Fc gamma receptor cross-linking activates p42, p38, and JNK/SAPK mitogen-activated protein kinases in murine macrophages: role for p42MAPK in Fc gamma receptor-stimulated TNF-alpha synthesis

Fc gamma R cross-linking on murine macrophages resulted in the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family members p42MAPK, p38, and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK)/stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK). The temporal pattern of activation was distinct for each kinase. p42MAPK activation peaked at 5 min after receptor cross-linking, while peak p38 activity occurred 5 to 10 min later. Maximal JNK/SAPK activation occurred 20 min after Fc gamma R cross-linking. The selective MAPK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1 (MEK-1) inhibitor PD 098059 inhibited activation of p42MAPK induced by Fc gamma R cross-linking, but not p38 or JNK/SAPK activation. PD 098059 also inhibited the synthesis of TNF-alpha induced by Fc gamma R cross-linking (IC50 approximately 0.1 microM). Together, these results suggest that 1) the activation of MAPKs may play a role in Fc gammaR signal transduction, and 2) the activation of p42MAPK is necessary for Fc gamma R cross-linking-induced TNF-alpha synthesis.     

T cell proliferation in response to interleukins 2 and 7 requires p38MAP kinase activation

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a potent T cell mitogen. However, the signaling pathways by which IL-2 mediates its mitogenic effect are not fully understood. One of the members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family, p42/44MAPK (ERK2/1), is known to be activated by IL-2. We have now investigated the response to IL-2 of two other members of the MAP kinase family, p54MAP kinase (stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK)/Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK)) and p38MAP kinase (p38/Mpk2/CSBP/RK), which respond primarily to stressful and inflammatory stimuli (e.g. tumor necrosis factor-alpha, IL-1, and lipopolysaccharide). Here we show that IL-2, and another T cell growth factor, IL-7, activate both SAPK/JNK and p38MAP kinase. Furthermore, inhibition of p38MAP kinase activity with a specific pyrinidyl imidazole inhibitor SB203580 that prevents activation of its downstream effector, MAPK-activating protein kinase-2, correlated with suppression of IL-2- and IL-7-driven T cell proliferation. These data indicate that in T cells p38MAP kinase has a role in transducing the mitogenic signal.     

Stress-activated protein kinase-2/p38 and a rapamycin-sensitive pathway are required for C2C12 myogenesis

The differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts to myotubes was found to be accompanied by a strong activation of p70 S6 kinase and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family member SAPK2/p38, without significant activation of p42 MAPK and only slight activation of SAPK1/JNK and protein kinase Balpha. Consistent with these findings, SB 203580 (a specific inhibitor of SAPK2/p38) or rapamycin (which blocks the activation of p70 S6 kinase) prevented the formation of multinucleated myotubes, as well as the expression of muscle-specific proteins that included SAPK3 (another MAPK family member). PD 098059 (which prevents the activation of p42 MAPK) had no effect on myotube formation. Surprisingly, the slow activation of p70 S6 kinase during differentiation was not only prevented by rapamycin but also by SB 203580, and the activation of MAPKAP kinase-2 (an in vivo substrate of SAPK2/p38) was not only prevented by SB 203580 but also by rapamycin. In contrast, the acute activation of p70 S6 kinase in C2C12 myoblasts induced by phorbol esters was unaffected by SB 203580 and the acute activation of MAPKAP kinase-2 induced by anisomycin was unaffected by rapamycin. These results show for the first time that SAPK2/p38 plays an essential role in C2C12 cell differentiation.     

A novel kinase cascade triggered by stress and heat shock that stimulates MAPKAP kinase-2 and phosphorylation of the small heat shock proteins

MAPK-activated protein kinase-2 (MAPKAP kinase-2) is activated in vitro by the p42 and p44 isoforms of MAPK (p42/p44MAPK). In several cell lines, however, MAPKAP kinase-2 is activated by sodium arsenite, heat shock, or osmotic stress and not by agonists that activate p42/p44MAPK. We have identified a MAPK-like enzyme that acts as a MAPKAP kinase-2 reactivating kinase (RK). RK is recognized by an antiserum raised against a Xenopus MAPK (Mpk2), which is most similar to HOG1 from S. cerevisiae. We also identified a RK kinase (RKK) on the basis of its ability to activate either RK or a GST-Mpk2 fusion protein. The RKK, RK, and MAPKAP kinase-2 constitute a new stress-activated signal transduction pathway in vertebrates that is distinct from the classical MAPK cascade.     

Conditional expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1, MKP-1, is cytoprotective against UV-induced apoptosis

UV irradiation induces apoptosis in U937 human leukemic cells that is accompanied by the activation of both the stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction pathways. The MAPK phosphatase, MKP-1, is capable of inactivating both SAPK and p38 MAPK in vivo. To determine whether MKP-1-mediated inhibition of SAPK and/or p38 MAPK activity provided cytoprotection against UV-induced apoptosis, a U937 cell line conditionally expressing MKP-1 from the human metallothionein IIa promoter was established. Conditional expression of MKP-1 was found to abolish UV-induced SAPK and p38 MAPK activity, and inhibit UV-induced apoptosis as judged by both morphological criteria and DNA fragmentation. MKP-1 was also found to inhibit other biochemical events associated with apoptosis, including activation of caspase-3 and the proteolytic cleavage of the caspase-3 substrate, poly(ADP ribose) polymerase. These findings demonstrate that MKP-1 acts at a site upstream of caspase activation within the apoptotic program. The cytoprotective properties of MKP-1 do not appear to be mediated by its ability to inhibit p38 MAPK because the p38 MAPK specific inhibitor SB203580 had no effect on UV-induced apoptosis in U937 cells. Furthermore, by titrating the level of MKP-1 expression it was found that MKP-1 inhibited UV-induced SAPK activity, DNA fragmentation, and caspase-3 activation in a similar dose-dependent manner. The dual-specificity phosphatase, PAC1, which does not inhibit UV-induced activation of SAPK, did not provide a similar cytoprotection against UV-induced apoptosis. These results are consistent with a model whereby MKP-1 provides cytoprotection against UV-induced apoptosis by inhibiting UV-induced SAPK activity.     

Interleukin-1beta-induced cyclooxygenase-2 expression requires activation of both c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase and p38 MAPK signal pathways in rat renal mesangial cells

The inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) induces cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) expression with a concomitant release of prostaglandins from glomerular mesangial cells. We reported previously that IL-1beta rapidly activates the c-Jun NH2-terminal/stress-activated protein kinases (JNK/SAPK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and also induces Cox-2 expression and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production. The current study demonstrates that overexpression of the dominant negative form of JNK1 or p54 JNK2/SAPKbeta reduces Cox-2 expression and PGE2 production stimulated by IL-1beta. Similarly, overexpression of the kinase-dead form of p38 MAPK also inhibits IL-1beta-induced Cox-2 expression and PGE2 production. These results suggest that activation of both JNK/SAPK and p38 MAPK is required for Cox-2 expression after IL-1beta activation. Furthermore, our experiments confirm that IL-1beta activates MAP kinase kinase-4 (MKK4)/SEK1, MKK3, and MKK6 in renal mesangial cells. Overexpression of the dominant negative form of MKK4/SEK1 decreases IL-1beta- induced Cox-2 expression with inhibition of both JNK/SAPK and p38 MAPK phosphorylation. Overexpression of the kinase-dead form of MKK3 or MKK6 demonstrated that either of these two mutant kinases inhibited IL-1beta-induced p38 MAPK phosphorylation and Cox-2 expression but not JNK/SAPK phosphorylation and activation. This study suggests that the activation of both JNK/SAPK and p38 MAPK signaling cascades is required for IL-1beta-induced Cox-2 expression and PGE2 synthesis.     

p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinases activation is required for the insulin-like growth factor-I/insulin induced proliferation, but inhibits differentiation, in rat fetal brown adipocytes

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I)/insulin induced cytosolic p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation in a time-dependent manner in fetal brown adipocytes, reaching a maximum at 5 min. Concurrently, nuclear p42/p44 MAPKs were also activated by IGF-I and insulin. This cytosolic and nuclear MAPK activation was totally prevented by pretreatment with the MAPK kinase (MEK1) inhibitor, PD98059. These results indicate that MEK mediates the IGF-I/insulin-induced p42/ p44 MAPK activation. IGF-I and insulin also increased the number of cells in the S + G2/M phases of the cell cycle, PCNA levels, and DNA synthesis at 24 h. This IGF-I/insulin-induced proliferation was completely blunted by the presence of MEK1 inhibitor. In contrast, inhibition of MEK1 potentiated the IGF-I-induced uncoupling protein (UCP-1) and the insulin-induced fatty acid synthase mRNAs expression after short and long-term treatments. Moreover, transient expression of a transfected active MEK construct (R4F) decreased IGF-I-induced UCP-1 and insulin-induced fatty acid synthase mRNA expression. These results demonstrate that p42/p44 MAPKs are essential intermediates for the IGF-I/insulin-induced mitogenesis, but may have a negative role in the regulation of adipocytic and thermogenic differentiation in brown adipocytes.     

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 induce activation of MAP kinase and SAP kinase in human neuroma fibroblasts

Two cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1 (IL-1), which are released by macrophages during the early inflammatory phase of nerve injury, are known to induce activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK), which locate at different signal transduction pathways and are involved in cell cycle G0/G1 transition and cellular proliferation in human fibroblasts. Activation of these two protein kinases by the cytokines may stimulate fibroblast proliferation in damaged nerves and thereby play a role in the formation of a neuroma, a disorganized mass of tissue that interferes with neural regeneration and repair. To investigate the possibility that this mechanism is operative in neuroma formation, we used cultured, serum-starved fibroblasts from surgically removed human neuromas stimulated with TNF-alpha and/or IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta, and measured the activation of MAPK and SAPK using myelin basic protein (MBP) and human c-Jun (1-169) glutathione S-agarose transferase (GST) fusion protein as substrates. For comparison, neuroma fibroblast cultures were also stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and platelet-derived growth factor-AB (PDGF-AB), a potent activator for MAPK. TNF-alpha and both forms of IL-1 produced a rapid activation of MAPK, with a peak at 15 min for TNF-alpha stimulation, and a peak at 30 min for IL-1 stimulation. TNF-alpha combined with either IL-1 alpha or IL-1 beta produced a synergistic effect on the activation of MAPK. The increases in MAPK induced by TNF-alpha and IL-1 were similar to the increases induced by PMA and PDGF-AB. To confirm the presence of MAPK, immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting were carried out on experimental and control lysates. TNF-alpha and IL-1 also increased activation of SAPK, but to a lesser extent than MAPK. PMA and PDGF-AB were also much less effective in stimulating activation of SAPK. Our findings indicate that TNF-alpha and IL-1 activate parallel signal transduction pathways in human neuroma fibroblasts, and that they are relatively stronger activators of MAPK than of SAPK. Previous studies have convincingly demonstrated that MAPK and SAPK are involved in human fibroblast proliferation. The results of our study suggest that TNF-alpha and IL-1 may play a role in frustrating functional nerve regeneration after injury by stimulating these two kinases, which, in turn, leads to fibroblast proliferation and formation of neuromas.     

Activation of the p42 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway inhibits Cdc2 activation and entry into M-phase in cycling Xenopus egg extracts

We have added constitutively active MAP kinase/ERK kinase (MEK), an activator of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, to cycling Xenopus egg extracts at various times during the cell cycle. p42MAPK activation during entry into M-phase arrested the cell cycle in metaphase, as has been shown previously. Unexpectedly, p42MAPK activation during interphase inhibited entry into M-phase. In these interphase-arrested extracts, H1 kinase activity remained low, Cdc2 was tyrosine phosphorylated, and nuclei continued to enlarge. The interphase arrest was overcome by recombinant cyclin B. In other experiments, p42MAPK activation by MEK or by Mos inhibited Cdc2 activation by cyclin B. PD098059, a specific inhibitor of MEK, blocked the effects of MEK(QP) and Mos. Mos-induced activation of p42MAPK did not inhibit DNA replication. These results indicate that, in addition to the established role of p42MAPK activation in M-phase arrest, the inappropriate activation of p42MAPK during interphase prevents normal entry into M-phase.     

The A and the extended V N-terminal regions of streptococcal protein I/IIf mediate the production of tumour necrosis factor alpha in the monocyte cell line THP-1

Signal transduction is ubiquitously involved in the initiation of physiological signals that lead to growth and proliferation of cells. The signaling cascade mediated by the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is considered essential for T cell growth and function. Therefore, it was of interest to determine the influence of age on the induction of MAPK in mitogen-activated T cells. T cells from young (4-6 months) and old (24-26 months) rats responded to concanavalin A (Con A) stimulation by increasing MAPK, c-jun amino terminal kinase (JNK), and p21ras activities. The time course of induction of MAPK/JNK and p21ras activities was similar in T cells isolated from young and old rats. The induction of JNK activity did not change significantly with age; however, the induction of MAPK and p21ras activities was significantly less (50 to 65%) in T cells from old rats than in T cells from young rats. Although the relative protein levels of p42 and p44 MAPK did not change with age, the proportion of the phosphorylated p44 MAPK decreased with age. In addition, it was found that the in vitro kinase activities of the T cell receptor-associated protein tyrosine kinase Lck (p56Lck) and ZAP-70 but not Fyn (p59Fyn) were lower in T cells from old rats than in T cells from young rats. The decline in activities of these signaling molecules with age was not associated with changes in their corresponding protein levels. Thus, our results demonstrate that aging alters the activation of the signal transduction cascade that leads to T cell activation.     

Mammalian mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways are regulated through formation of specific kinase-activator complexes

Mammalian cells contain at least three signaling systems which are structurally related to the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Growth factors acting through Ras primarily stimulate the Raf/MEK/MAPK cascade of protein kinases. In contrast, many stress-related signals such as heat shock, inflammatory cytokines, and hyperosmolarity induce the MEKK/SEK(MKK4)/SAPK(JNK) and/or the MKK3 or MKK6/p38(hog) pathways. Physiological agonists of these pathway types are either qualitatively or quantitatively distinct, suggesting few common proximal signaling elements, although past studies performed in vitro, or in cells using transient over-expression, reveal interaction between the components of all three pathways. These studies suggest a high degree of cross-talk apparently not seen in vivo. We have examined the possible molecular basis of the differing agonist profiles of these three MAPK pathways. We report preferential association between MAP kinases and their activators in eukaryotic cells. Furthermore, using the yeast 2-hybrid system, we show that association between these components can occur independent of additional eukaryotic proteins. We show that SAPK(JNK) or p38(hog) activation is specifically impaired by co-expression of cognate dominant negative MAP kinase kinase mutants, demonstrating functional specificity at this level. Further divergence and insulation of the stress pathways occurs proximal to the MAPK kinases since activation of the MAPK kinase kinase MEKK results in SAPK(JNK) activation but does not cause p38(hog) phosphorylation. Therefore, in intact cells, the three MAPK pathways may be independently regulated and their components show specificity in their interaction with cognate cascade members. The degree of intermolecular specificity suggests that mammalian MAPK signaling pathways may remain distinct without the need for specific scaffolding proteins to sequester components of individual pathways.     

Activation of p42 mitogen-activated protein kinase in hippocampal long term potentiation

Although classically studied as regulators of cell proliferation and differentiation, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are highly expressed in post-mitotic neurons of the adult nervous system. We have begun investigating the potential role of MAPKs in the regulation of synaptic plasticity in mature neurons. In particular, we have studied the regulation of two MAPK isoforms, p44 and p42 MAPK, in hippocampal long term potentiation (LTP), a system widely studied as a model for the cellular basis of learning and memory. We have found that p42 MAPK, but not p44 MAPK, is activated in area CA1 following direct stimulation of two required components of the LTP induction cascades: protein kinase C and the N-methyl--aspartate (NMDA) subtype of glutamate receptor. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that p42 MAPK, but not p44 MAPK, is activated in area CA1 in response to LTP-inducing high frequency stimulation and that this activation requires NMDA receptor stimulation. These data demonstrate that p42 MAPK can be regulated in an activity-dependent manner in the hippocampus and identify it as a potential component of the LTP induction cascades in area CA1. Such observations suggest that p42 MAPK might be an important regulator of synaptic plasticity in post-mitotic neurons.     

Evidence for involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinase, rather than stress-activated protein kinase, in potentiation of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine-induced apoptosis by interruption of protein kinase C signaling

The stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades mediate cytotoxic and cytoprotective functions, respectively, in the regulation of leukemic cell survival. Involvement of these signaling systems in the cytotoxicity of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C) and modulation of ara-C lethality by protein kinase C PKC inhibition/down-regulation was examined in HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells. Exposure to ara-C (10 microM) for 6 hr promoted extensive apoptotic DNA damage and cell death, as well as activation of PKC. This response was accompanied by downstream activation of the SAPK and MAPK cascades. PKC-dependent MAPK activity seemed to limit ara-C action in that the toxicity of ara-C was enhanced by pharmacological reductions of PKC, MAPK, or both. Thus, ara-C action was (1) partially attenuated by diradylglycerols, which stimulated PKC and MAPK, but (2) dramatically amplified by sphingoid bases, which inhibited PKC and MAPK. The cytotoxicity of ara-C also was substantially increased by pharmacological reductions of PKC, including down-regulation of PKC by chronic preexposure to the macrocyclic lactone bryostatin 1 or inhibition of PKC by acute coexposure to the dihydrosphingosine analog safingol. Significantly, both of these manipulations prevented activation of MAPK by ara-C. Moreover, acute disruption of the MAPK module by AMF, a selective inhibitor of MEK1, suppressed both basal and drug-stimulated MAPK activity and sharply increased the cytotoxicity of ara-C, suggesting the direct involvement of MAPK as a downstream antiapoptotic effector for PKC. None of these chemopotentiating agents enhanced ara-CTP formation. Ceramide-driven SAPK activity did not seem to mediate drug-induced apoptosis, given that (1) neutralization of endogenous tumor necrosis factor-alpha with monoclonal antibodies or soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor substantially reduced ceramide generation and SAPK activation by ara-C, whereas the induction of apoptosis was unaffected; (2) pharmacological inhibition of sphingomyelinase by 3-O-methoxysphingomyelin reduced ceramide generation and SAPK activation without limiting the drug's cytotoxicity; and (3) potentiation of ara-C action by bryostatin 1 or safingol was not associated with further stimulation of SAPK. These observations collectively suggest a primary role for decreased MAPK, rather than increased SAPK, in the potentiation of ara-C cytotoxicity by interference with PKC-dependent signaling.     

Mechanical stretch induces hypertrophic responses in cardiac myocytes of angiotensin II type 1a receptor knockout mice

Many lines of evidence have suggested that angiotensin II (AngII) plays an important role in the development of cardiac hypertrophy through AngII type 1 receptor (AT1). To determine whether AngII is indispensable for the development of mechanical stress-induced cardiac hypertrophy, we examined the activity of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family and the expression of the c-fos gene as hypertrophic responses after stretching cultured cardiac myocytes of AT1a knockout (KO) mice. When cardiac myocytes were stretched by 20% for 10 min, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases (ERKs) were strongly activated in KO cardiomyocytes as well as wild type (WT) myocytes. Both basal and stimulated levels of ERKs were higher in cardiomyocytes of KO mice than in those of WT mice. Activation of another member of the MAPK family, p38(MAPK), and expression of the c-fos gene were also induced by stretching cardiac myocytes of both types of mice. An AT1 antagonist attenuated stretch-induced activation of ERKs in WT cardiomyocytes but not in KO cardiomyocytes. Down-regulation of protein kinase C inhibited stretch-induced ERK activation in WT cardiomyocytes, whereas a broad spectrum tyrosine kinase inhibitor (genistein) and selective inhibitors of epidermal growth factor receptor (tyrphostin, AG1478, and B42) suppressed stretch-induced activation of ERKs in KO cardiac myocytes. Epidermal growth factor receptor was phosphorylated at tyrosine residues by stretching cardiac myocytes of KO mice. These results suggest that mechanical stretch could evoke hypertrophic responses in cardiac myocytes that lack the AT1 signaling pathway possibly through tyrosine kinase activation.