Effects of MAP kinase cascade inhibitors on the MKK5/ERK5 pathway

Antibodies that recognise the active phosphorylated forms of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase 5 (MKK5) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) in untransfected cells have been exploited to show that the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced activation of MKK5 and ERK5 occurs subsequent to the activation of ERK1 and ERK2 in HeLa cells. The drugs U0126 and PD184352, which prevent the activation of MKK1 (and hence the activation of ERK1/ERK2), also prevent the activation of MKK5, although higher concentrations are required. Our studies define physiological targets of the MKK5/ERK5 pathway as proteins whose phosphorylation is largely prevented by 10 microM PD184352, but unaffected by 2 microM PD184352. Surprisingly, 2 microM PD184352 prolongs the activation of MKK5 and ERK5 induced by EGF or H(2)O(2), indicating negative control of the MKK5/ERK5 pathway by the classical MAPK cascade. Our results also indicate that ERK5 is not a significant activator of MAPK-activated protein kinase-1/RSK in HeLa cells.     

Regulation of MAPK pathways in response to purinergic stimulation of adult rat cardiac myocytes

We investigated the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) pathways by purinergic stimulation in cardiac myocytes from adult rat hearts. ATPS increased the phosphorylation (activation) of the extracellular signal regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) and p38 MAPK. ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK activation was differential, ERK1/2 being rapid and transient while that of p38 MAPK slow and sustained. Using selective inhibitors, activation of ERK1/2 was shown to involve protein kinase C and MEK1/2 while that of p38 MAPK was regulated by both protein kinase C and protein kinase A. Furthermore, we show that purinergic stimulation induces the phosphorylation of the MAPK downstream target, mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase 1 (MSK1), in cardiac myocytes. The time course of MSK1 phosphorylation closely follows that of ERK activation. Inhibitors of the ERK and p38 MAPK pathways were tested on the phosphorylation of MSK1 at two different time points. The results suggest that ERKs initiate the response but both ERKs and p38 MAPK are required for the maintenance of the complete phosphorylation of MSK1. The temporal relationship of MSK1 phosphorylation and cPLA₂ translocation induced by purinergic stimulation, taken together with previous findings, is an indication that cPLA₂ may be a downstream target of MSK1.     

Endogenous δ-Opioid and ORL1 Receptors Couple to Phosphorylation and Activation of p38 MAPK in NG108-15 Cells and This Is Regulated by Protein Kinase A and Protein Kinase C

The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade transduces multiple extracellular signals from cell surface to nucleus and is employed in cellular responses to cellular stresses and apoptotic regulation. The involvement of the p38 MAPK cascade in opioid- and opioid receptor-like receptor-1 (ORL1) receptor-mediated signal transduction was examined in NG108-15 neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cells. Stimulation of endogenous delta-opioid receptor (DOR) or ORL1 resulted in activation of p38 MAPK. It also induced the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), another member of the MAPK family, with slower kinetics. Activation of p38 MAPK was abolished by selective antagonists of DOR or ORL1, pretreatment with pertussis toxin, or SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK. Inhibition of p38 MAPK had no significant effect on opioid-induced ERK activation, indicating that p38 MAPK activity was not required for ERK activation, though its stimulation preceded ERK activation. Inhibition of protein kinase A (PKA) strongly diminished p38 activation mediated by DOR or ORL1 but had no significant effect on ERK activation, and protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors potentiated stimulation of p38 while inhibiting activation of ERKs. Taken together, our results provide the first evidence for coupling of DOR and ORL1 to the p38 MAPK cascade and clearly demonstrate that receptor-mediated activation of p38 MAPK both involves PKA and is negatively regulated by PKC.     

Pam3CSK4 and LTA-TLRs ligands associated with microdomains induce IL8 production in human adrenocortical cancer cells.

Bacterially derived ligands, Pam3CSK4 and LPS, can directly impact adrenal glands steroidogenesis through microdomain-related TLR1/2 and 4, respectively, and indirectly via immune cell-derived cytokines. The bilateral immunoadrenal relationship plays an important role in the proper functioning of both systems. CXC chemokine-dependent immune cell infiltration into adrenocortical carcinomas (ACC), which correlates with poor prognosis, is a common phenomenon. Recently, IL8 was identified in ACC and NCI-H295R cells, and was found to contribute to ACC tumour growth. The aim of this study was to clarify the role of different TLR ligands in IL8 production in NCI-H295R cells. This is the first study to demonstrate the expression of several TLRs including TLR1, 3, 6, 7 and 9 in human adrenocortical cells by using the RT-PCR approach. Only stimulation with TLR1/6 together with TLR2 ligands resulted in IL8 peptide and mRNA induction in a dose and time-dependent manner. Our data suggest that gram-positive bacteria-related TLR1/2/6 ligands might contribute to adrenal gland tumorigenesis via IL8 production.     

Evidence that age-related changes in p38 MAP kinase contribute to the decreased steroid production by the adrenocortical cells from old rats

The current studies were initiated to investigate whether excessive oxidative stress exerts its antisteroidogenic action through modulation of oxidant-sensitive mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. Western blot analysis indicated that aging caused increased phosphorylation and activation of rat adrenal p38 MAPK, but not the ERK1/2 or JNK1/2. Lipid peroxidation measurements (an index of cellular oxidative stress) indicated that adrenal membranes from young animals contained only minimal levels of endogenous thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), and exposure of membranes to enzymatic and non-enzymatic pro-oxidants enhanced TBARS formation approximately 12- and 20-fold, respectively. The adrenal membranes from old animals showed much more susceptibility to lipid peroxidation and exhibited roughly 4- to 6-fold higher TBARS formation than young controls both under basal conditions and in response to pro-oxidants. Qualitatively similar results were obtained when lipid peroxide formation was measured using a sensitive FOXRS (ferrous oxidation-xylenol orange-reactive substances) technique. We next tested whether aging-induced excessive oxidative insult alters steroidogenesis through modulation of MAPK signaling pathway. Treatment of adrenocortical cells from old rats with specific p38 MAPK inhibitors restored Bt(2)cAMP-stimulated steroidogenesis approximately 60-70% of the value seen in cells of young animals. Likewise, pretreatment of cells with reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers MnTMPyP and N-acetyl cysteine also partially rescued age-induced loss of steroid production. In contrast, simultaneous treatment of cells with ROS scavengers and p38 MAPK inhibitor did not produce any additional effect suggesting that both types of inhibitors exert their stimulatory action through inhibition of p38 MAPK activation. Collectively, these results indicate that p38 MAPK functions as a signaling effector in oxidative stress-induced inhibition of steroidogenesis during aging.     

Pathological roles of MAPK signaling pathways in human diseases

The mammalian family of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) includes extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38, and c-Jun NH₂-terminal kinase (JNK), with each MAPK signaling pathway consisting of at least three components, a MAPK kinase kinase (MAP3K), a MAPK kinase (MAP2K), and a MAPK. The MAPK pathways are activated by diverse extracellular and intracellular stimuli including peptide growth factors, cytokines, hormones, and various cellular stressors such as oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress. These signaling pathways regulate a variety of cellular activities including proliferation, differentiation, survival, and death. Deviation from the strict control of MAPK signaling pathways has been implicated in the development of many human diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and various types of cancers. Persistent activation of the JNK or p38 signaling pathways has been suggested to mediate neuronal apoptosis in AD, PD, and ALS, whereas the ERK signaling pathway plays a key role in several steps of tumorigenesis including cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. In this review, we summarize recent findings on the roles of MAPK signaling pathways in human disorders, focusing on cancer and neurodegenerative diseases including AD, PD, and ALS.     

Specific inhibitor of MEK-mediated cross-talk between ERK and p38 MAPK during differentiation of human osteosarcoma cells

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumor, accounting for approximately 20% of all primary sarcomas in bone. Although treatment modalities have been improved over the past decades, it is still a tumor with a high mortality rate in children and young adults. Based on histological considerations, osteosarcoma arises from impaired differentiation of these immature cells into more mature types and that correction of this impairment may reduce malignancy and increase the efficiency of chemotherapy. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of specific inhibitors of MAPK extracellular signaling-regulated kinase (ERK) kinase (MEK) and p38 on the differentiation of human osteosarcoma cell line SaOS-2 cells. We found that PD98059, a specific inhibitor of MEK, inhibited the serum-stimulated proliferation of SaOS-2 cells; whereas SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK, had little effect on it. SB203580 suppressed ALPase activity, gene expression of type I collagen, and expression of ALP and BMP-2 mRNAs; whereas PD98059 upregulated them dose dependently. In addition, immunoblot and immunostaining analysis revealed that phosphorylation of ERK was increased by treatment with SB203580; whereas PD98059 increased the phosphorylation of p38, which implies a seesaw-like balance between ERK and p38 phosphorylation. We suggest that osteosarcoma cell differentiation is regulated by the balance between the activities of the ERK and p38 pathways and that the MEK/ERK pathway negatively regulates osteosarcoma cell differentiation, whereas the p38 pathway does so positively. MEK inhibitor may thus be a good candidate for altering the expression of the osteosarcoma malignant phenotype.     

Counting on mitogen-activated protein kinases--ERKs 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8

Signal transduction pathways in eukaryotic cells integrate diverse extracellular signals, and regulate complex biological responses such as growth, differentiation and death. One group of proline-directed Ser/Thr protein kinases, the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), plays a central role in these signalling pathways. Much attention has focused in recent years on three subfamilies of MAPKs, the extracellular signal regulated kinases (ERKs), c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) and the p38 MAPKs. However, the ERK family is broader than the ERK1 and ERK2 proteins that have been the subject of most studies in this area. Here we overview the work on ERKs 3 to 8, emphasising where possible their biological activities as well as distinctive biochemical properties. It is clear from these studies that these additional ERKs show similarities to ERK1 and ERK2, but with some interesting differences that challenge the paradigm of the archetypical ERK1/2 MAPK pathway.     

Sphingolipids stimulate cell growth via MAP kinase activation in osteoblastic cells

Ceramide, ceramide-1-phosphate (C1P) sphingosine (SPH) and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) effects on proliferation and extracellular-signal regulated kinases, ERKs (also known as MAPKs), activation were investigated in human and rat osteoblastic cells. MAPK activation was sphingolipid-specific in cells from both species. In human osteoblastic cells, S1P and C1P markedly stimulated ERK2 phosphorylation with a slight increase in phosphorylation of ERK1. SPH nor ceramide induced phosphorylation of either ERK isoform. In rat osteoblastic cells, SIP, ceramide and SPH stimulated phosphorylation of both isoforms. C1P did not induce phosphorylation of ERK1 but produced a mild increase in phosphorylation of ERK2. In human cells, only S1P significantly (P<0.05) increased osteoblastic cell proliferation, while in the rat cells all four sphingolipids significantly (P<0.05) induced proliferation. The calcium channel blocker verapamil blocked (P<0.05) these effects in both cell types. The MAPK inhibitor, PD98059, inhibited (P<0.05) the mitogenic effect of SIP in human cells. In rat cells, PD98059 effects were less substantial but significant for S1P and C1P. This study demonstrates that sphingolipids are mitogens for both human and rat osteoblastic cells with the MAPK pathway and calcium mediating in part these effects in a species specific manner.     

Mycophenolic acid inhibits mesangial cell activation through p38 MAPK inhibition

Mesangial cell (MC) proliferation and extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation are major pathologic features of chronic renal disease including chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN). Mycophenolic acid (MPA), a potent immunosuppressant, has emerged as a treatment to prevent CAN because it inhibits MC proliferation and ECM synthesis, but the mechanism involved has not been clarified. The present study examined relative role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) activation in inhibitory effect of MPA on MC activation. Growth arrested and synchronized primary rat MC (passages 7-11) were stimulated by PDGF 10 ng/ml in the presence and absence of clinically attainable dose of MPA (0-10 microM). Cell proliferation was assessed by [(3)H]thymidine incorporation, fibronectin and the activation of ERK and p38 MAPK by Western blot analysis, and total collagen by [(3)H]proline incorporation. PDGF increased cell proliferation by 4.6-fold, fibronectin secretion by 3.2-fold, total collagen synthesis by 1.8-fold, and the activation of ERK and 38 MAPK by 5.6-fold and 3.1-fold, respectively, compared to control. MPA, at doses inhibiting PDGF-induced MC proliferation and ECM synthesis, effectively blocked p38 MAPK activation but reduced ERK activation by 23% at maximal concentration tested (10 microM). Exogenous guanosine partially reversed the inhibition of MPA on p38 MAPK activation. Inhibitor of ERK or p38 MAPK suppressed PDGF-induced MC proliferation and ECM synthesis. In conclusion, MPA inhibits p38 MAPK activation leading to inhibiting proliferation and ECM synthesis in MC. Guanosine reduction is partially responsible for inhibitory effect of MPA on p38 MAPK activation in MC.     

Signaling pathway of MAPK/ERK in cell proliferation,differentiation, migration,senescence and apoptosis

Abstract

The generic mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling pathway is shared by four distinct cascades, including the extracellular signal-related kinases (ERK1/2), Jun amino-terminal kinases (JNK1/2/3), p38-MAPK and ERK5. Mitogen-activated protein kinases/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) pathway is reported to be associated with the cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, senescence and apoptosis. The literatures were searched extensively and this review was performed to review the role of MAPK/ERK signaling pathway in cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, senescence and apoptosis.     

Purinergic signaling modulates the cerebral inflammatory response in experimentally infected fish with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptococcus agalactiae</Emphasis>: an attempt to improve the immune response

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a bioactive ingredient of green tea, plays a protective role in the cardiovascular system. Homocysteine (Hcy) is a major risk factor for chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease. The present study aimed to investigate the role of EGCG in Hcy-induced proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and its underlying mechanism. We also explored the roles of rennin-angiotensin system (RAS), extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) in this process. Human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) were treated with different drugs for different periods. The proliferation rate of HASMCs was detected using the CCK-8 and BrdU labeling assays. The Western blot assay was used to determine the expression levels of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT-1R), ERK1/2, and p38 MAPK. Compared with the control group, the HASMCs treated with Hcy at different doses (100, 200, 500, and 1000 µM) showed significantly increased proliferation. Hcy increased the expression of AT-1R, whereas EGCG decreased the protein expression of AT-1R. Furthermore, we found that Hcy-induced expression of p-ERK1/2 and p-p38MAPK was dependent on AT-1R. Compared with Hcy (500 µM)-treated cells, EGCG (20 µM)-treated cells showed decreased proliferation as well as expression of AT-1R, p-ERK1/2, and p-p38MAPK. In addition, HASMC proliferation was suppressed by the addition of an AT-1R blocker (olmesartan), an ERK1/2 inhibitor (PD98059), and a p38MAPK inhibitor (SB202190). EGCG can inhibit AT-1R and affect ERK1/2 and p38MAPK signaling pathways, resulting in the decrease of VSMC proliferation induced by Hcy.     

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.     

Two closely related human members of chitinase-like family, CHI3L1 and CHI3L2, activate ERK1/2 in 293 and U373 cells but have the different influence on cell proliferation

The activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2) has been associated with specific outcomes. Sustained activation of ERK1/2 by nerve growth factor (NGF) is associated with translocation of ERKs to the nucleus of PC12 cells and precedes their differentiation into sympathetic-like neurons whereas transient activation by epidermal growth factor (EGF) leads to cell proliferation. It was demonstrated that different growth factors initiating the same cellular signaling pathways may lead to the different cell destiny, either to proliferation or to the inhibition of mitogenesis and apoptosis. Thus, further investigation on kinetic differences in activation of certain signal cascades in different cell types by biologically different agents are necessary for understanding the mechanisms as to how cells make a choice between proliferation and differentiation.It was reported that chitinase 3-like 1 (CHI3L1) protein promotes the growth of human synovial cells as well as skin and fetal lung fibroblasts similarly to insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1). Both are involved in mediating the mitogenic response through the signal-regulated kinases ERK1/2. In addition, CHI3L1 which is highly expressed in different tumors including glioblastomas possesses oncogenic properties. As we found earlier, chitinase 3-like 2 (CHI3L2) most closely related to human CHI3L1 also showed increased expression in glial tumors at both the RNA and protein levels and stimulated the activation of the MAPK pathway through phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in 293 and U87 MG cells. The work described here demonstrates the influence of CHI3L2 and CHI3L1 on the duration of MAPK cellular signaling and phosphorylated ERK1/2 translocation to the nucleus. In contrast to the activation of ERK1/2 phosphorylation by CHI3L1 that leads to a proliferative signal (similar to the EGF effect in PC12 cells), activation of ERK1/2 phosphorylation by CHI3L2 (similar to NGF) inhibits cell mitogenesis and proliferation.     

Resveratrol enhances proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation in human mesenchymal stem cells via ER-dependent ERK1/2 activation

In the present study, we investigated the in vitro effect of resveratrol (RSVL), a polyphenolic phytoestrogen, on cell proliferation and osteoblastic maturation in human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (HBMSC) cultures. RSVL (10⁻⁸–10⁻⁵ M) increased cell growth dose-dependently, as measured by [³H]-thymidine incorporation, and stimulated osteoblastic maturation as assessed by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, calcium deposition into the extracellular matrix, and the expression of osteoblastic markers such as RUNX2/CBFA1, Osterix and Osteocalcin in HBMSCs cell cultures. Further studies found that RSVL (10⁻⁶ M) resulted in a rapid activation of both extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling in HBMSCs cultures. The effects of RSVL were mimicked by 17β-estrodial (10⁻⁸ M) and were abolished by estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist ICI182780. An ERK1/2 pathway inhibitor, PD98059, significantly attenuated RSVL-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation, consistent with the reduction of cell proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation as well as expression of osteoblastic markers. In contrast, SB203580, a p38 MAPK pathway blocker, blocked RSVL-induced p38 phosphorylation, but resulted in an increase of cell proliferation and a more osteoblastic maturation. These data suggest that RSVL stimulates HBMSCs proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation through an ER-dependent mechanism and coupling to ERK1/2 activation.     

LTB4 stimulates growth of human pancreatic cancer cells via MAPK and PI-3 kinase pathways

We have previously shown the importance of LTB4 in human pancreatic cancer. LTB4 receptor antagonists block growth and induce apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, we investigated the effect of LTB4 on proliferation of human pancreatic cancer cells and the mechanisms involved. LTB4 stimulated DNA synthesis and proliferation of both PANC-1 and AsPC-1 human pancreatic cancer cells, as measured by thymidine incorporation and cell number. LTB4 stimulated rapid and transient activation of MEK and ERK1/2 kinases. The MEK inhibitors, PD98059 and U0126, blocked LTB4-stimulated ERK1/2 activation and cell proliferation. LTB4 also stimulated phosphorylation of p38 MAPK; however, the p38 MAPK inhibitor, SB203580, failed to block LTB4-stimulated growth. The activity of JNK/SAPK was not affected by LTB4 treatment. Phosphorylation of Akt was also induced by LTB4 and this effect was blocked by the PI-3 kinase inhibitor wortmannin, which also partially blocked LTB4-stimulated cell proliferation. In conclusion, LTB4 stimulates proliferation of human pancreatic cancer cells through MEK/ERK and PI-3 kinase/Akt pathways, while p38 MPAK and JNK/SAPK are not involved.     

IGF-I plus E2 induces proliferation via activation of ROS-dependent ERKs and JNKs in human breast carcinoma cells

Induction of 17beta-estradiol (E2) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) has been detected in breast carcinoma, however the interaction between E2 and IGF-I in the proliferation of breast carcinoma cells is still unclear. In the present study, we found that IGF-I enhances the E2-induced proliferation in MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells in accordance with stimulation of colony formation via a soft agar assay. Activation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) protein and extracellular signal-related kinases (ERKs) and c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs), but not p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), via phosphorylation induction was detected in MCF-7 cells treated with IGF-I plus E2 (E2/IGF-I). E2/IGF-I-induced proliferation was blocked by chemical inhibitors of ERKs (PD98059) and JNKs (SP600125). An increase in the expression of c-Jun protein was detected in E2/IGF-I-treated MCF-7 cells, and this was inhibited by PD98059 and SP600125. Transfection of the dominant negative MEKK and JNK plasmids significantly reduced E2/IGF-I-induced proliferation with suppression of c-Jun protein expression. An increase in peroxide production was detected in E2/IGF-I-treated cells, and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) and Tiron (TIR) addition significantly inhibited E2/IGF-I-induced cell proliferation with blocking of the phosphorylation of ERKs and JNKs, and the expression of c-Jun protein. Additionally, 3-OH flavone, baicalein, and quercetin showed effective inhibitory activities against E2/IGF-I-induced proliferation through suppressing proliferative events such as phosphorylation of IRS-1, ERKs, and JNKs proteins, and induction of c-Jun protein and colony formation. These results indicate that IGF-I interacts with E2 to promote the proliferation of breast carcinoma cells via ROS-dependent MAPK activation and c-Jun protein expression. The structure-related inhibition of E2/IGF-I-induced proliferative events by flavonoids is elucidated.