Rottlerin 通过抑制 PKCδ-ERK1/2 通路减轻6-羟基多巴胺所致多巴胺能细胞凋亡

近来发现新的蛋白激酶C δ亚型（PKCδ）的磷酸化激活与帕金森病（PD）中神经元的缺失有关.我们的前期研究发现, PKCδ 磷酸化参与6-羟基多巴胺引起的多巴胺能细胞的毒性作用,但其具体机制尚不清楚.本研究以TUNEL检测发现,6-羟基多巴胺引起较显著的细胞凋亡,PKC δ 抑制剂 Rottlerin 可减轻6-羟基多巴胺诱导的凋亡,总PKC抑制剂Bis、钙依赖性PKC（α和β）抑制剂Go6976对6-羟基多巴胺诱导的凋亡无影响.采用Western免疫印迹杂交实验发现,6-羟基多巴胺持续性激活 ERK 1/2 和PKC δ, Rottlerin既可抑制PKCδ的磷酸化激活,又可抑制ERK的磷酸化激活,而 MEK 抑制剂 U0126 仅能抑制 ERK 1/2 磷酸化激活,对 PKC δ 磷酸化却无显著影响.这说明 PKCδ 是6-羟基多巴胺持续性激活 ERK 1/2 的上游激酶.本研究结果提示,在凋亡过程中PKCδ仍然是ERK1/2激活的上游激酶,阻断PKCδ磷酸化可阻断ERK1/2持续激活.Rottlerin正是由于阻断PKCδ的激活,进一步阻断ERK1/2持续激活,减轻多巴胺能细胞的凋亡.因此, Rottlerin 可能对防治帕金森病患者神经元缺失有一定作用.     

PKCδ与JNK共同调控喜树碱诱导的白血病细胞凋亡

采用流式细胞术、蛋白质免疫印迹法检测了喜树碱诱导白血病细胞凋亡过程中蛋白激酶Cδ(protein kinase Cδ,PKCδ)与c-Jun氨基末端激酶(c-Jun N-termital kinase,JNK)的作用。结果发现,50 nmol/L喜树碱诱导处理U937细胞24、36或48 h后,细胞发生明显凋亡,并且PKCδ和JNK均被激活。用化学抑制剂rottlerin抑制PKCδ的活化可以降低喜树碱诱导细胞凋亡过程中JNK的磷酸化,进而抑制细胞凋亡;而用化学抑制剂SP600125抑制JNK的磷酸化也会降低PKCδ的剪切活化,进而一定程度地阻断细胞凋亡;同时,JNK抑制剂SP600125也可以阻断过表达PKCδ活性片段诱导的细胞凋亡。这些结果提示,PKCδ和JNK介导的信号通路可以相互调控,共同促进细胞凋亡。该研究对理解细胞凋亡的精细调控机制以及肿瘤的治疗都有一定的借鉴意义。     

热损伤诱导单核细胞株Raw264.7凋亡及其分子机制的初步研究

为探讨热损伤诱导细胞死亡的模式与分子机制,采用流式细胞仪、DNA凝胶电泳、透射电镜观察热损伤诱导单核细胞株Raw264.7凋亡发生的动力学变化及分子机制。结果显示热损伤能显著诱导单核细胞株Raw264.7调亡;有效降低Bcl-2蛋白表达,而上调Bax蛋白表达。这说明细胞凋亡是离体细胞在热损伤作用下重要的死亡方式之一,bcl-2/bax比例减少可能是热损伤诱导单核细胞株Raw264.7细胞凋亡的分子机制之一。     

ERK1/2信号通路活化对Tamoxifen所致胶质瘤细胞凋亡的影响

为了探讨ERK1/2信号通路在他莫昔芬(tamoxifen, TAM)所致胶质瘤细胞凋亡中的作用,以C6和U87MG胶质瘤细胞为研究对象,经TAM处理后,采用MTT法检测细胞的存活率;倒置显微镜和DAPI染色观察细胞的形态;流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡; Western-blot法检测细胞内ERK1/2磷酸化水平。最后应用ERK1/2抑制剂(PD98059)与TAM共同作用,观察其对胶质瘤细胞内ERK1/2磷酸化水平和细胞凋亡的影响。实验结果显示:TAM可呈浓度和时间依赖性地抑制胶质瘤细胞生长; TAM处理组的细胞凋亡明显增加且呈浓度依赖性;TAM能增加细胞内ERK1/2磷酸化水平;以PD98059阻断ERK1/2的激活,能增强TAM诱导细胞凋亡的作用。实验结果表明TAM能够抑制胶质瘤细胞生长和促进其细胞凋亡, ERK1/2信号通路的激活参与调控TAM所致胶质瘤细胞凋亡。     

花生四烯酸诱导肌球蛋白磷酸化被抑制的平滑肌细胞 迁移的信号传导途径

在应用肌球蛋白轻链激酶特异抑制剂ML-7抑制了肌球蛋白轻链磷酸化后,花生四烯酸(arachidonic acid,AA)仍可诱导兔血管平滑肌细胞（SM3）发生迁移.为了进一步阐明其信号传导途径,应用多种信号抑制剂,采用免疫印迹、Boyden小室和提取细胞膜蛋白等实验方法,对上述迁移作用的信号传导途径进行了深入的研究.结果显示,PTX（Gi蛋白抑制剂）、U73122（PLC抑制剂）、staurosporine (PKC抑制剂)、PD98059（ERK1/2抑制剂）和SB203580（p38抑制剂）分别可拮抗上述AA诱导的SM3细胞迁移作用,而SP600125（JNK抑制剂）的作用较弱.免疫印迹结果显示,AA可提高SM3细胞中PKC(ε)、ERK1/2、p38和JNK信号的磷酸化水平,呈时间依赖性, PTX或U73122可抑制上述作用;staurosporine可抑制由AA 引起的ERK1/2和JNK的磷酸化水平增强,但对p38的磷酸化水平无影响.还发现AA可促进PLCβ2的细胞膜移位, PTX可抑制其作用.上述结果表明,当肌球蛋白轻链的磷酸化被抑制后, AA可通过Gi蛋白的活化促进PLCβ2向细胞膜移位,进而通过激活PKC(ε)、ERK1/2、p38和JNK等信号转导途径而诱导SM3细胞发生迁移     

JNK激酶介导mGluR1对细胞凋亡的不同效应

代谢型谷氨酸受体1（mGluR1）可以通过激活多条信号通路促进或抑制细胞凋亡.然而,导致这种生理功能差异的机制尚不明确.本研究选用两种细胞系,即大鼠神经胶质瘤细胞系（C6）和人胚胎肾细胞（HEK293）分别研究内源性和外源转染的mGluR1的激活对细胞凋亡的影响及其调节机制. 结果显示,内源性mGluR1的活化能够激活PI3K/ERK/JNK通路,抑制凋亡试剂STS诱导的细胞凋亡;而外源转染的mGluR1的活化能够分别激活PI3K/ERK和JNK通路,同时促进STS诱导的应激损伤. HEK293细胞中,应用JNK通路抑制剂SP600125,能够部分抑制由mGluR1激活介导的caspase 3的剪切和细胞凋亡;而在C6细胞中阻断JNK通路,则加剧了由mGluR1活化而引起的细胞凋亡. 本文结果提示：mGluR1通过不同信号通路影响细胞凋亡,其中JNK通路可能是调控细胞凋亡的关键途径.本文为受体激活对细胞凋亡能够产生不同的调控作用提供了相应的证据.     

PKC对原代培养神经元NF-кB表达的影响

用蛋白激酶C（PKC）刺激剂佛波醇酯（PMA）和PKC抑制剂Rottlerin处理培养神经元,RT—PCR法检测神经元NF—xBp65 mRNA的表达;用PMA和NF—κB抑制剂TPCK处理培养神经元,流式细胞术AnnexinV／PI法检测细胞早期凋亡率。观察PKC对原代培养神经元核转录因子kappaB（NF～KB）表达的影响,探讨PKC参与缺血性神经元损伤的可能机制。结果显示PKC可促进NF—κB的表达;NF—κB可诱导培养神经元的早期凋亡。由此可以得出PKC激活参与神经元的损伤可能是通过引起神经元内NF—κB的表达而实现的.     

酸性鞘磷脂水解酶和MAPK信号通路在UVA诱导细胞凋亡中的作用

为了探讨酸性鞘磷脂水解酶 (ASM)和MAPK信号通路在UVA诱导的细胞凋亡中的作用 ,用DNA梯形条带 (DNAladder)和荧光显微镜鉴定细胞凋亡 ,Western印迹分析MAPK信号通路的激活情况 .结果显示 :①经UVA照射 ,正常的淋巴母细胞JY出现严重的细胞凋亡 ,而ASM遗传性缺陷的淋巴母细胞MS1 4 1 8出现轻微凋亡 ;给予ASM特异性抑制剂NB6 ,UVA诱导的JY细胞凋亡明显减轻 ,表明UVA诱导的细胞凋亡依赖于ASM .②UVA照射后 ,磷酸化ERK含量在MS1 4 1 8细胞中明显升高 ,在JY细胞中受到抑制 ;UVA照射前给予NB6 ,JY细胞中磷酸化ERK含量上升 ,表明ASM能抑制ERK的激活 .③UVA照射后 ,磷酸化JNK含量在MS1 4 1 8细胞中几乎没有变化 ,而在JY细胞中含量升高 ;UVA照射前给予NB6 ,JY细胞中磷酸化JNK含量没有明显升高 ,表明ASM激活JNK通路 .④NB6对UVA激活的p38MAPK信号通路没有影响 ,表明p38的激活与ASM关系不大 .研究表明 ,UVA诱导的细胞凋亡是通过激活ASM、激活JNK信号通路并抑制ERK信号通路来完成的     

丝裂原活化的细胞外信号调节激酶在金黄色葡萄球菌诱导的U937细胞凋亡中的作用

目的探讨细胞外信号调节激酶（ERK1／2）在金黄色葡萄球菌（简称金葡菌）诱导的人巨噬细胞系U937细胞凋亡中的作用。方法采用AnnexinVFITc／PI双染流式细胞仪检测U937细胞凋亡,用Westernblotting方法分析不同作用时间MEK和ERK1／2的磷酸化水平。预先用不同浓度的PD98059（ERK途径抑制剂）处理U937细胞1h,观察金葡菌感染30min后U937细胞的凋亡情况。结果U937细胞经过金葡菌处理后,发生凋亡,细胞凋亡率呈时间依赖性升高;随着感染时间的延长,MEK和ERK1／2的磷酸化水平逐渐增加,尤以ERK2比较明显。U937细胞的凋亡可被PD98059抑制。结论金葡菌以时间依赖的方式诱导U937细胞凋亡;金葡菌诱导U937细胞凋亡的效应与激活ERK1／2信号转导通路有关。     

Overexpression of protein kinase C isoforms protects RAW 264.7 macrophages from nitric oxide-induced apoptosis: involvement of c-Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase, p38 kinase, and CPP-32 protease pathways

Nitric oxide (NO) induces apoptotic cell death in murine RAW 264.7 macrophages. To elucidate the inhibitory effects of protein kinase C (PKC) on NO-induced apoptosis, we generated clones of RAW 264.7 cells that overexpress one of the PKC isoforms and explored the possible interactions between PKC and three structurally related mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases in NO actions. Treatment of RAW 264.7 cells with sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO-generating agent, activated both c-Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK) and p38 kinase, but did not activate extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-1 and ERK-2. In addition, SNP-induced apoptosis was slightly blocked by the selective p38 kinase inhibitor (SB203580) but not by the MAP/ERK1 kinase inhibitor (PD098059). PKC transfectants (PKC-beta II, -delta, and -eta) showed substantial protection from cell death induced by the exposure to NO donors such as SNP and S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO). In contrast, in RAW 264.7 parent or in empty vector-transformed cells, these NO donors induced internucleosomal DNA cleavage. Moreover, overexpression of PKC isoforms significantly suppressed SNP-induced JNK/SAPK and p38 kinase activation, but did not affect ERK-1 and -2. We also explored the involvement of CPP32-like protease in the NO-induced apoptosis. Inhibition of CPP32-like protease prevented apoptosis in RAW 264.7 parent cells. In addition, SNP dramatically activated CPP32 in the parent or in empty vector-transformed cells, while slightly activated CPP32 in PKC transfectants. Therefore, we conclude that PKC protects NO-induced apoptotic cell death, presumably nullifying the NO-mediated activation of JNK/SAPK, p38 kinase, and CPP32-like protease in RAW 264.7 macrophages.     

Modulation of nitric oxide-induced apoptotic death of HL-60 cells by protein kinase C and protein kinase A through mitogen-activated protein kinases and CPP32-like protease pathways.

To define the signaling pathways during NO-induced apoptotic events and their possible modulation by two protein kinase systems, we explored the involvement of three structurally related mitogen-activated protein kinase subfamilies. Exposure of HL-60 cells to sodium nitroprusside (SNP) strongly activated p38 kinase, but did not activate c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). In addition, SNP-induced apoptosis was markedly blocked by the selective p38 kinase inhibitor (SB203580) but not by MEK1 kinase inhibitor (PD098059), indicating that p38 kinase serves as a mediator of NO-induced apoptosis. In contrast, treatment of cells with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) strongly activated not only JNK but also ERK, while not affecting p38 kinase. However, although SNP by itself weakly activated CPP32-like protease, SNP in combination with PMA markedly increased the extent of CPP32-like protease activation. Interestingly, N6,O2-dibutylyl cAMP (DB-cAMP) significantly blocked SNP- or SNP plus PMA-induced activation of CPP32-like protease and the resulting induction of apoptosis. DB-cAMP also blocked PMA-induced JNK activation. Collectively, these findings demonstrate the presence of specific up- or down-modulatory mechanisms of cell death pathway by NO in which (1) p38 kinase serves as a mediator of NO-induced apoptosis, (2) PKC acts at the point and/or upstream of JNK and provides signals to potentiate NO-induced CPP32-like protease activation, and (3) PKA lies upstream of either JNK or CPP32-like protease to protect NO- or NO plus PMA-induced apoptotic cell death in HL-60 cells.     

Cooperation between PKC-alpha and PKC-epsilon in the regulation of JNK activation in human lung cancer cells

Phorbol esters can induce activation of two mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway and the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway. Unlike ERK activation, JNK activation by phorbol esters is somehow cell-specific. However, the mechanism(s) that contribute to the cell-specific JNK activation remain elusive. In this study, we found that phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) induced JNK activation only in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, but not in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells, whereas ERK activation was detected in both cell types. In NSCLC cells, PMA induced JNK activation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. JNK activation was attenuated by protein kinase C (PKC) down-regulation through prolonged pre-treatment with PMA and significantly inhibited by PKC inhibitors G?6976 and GF109203X. Subcellular localization studies demonstrated that PMA induced translocation of PKC-alpha, -betaII, and -epsilon isoforms, but not PKC-delta, from the cytosol to the membrane. Analysis of various PKC isoforms revealed that PKC-epsilon was exclusively absent in the SCLC cell lines tested. Ectopic expression of PKC-epsilon in SCLC cells restored PMA activation of JNK signaling only in the presence of PKC-alpha, suggesting that PKC-alpha and PKC-epsilon act cooperatively in regulating JNK activation in response to PMA. Furthermore, using dominant negative mutants and pharmacological inhibitors, we define that a putative Rac1/Cdc42/PKC-alpha pathway is convergent with the PKC-epsilon/MEK1/2 pathway in terms of the activation of JNK by PMA.     

Humanin delays apoptosis in K562 cells by downregulation of P38 MAP kinase

Humanin (HN) is a newly identified neuroprotective peptide. In this study, we investigated its antiapoptotic effect and the potential mechanisms in K562 cells. Upon serum deprivation, expression of HN in K562 cells decreased and its intracellular distribution changed from cytoplasm to cell membrane. In HN stably transfected K562 cells, apoptosis was delayed compared with control vector transfected cells as measured by flow cytometry. Furthermore, analysis of different mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases activity revealed that extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway was inhibited while p38 signaling was activated following serum deprivation in K562 cells. And in HN transfected K562 cells, ERK downregulation was not affected, but p38 activation was suppressed, which may responsible for the delayed apoptosis in these cells. Activation of the ERK signaling pathway by phorbol myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and sorbitol protected K562 cells from serum deprivation induced apoptosis. Additionally, overexpression of HN reduced megakaryocytic differentiation of K562 cells. The present data outline the role of ERK and p38 MAP kinases in serum deprivation induced apoptosis in K562 cells and figure out p38 signaling pathway as molecular target for HN delaying apoptosis in K562 cells.     

A common pathway in differentiation and inflammation: p38 mediates expression of the acute phase SIP24 iron binding lipocalin in chondrocytes

SIP24 is an acute phase iron binding lipocalin physiologically expressed in vivo in developing cartilage by prehypertrophic/hypertrophic chondrocytes. Taking advantage of the chondrocytic cell line MC615 and using SIP24 as a marker we investigated the pathways active in cartilage differentiation and inflammation. MC615 cells were cultured as: (i) proliferating prechondrogenic cells expressing type I collagen (ii) differentiated hyperconfluent cells expressing Sox9 and type II collagen. In proliferating cells the pathway PKC/ERK1, ERK2 was activated and SIP24 was not expressed while in differentiated cells the pathway p38/NF-kappaB was activated and SIP24 was expressed. Proliferating cells treated with inflammatory agents expressed a large amount of SIP24 and showed activation of p38/NF-kappaB pathway and inhibition of PKC/ERK1, ERK2 pathway indicating that in inflammation and differentiation the same factors are activated (p38, NF-kappaB) or inactivated (PKC, ERKs). Treatment of proliferating cells with the p38 specific inhibitor SB203580 inhibited the inflammation induced activation of p38 and the synthesis of SIP24. PMA treatment induced activation of PKC, inactivation of p38 and suppression of SIP24 synthesis, suggesting that PKC activation inhibits p38 activation. In differentiated hyperconfluent cells the same factors (p38/NF-kappaB/SIP24) are constitutively activated: treatment with inflammatory agents does not increase synthesis of SIP24 while treatment with SB203580 and with PMA does not repress activation of p38 nor synthesis of SIP24. We propose that the SIP24 stress related protein is expressed via p38 activation/NF-kappaB recruitment both in chondrocyte differentiation and inflammation and that a signaling pathway active in the acute phase response is physiologically activated in differentiation.     

Trp-Lys-Tyr-Met-Val-Met activates mitogen-activated protein kinase via a PI-3 kinase-mediated pathway independent of PKC

Trp-Lys-Tyr-Met-Val-Met (WKYMVM) is a novel potent peptide which can stimulate phosphoinositide hydrolysis in U937 as well as U266 and HL-60 cells (Baek et al., J. Biol. Chem. 271, 8170 (1996)). The peptide also induces superoxide generation in human neutrophils (Seo et al., J. Immunol. 158, 1896 (1997)). However, the signaling pathway down-stream of PLC set in motion by the peptide is not yet completely understood. We studied the signaling pathway of the peptide with the goal of elucidating the mechanism of the peptide's action. WKYMVM induced a rapid and transient activation of the ERKs in human histiocytic lymphoma cells, U937. The ERK1 activation peaked at 5 min and returned to the basal level after 30 min. The ERK1 stimulation by the peptide was partially inhibited by pretreatment of the cells with pertussis toxin (PTX), implicating G-protein involvement in the peptide's action. Pretreatment of staurosporine, protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, or PKC down-regulating PMA had no impact on the ERK1 activation by the peptide, indicating that the signaling pathway is independent of PKC activation. Pretreatment of the cells with neomycin and intracellular Ca2+ mobilizing reagents had also no effect on the ERK1 activation by the peptide. However, pretreatment with wortmannin or LY294002, the inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI-3K), strongly inhibited peptide-stimulated ERK1 activation. Our results suggest that PI-3K may be an important participant in the ERK cascade induced by the peptide. Furthermore, the treatment of U937 cells with the peptide activated p74Raf-1, an upstream kinase of ERK. Taken together, our results suggest that the peptide activate ERK via a G-protein/PI-3K/Ras/Raf-1 mediated signaling pathway in U937 cells.     

Potentiation of protein kinase C zeta activity by 15-deoxy-delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J(2) induces an imbalance between mitogen-activated protein kinases and NF-kappa B that promotes apoptosis in macrophages

Activation of the macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) transiently activates protein kinase C zeta (PKC zeta) and Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) through a phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3-kinase)-dependent pathway. Incubation of LPS-treated cells with the cyclopentenone 15-deoxy-Delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J(2) (15dPGJ(2)) promoted a sustained activation of PKC zeta and JNK and inhibited I kappa B kinase (IKK) and NF-kappa B activity. Accordingly, 15dPGJ(2) induced an imbalance between JNK and IKK activities by increasing the former signaling pathway and inhibiting the latter signaling pathway. Under these conditions, apoptosis was significantly enhanced; this response was very dependent on PKC zeta and JNK activation. The effect of 15dPGJ(2) on PKC zeta activity observed in LPS-activated macrophages was not dependent on a direct action of this prostaglandin on the enzyme but was due to the activation of a step upstream of PI3-kinase. Moreover, LPS promoted the redistribution of activated PKC zeta from the cytosol to the nucleus, a process that was enhanced by treatment of the cells with 15dPGJ(2) that favored a persistent and broader distribution of PKC zeta in the nucleus. These results indicate that 15dPGJ(2) and other cyclopentenone prostaglandins, through the sustained activation of PKC zeta, might contribute significantly to the process of resolution of inflammation by promoting apoptosis of activated macrophages.     

p38蛋白激酶在热损伤诱导单核细胞Raw264.7凋亡中的作用

为探讨ｐ３８蛋白激酶在热损伤诱导单核细胞株Ｒａｗ ２６４．７凋亡中的调控作用．应用流式细胞检测术、透射电镜技术、ＤＮＡ 凝胶电泳、Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ ｂｌｏｔ、激酶活性测定检测ｐ３８蛋白激酶在热损伤诱导细胞凋亡中的作用．结果显示,热损伤后５ ｍ ｉｎ,ｐ３８即被激活,３０ ｍ ｉｎ 时达到最高水平,然后逐渐下降,２ ｈ 达基底水平;热损伤后３ ｈ 细胞凋亡率开始明显增高,ｐ３８蛋白激酶活性增高是细胞凋亡发生之前的事件;进一步观察了ｐ３８特异性抑制剂ＦＨＰＩ对细胞凋亡的影响,发现ＦＨＰＩ可以抑制热损伤诱导的细胞凋亡．上述结果提示,ｐ３８参与介导热损伤诱导的Ｒａｗ ２６４．７细胞凋亡．     

Gabapentin Effects on PKC-ERK1/2 Signaling in the Spinal Cord of Rats with Formalin-Induced Visceral Inflammatory Pain

Currently, the clinical management of visceral pain remains unsatisfactory for many patients suffering from this disease. While preliminary animal studies have suggested the effectiveness of gabapentin in successfully treating visceral pain, the mechanism underlying its analgesic effect remains unclear. Evidence from other studies has demonstrated the involvement of protein kinase C (PKC) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) in the pathogenesis of visceral inflammatory pain. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that gabapentin produces analgesia for visceral inflammatory pain through its inhibitory effect on the PKC-ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Intracolonic injections of formalin were performed in rats to produce colitis pain. Our results showed that visceral pain behaviors in these rats decreased after intraperitoneal injection of gabapentin. These behaviors were also reduced by intrathecal injections of the PKC inhibitor, H-7, and the ERK1/2 inhibitor, PD98059. Neuronal firing of wide dynamic range neurons in L6–S1 of the rat spinal cord dorsal horn were significantly increased after intracolonic injection of formalin. This increased firing rate was inhibited by intraperitoneal injection of gabapentin and both the individual and combined intrathecal application of H-7 and PD98059. Western blot analysis also revealed that PKC membrane translocation and ERK1/2 phosphorylation increased significantly following formalin injection, confirming the recruitment of PKC and ERK1/2 during visceral inflammatory pain. These effects were also significantly reduced by intraperitoneal injection of gabapentin. Therefore, we concluded that the analgesic effect of gabapentin on visceral inflammatory pain is mediated through suppression of PKC and ERK1/2 signaling pathways. Furthermore, we found that the PKC inhibitor, H-7, significantly diminished ERK1/2 phosphorylation levels, implicating the involvement of PKC and ERK1/2 in the same signaling pathway. Thus, our results suggest a novel mechanism of gabapentin-mediated analgesia for visceral inflammatory pain through a PKC-ERK1/2 signaling pathway that may be a future therapeutic target for the treatment of visceral inflammatory pain.