title: CPI-1189 inhibits interleukin 1beta-induced p38-mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation: an explanation for its neuroprotective properties?
abstract: The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38-MAPK) is a central enzyme in one of the major protein kinase cascades that regulate proapoptotic and proinflammatory signal transduction. p38-MAPK is activated by receptor/ligand recognition events or by exposure to extracellular stressors, including oxidative stress. Activation of p38-MAPK is affected by dual phosphorylation on a specific inhibitory domain. Dual phosphorylation causes a structural change in the p38-MAPK enzyme which allows binding of ATP and target substrate. Agents which block ATP docking to phosphoactivated p38-MAPK are being investigated for treatment of inflammatory diseases and neurodegenerative pathologies. An alternative strategy for p38-MAPK antagonism would be the inhibition of p38-MAPK phosphoactivation. We now report potent inhibition of p38-MAPK phosphorylation by a synthetic benzamide (CPI-1189) which displays protective action against tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha)-induced neurodegeneration. In primary astrocytes treated with interleukin 1beta (IL1beta), CPI-1189 inhibits p38-MAPK phosphorylation at concentrations of 10 nM or less. While the precise molecular target of CPI-1189 remains unknown, these findings suggest a novel mechanism for the neuroprotective properties of the compound. These findings also indicate that antagonism of the p38-MAPK may be achieved through pharmacological inhibition of p38-MAPK phosphorylation, a strategy that is conceptually distinct from direct inhibition of ATP binding to the active enzyme.
authors.affiliation: Free Radical Biology and Aging Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma 73104, USA. kenneth-hensley@omrf.ouhsc.edu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hensley
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Q N
authors.initials: QN
authors.lastname: Pye
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Floyd
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Garland
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Irwin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002073:Butanes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
chemical_list: D002073:Butanes; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007375:Interleukin-1; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides; C406025:CPI 1189; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases