title: The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase is required for IL-12-induced IFN-gamma expression.
abstract: IL-12 is a central immunoregulatory cytokine that promotes cell-mediated immune responses and the differentiation of naive CD4+ cells into Th1 cells. We and others have demonstrated that the Stat4 is critical for IFN-gamma production by activated T cells and Th1 cells. However, several studies have suggested that other pathways may be involved in IL-12-stimulated IFN-gamma expression. In this report we demonstrate that IL-12 activates mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 3/6 (MKK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), but not p44/42 (ERK) or stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase MAPK. The activation of p38 MAPK is required for normal induction of IFN-gamma mRNA and IFN-gamma secretion by IL-12 in activated T cells and Th1 cells. Importantly, IL-12-stimulated p38 MAPK effector functions occur through a Stat4-independent mechanism and correlate with increased serine phosphorylation of activating transcription factor-2. The requirement for p38 MAPK in IL-12 function suggests that this pathway may be an important in vivo target for the anti-inflammatory actions of p38 MAPK inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Walther Oncology Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kaplan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000502:physiology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D048371:MAP Kinase Kinase 3; D048669:MAP Kinase Kinase 6; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048057:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 10; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D050797:STAT4 Transcription Factor; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007093:Imidazoles; D011725:Pyridines; D050797:STAT4 Transcription Factor; C494091:Stat4 protein, mouse; D015534:Trans-Activators; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D048057:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 10; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048371:MAP Kinase Kinase 3; D048669:MAP Kinase Kinase 6; C482531:Map2k3 protein, mouse; C482567:Map2k6 protein, mouse; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; C093642:SB 203580; C090942:4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-(4-pyridyl)imidazole