p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway is involved in protein kinase Calpha-regulated invasion in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Protein kinase Calpha (PKCalpha) has been suggested to play an important role in tumorigenesis, invasion, and metastasis. In this study, we investigated the signal pathways selectively activated by PKCalpha in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells to determine the role of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) in PKCalpha-mediated HCC migration and invasion. A stable SK-Hep-1 cell clone (siPKCalpha-SK) expressing DNA-based small interfering RNA (siRNA) PKCalpha was established and was then characterized by cell growth, migration, and invasion. The expression of PKCalpha was decreased in siPKCalpha-SK, and cell growth, migration, and invasion were reduced. These changes were associated with the decrease in p38 MAPK phosphorylation level, but not in c-jun-NH(2)-kinase-1/2 (JNK-1/2) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 (ERK-1/2). This phenomenon was confirmed in the SK-Hep-1 cells treated with antisense PKCalpha olignucleotide. The p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 or dominant negative p38 mutant plasmid (DN-p38) was used to evaluate the dependency of p38 MAPK in PKCalpha-regulated migration and invasion. Attenuation of cell migration and invasion was revealed in the SK-Hep-1 cells treated with the SB203580 or DN-p38, but not with ERK-1/2 inhibitor PD98059 or JNK-1/2 inhibitor SP600125. Overexpression of constitutively active MKK6 or PKCalpha may restore the inactivation of p38 and the attenuation of cell migration and invasion in siPKCalpha-SK. Similar findings were observed in the stable HA22T/VGH cell clone expressing siRNA PKCalpha. This study provides new insight into the role of p38 MAPK in PKCalpha-mediated malignant phenotypes, especially in PKCalpha-mediated cancer cell invasion, which may have valuable implications for developing new therapies for some PKCalpha-overexpressing cancers.     

Involvement of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND: The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade is activated in response to various extracellular stimuli. The authors investigated the involvement of the p38 MAPK, a member of the MAPK superfamily, cascade in hepatoma cell lines and in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue specimens. METHODS: Constitutively active mutant of MAPK kinase 6 (MKK6), which is upstream of p38 MAPK, was transfected into the HepG2 and HuH7 human hepatoma cell lines. The constitutive active mutant was constructed by replacing Ser-189 and Thr-193 with Glu. The growth and death of mutant MKK6-transfected hepatoma cells were analyzed by the WST-1 and sub-G1 assays. The surgically resected livers of 20 HCC patients were divided histologically into tumorous (T) and nontumorous (NT) lesions. p38 MAPK activity was analyzed using in vitro kinase assay and MKK6 activity was measured using Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Mutant MKK6 transfection increased p38 MAPK activity, cytochrome c release from the mitochondria to the cytosol, and caspase-3 activity, accompanied by apoptosis. In contrast, SB203580, a p38 MAPK-specific inhibitor, prevented MKK6-induced apoptosis in hepatoma cell lines. In the T lesions of 20 HCC parients, p38 MAPK and MKK6 activities were significantly lower compared with NT lesions (P < 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between p38 MAPK and MKK6 activity (r = 0.507, P < 0.05). Larger tumors (> 20 mm) exhibited lower levels of p38 MAPK and MKK6 activity than did smaller tumors (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggested that reduction of the p38 MAPK cascade may account, in part, for the resistance to apoptosis, leading to the unrestricted cell growth of human HCC.     

p38alpha and p38delta mitogen-activated protein kinase isoforms regulate invasion and growth of head and neck squamous carcinoma cells

Recent studies indicate that the specificity of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-mediated cellular stress responses is determined by the expression pattern of the distinct p38 isoforms. Here, we have analysed the function of distinct p38 isoforms in the growth and invasion of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). Activation of p38 MAPK by arsenite resulted in inactivation of the ERK1,2 signaling pathway by dephosphorylation of MEK1,2 in primary human epidermal keratinocytes (HEKs), whereas in HNSCC cells this p38-mediated inhibition of the ERK1,2 pathway was absent. Quantitation of p38 pathway component mRNA expression in HNSCC cell lines (n=42) compared to HEKs (n=8) revealed that p38alpha and p38delta isoforms are predominantly expressed in both cell types and that MKK3 is the primary upstream activator expressed. Inhibition of endogenous p38alpha or p38delta activity by adenoviral delivery of corresponding dominant-negative p38 isoforms potently reduced MMP-13 and MMP-1 expressions, and suppressed the invasion of HNSCC cells through collagen. Dominant-negative p38alpha and p38delta inhibited squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cell proliferation and inhibition of p38alpha activity also compromised survival of SCC cells. p38alpha and p38delta were predominantly expressed in HNSCCs (n=24) and nonneoplastic epithelium in vivo (n=6), with MKK3 being the primary upstream activator. Activation and expression of p38alpha and p38delta by tumor cells was detected in HNSCCs in vivo (n=16). Adenoviral expression of dominant-negative p38alpha or p38delta in cutaneous SCC cells potently inhibited their implantation in skin of severe combined immunodeficiency mice and growth of xenografts in vivo. Our results indicate that p38alpha and p38delta specifically promote the malignant phenotype of SCC cells by regulating cell survival, proliferation and invasion, suggesting these p38 MAPK isoforms as potential therapeutic targets in HNSCCs.     

Activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase is necessary for gemcitabine-induced cytotoxicity in human pancreatic cancer cells

BACKGROUND: Gemcitabine is a pyrimidine nucleoside analog that is clinically active against pancreatic cancer. We have recently demonstrated that p38 MAPK is specifically activated by gemcitabine and that pharmacological blockade of p38 MAPK signaling prevented gemcitabine-induced apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer cells. In this study, we further investigated the implication of p38 MAPK in the cytotoxic action of gemcitabine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cells expressing a dominant-negative mutant of p38 MAPK were generated. Clonogenic assays were used to assess the long-term effect on cancer cell viability in the human pancreatic cancer cells, PK1 and PCI43. The p38 MAPK activation level was assessed using an antibody specific to the phosphorylated form. RESULTS: Gemcitabine increased the activation level of p38 MAPK in a dose-dependent manner and induced apoptosis in the two tested human pancreatic cancer cell lines. The selective p38 MAPK inhibitors, SB203580 and SB202190, reduced gemcitabine-induced activation of p38 MAPK, prevented the gemcitabine-induced apoptosis and increased long-term clonogenic survival. Overexpression of a dominant-negative p38 mutant in cells resulted in the reduction of gemcitabine-induced p38 MAPK activation and apoptosis, and increases in clonogenic survival. CONCLUSION: These results strongly suggest that the activation of p38 MAPK signaling is necessary for gemcitabine-induced cell death in human pancreatic cancer cells. Based upon these results, we suggest that molecules of p38 MAPK signaling pathways should be listed as novel targets for gemcitabine-based therapy.     

Fas-induced expression of chemokines in human glioma cells: involvement of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase

Fas transduces not only apoptotic signals through various pathways but also angiogenic and proinflammatory responses in vivo. Human glioma cells express Fas although sensitivity to Fas-mediated cell death is variable, suggesting that Fas may have functions other than apoptosis in these cells. In this study, we addressed alternative functions of Fas expressed on human gliomas by Fas ligation in three human glioma cell lines, CRT-MG, U373-MG, and U87-MG, and the in vivo expression of Fas and chemokines in human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Herein, we demonstrate that: (a) stimulation with agonistic anti-Fas monoclonal antibody CH-11 and human recombinant soluble Fas ligand induces expression of the CC chemokine MCP-1 and the CXC chemokine interleukin-8 by human glioma cell lines at the mRNA and protein levels in a dose- and time-dependent manner; (b) selective pharmacological inhibitors of MEK1 (U0126 and PD98059) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) (SB202190) suppress Fas-mediated chemokine expression in a dose-dependent manner; (c) Fas ligation on human glioma cells leads to activation of both extracellular signal-regulated kinases ERK1/ERK2 and p38 MAPK; and (d) GBM samples express higher levels of Fas compared with normal control brain, which correlates with increased interleukin 8 expression. These findings indicate that Fas ligation on human glioma cells leads to the selective induction of chemokine expression, which involves the ERK1/ERK2 and p38 MAPK signaling pathways. Therefore, the Fas-Fas ligand system in human brain tumors may be involved not only in apoptotic processes but also in the provocation of angiogenic and proinflammatory responses.     

p38 Mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway suppresses cell survival by inducing dephosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase1,2

Raf/mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase (MEK)1,2/extracellular signal-regulated kinase1,2 and MKK3,6/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways play an important role in cellular survival and apoptosis. The results of this study identify novel mechanisms to explain the opposing effects of these pathways in the regulation of apoptosis induction. Our results show that activation of p38 by adenoviral expression of MKK3b or arsenite treatment was followed by rapid dephosphorylation of MEK1,2 and subsequent apoptosis in human skin fibroblasts. Inhibition of p38 activity by SB203580 and adenoviral expression of dominant-negative forms of p38 potently inhibited MEK1,2 dephosphorylation and apoptosis. Strikingly, p38-mediated dephosphorylation of MEK1,2, was not detected in a series of transformed human cell lines. Taken together, we provide evidence for mechanisms unidentified previously that negatively regulates survival signaling during apoptosis induction. In addition, we show that in all transformed cell lines we have studied thus far, the function of this pathway is impaired.     

8-Chloro-cyclic AMP-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis is mediated by p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in HL60 cells

8-Chloro-cyclic AMP (8-Cl-cAMP), which is known to induce growth inhibition, apoptosis, and differentiation in various cancer cell lines, has been studied as a putative anticancer drug. However, the mechanism of anticancer activities of 8-Cl-cAMP has not been fully understood. Previously, we reported that the 8-Cl-cAMP-induced growth inhibition is mediated by protein kinase C (PKC) activation. In this study, we found that p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) also plays important roles during the 8-Cl-cAMP-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis. SB203580 (a p38-specific inhibitor) recovered the 8-Cl-cAMP-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis, whereas other MAPK inhibitors, such as PD98059 (an extracellular signal-regulated kinase-specific inhibitor) and SP600125 (a c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase-specific inhibitor), had no effect. The phosphorylation (activation) of p38 MAPK was increased in a time-dependent manner after 8-Cl-cAMP treatment. Furthermore, SB203580 was able to block PKC activation induced by 8-Cl-cAMP. However, PKC inhibitor (GF109203x) could not attenuate p38 activation, indicating that p38 MAPK activation is upstream of PKC activation during the 8-Cl-cAMP-induced growth inhibition. 8-Chloro-adenosine, a metabolite of 8-Cl-cAMP, also activated p38 MAPK and this activation was blocked by adenosine kinase inhibitor. These results suggest that 8-Cl-cAMP exerts its anticancer activity through p38 MAPK activation and the metabolite(s) of 8-Cl-cAMP mediates this process.     

p38丝裂原活化蛋白激酶过表达与前列腺癌病理特征的关系

目的:探讨p38丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(p38 MAPK)在前列腺癌组织以及相应的癌旁组织中的表达及其与前列腺癌病理分级、临床分期的关系.方法:免疫印迹法检测40例前列腺癌组织及其相应的癌旁组织中p38 MAPK的相对表达水平.结果:p38 MAPK在40例前列腺癌组织及其相应的癌旁组织中表达的阳性率均为100%(40/40),其平均相对表达水平分别为0.77±0.07和0.57±0.09,两者差异有统计学意义,P=0.000.p38 MAPK的相对表达水平与前列腺癌的病理分级(P<0.05)、临床分期(P<0.05)有关.结论:p38 MAPK的过表达与前列腺癌的临床病理特征和生物学行为密切相关,p38 MAPK的过表达可能参与了前列腺癌的发生和发展.     

Constitutive p38HOG mitogen-activated protein kinase activation induces permanent cell cycle arrest and senescence

Cellular senescence, initially observed during subculturing of normal diploid fibroblasts, can also be induced by chronic exposure to cellular stress, such as UV light, oxidative stress, or DNA damaging agents. Here we demonstrate that stable expression of an activated form of MKK6 (MKK6EE), a direct activator of the stress-induced p38(HOG) mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, is sufficient for inducing features of senescence including a flattened, vacuolated, and irregular morphology, staining for acidic beta-galactosidase, and accumulation of age-associated pigments. Consistent with the senescent phenotype, p38(HOG) activation induces a G(1) cell cycle arrest, which is permanent and irreversible after 4 days. MKK6EE also induces biochemical features of senescence in a p38-dependent manner, including enhanced expression of p21(CIP), a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor. Microarray analysis of MKK6EE cells showed a pattern of gene expression noted previously in Werner Syndrome and senescent fibroblasts. These results define p38(HOG) as an intracellular pathway that activates a senescence checkpoint in tumor cells and may play a role in Ras- or stress-induced senescence.     

p38MAPK信号通路与uPA在乳腺癌细胞及组织中表达的相关性

背景与目的:p38MAPK信号通路介导多种转移相关基因表达调控,尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活剂(urokinase-type plasminogen activator,uPA)在肿瘤浸润和转移中发挥着重要作用.本实验研究人乳腺癌组织中3种信号分子p-p38、p-Akt、p-Erk及uPA表达与临床病理特征的关系,并分析它们与uPA表达的相关性,探讨p38MAPK通路对乳腺癌uPA蛋白表达的影响,分析p-p38和uPA表达与乳腺癌预后的关系.方法:应用免疫组织化学(SP)法检测p-p38、p-Akt、p-Erk和uPA在60例乳腺癌组织中的表达.Western blot检测人乳腺癌细胞MDA-MB-231及MCF-7中p-p38及uPA蛋白表达及用p38MAPK特异性抑制剂SB203580阻断p38MAPK信号通路后uPA蛋白表达水平的变化.结果:p-p38、p-Akt、p-Erk、uPA蛋白在乳腺癌组织中表达阳性率分别为56.7%、95.0%、93.3%、60.0%.p-p38与uPA表达存在正相关(r=0.316,P＜0.05),并与乳腺癌的TNM分期及淋巴结转移状况相关(P＜0.05),而与患者年龄、肿瘤大小无明显相关性(P＞0.05).p-Akt、p-Erk与uPA表达无明显相关性,p-Akt和p-Erk蛋白表达与乳腺癌的淋巴结转移有关(P＜0.05)而与患者年龄、肿瘤大小、TNM分期均无明显关系(P＞0.05).乳腺癌细胞MDA-MB-231中p-p38及uPA蛋白表达水平高于MCF-7.用SB203580阻断p38MAPK通路可降低uPA蛋白表达水平,且随着SB203580浓度升高uPA表达水平逐渐降低.乳腺癌中p-p38和uPA蛋白的表达与肿瘤的预后显著相关(分别为log-rank=4.98、5.40,P=0.0256、0.0201).结论:p38MAPK信号通路可能通过上调uPA的表达促进乳腺癌的恶性进展,p38MAPK信号通路可能是乳腺癌侵袭和转移的重要途径,p-p38和uPA的表达可辅助用于乳腺癌的预后评估.     

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin activates ERK and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases in RAW 264.7 cells

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a widespread environmental contaminant, exposure to it eliciting a broad spectrum of deleterious pathophysiological effects. Since mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways appear to play an important role in both cell survival and the apoptotic process, we assessed the effects of TCDD on the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38 MAPKs and caspase-3 in RAW 264.7 cells. TCDD treatment induced a transient upshift in ERK activity, followed by a decline, but a concomitant dramatic activation of p38. However, TCDD did not cause any apparent change in the activity of JNK, though it induced an up-regulation in caspase-3 activity. These results demonstrate that the equilibrium between the ERK and p38 pathways is critical to the fate of the cells, and that the activation of p38, upstream of caspase, plays an important role in the apoptotic process. The data obtained in this study also suggests that TCDD activates the MAPK pathway via an arylhydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-independent mechanism in RAW 264.7 murine macrophages.     

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.     

p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases: their role in carcinogenesis

The members of the p38 subfamily of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (MAPKs) are a versatile group of proteins, that function as signal transducers involved in key cellular functions. Initially, p38 MAPKs were associated with inflammatory and cellular stress responses and, as such, p38 has been an important target for anti-inflammatory therapies. Recently, increasing evidence has directly implicated p38 MAPKs in processes essential for cell development, transformation and tumorogenesis, namely: proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, invasion and metastasis. These features make p38 MAPKs potential targets for future anti-neoplastic therapies.