title: Regulation by intracellular glutathione of TNF-alpha-induced p38 MAP kinase activation and RANTES production by human pulmonary vascular endothelial cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We have previously shown that p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase regulates tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced RANTES production by human pulmonary vascular endothelial cells, and that sensitivity to TNF-alpha is inversely correlated with cellular reduction and oxidation (redox) state. However, a regulatory role of intracellular glutathione (GSH) in TNF-alpha-induced p38 MAP kinase activation and p38 MAP kinase-mediated RANTES production has not been determined. In the present study, therefore, we extended our previous studies and focused on redox regulation on p38 MAP kinase activation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human pulmonary vascular endothelial cells were exposed to N-acetylcysteine (NAC) or buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), and then TNF-alpha-induced p38 MAP kinase activation and p38 MAP kinase-mediated RANTES production were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that 1) NAC attenuated TNF-alpha-induced p38MAP kinase activation and RANTES production 2) SB 203580 as the specific inhibitor of p38 MAP kinase activity attenuated TNF-alpha-induced RANTES production 3) BSO facilitated TNF-alpha-induced p38 MAP kinase activation and RANTES production 4) SB 203580 attenuated BSO-mediated facilitation of TNF-alpha-induced RANTES production.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicated that TNF-alpha-induced p38 MAP kinase activation and p38 MAP kinase-mediated RANTES production by human pulmonary vascular endothelial cells are inversely regulated by intracellular GSH levels.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gon
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Takeshita
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Asai
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Asai
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Machino
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Horie
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology; D019328:Buthionine Sulfoximine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018946:Chemokine CCL5 / Q000032:analysis*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
chemical_list: D018946:Chemokine CCL5; D007093:Imidazoles; D011725:Pyridines; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019328:Buthionine Sulfoximine; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D005978:Glutathione; C093642:SB 203580; D000111:Acetylcysteine