Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathways in HepG2 cells infected with a virulent strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae

Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP), an enterobacterium, usually causes urinary tract infection or pneumonia; however, it has caused severe liver abscess in diabetic patients in recent years. How this emerging virulent KP strain causes liver abscess is not known. This study investigates signalling pathways in HepG2 cells infected by virulent KP. Cells were infected with bacteria for various durations and harvested to screen for signalling molecules by Western blotting. Our results showed that phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase (MEK) 1/2, p44/p42 MAPK and p90 ribosomal S6 kinase (p90RSK) were observed and this pathway was inhibited by MEK1/2 inhibitors U0126 and PD98059. Phosphorylation of MEK3/6, p38 kinase and ATF-2 was also observed and this pathway was inhibited by p38 kinase inhibitors SB203850 and SB202190. Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 and 4 expressions were increased and maximized 2-4 h post infection. The JNK pathway, Elk, MAPKAPK-2 and HSP27 were not activated. These results suggest that KP infections induce signal transduction through TLR2 and TLR4 and activate two downstream MAP kinase pathways, MEK1/2-p44/p42 MAPK-p90RSK and MEK3/6-p38 kinase-ATF-2, but not the JNK pathway in HepG2 cells. The infected HepG2 eventually showed apoptosis and died.