title: The mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase p38 and its upstream activator MAP kinase kinase 6 are involved in the activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription by hyperosmolarity.
abstract: Environmental stress (e.g. aniso-osmolarity and UV light), hypoxia/reoxygenation, and reactive oxygen species activate intracellular signaling cascades such as the "stress-responsive" mitogen-activated protein kinases and nuclear factor kappaB. We have recently shown that the Janus tyrosine kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (Jak/STAT) pathway is ligand-independently activated by hyperosmotic shock. In the present study, we show that besides STAT1 also the tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 became tyrosine-phosphorylated upon hyperosmolarity. SB 202190 and SB 203580 (specific inhibitors of p38) inhibited both STAT activation and tyrosine phosphorylation of SHP2 induced by hyperosmotic stress. Overexpression of wild-type p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and its upstream activator mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6 (MKK6) resulted in an enhanced STAT1 tyrosine phosphorylation upon osmotic shock. Accordingly, overexpression of dominant negative mutants of p38 and MKK6 largely decreased hyperosmotic STAT1 activation and tyrosine phosphorylation of SHP2. Furthermore, we provide evidence that a genistein-sensitive tyrosine kinase different from Jak1 is involved in stress-activation of STAT1 and tyrosine phosphorylation of SHP2. These results strongly suggest that hyperosmotic shock activates STAT1 and SHP2 via p38 and its upstream activator MKK6.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biochemie, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Bode
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gatsios
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ludwig
authors.forename: U R
authors.initials: UR
authors.lastname: Rapp
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Häussinger
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Heinrich
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Graeve
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D019556:COS Cells; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D004247:DNA; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D048669:MAP Kinase Kinase 6; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009997:Osmotic Pressure; D054592:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 11; D053824:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 6; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; D015534:Trans-Activators; D004247:DNA; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048669:MAP Kinase Kinase 6; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; D054592:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 11; D053824:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 6; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases