title: Interferon-alpha2b reduces phosphorylation and activity of MEK and ERK through a Ras/Raf-independent mechanism.
abstract: Interferon (IFN)-alpha affects the growth, differentiation and function of various cell types by transducing regulatory signals through the Janus tyrosine kinase/signal transducers of activation and transcription (Jak/STAT) pathway. The signalling pathways employing the mitogen-activated ERK-activating kinase (MEK) and the extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK) are critical in growth factors signalling. Engagement of the receptors, and subsequent stimulation of Ras and Raf, initiates a phosphorylative cascade leading to activation of several proteins among which MEK and ERK play a central role in routing signals critical in controlling cell development, activation and proliferation. We demonstrate here that 24-48 h following treatment of transformed T- and monocytoid cell lines with recombinant human IFN-alpha2b both the phosphorylation and activity of MEK1 and its substrates ERK1/2 were reduced. In contrast, the activities of the upstream molecules Ras and Raf-1 were not affected. No effect on MEK/ERK activity was observed upon short-term exposure (1-30 min) to IFN. The anti-proliferative effect of IFN-alpha was increased by the addition in the culture medium of a specific inhibitor of MEK, namely PD98059. In conclusion, our results indicate that IFN-alpha regulates the activity of the MEK/ERK pathway and consequently modulates cellular proliferation through a Ras/Raf-independent mechanism. Targeting the MEK/ERK pathway may strengthen the IFN-mediated anti-cancer effect.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Romerio
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riva
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zella
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D048369:MAP Kinase Kinase 1; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D019908:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf / Q000378:metabolism*; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013997:Time Factors; D020298:U937 Cells
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005419:Flavonoids; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D019908:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048369:MAP Kinase Kinase 1; C482125:MAP2K1 protein, human; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; C501009:HRAS protein, human; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); C093973:2-(2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one