title: Ceramide activates the stress-activated protein kinases.
abstract: Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) activates the stress-activated protein kinases (SAPKs, also known as Jun nuclear kinases or JNKs) resulting in the stimulation of AP-1-dependent gene transcription and induces the translocation of NF kappa B to the nucleus resulting in the stimulation of NF kappa B-dependent gene transcription. A potential second messenger for these signaling pathways is ceramide, which is generated when TNF alpha activates sphingomyelinases. We show that treatment of HL-60 human promyelocytic cells with exogenous sphingomyelinase leads to rapid stimulation of JNK/SAPK activity, an effect not mimicked by treatment with phospholipase A2, C, or D. Further, JNK/SAPK activity is stimulated 2.7- and 2.8-fold, respectively, in cells exposed to C2-ceramide (5 microM) or TNF alpha (10 ng/ml). The prolonged stimulation of this kinase activity by C2-ceramide is similar to that previously reported for TNF alpha. In contrast, the related mitogen-activated protein kinases ERK1 and ERK2 are weakly stimulated following TNF alpha treatment (1.5-fold) and are inhibited by C2-ceramide treatment. TNF alpha also potently stimulates NF-kappa B DNA binding activity and transcriptional activity, but these effects are not mimicked by addition of C2-ceramide or sphingomyelinase to intact cells. Furthermore, TNF alpha, sphingomyelinase, and C2-ceramide induce c-jun, a gene that is stimulated by the ATF-2 and c-Jun transcription factors. These data suggest that ceramide may act as a second messenger for a subset of TNF alpha's biochemical and biological effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-7038, USA.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Westwick
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Bielawska
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dbaibo
authors.forename: Y A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Hannun
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Brenner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002518:Ceramides / Q000502:physiology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D016758:Genes, jun; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006801:Humans; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D051379:Mice; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D015290:Second Messenger Systems / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013108:Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D002518:Ceramides; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D013108:Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase