/p38 mitogen activated protein kinase pathway

A previous study showed that stearoyl lysophosphatidylcholine (sLPC) suppressed extracellular high mobility group box 1 translocation in macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide through AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation. In the present study, we investigated whether sLPC-induced AMPK activation could enhance macrophages phagocytosis of bacteria. We found that sLPC increased phosphorylation of AMPK and acetyl-CoA carboxylase, a downstream target of AMPK, in a time- and dose-dependent manner in macrophages. Furthermore, sLPC increased the uptake of FITC-conjugated Escherichia coli by macrophages in a dose-dependent manner, and treatment with an AMPK inhibitor (compound C) or siRNA to AMPKα1 reversed this uptake. sLPC increased the phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), but inhibition of AMPK activity with compound C or siRNA to AMPKα1 prevented the sLPC-induced increase in p38 MAPK phosphorylation. SB203580, a p38 MAPK inhibitor, decreased sLPC-induced phagocytosis. In vivo, systemic administration of sLPC to mice led to increased AMPK and p38 MAPK activity in the lung and to increased phagocytosis of fluorescent E. coli in bronchoalveolar lavage cells. These results suggest that sLPC increases macrophages phagocytosis through activation of the AMPK/p38 MAPK pathway. Therefore, sLPC is a candidate pharmacological agent for the treatment of bacterial infections in clinically relevant conditions.     

Activation of ERK mitogen-activated protein kinase in human cells by the mycotoxin patulin

Patulin (PAT), a mycotoxin produced by certain species of Penicillium and Aspergillus, is often detectable in moldy fruits and their derivative products. PAT led to a concentration-dependent and time-dependent increase in phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells, human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. Exposure of HEK293 cells to concentrations above 5 μM PAT for 30 min induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation; activation of ERK1/2 was also observed after 24 h incubation with 0.05 μM of PAT. Treatment of human PBMCs for 30 min with 30 μM PAT dramatically increased the phosphorylated ERK1/2 levels. Both MEK1/2 inhibitors, U0126 and PD98059, suppressed ERK1/2 activation in either HEK293 or MDCK cells. In HEK293 cells, U0126-mediated inhibition of PAT-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation resulted in a significant decrease in levels of DNA damage, expressed as tail moment values, in the single cell gel electrophoresis assay. Conversely, U0126 did not affect cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase release, and the DNA synthesis rate in PAT-treated cultures. Exposure of HEK293 cells for 90 min to 15 μM PAT elevated the levels of early growth response gene-1 (egr-1) mRNA, but not of c-fos, fosB, and junB mRNAs. These results indicate that in human cells, PAT causes a rapid and persistent activation of ERK1/2 and this signaling pathway plays an important role in mediating PAT-induced DNA damage and egr-1 gene expression.     

Activation of human blood platelets by arginine-vasopressin. Role of bivalent cations

Arginine-vasopressin caused platelet activation, i.e., a shape change reaction and a rise in intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) only in the presence of certain bivalent cations. The EC50 of arginine-vasopressin (concentration causing half-maximal shape change) decreased with rising concentrations of Mn2+, Mg2+, or Ca2+ in the medium, but was at least an order higher with Ca2+ than with Mn2+ or Mg2+. The EC50 of the active bivalent cations (concentrations enabling 100 nM arginine-vasopressin to exert half-maximal shape change and rise in [Ca2+]i) varied with the individual cations, being by far the highest for Ca2+. The KD of [3H]arginine-vasopressin binding to platelet membranes and intact platelets markedly decreased when extracellular Mg2+ or Mn2+ were present, and the KD values were inversely related to the concentration of the cations. Ca2+ also lowered the KD values; however, the effect was less marked than that of Mg2+ or Mn2+ and, in physiological conditions, significant only in intact platelets. Vasopressin-1 antagonists counteracted arginine-vasopressin binding and the shape change reaction and [Ca2+]i rise induced by arginine-vasopressin. In the presence of Mn2+ in the medium, administration of arginine-vasopressin led to quenching of the intracellular fluorescence of 2-methyl-6-methoxy-8-nitroquinoline-loaded platelets, possibly due to influx of Mn2+. In conclusion, the dependency of the arginine-vasopressin-induced platelet activation on bivalent cations is at least partly due to an enhancement by these cations of the affinity of the vasopressin-1 receptor for arginine-vasopressin. Thereby, under physiological conditions, Mg2+ seems to be of primary importance. Other mechanisms may be involved, too, e.g., an enhancement by arginine-vasopressin of the influx of bivalent cations into the platelets.     

奥沙利铂通过丝裂原活化蛋白激酶通路对直肠癌作用的研究进展

直肠癌是常见的恶性肿瘤之一,常采用奥沙利铂进行治疗,但存在药物不良反应和耐药性.丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(MAPK)信号通路对细胞的生长过程具有重要调控作用.目前已经发现直肠癌的部分突变发生在MAPK信号通路中,本文综述了奥沙利铂通过MAPK信号通路在直肠癌中作用,为奥沙利铂的靶点研究提供理论支持.     

Chemokine production and E-selectin expression in activated endothelial cells are inhibited by p38 MAPK (mitogen activated protein kinase) inhibitor RWJ 67657

Endothelial cells play an important role in inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis by recruitment of inflammatory cells. The cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-1beta are major inducers of endothelial cell activation and are stimulators of inflammatory signal transduction pathway involving p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase). The present study investigated the effects of p38 MAPK inhibition on cell adhesion molecule (CAM) expression and chemokine production by endothelial cells both on mRNA and protein level. Pre-treatment of endothelial cells with the pharmacologically relevant concentration of 1 microM of the p38 MAPK inhibitor RWJ 67657 reduced TNF-alpha and IL-1beta induced mRNA and membrane expression of E-selectin. Moderate inhibitory effects on ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression were found. Significant reduction of mRNA expression and protein production of the inflammatory cytokine IL-6 and the chemokines IL-8 and MCP-1 was demonstrated. Treatment with RWJ 67657 could lead to reduced leukocyte infiltration by the reduction of E-selectin expression and chemokine production.