Activation of PKC but not of ERK is required for vitamin E-succinate-induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells.

Vitamin E-succinate (VES) induced HL-60 human leukemia cells to undergo apoptosis. Treatment with VES induced membrane translocation of Fas; cleavages of caspase-3, PARP, and lamin B; hypophosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein; and increase of p21(WAF1) protein level. During the induction of apoptosis, activity of PKC was gradually increased with downregulation of VES-induced ERK activity and accompanied by activation of caspase-3. Inhibition of PKC by GF109203X blocked VES-mediated membrane translocation of PKC-alpha and cleavage of caspase-3 cascade, resulting in prevention of VES-induced apoptosis. On the contrary, PKC activation by cotreatment with LPC or thapsigargin and VES synergistically increased VES-mediated apoptosis. However, inhibition of ERK activity by PD98059 showed no significant effect on VES-induced PKC activity and apoptosis. Taken together, our data suggest that VES induces activation of PKC and PKC-dependent hypophosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein, which results in induction of apoptosis, and that VES-induced early activation of ERK and ERK-dependent induction of p21(WAF1) are not required for apoptosis.     

Arachidonic acid enhances TPA-induced differentiation in human leukemia HL-60 cells via reactive oxygen species-dependent ERK activation

The phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), is a potent stimulator of differentiation in human leukemia cells; however, the effects of arachidonic acid (AA) on TPA-induced differentiation are still unclear. In the present study, we investigated the contribution of AA to TPA-induced differentiation of human leukemia HL-60 cells. We found that treatment of HL-60 cells with TPA resulted in increases in cell attachment and nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT)-positive cells, which were significantly enhanced by the addition of AA. Stimulation of TPA-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by AA was detected in HL-60 cells via a DCHF-DA analysis, and the addition of the antioxidant, N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), was able to reduce TPA+AA-induced differentiation in accordance with suppression of intracellular peroxide elevation by TPA+AA. Furthermore, activation of extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) by TPA+AA was identified in HL-60 cells, and the ERK inhibitor, PD98059, but not the JNK inhibitor, SP600125, inhibited TPA+AA-induced NBT-positive cells. Suppression of TPA+AA-induced ERK protein phosphorylation by PD98059 and NAC was detected, and AA enhanced ERK protein phosphorylation by TPA was in HL-60 cells. AA clearly increased TPA-induced HL-60 cell differentiation, as evidenced by a marked increase in CD11b expression, which was inhibited by NAC and PD98059 addition. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) as well as AA showed increased intracellular peroxide production and differentiation of HL-60 cells elicited by TPA. Evidence of AA potentiation of differentiation by TPA in human leukemia cells HL-60 via activation of ROS-dependent ERK protein phosphorylation was first demonstrated herein.     

Retinoic acid increases amount of phosphorylated raf; Ectopic expression of cFMS reveals that retinoic acid-induced differentiation is more strongly dependent on ERK2 signaling than induced go arrest is

Summary Retinoic acid is known to cause the myeloid differentiation and G1/0 cell cycle arrest of HL-60 cells in a process that requires mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal regulated kinase (MEK)-dependent extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK)2 activation. It has also been shown that ectopic expression of cFMS, a platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-family transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor, enhances retinoic acid-induced differentiation and G1/0 arrest. The mechanism of how the retinoic acid and cFMS signaling pathways intersect is not known. The present data show that the ectopic expression of cFMS results in the differential loss of sensitivity of retinoic acid-induced differentiation or G1/0 arrest to inhibition of ERK2 activation. PD98059 was used to inhibit MEK and consequently ERK2. In wild-type HL-60 cells, PD98059 blocked retinoic acid-induced differentiation; but in cFMS stable transfectants, PD98059 only attenuated the induced differentiation, with the resulting response resembling that of retinoic acid-treated wild-type HL-60. In wild-type HL-60, PD98059 greatly attenuated the retinoic acid-induced G1/0 arrest allied with retinoblastoma (RB) hypophosphorylation; but in cFMS stable transfectants, PD98059 had no inhibitory effect on RB hypophosphorylation and G1/0 arrest. This differential sensitivity to PD98059 and uncoupling of retinoic acid-induced differentiation and G1/0 arrest in cFMS transfectants is associated with changes in mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling molecules. The cFMS transfectants had more activated ERK2 than did the wild-type cells, which surprisingly was not attributable to enhanced mitogen-activated protein-kinase-kinase-kinase (RAF) phosphorylation. Retinoic acid increased the amount of activated ERK2 and phosphorylated RAF in both cell lines. But PD98059 eliminated detectable ERK2 activation, as well as inhibited RAF phosphorylation, in untreated and retinoic acid-treated wild-type HL-60 and cFMS transfectants, consistent with MEK or ERK feedback-regulation of RAF, in all four cases. Since PD98059 blocks the cFMS-conferred enhancement of the retinoic acid-induced differentiation, but not growth arrest, the data indicate that cFMS-enhanced differentiation acts primarily through MEK and ERK2, but cFMS-enhanced G1/0 arrest allied with RB hypophosphorylation depends on another cFMS signal route, which by itself can effect G1/0 arrest without activated ERK2. Ectopic expression of cFMS and differential sensitivity to ERK2 inhibition thus reveal that retinoic acid-induced HL-60 cell differentiation and G1/0 arrest are differentially dependent on ERK2 and can be uncoupled. A significant unanticipated finding was that retinoic acid caused a MEK-dependent increase in the amount of phosphorylated RAF. This increase may help sustain prolonged ERK2 activation.     

STAT-1 mediates the stimulatory effect of IL-10 on CD14 expression in human monocytic cells

IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine, has been shown to exhibit stimulatory functions including CD14 up-regulation on human monocytic cells. CD14-mediated signaling following LPS stimulation of monocytic cells results in the synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines. Our results show that LPS-induced CD14 expression on monocytic cells may be mediated by endogenously produced IL-10. To investigate the molecular mechanism by which IL-10 enhances CD14 expression, both human monocytes and the promyelocytic HL-60 cells were used as model systems. IL-10 induced the phosphorylation of PI3K and p42/44 ERK MAPK. By using specific inhibitors for PI3K (LY294002) and ERK MAPKs (PD98059), we demonstrate that LY294002 either alone or in conjunction with PD98059 inhibited IL-10-induced phosphorylation of STAT-1 and consequently CD14 expression. However, IL-10-induced STAT-3 phosphorylation remained unaffected under these conditions. Finally, STAT-1 interfering RNA inhibited IL-10-induced CD14 expression. Taken together, these results suggest that IL-10-induced CD14 up-regulation in human monocytic cells may be mediated by STAT-1 activation through the activation of PI3K either alone or in concert with the ERK MAPK.     

RRR-alpha-tocopheryl succinate induces MDA-MB-435 and MCF-7 human breast cancer cells to undergo differentiation.

RRR-alpha-Tocopheryl succinate (vitamin E succinate, VES) is a potent antitumor agent, inducing DNA synthesis arrest, differentiation, and apoptosis. Because little is known about VES-induced differentiation, studies reported here characterize VES effects on the differentiation status of human breast cancer cell lines and investigate possible molecular mechanisms involved. VES-induced differentiation of human MCF-7 and MDA-MB-435 breast cancer cells was characterized by morphological changes, induction of lipid droplets, induction of beta-casein mRNA expression, and down-regulation of Her2/neu protein. In contrast, VES treatment of normal human mammary epithelial cells, MCF-10A cells, and T-47D cells did not induce differentiation. Studies addressing mechanisms showed that neither antibody neutralization of the transforming growth factor-beta signaling pathway nor expression of a dominant-negative mutant of c-Jun N-terminal kinase blocked the ability of VES to induce differentiation; however, treatment of cells with PD 98059, a chemical inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK1/2), blocked the ability of VES to induce differentiation.     

Involvement of p38 kinase in hydroxyurea-induced differentiation of K562 cells.

Hydroxyurea is a differentiation-inducing agent of human erythroleukemia K562 cells. However, the cellular mechanisms by which hydroxyurea exerts its effects on tumor cells, leading to the inhibition of cell growth and the induction of differentiation markers, are largely unknown. This study examined the role of different mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction pathways in hydroxyurea-induced erythroid differentiation of K562 cells. Using a panel of anti-extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK), c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 phosphospecific antibodies, we demonstrated that phosphorylation of ERK and JNK is decreased after the treatment of cells with hydroxyurea, whereas phosphorylation of p38 is increased. Moreover, inhibition of ERK activity by PD98059 induced erythroid differentiation, and it acted synergistically with hydroxyurea on hemoglobin synthesis, whereas inhibition of p38 activity by SB203580 inhibited induction of hemoglobin production by hydroxyurea. These findings suggest that the activation of p38 kinase may play important roles in the signal transduction mechanisms of hydroxyurea leading to erythroid differentiation.     

Phorbol ester-induced mononuclear cell differentiation is blocked by the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor PD98059.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway contributes to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced mononuclear differentiation in the human myeloblastic leukemia ML-1 cells. Upon TPA treatment, the activity of ERK1 and ERK2 rapidly increased, with maximal induction between 1 and 3 h, while ERK2 protein levels remained constant. The activity of JNK1 was also significantly induced, with JNK1 protein levels increasing moderately during exposure to TPA. Treatment of cells with PD98059, a specific inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK), inhibited TPA-induced ERK2 activity. Furthermore, PD98059 completely blocked the TPA-induced differentiation of ML-1 cells, as assessed by a number of features associated with mononuclear differentiation including changes in morphology, nonspecific esterase activity, phagocytic ability, NADPH oxidase activity, mitochondrial respiration, and c-jun mRNA inducibility. We conclude that activation of the MEK/ERK signaling pathway is necessary for TPA-induced mononuclear cell differentiation.     

p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase is a key regulator of 5-phenylselenyl- and 5-methylselenyl-methyl-2'-deoxyuridine-induced apoptosis in human HL-60 cells

Two novel, modified thymidine nucleosides, 5-phenylselenyl-methyl-2'-deoxyuridine (PhSe-T) and 5-methylselenyl-methyl-2'-deoxyuridine (MeSe-T), trigger reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and DNA damage and thereby induce caspase-mediated apoptosis in human HL-60 cells; however, the mechanism leading to caspase activation and apoptotic cell death remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the signaling molecules involved in nucleoside derivative-induced caspase activation and apoptosis in HL-60 cells. PhSe-T/MeSe-T treatment activated two mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), extracellular-receptor kinase (ERK) and p38, and induced the phosphorylation of two downstream targets of p38, ATF-2 and MAPKAPK2. In addition, the selective p38 inhibitor SB203580 suppressed PhSe-T/MeSe-T-induced apoptosis and activation of caspase-3, -9, -8, and -2, whereas the jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor SP600125 and the ERK inhibitor PD98059 had no effect. SB203580 and an ROS scavenger, tiron, inhibited PhSe-T/MeSe-T-induced histone H2AX phosphorylation, which is a DNA damage marker. Moreover, tiron inhibited PhSe-T/MeSe-T-induced phosphorylation of p38 and enhanced p38 MAP kinase activity, indicating a role for ROS in PhSe-T/MeSe-T-induced p38 activation. Taken together, our results suggest that PhSe-T/MeSe-T-induced apoptosis is mediated by the p38 pathway and that p38 serves as a link between ROS generation and DNA damage/caspase activation in HL-60 cells.     

Multiple members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase family are necessary for PED/PEA-15 anti-apoptotic function.

293 kidney embryonic cells feature very low levels of the anti-apoptotic protein PED. In these cells, expression of PED to levels comparable with those occurring in normal adult cells inhibits apoptosis induced by growth factor deprivation and by exposure to H(2)O(2) or anisomycin. In PED-expressing 293 cells (293(PED)), inhibition of apoptosis upon growth factor deprivation was paralleled by decreased phosphorylation of JNK1/2. In 293(PED) cells, decreased apoptosis induced by anisomycin and H(2)O(2) was also accompanied by block of JNK1/2 and p38 phosphorylations, respectively. Impaired activity of these stress kinases by PED correlated with inhibition of stress-induced Cdc-42, MKK4, and MKK6 activation. At variance with JNK1/2 and p38, PED expression increased basal and growth factor-stimulated Ras-Raf-1 co-precipitation and MAPK phosphorylation and activity. Treatment of 293(PED) cells with the MEK inhibitor PD98059 blocked ERK1/2 phosphorylations with no effect on inhibition of JNK1/2 and p38 activities. Complete rescue of JNK and p38 functions in 293(PED) cells by overexpressing JNK1 or p38, respectively, enabled only partial recovery of apoptotic response to growth factor deprivation and anisomycin. However, simultaneous rescue of JNK and p38 activities accompanied by block of ERK1/2 fully restored these responses. Thus, PED controls activity of the ERK, JNK, and p38 subfamilies of MAPKs. PED anti-apoptotic function in the 293 cells requires PED simultaneous activation of ERK1/2 and inhibition of the JNK/p38 signaling systems by PED.     

Differentiation of human monocytic cell lines confers susceptibility to Bacillus anthracis lethal toxin

Anthrax lethal toxin (LT) is comprised of protective antigen and lethal factor. Lethal factor enters mammalian cells in a protective antigen-dependent process and cleaves mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases. Although LT has no observable effect on many cell types, it causes necrosis in macrophages derived from certain mouse strains and apoptosis in activated mouse macrophages. In this study, we observed that LT treatment of three different human monocytic cell lines U-937, HL-60 and THP-1 did not induce cell death. Cells did become susceptible to the toxin, however, after differentiation into a macrophage-like state. Treatment with LT resulted in decreased phosphorylation of p38, ERK1/2 and JNK in both undifferentiated and differentiated HL-60 cells, suggesting that the change in susceptibility does not result from differences in toxin delivery or substrate cleavage. Death of differentiated HL-60 cells was accompanied by chromosome condensation and DNA fragmentation, but was not inhibited by the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK. In addition, we observed that the macrophage differentiation process could be inhibited by LT. Our results indicate that LT-mediated death of mouse and human macrophages may occur through distinct processes and that the differentiation state of human cells can determine susceptibility or resistance to LT.     

Requirement for ERK activation in acetone extract identified from Bupleurum scorzonerifolium induced A549 tumor cell apoptosis and keratin 8 phosphorylation

We previously demonstrated that the crude acetone extract of Bupleurum scorzonerifolium (AE-BS) 60 microg/ml has anti-proliferation activity and apoptosis effects to A549 human lung cancer cells. They can also cause tumor cell arrest in G2/M phase. To better understand its target protein in A549 cell, two-dimensional electrophoresis and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry were applied. The modification of keratin 8 was identified. By immunoblot, the expression of phosphorylated keratin 8 at Ser-73 was increased from 2.0 to 3.0-fold after AE-BS treatment 24 to 48 hr respectively as compared with untreated A549 control cells. Furthermore, the A549 cells were pretreated with 50 microM PD98059, a specific inhibitor of the upstream regulator of ERK1/2, or with the p38 kinase inhibitor 20 microM SB203580 or JNK inhibitor 20 microM SP600125 for 30 min, followed by 24 h of incubation with AE-BS, PD98059 can inhibit K8-Ser-73 hyperphosphorylation and prevented cell apoptosis which was induced by AE-BS significantly. By immunoblot, AE-BS also can induce ERK 1/2 phosphorylation. In conclusion, our data indicate that the AE-BS induced tumor apoptosis in A549 cells was related to ERK 1/2 activation. The molecular mechanism of hyperphosphorylation of K8 on Ser-73 was associated with ERK 1/2 activation rather than JNK and p38 kinase. The apoptosis induced by AE-BS may be related to K8 phosphorylation.     

Modulation of monocytic differentiation of HL-60 cells by inhibitors of protein tyrosine kinases.

We showed previously that the expressions of various src family protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) were induced independently during the monocytic differentiation of HL-60 cells. The role of PTKs was further assessed in the present study by investigating the effects of PTK inhibitors on the differentiation. It was demonstrated that PTK inhibitors such as genistein and herbimycin A modulated monocytic differentiation of HL-60 cells; they inhibited the differentiation induced by TPA, while promoting that induced by vitamin D3 (D3). Immunoblotting analysis of protein molecules which had been phosphorylated on their tyrosine residues demonstrated that TPA induced phosphorylation of certain molecules different from those induced by D3 in HL-60 cells. PTK inhibitors blocked the phosphorylation and modulated differentiation driven by the inducers. These data suggest that PTKs are involved both promotively and suppressively in signaling events that induce monocytic differentiation of HL-60 cells.     

Skeletal muscle cell activation by low-energy laser irradiation: a role for the MAPK/ERK pathway

Low-energy laser irradiation (LELI) has been shown to promote skeletal muscle regeneration in vivo and to activate skeletal muscle satellite cells, enhance their proliferation and inhibit differentiation in vitro. In the present study, LELI, as well as the addition of serum to serum-starved myoblasts, restored their proliferation, whereas myogenic differentiation remained low. LELI induced mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (MAPK/ERK) phosphorylation with no effect on its expression in serum-starved myoblasts. Moreover, a specific MAPK kinase inhibitor (PD098059) inhibited the LELI- and 10% serummediated ERK1/2 activation. However, LELI did not affect Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) or p38 MAPK phosphorylation or protein expression. Whereas a 3-sec irradiation induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation, a 12-sec irradiation reduced it, again with no effect on JNK or p38. Moreover, LELI had distinct effects on receptor phosphorylation: it caused phosphorylation of the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) receptor, previously shown to activate the MAPK/ERK pathway, whereas no effect was observed on tumor suppressor necrosis alpha (TNF-alpha) receptor which activates the p38 and JNK pathways. Therefore, by specifically activating MAPK/ERK, but not JNK and p38 MAPK enzymes, probably by specific receptor phosphorylation, LELI induces the activation and proliferation of quiescent satellite cells and delays their differentiation.     

CXCL12 Induces Connective Tissue Growth Factor Expression in Human Lung Fibroblasts through the Rac1/ERK,JNK, and AP-1 Pathways

CXCL12 (stromal cell-derived factor-1, SDF-1) is a potent chemokine for homing of CXCR4⁺ fibrocytes to injury sites of lung tissue, which contributes to pulmonary fibrosis. Overexpression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) plays a critical role in pulmonary fibrosis. In this study, we investigated the roles of Rac1, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and activator protein-1 (AP-1) in CXCL12-induced CTGF expression in human lung fibroblasts. CXCL12 caused concentration- and time-dependent increases in CTGF expression and CTGF-luciferase activity. CXCL12-induced CTGF expression was inhibited by a CXCR4 antagonist (AMD3100), small interfering RNA of CXCR4 (CXCR4 siRNA), a dominant negative mutant of Rac1 (RacN17), a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase (MEK) inhibitor (PD98059), a JNK inhibitor (SP600125), a p21-activated kinase inhibitor (PAK18), c-Jun siRNA, and an AP-1 inhibitor (curcumin). Treatment of cells with CXCL12 caused activations of Rac1, Rho, ERK, and c-Jun. The CXCL12-induced increase in ERK phosphorylation was inhibited by RacN17. Treatment of cells with PD98059 and SP600125 both inhibited CXCL12-induced c-Jun phosphorylation. CXCL12 caused the recruitment of c-Jun and c-Fos binding to the CTGF promoter. Furthermore, CXCL12 induced an increase in α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression, a myofibroblastic phenotype, and actin stress fiber formation. CXCL12-induced actin stress fiber formation and α-SMA expression were respectively inhibited by AMD3100 and CTGF siRNA. Taken together, our results suggest that CXCL12, acting through CXCR4, activates the Rac/ERK and JNK signaling pathways, which in turn initiates c-Jun phosphorylation, and recruits c-Jun and c-Fos to the CTGF promoter and ultimately induces CTGF expression in human lung fibroblasts. Moreover, overexpression of CTGF mediates CXCL12-induced α-SMA expression.     

Activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) defines the first phase of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-induced differentiation of HL60 cells

Activation of ERK1 and ERK2 protein kinases has been implicated in diverse cellular processes, including the control of cell proliferation and cell differentiation (Marshall [1995] Cell 80:179). In human myeloblastoid leukemia HL60 cells rapid (ca. 15 min) but transient activation of ERK1/2 has been reported following induction of macrophage/monocyte differentiation by phorbol esters, or by very high (10(-6) M) concentrations of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25D3), while retinoic acid-induced granulocytic differentiation was accompanied by sustained activation of ERK1/2. We report here that monocytic differentiation of HL60 cells induced by moderate (10(-9) to 10(-7) M) concentrations of 1,25D3 could be divided into at least two stages. In the first phase, which lasts 24-48 h, the cells continued in the normal cell cycle while expressing markers of monocytic phenotype, such as CD14. In the next phase the onset of G1 cell cycle block became apparent and expression of CD11b was prominent, indicating a more mature myeloid phenotype. The first phase was characterized by high levels of ERKs activated by phosphorylation, and these decreased as the cells entered the second phase, while the levels of p27/Kip1 increased at that time. Serum-starved or PD98059-treated HL60 cells had reduced growth rate and slower differentiation, but the G1 block also coincided with decreased levels of activated ERK1/2. The data suggest that the MEK/ERK pathway maintains cell proliferation during 1,25D3-induced monocytic differentiation of HL60 cells, but that ERK1/2 activity becomes suppressed during the later stages of differentiation, and the consequent G1 block leads to "terminal" differentiation.