缺氧诱导因子-1α在缺氧预处理预防心肌细胞损伤中的作用

本工作旨在研究缺氧预处理(hypoxic preconditioning,HPC)对于心肌细胞外信号调节激酶(extracellular signal-regulated proteinkinases,ERK)活性、缺氧诱导因子-1α(hypoxia-inducible factor-1α,HIF-1α)表达的影响,及其在缺氧复氧诱导心肌细胞损伤中的作用。通过在培养的SD乳鼠心肌细胞缺氧／复氧(H／R)模型上,观察HPC对于24h后H／R诱导心肌细胞损伤的影响,以台盼蓝排斥实验检测心肌细胞存活率、以TUNEL法检测细胞凋亡、并用荧光素染料Hoechst33258测定心肌细胞凋亡率：制备心肌细胞蛋白提取物,以磷酸化的ERK1／2抗体测定ERK1／2活性,以抗HIF-1α抗体检测HIF-1α的表达,并观察ERKs的上游激酶(MEK1／2)抑制剂PD98059对于HPC诱导的ERKs磷酸化、HIF-1α表达以及心肌细胞保护作用的影响,并分析细胞损伤与ERK1／2活性、HIF-1α表达量之间的相互关系。结果 显示缺氧复氧造成心肌细胞损伤,HPC可以增加心肌细胞H／R后存活率,降低凋亡率,并激活ERKll2,诱导HIF-1α表达：细胞凋亡与ERKs活性、HIF-1α表达量之间存在负相关,即ERKs活化、HIF-1α表达与预防细胞损伤有关：而ERKs活性与HIF-1α表达量之间存在正相关,ERKs的上游激酶MEK抑制剂PD98059可以消除HPC诱导的ERKs磷酸化、HIF-1α表达和心肌细胞保护作用。由此得出的结论是HPC可以提高乳鼠心肌细胞对于H／R的耐受性,其机制涉及ERKs介导的HIF-1α表达。     

白介素-1 β通过JNK/p38信号-转导通路调控肾系膜细胞表达α-平滑肌肌动蛋白

为探讨细胞内丝裂素原活化蛋白激酶（MAPK）家族各亚类信号转导通路在炎症性细胞因子白介素－1β（IL－1β）对大鼠肾系膜细胞（rMC)表型标志物α-平滑肌肌动蛋白（α－SMA）表达及其分布中的调控作用,以IL－1β（10ng/ml)刺激体外培养的rMC,用电穿孔基因转染及免疫杂交法观察IL－1β对α－SMA基因启动子活性及蛋白表达的作用,并用共聚焦荧光显微镜及透射电镜观察IL－1β刺激前后细胞内α-SMA及微丝的分布变化。通过应用PD98059和SB203580特异阻断ERK和p38通路、共转染显性失活JNKK基因特异阻断JNK通路,观察阻断对IL－1β刺激所致α-SMA表达或启动子活性的影响。结果显示,IL－1β刺激6h可明显上调α－SMA启动子活性,在1－2d内显著促进其蛋白合成;IL－1β刺激24h后,细胞内α-SMA及微丝在细胞核周的分布增加。阻断ERK通路对IL－1β诱导的α-SMA表达无明显影响;阻断JNK及p38通路均可使IL－1β诱导的α－SMA表达明显受抑;阻断p38通路的作用比阻断JNK通路更强,而且对基础状态的α-SMA表达也有抑制作用。上述结果提示,IL－1β可刺激rMC发生表型转化,其表型标志物α－SMA可通过基因转录增强而增加蛋白表达,在细胞内的分布向核周转位积聚。JNK及p38通路是介导IL－1β刺激rMC α-SMA表达的主要信号转导途径,而ERK通路不影响IL－1β的这一作用。     

单磷酰脂A对大鼠心肌缺血/再灌注损伤的保护作用

目的:探讨丝裂素活化蛋白激酶P38MAPK是否参与单磷酰脂A预处理的延迟保护作用.方法:建立大鼠心肌缺血/再灌注损伤模型.应用单磷酰脂A及P38的特异性抑制剂SB203580预处理,检测预处理后不同时间点P38磷酸化水平,并观察各组单磷酸酰酯A预处理24 h后缺血/再灌注心肌的梗死范围LDH释放.结果:预处理后24 h其心梗范围缩小,血浆LDH活性升高程度减轻(分别P＜0.01,vs I/R).用P38的特异性抑制剂SB203580可消除预处理后的延迟保护作用.结论:①单磷酰脂A预处理对24 h后缺血/再灌注心肌有保护作用.②P38参与单磷酰脂A预处理后的延迟保护作用,P38短暂而快速的激活可能是药物延迟保护作用的重要机制之一.     

MAPKs介导NMDA诱导的大鼠皮层神经元凋亡(英文)

NMDA诱导兴奋毒造成的神经损伤,包括细胞的凋亡和坏死。本研究旨在探讨神经元凋亡在NMDA兴奋毒所致大鼠皮层神经元死亡中的所占比例,并分析了NMDA致神经元凋亡的信号通路机制。通过使用Caspase抑制剂和测定乳酸脱氢酶活性,研究NMDA(100μmol/L,2h)兴奋毒所致的神经元凋亡;并使用MAPKs选择性抑制剂,分别采用Caspase-3活性检测,TUNEL和Annexin V染色方法,进一步观察MAPKs通路中细胞外信号调节激酶(ERK)、c-Jun N-末端激酶(JNK)和p38 MAPK三条不同途径在NMDA所致神经元凋亡中的作用。结果显示:(1)Caspase依赖的凋亡占NMDA所致细胞死亡总数的22.49%;(2)p38 MAPK抑制剂SB203580(10μmol/L)使NMDA诱导的caspase-3活性降低30.43%(P0.05);而ERK抑制剂PD98059(20μmol/L)和JNK抑制剂SP600125(20 μmol/L)不影响caspase-3的活性;(3)SB203580(10μmol/L)使NMDA所致的TUNEL阳性细胞数减少33.10%(P0.05);而PD98059(20μmol/L)或SP600125(20μmol/L)都没有作用;(4)Annexin V染色结果显示,SB203580(10μmol/L)使NMDA所致的早期凋亡细胞减少55.56%(P0.05);SP600125(20μmol/L)使NMDA所致的晚期凋亡/死亡细胞减少67.59%(P0.05);PD98059(20μmol/L)对细胞凋亡/死亡没有明显作用。以上结果表明,NMDA介导的大鼠皮层神经元死亡除坏死外,还包含有一小部分神经元凋亡;p38 MAPK途径,而非JNK和ERK途径,介导了NMDA诱导的神经元凋亡,抑制与此相关的凋亡信号通路可发挥神经保护作用;JNK途径可能介导了NMDA所致的神经元坏死而非凋亡。     

CREB 和NF-κB在p38MAPK所致脊髓星形胶质细胞活化中的作用

目的:探讨CREB和NF-κB在p38MAPK所致脊髓星形胶质细胞活化中的作用,明确脊髓星形胶质细胞活化中p38MAPK细胞信号转导途径的作用。方法:分离培养SPF大鼠脊髓星形胶质细胞,设正常组、SP刺激组(SP组,10-7mol/L)、SP刺激+SB203580(10μmol/L)阻断p38MAPK组(SP+SB组)、SP刺激+PD98059(10μmol/L)阻断CREB组(SP+PD组)、SP刺激+SN50(10μmol/L)阻断NF-κB(SP+SN组)。WB法、免疫荧光法、ELISA法检测12 h和24 h时p-p38、p-CREB、NF-κBp65水平及GFAP、TNF-、IL-1β水平变化。结果:SP组脊髓星形胶质细胞p-p38、p-CREB、NF-κBp65显著升高,GFAP水平显著增高,同时TNF-和IL-1β水平显著增高。与SP组比较,用SB203580阻断p38MAPK通路后,SP+SB组p-p38、p-CREB、NF-κBp65显著降低,GFAP、TNF-和IL-1β水平显著降低。用PD98059阻断CREB通路后,SP+PD组p-p38、NF-κBp65无显著变化,p-CREB显著降...     

血小板来源的生长因子通过ERK/p38/PI3K促进人视网膜色素上皮细胞的增殖、迁移

目的:探讨血小板来源的生长因子(PDGF)对体外培养的人视网膜色素上皮细胞(RPE)增殖和迁移的影响,并对参与其中的信号通路做初步研究.方法:体外培养的人视网膜色素上皮细胞与含有重组人血小板来源的生长因子的培养基(含有或不含2％(v/v)胎牛血清)共培养,用MTT法检测PDGF对RPE细胞增殖的影响,利用细胞爬片和免疫荧光技术检测PDGF对RPE细胞迁移等影响;另外分别向细胞培养物中添加PD98059,SB203580和PI3K等不同的信号通路分子抑制剂,判断参与PDGF激活的细胞活动相关的信号通路.结果:外源性PDGF能促进体外培养的人RPE的增殖和迁移.ERK1/2选择性抑制剂PD98059和PI3K抑制剂LY294002能显著的降低PDGF-BB诱导的人RPE细胞的增殖(P＜0.05),p38抑制剂SB203580没有明显的抑制作用.而对PDGF-BB诱导的RPE细胞的迁移,SB203580和LY294002有显著的抑制作用(P＜0.05),PD98059抑制作用不显著.结论:PDGF对RPE细胞的影响提示其在增生性玻璃体视网膜病变(PVR)的发展中有重要的作用,其可能为PVR提供一种新的毒副作用小的治疗手段.     

银杏内酯诱导原代培养神经元低氧诱导因子1α的表达及与ERK通路的关系

目的：研究银杏内酯（Gin）对氯化钴（CoCl2）诱导的化学性缺氧原代培养神经元低氧诱导因子-α（HIF—1α）表达的影响及其与细胞外信号调节激酶（ERK）信号通路之间的关系。方法：以CoCl2（125μmol／L）诱导的原代培养胚胎小鼠大脑皮层神经元为缺氧模型,观察Gin（终浓度37．5mg／L）对神经细胞形态和活力的影响,Western blot HIF—1α和磷酸化ERK（p-ERK）的表达：运用ERK特异性抑制剂PD98059观察HIF-1α表达与ERK通路之间的关系。结果：Gin能明显提高CoCl2处理的神经细胞的活力、在正常培养的皮层神经元中HIF—1α和p-ERK的表达水平较低,CoCl2处理4h后表达水平明显上调;Gin预处理24h其表达强度进一步提高PD98059能部分抑制CoCl2诱导的HIF-1α的表达,显著抑制p-ERK的表达;预加Gin能完全阻止该抑制作用：结论：Gin对CoCl2诱导的化学性缺氧损伤神经元有保护作用,该作用与HIF-1α表达上调、ERK通路的激活有关     

内皮素-1对大鼠血管平滑肌细胞产生MCP-1的影响及其机制

目的：观察内皮素-1（ET-1）对大鼠血管平滑肌细胞（VSMCs）产生单核细胞趋化蛋白-1（MCP-1）的影响及其机制。方法：培养大鼠血管平滑肌细胞（VSMCs）。细胞分为2组：ET-1刺激组：以不同浓度ET-1刺激VSMCs不同时间;阻断剂干预组：VSMCs分别与不同阻断剂[ET_AR、ET_BR阻断剂BQ123、BQ788,抗氧化剂N-乙酰半胱氨酸（NAC）,ERK、p38MAPK、JNK及NF-κB抑制剂PD98059、SB203580、SP600125及PDTC]预先孵育30 min,再加入ET-1刺激24 h。在预定时间,以酶联免疫吸附（ELISA）法、逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）法分别测定不同因素下VSMCs MCP-1蛋白质及mRNA表达量。VSMCs分别与不同阻断剂（BQ123、BQ788、NAC、PD98059、SB203580及SP600125预先孵育20 min,再加入ET-1刺激5 min,免疫印迹（WB）法测定VSMCs胞浆中细胞外调节蛋白激酶（ERK）、p38丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（p38MAPK）、c-Jun氨基末端激酶（JNK）及其各自磷酸化蛋白质的水平。各项检测均重复3次。结果：ET-1能刺激VSMCs MCP-1蛋白质及mRNA表达,其表达量随ET-1浓度及刺激时间的增加呈升高趋势（P<0.05,P<0.01）;BQ123、NAC、PD98059、SB203580及PDTC能显著抑制ET-1诱导的大鼠VSMCs MCP-1蛋白质及mRNA表达（P<0.01）,而BQ788及SP600125对此作用无明显影响。BQ123、NAC与PD98059或SB203580能分别抑制ET-1刺激后VSMCs胞浆内ERK及p38MAPK的磷酸化（P<0.05,P<0.01）,而ET-1对JNK的磷酸化无明显激活作用。结论：ET-1通过ET_AR、ROS、ERK、p38MAPK及NF-κB诱导大鼠VSMCs产生MCP-1。     

p38丝裂原素激活的蛋白激酶在调节低氧诱导人内皮细胞分泌血管内皮生长因子过程中的作用

血管内皮细胞中血管内皮生长因子(vascular endothelial growthfactor,VEGF)的合成增加在促进血管新生的过程中起着非常重要的作用.然而低氧诱导VEGF分泌的细胞内信号转导机制还不是很清楚.人脐静脉内皮细胞系(ECV304)在低氧或常氧的状态下培养12～24 h后分别用实时定量PCR和Western blot的方法来检测VEGF mRNA的表达及ERK1/2和p38激酶的磷酸化水平.分泌到培养液中的VEGF蛋白用酶联免疫吸附(ELISA)的方法来检测.业已报道,ERK的抑制剂PD98059能够抑制低氧诱导的VEGF基因的表达,根据这个报道,我们发现在低氧情况下,ECV304细胞的ERK1/2磷酸化水平增高以及VEGF的合成增加等这些变化也能被PD98059所抑制.本次实验的新发现是p38激酶的激活在低氧诱导VEGF合成增加中的作用.p38激酶的抑制剂SB202190能抑制低氧诱导的VEGF合成增加.这些数据首次直接证实了p38激酶在低氧诱导人内皮细胞分泌VEGF增加过程中的作用.     

丝裂原活化蛋白激酶在人冠状动脉平滑肌细胞向三维纤维蛋白胶迁移中的作用

目的:观察三维纤维蛋白(Fb)胶对体外培养的人冠状动脉平滑肌细胞(HCASMC)的趋化作用及其信号转导机制.方法:采用胶原酶消化法培养HCASMC,倒置相差显微镜观察其向三维Fb胶中迁移的能力及ERK、p38、JNK信号通路对其迁移能力的影响.Western blot检测Fb对HCASMC p-ERK、p-p38和p-JNK表达的调控.结果:向Fb胶中迁移的HCASMC呈长梭型,细胞数量增加时形成环形管腔样结构.纤维蛋白原(Fg)浓度为0.8 g/L～6.4 g/L时,HCASMC向胶中迁移的数量呈浓度依赖性增加,并随培育时间的延长逐渐增多.用Western Blot分析显示Fb以时间依赖性方式诱导ERK、p38及JNK活化,三者的选择性抑制剂PD98059 50 μmol/L、SB20358010 μmol/L及SP600125 20 μmol/L可分别抑制其活化,但对HCASMC向胶中迁移的抑制能力不尽相同.PD9805950 μmol/L对HCASMC迁移无明显影响,而SB203580 10 μmol/L和SP600125 20 μmol/L均可抑制HCASMC向Fb胶迁移,且后者抑制作用更强.结论:Fb胶通过激活细胞JNK和p38(而不是ERK信号通路)促进HCASMC向Fb胶中迁移,这种机制可能在动脉粥样硬化血栓形成及再狭窄过程中发挥重要作用.     

Ligand-independent activation of the androgen receptor by insulin-like growth factor-i and the role of the MAPK pathway in skeletal muscle cells

In this study, the roles of the p38 MAPK, ERK1/2 and JNK signaling pathway in IGF-I-induced AR induction and activation were examined. C2C12 cells were treated with IGF-I in the absence or presence of various inhibitors of p38 MAPK (SB203580), ERK1/2 (PD98059), and JNK (SP600125). Inhibition of the MAPK pathway with SB203580, PD98059, or SP600125 significantly decreased IGF-I-induced AR phosphorylation and total AR protein expression. IGF-I-induced nuclear fraction of total AR and phosphorylated AR were significantly inhibited by SB203580, PD98059, or SP600125. Furthermore, IGF-I-induced AR mRNA and skeletal α-actin mRNA were blocked by those inhibitors in dose-dependent manner. Confocal images showed that IGF-I-induced AR nuclear translocation from cytosol was significantly blocked by SB203580, PD98059, or SP600125, suggesting that the MAPK pathway regulates IGF-I-induced AR nuclear localization in skeletal muscle cells. The present results suggest that the MAPK pathways are required for the ligand-independent activation of AR by IGF-I in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells.     

Involvement of p38 MAPK and ERK/MAPK pathways in staurosporine-induced production of macrophage inflammatory protein-2 in rat peritoneal neutrophils.

Stimulation of rat peritoneal neutrophils with staurosporine (64 nM) induced production of macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase/MAP kinase (ERK/MAPK). The staurosporine-induced MIP-2 production at 4 h was inhibited by the highly specific p38 MAPK inhibitor SB 203580 and the MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK-1) inhibitor PD 98059 in a concentration-dependent manner. By treatment with SB 203580 (1 microM) or PD 98059 (50 microM), the staurosporine-induced increase in the levels of mRNA for MIP-2 was only partially lowered, although the staurosporine-induced MIP-2 production was completely inhibited. Consistent with the inhibition by the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide, SB 203580 and PD 98059 inhibited MIP-2 production at 4 h either when added simultaneously with staurosporine or 2 h after stimulation with staurosporine. In contrast, the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase inhibitor actinomycin D did not inhibit MIP-2 production at 4 h when it was added 2 h after staurosporine stimulation. Dot blot analysis demonstrated that treatment with SB 203580 or PD 98059 down-regulates the stability of MIP-2 mRNA. These results suggested that p38 MAPK and ERK/MAPK pathways are involved in translation of MIP-2 mRNA to protein and stabilization of MIP-2 mRNA.     

Mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase-1 (MSK1) is directly activated by MAPK and SAPK2/p38, and may mediate activation of CREB.

We have identified a novel mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase (MSK1) that contains two protein kinase domains in a single polypeptide. MSK1 is activated in vitro by MAPK2/ERK2 or SAPK2/p38. Endogenous MSK1 is activated in 293 cells by either growth factor/phorbol ester stimulation, or by exposure to UV radiation, and oxidative and chemical stress. The activation of MSK1 by growth factors/phorbol esters is prevented by PD 98059, which suppresses activation of the MAPK cascade, while the activation of MSK1 by stress stimuli is prevented by SB 203580, a specific inhibitor of SAPK2/p38. In HeLa, PC12 and SK-N-MC cells, PD 98059 and SB 203580 are both required to suppress the activation of MSK1 by TNF, NGF and FGF, respectively, because these agonists activate both the MAPK/ERK and SAPK2/p38 cascades. MSK1 is localized in the nucleus of unstimulated or stimulated cells, and phosphorylates CREB at Ser133 with a Km value far lower than PKA, MAPKAP-K1(p90Rsk) and MAPKAP-K2. The effects of SB 203580, PD 98059 and Ro 318220 on agonist-induced activation of CREB and ATF1 in four cell-lines mirror the effects of these inhibitors on MSK1 activation, and exclude a role for MAPKAP-K1 and MAPKAP-K2/3 in this process. These findings, together with other observations, suggest that MSK1 may mediate the growth-factor and stress-induced activation of CREB.     

IL-27 induces Th1 differentiation via p38 MAPK/T-bet- and intercellular adhesion molecule-1/LFA-1/ERK1/2-dependent pathways

IL-27, a novel member of the IL-6/IL-12 family, activates both STAT1 and STAT3 through its receptor, which consists of WSX-1 and gp130 subunits, resulting in positive and negative regulations of immune responses. We recently demonstrated that IL-27 induces Th1 differentiation through ICAM-1/LFA-1 interaction in a STAT1-dependent, but T-bet-independent mechanism. In this study, we further investigated the molecular mechanisms by focusing on p38 MAPK and ERK1/2. IL-27-induced Th1 differentiation was partially inhibited by lack of T-bet expression or by blocking ICAM-1/LFA-1 interaction with anti-ICAM-1 and/or anti-LFA-1, and further inhibited by both. Similarly, the p38 MAPK inhibitor, SB203580, or the inhibitor of ERK1/2 phosphorylation, PD98059, partially suppressed IL-27-induced Th1 differentiation and the combined treatment completely suppressed it. p38 MAPK was then revealed to be located upstream of T-bet, and SB203580, but not PD98059, inhibited T-bet-dependent Th1 differentiation. In contrast, ERK1/2 was shown to be located downstream of ICAM-1/LFA-1, and PD98059, but not SB203580, inhibited ICAM-1/LFA-1-dependent Th1 differentiation. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that STAT1 is important for IL-27-induced activation of ERK1/2, but not p38 MAPK, and that IL-27 directly induces mRNA expression of growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible 45gamma, which is known to mediate activation of p38 MAPK. Finally, IL-12Rbeta2 expression was shown to be up-regulated by IL-27 in both T-bet- and ICAM-1/LFA-1-dependent mechanisms. Taken together, these results suggest that IL-27 induces Th1 differentiation via two distinct pathways, p38 MAPK/T-bet- and ICAM-1/LFA-1/ERK1/2-dependent pathways. This is in contrast to IL-12, which induces it via only p38 MAPK/T-bet-dependent pathway.     

Shiga toxin activates p38 MAP kinase through cellular Ca(2+) increase in Vero cells

We examined whether the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is involved in Shiga toxin (Stx)-induced Vero cell injury. Consonant with cell injury, Stx caused a transient extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) and a sustained p38 MAPK phosphorylation. p38 MAPK inhibitors (SB 203580 and PD 169316), but not an ERK1/2 kinase inhibitor (PD 98059), partially inhibited the Stx-induced cell death. BAPTA-AM, a Ca(2+) chelator, reduced both cell injury and p38 MAPK phosphorylation. Antioxidants reduced Stx1-induced p38 MAPK phosphorylation. These data indicate that Stx activates p38 MAPK through an increase in intracellular Ca(2+) and reactive oxygen species, and this signaling is involved in Stx-induced cell death.     

Multiple signaling cascades are differentially involved in gene induction by double stranded RNA in interferon-alpha-primed cells.

Priming with interfon (IFN)alpha enhanced the ability of the synthetic double-stranded RNA polyriboinosinic acid: polyribocytidilic acid (pI:C), but not interleukin-1 beta, to activate both p38 mitogen-activated kinase (MAPK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling cascades. Activation by pI:C in IFN alpha-primed cells was delayed compared to activation with interleukin-1 beta, and this delay was followed by high, sustained activation of p38 MAPK and a modest elevation of ERK activation. Pharmacologic inhibition of either the ERK or the p38 MAPK pathway, using U0126 and SB203580, respectively, reduced interleukin-6 protein induction by at least 70%, and combined inhibition of both pathways fully blocked interleukin-6 protein expression and reduced interleukin-6 mRNA induction by more than 80%. In contrast, induction of double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase (PKR) mRNA and protein by IFN alpha and/or pI:C was minimally affected by either inhibitor. Induction of interferon-regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) by pI:C in IFN alpha primed cells was profoundly inhibited by U0126 but not by SB203580. Thus, IFN alpha priming enhances activation of p38 MAPK and ERK pathways by pI:C but not by interleukin-1 beta, thereby enhancing the expression of some, but not all, genes that are induced by pI:C.     

p38MAP kinase is a negative regulator for ERK1/2-mediated growth of AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma cells.

AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a cytokine-mediated tumor, at least in the early stages of this disease; however, there is at present no definitive consensus regarding the exact role of intracellular signaling pathways involved in growth of KS cells. We found that KS cell growth factors oncostatin M, sIL-6R/IL-6, TNFalpha, and IL-1beta all activate ERK1/2, and selective blockage of this kinase by PD98059 resulted in a profound inhibition of the cytokine-induced KS cell growth. Concurrently with activation of ERK1/2, these growth factors phosphorylated and activated p38MAPK. The selective inhibition of p38MAPK by SB203580 prominently enhanced the cytokine-induced proliferation of KS cells, thereby indicating that p38MAPK has a negative feedback on mitogenic signals. As these KS cell growth factors lead to simultaneous activation of ERK1/2 and p38MAPK signaling pathways, the concerted effects of these kinase activities may well determine the intensity of cellular proliferative responses to these growth factors.