Activation of JNK, p38 and ERK mitogen-activated protein kinases by chromium(VI) is mediated through oxidative stress but does not affect cytotoxicity.
In this study we have explored the involvement of oxidative stress in Cr(VI)-induced JNK, p38 and ERK signaling pathways and their effects on Cr(VI) cytotoxicity in human non-small cell lung carcinoma CL3 cells. Exposure to K(2)Cr(2)O(7) markedly activated JNK and p38 and moderately activated ERK in a dose- (10-80 microM) and time-dependent (1-12 h) manner. The activated p38 decreased markedly and rapidly and the activated JNK decreased gradually when Cr(VI) was removed from the medium. Post-incubation of Cr(VI)-treated cells with H(2)O(2) increased the activities of JNK and p38, but not ERK. Co-administering Cr(VI) with 3-amino-1,2, 4-triazole (3AT), a catalase inhibitor, enhanced p38 activation, but did not influence JNK and ERK activation by Cr(VI). Conversely, co-administering Cr(VI) with mannitol, a hydroxyl radical scavenger and a Cr(V) chelator, reduced p38 activation and increased JNK and ERK activation by Cr(VI). These results indicate that p38 activation by Cr(VI) is positively correlated with oxidative stress, while JNK activity can be enhanced by either a quencher (mannitol) or activator (H(2)O(2)) of redox reactions in Cr(VI)-exposed CL3 cells. However, both 3AT and mannitol reduced the cytotoxicity of Cr(VI), but H(2)O(2) did not. The JNK activated by Cr(VI) was decreased (approximately 50%) by expression of a kinase-defective form of MKK7 (MKK7A) but not that of MKK4 (MKK4KR), suggesting that activation of JNK by Cr(VI) is mediated through MKK7. SB202190, a specific inhibitor of p38, markedly decreased JNK but did not change ERK activation by Cr(VI). PD98059, a specific inhibitor of ERK kinases MKK1/2, blocked ERK and p38 but did not alter JNK activation by Cr(VI). Neither the specific kinase inhibitors nor expression of MKK7A altered Cr(VI)-induced cytotoxicity. Together, these results suggest that activation of the JNK, p38 and ERK pathways by Cr(VI) is mediated through diverse redox mechanisms, yet their activation does not correlate with Cr(VI) cytotoxicity.
Molecular Carcinogenesis Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan, Republic of China.
S M
SM
Chuang
G Y
GY
Liou
J L
JL
Yang
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D000640:Amitrole / Q000494:pharmacology; D002374:Catalase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002840:Chromates / Q000633:toxicity*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D020536:Enzyme Activators / Q000633:toxicity*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D005452:Fluoresceins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008353:Mannitol / Q000494:pharmacology; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D017680:Potassium Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
D002614:Chelating Agents; D002840:Chromates; D020536:Enzyme Activators; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005419:Flavonoids; D005452:Fluoresceins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D007093:Imidazoles; D017680:Potassium Compounds; D011725:Pyridines; D008353:Mannitol; C037631:2',7'-dichlorofluorescein; C027373:potassium chromate(VI); D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D002374:Catalase; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; C090942:4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-(4-pyridyl)imidazole; C093973:2-(2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one; D000640:Amitrole