Particulate Matter Facilitates C6 Glioma Cells Activation and the Release of Inflammatory Factors Through MAPK and JAK2/STAT3 Pathways

It has been widely accepted that astrocytes, play a role in regulating almost every physiological system. In the present study, we investigated the role of particulate matter (PM) in regulating activation of astrocytes. The glial cell strain C6 was cloned from a rat glioma which was induced by N-nitrosomethylurea. The C6 cells were plated at a density of 5 × 10⁶ cells/10 cm diameter dish and incubated with different concentrations (0, 12, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 μg/mL) of PM for 24 h and different time (0, 1, 3, 6, 8,12, and 24 h) with 100 μg/mL at 37 °C. The study revealed that PM stimulated the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) as well as the production of IL-1β in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, activation of JAK2/STAT3 and p38/JNK/ERK MAPKs was found in astrocytes following PM treatment. Blockage of JAK and p38/JNK/ERK MAPKs with their specific inhibitors, AG490, SB202190, SP600125 and U0126 significantly reduced PM-induced iNOS expression and IL-1β production. In addition, it was demonstrated that inhibition of p38, JNK and JAK prevented STAT3 tyrosine phosphorylation induced by PM, while blocking ERK did not. MAPKs (p38 and JNK) could regulate tyrosine STAT3 phosphorylation, which suggested that the JAK2/STAT3 pathway might be the downstream of p38/JNK MAPK pathways.     

Prolactin-signal transduction in neonatal rat pancreatic islets and interaction with the insulin-signaling pathway.

During pregnancy, pancreatic islets undergo structural and functional changes in response to an increased demand for insulin. Different hormones, especially placental lactogens, mediate these adaptive changes. Prolactin (PRL) mainly exerts its biological effects by activation of the JAK2/STAT5 pathway. PRL also stimulates some biological effects via activation of IRS-1, IRS-2, PI 3-kinase, and MAPK in different cell lines. Since IRS-2 is important for the maintenance of pancreatic islet cell mass, we investigated whether PRL affects insulin-signaling pathways in neonatal rat islets. PRL significantly potentiated glucose-induced insulin secretion in islets cultured for 7 days. This effect was blocked by the specific PI 3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin. To determine possible effects of PRL on insulin-signaling pathways, fresh islets were incubated with or without the hormone for 5 or 15 min. Immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting with specific antibodies showed that PRL induced a dose-dependent IRS-1 and IRS-2 phosphorylation compared to control islets. PRL-induced increase in IRS-1/-2 phosphorylation was accompanied by an increase in the association with and activation of PI 3-kinase. PRL-induced IRS-2 phosphorylation and its association with PI 3-kinase did not add to the effect of insulin. PRL also induced JAK2, SHC, ERK1 and ERK2 phosphorylation in neonatal islets, demonstrating that PRL can activate MAPK. These data indicate that PRL can stimulate the IRSs/PI 3-kinase and SHC/ERK pathways in islets from neonatal rats.     

Activation of RAW 264.7 cells by Astraeus hygrometricus-derived heteroglucan through MAP kinase pathway

Mushroom-derived polysaccharides like β-glucan are being investigated for therapeutic properties for a long time, but their mode of action of immunomodulatory properties is not well established. In the present study, a heteroglucan from Astraeus hygrometricus designated as AE2 is investigated for its macrophage stimulatory properties using RAW 264.7 cell line. An augmentation of nitric oxide production is observed in the presence of AE2 in a dose-dependent manner due to up-regulation of iNOS (inducible NO synthase) expression; hence NF κB (nuclear factor κB) pathway is investigated. RAW 264.7 cells endured phosphorylation of Ikk (IκB kinase) and subsequently NF κB is translocated to the nucleus. Further, the PKC (protein kinase C) level of the cells enhanced significantly. We also found that AE2 could induce the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase), ERK1/2 (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 1/2), MEK (MAPK/ERK kinase) and JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase), whereas it failed to induce phosphorylation of JAK2 (Janus kinase 2) and STAT1. These results indicated that the macrophage activation by AE2 might be exerted, at least in part, via MAPKs (mitogen-activated protein kinases) pathway of signal transduction.     

Differential activation of MAP kinase family members triggered by CD99 engagement

The molecular basis for the modulatory properties of CD99 is not well understood. Treatment of human Jurkat T lymphocytes with anti-CD99 antibody led to activation of three mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) members, ERK, JNK, and p38 MAPK, along with homotypic aggregation. While phosphorylation of ERK and JNK was inhibited by the pretreatment of a PKC inhibitor, bisindolylmaleimide I, activation of p38 MAPK was upregulated by the same pretreatment. The signaling pathways to MAPKs by CD99 engagement were independent of PI-3 kinase, distinguishing from those by CD3 engagement. Among MAPKs, ERK pathway was essential for homotypic aggregation together with intracytoplasmic Ca(2+).     

Role of mitogen-activated protein kinases in Thy-1-induced T-lymphocyte activation

Thy-1 (CD90) crosslinking by monoclonal antibodies (mAb) in the context of costimulation causes the activation of mouse T-lymphocytes; however, the associated signal transduction processes have not been studied in detail. In this study we investigated the role of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in Thy-1-mediated T-lymphocyte activation using mAb-coated polystyrene microspheres to crosslink Thy-1 and costimulatory CD28 on murine T-lymphocytes. Concurrent Thy-1 and CD28 crosslinking induced DNA synthesis by T-lymphocytes, as well as interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) α chain (CD25) expression. Increased phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2, p38 MAPK, and c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) was also observed. Pharmacologic inhibition of ERK1/2 or JNK activation inhibited Thy-1-induced DNA synthesis and IL-2 production by T-lymphocytes. p38 MAPK inhibition also decreased DNA synthesis in Thy-1-stimulated T-lymphocytes; however, IL-2 production was increased in these cells. Inhibition of JNK, but not ERK1/2 or p38 MAPK, caused a marked reduction in Thy-1-induced CD25 expression. In addition, inhibition of p38 MAPK or JNK, but not ERK1/2, impaired the growth of IL-2-dependent CTLL-2 T-lymphocytes but did not substantially affect CD25 expression. Finally, exogenous IL-2 reversed the inhibitory effect of ERK1/2 or JNK inhibition on Thy-1-stimulated DNA synthesis by T-lymphocytes but did not substantially reverse JNK inhibition of CD25 expression. Collectively, these results suggest that during Thy-1-induced T-lymphocyte activation, ERK1/2 and JNK promoted IL-2 production whereas p38 MAPK negatively regulated IL-2 expression. JNK signalling was also required for CD25 expression. IL-2R signalling involved both p38 MAPK and JNK in CTLL-2 cells, whereas p38 MAPK was most important for IL-2R signalling in primary T-lymphocytes. MAPKs are therefore essential signalling intermediates for the Thy-1-driven proliferation of mouse T-lymphocytes.     

Improved insulin sensitivity with calorie restriction does not require reduced JNK1/2, p38, or ERK1/2 phosphorylation in skeletal muscle of 9-month-old rats

Calorie restriction [CR; ～40% below ad libitum (AL) intake] improves the health of many species, including rats, by mechanisms that may be partly related to enhanced insulin sensitivity for glucose disposal by skeletal muscle. Excessive activation of several mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), including JNK1/2, p38, and ERK1/2 has been linked to insulin resistance. Although insulin can activate ERK1/2, this effect is not required for insulin-mediated glucose uptake. We hypothesized that skeletal muscle from male 9-mo-old Fischer 344/Brown Norway rats CR (35-40% beginning at 3 mo old) versus AL rats would have 1) attenuated activation of JNK1/2, p38, and ERK1/2 under basal conditions; and 2) no difference for insulin-induced ERK1/2 activation. In contrast to our hypothesis, there were significant CR-related increases in the phosphorylation of p38 (epitrochlearis, soleus, and gastrocnemius), JNK1 (epitrochlearis and soleus), and JNK2 (gastrocnemius). Consistent with our hypothesis, CR did not alter insulin-mediated ERK1/2 activation. The greater JNK1/2 and p38 phosphorylation with CR was not attributable to diet effects on muscle oxidative stress (assessed by protein carbonyls and 4-hydroxynonenal protein conjugates). In muscles from the same rats used for the present study, we previously reported a CR-related increase in insulin-mediated glucose uptake by the epitrochlearis and the soleus (Sharma N, Arias EB, Bhat AD, Sequea DA, Ho S, Croff KK, Sajan MP, Farese RV, Cartee GD. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 300: E966-E978, 2011). The present results indicate that the improved insulin sensitivity with CR is not attributable to attenuated MAPK phosphorylation in skeletal muscle.     

Activation of ERK induces phosphorylation of MAPK phosphatase-7, a JNK specific phosphatase,at Ser-446

We previously showed that MKP-7 suppresses MAPK activation in COS-7 cells in the order of selectivity, JNK > p38 > ERK, but interacts with ERK as well as JNK and p38. In this study we found that, when expressed in COS-7 cells with HA-ERK2, the mobility of FLAG-MKP-7 was decreased on SDS-PAGE gels depending on several stimuli, including phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, fetal bovine serum, epidermal growth factor, H2O2, and ionomycin. By using U0126, a MEK inhibitor, and introducing several point mutations, we demonstrated that this upward mobility shift is because of phosphorylation and identified Ser-446 of MKP-7 as the phosphorylation site targeted by ERK activation. To determine how MKP-7 interacts with MAPKs, we identified three domains in MKP-7 required for interaction with MAPKs, namely, putative MAP kinase docking domains (D-domain) I and II and a long COOH-terminal stretch unique to MKP-7. The D-domain I is required for interaction with ERK and p38, whereas the D-domain II is required for interaction with JNK and p38, which is likely to be important for MKP-7 to suppress JNK and p38 activations. The COOH-terminal stretch of MKP-7 was shown to determine JNK preference for MKP-7 by masking MKP-7 activity toward p38 and is a domain bound by ERK. These data strongly suggested that Ser-446 of MKP-7 is phosphorylated by ERK.     

Is sprint exercise a leptin signaling mimetic in human skeletal muscle?

This study was designed to determine whether sprint exercise activates signaling cascades linked to leptin actions in human skeletal muscle and how this pattern of activation may be interfered by glucose ingestion. Muscle biopsies were obtained in 15 young healthy men in response to a 30-s sprint exercise (Wingate test) randomly distributed into two groups: the fasting (n = 7, C) and the glucose group (n = 8, G), who ingested 75 g of glucose 1 h before the Wingate test. Exercise elicited different patterns of JAK2, STAT3, STAT5, ERK1/2, p38 MAPK phosphorylation, and SOCS3 protein expression during the recovery period after glucose ingestion. Thirty minutes after the control sprint, STAT3 and ERK1/2 phosphorylation levels were augmented (both, P < 0.05). SOCS3 protein expression was increased 120 min after the control sprint but PTP1B protein expression was unaffected. Thirty and 120 min after the control sprint, STAT5 phosphorylation was augmented (P < 0.05). Glucose abolished the 30 min STAT3 and ERK1/2 phosphorylation and the 120 min SOCS3 protein expression increase while retarding the STAT5 phosphorylation response to sprint. Activation of these signaling cascades occurred despite a reduction of circulating leptin concentration after the sprint. Basal JAK2 and p38 MAPK phosphorylation levels were reduced and increased (both P < 0.05), respectively, by glucose ingestion prior to exercise. During recovery, JAK2 phosphorylation was unchanged and p38 MAPK phosphorylation was transiently reduced when the exercise was preceded by glucose ingestion. In conclusion, sprint exercise performed under fasting conditions is a leptin signaling mimetic in human skeletal muscle.     

CD40 mediated human cholangiocyte apoptosis requires JAK2 dependent activation of STAT3 in addition to activation of JNK1/2 and ERK1/2

CD40 is critically involved in Fas-mediated cholangiocyte apoptosis during liver inflammation, but the underlying signalling events are poorly understood. Our recent work implicated AP-1 in CD40-induced cholangiocyte apoptosis, but suggested involvement of other signalling pathways. Because STAT3 has been implicated in liver regeneration we investigated this signalling pathway during CD40 mediated cholangiocyte apoptosis. Western immunoblotting, electrophoretic mobility gel shift assays, In situ DNA end labelling and caspase-3 activity were used to investigate intracellular signalling and apoptosis in primary human cholangiocytes following CD40 activation. CD40-activation induced caspase-3 dependent cholangiocyte apoptosis and 3-fold increases in JNK/ERK phosphorylation (concomitant with increased AP-1 binding activity) and 4-fold increases in pSTAT3, which were sustained for up to 24 h. Protein levels of c-Jun, c-Fos and pSTAT3 confirmed the upregulation. Phosphorylation of p38 remained unchanged suggesting that this MAP kinase was not involved in CD40 mediated apoptosis. Increased JAK2 phosphorylation accompanied increased STAT3 phosphorylation after CD40 ligation. Cholangiocytes were also shown to express JAK1 and 3 which was phosphorylated following control stimulation with TNFalpha or IL2 respectively but not after CD40 ligation. JNK, ERK and JAK2 inhibitors partially abrogated apoptosis and when used in combination reduced it to basal levels. In conclusion, induction of CD40-mediated cholangiocyte apoptosis requires JAK2-mediated phosphorylation of STAT3 as well as sustained JNK1/2, ERK1/2 activation. This study demonstrates that STAT3 can function as a proapoptotic factor in primary human liver epithelial cells.     

Sodium orthovanadate suppresses palmitate-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis by regulation of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway

Elevated circulatory free fatty acids (FFAs) especially saturated FFAs, such as palmitate (PA), are detrimental to the heart. However, mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon remain unknown. Here, the role of JAK2/STAT3 in PA-induced cytotoxicity was investigated in cardiomyocytes. We demonstrate that PA suppressed the JAK2/STAT3 pathway by dephosphorylation of JAK2 (Y1007/1008) and STAT3 (Y705), and thus blocked the translocation of STAT3 into the nucleus. Conversely, phosphorylation of S727, another phosphorylated site of STAT3, was increased in response to PA treatment. Pretreatment of JNK inhibitor, but not p38 MAPK inhibitor, inhibited STAT3 (S727) activation induced by PA and rescued the phosphorylation of STAT3 (Y705). The data suggested that JNK may be another upstream factor regulating STAT3, and verified the important function of P-STAT3 (Y705) in PA-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Sodium orthovanadate (SOV), a protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, obviously inhibited PA-induced apoptosis by restoring JAK2/STAT3 pathways. This effect was diminished by STAT3 inhibitor Stattic. Collectively, our data suggested a novel mechanism that the inhibition of JAK2/STAT3 activation was responsible for palmitic lipotoxicity and SOV may act as a potential therapeutic agent by targeting JAK2/STAT3 in lipotoxic cardiomyopathy treatment.     

Sphingosylphosphorylcholine stimulates CCL2 production from human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) is a component of high-density lipoprotein particles. We investigated the functional role of SPC in HUVECs. SPC stimulation induced production of the CCL2 chemokine in a PTX-sensitive G-protein-dependent manner. SPC treatment caused the activation of NF-κB and AP-1, which are essential for SPC-induced CCL2 production, and induced the activation of three MAPKs, ERK, p38 MAPK, and JNK. Inhibition of p38 MAPK or JNK by specific inhibitors caused a dramatic decrease in SPC-induced CCL2 production. The Jak/STAT3 pathway was also activated upon SPC stimulation of HUVECs. Pretreatment with a Jak inhibitor blocked not only SPC-induced p38 MAPK and JNK activation, but also NF-κB and AP-1 activation. Our results suggest that SPC stimulates HUVECs, resulting in Jak/STAT3-, NF-κB-, and AP-1-mediated CCL2 production. We also observed that SPC stimulated expression of the adhesion molecule ICAM-1 in HUVECs. Our results suggest that SPC may contribute to atherosclerosis; therefore, SPC and its unidentified target receptor offer a starting point for the development of a treatment for atherosclerosis.     

Multiple G<Subscript>i</Subscript> Proteins Participate in Nerve Growth Factor-Induced Activation of c-Jun N-terminal Kinases in PC12 Cells

Nerve growth factor (NGF)-mediated activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) is critical for differentiation and apoptosis of PC12 cells. Since NGF employs stress-activated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) to regulate both programmed cell death and neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells, we examined NGF-regulated JNK activity and the role of G_i/o proteins. Induction of JNK phosphorylation by NGF occurred in a time- and dose-dependent manner and was partially inhibited by pertussis toxin (PTX). To discern the participation of various signaling intermediates, PC12 cells were treated with specific inhibitors prior to NGF challenge. NGF-elevated JNK activity was abolished by inhibitors of JNK, p38 MAPK, Src, JAK3 and MEK1/2. NGF-dependent JNK phosphorylation became insensitive to PTX treatment upon transient expressions of Gα_z or the PTX-resistant mutants of Gα_i1–3 and Gα_oA. Collectively, these studies indicate that NGF-dependent JNK activity may be mediated via G_i1–3 proteins, JAK3, Src, p38 MAPK and the MEK/ERK cascade.     

H2S-induced pancreatic acinar cell apoptosis is mediated via JNK and p38 MAP kinase

Treatment of pancreatic acinar cells by hydrogen sulphide has been shown to induce apoptosis. However, a potential role of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in this apoptotic pathway remains unknown. The present study examined the role of MAPKs in H₂S-induced apoptosis in mouse pancreatic acinar cells. Pancreatic acinar cells were treated with 10 μM NaHS (a donor of H₂S) for 3 hrs. For the evaluation of the role of MAPKs, PD98059, SP600125 and SB203580 were used as MAPKs inhibitors for ERK1/2, JNK1/2 and p38 MAPK, respectively. We observed activation of ERK1/2, JNK1/2 and p38 when pancreatic acini were exposed to H₂S. Moreover, H₂S-induced ERK1/2, JNK1/2 and p38 activation were blocked by pre-treatment with their corresponding inhibitor in a dose-dependent manner. H₂S-induced apoptosis led to an increase in caspase 3 activity and this activity was attenuated when caspase 3 inhibitor were used. Also, the cleavage of caspase 3 correlated with that of poly-(ADP-ribose)-polymerase (PARP) cleavage. H₂S treatment induced the release of cytochrome c , smac from mitochondria into the cytoplasm, translocation of Bax into mitochondria and decreased the protein level of Bcl-2. Inhibition of ERK1/2 using PD98059 caused further enhancement of apoptosis as evidenced by annexin V staining, while SP600125 and SB203580 abrogated H₂S-induced apoptosis. Taken together, the data suggest that activation of ERKs promotes cell survival, whereas activation of JNKs and p38 MAP kinase leads to H₂S-induced apoptosis.