A relaxin-mediated pathway to preterm premature rupture of the fetal membranes that is independent of infection

The MAP kinase pathway has been shown to be active in many growth factor signaling systems, including that of prolactin (PRL). In our studies, the main objective was to examine the possible involvement of MEK kinases (Map/Erk kinase kinases) in PRL-stimulated mitogenic and lactogenic processes. We used the MEK kinase inhibitor PD 098059 to block MEK kinase activation in the Nb2 cell line and mammary gland explants derived from 12- to 14-day pregnancy mice. PD 098059 attenuated PRL-induced Nb2 cell mitogenesis at 10 microM and a maximum inhibition was observed at 100 microM. In cultured mammary tissues, PD 098059 at 100 microM had no effect on the PRL stimulation of lipid, casein and lactose synthesis and iodide uptake. Further, the growth-inhibitory effect of PD 098059 on Nb2 cells was ameliorated when the drug was removed from the culture medium, indicating that PD 098059 acts in a reversible manner. When MEK1 was immunoprecipitated from PD 098059 and/or PRL treated Nb2 cells, PRL-stimulated MEK1 kinase activity was directly inhibited by PD 098059 at concentrations employed in the culture experiments. PRL has no effect on the tyrosyl phosphorylation of MAP kinases in cultured mammary tissues derived from pregnant mice, whereas earlier we found that PRL stimulates the tyrosyl phosphorylation of all four MAP kinases in Nb2 cells. The results suggest that the MAP kinase pathway plays an important role in the PRL stimulation of Nb2 cell mitogenesis but is not involved in the PRL stimulation of milk product synthesis.