title: Rescue of CH31 B cells from antigen receptor-induced apoptosis by inhibition of p38 MAPK.
abstract: CH31 B lymphomas represent a model for antigen-induced deletional tolerance of immature B lymphocytes, because cross-linking the B cell antigen receptor (BCR) induces G(1) phase arrest and apoptosis. We have recently demonstrated that BCR cross-linking leads to a transient activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in CH31 B cells. In this paper, we functionally characterize the role of p38 MAPK in BCR-induced apoptosis as well as evaluate the regulation of additional MAPKs by the BCR. We demonstrate that JNK and ERK activities are not affected by BCR cross-linking, suggesting that these MAPKs are not directly involved in initiating the apoptotic cascade. By contrast, we show that pretreatment of CH31 B cells with the highly specific p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 ablated both BCR-induced p38 MAPK activity and apoptosis. Pretreatment of CH31 cells with an inactive SB203580 analog, SB202474, did not prevent apoptosis. These findings establish a key role for p38 MAPK in antigen receptor-mediated apoptosis of CH31 B cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill 02467, USA.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Swart
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chiles
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017304:Annexin A5 / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / Q000378:metabolism; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4; D051379:Mice; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D011419:Propidium / Q000378:metabolism; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011946:Receptors, Antigen / Q000502:physiology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
chemical_list: D017304:Annexin A5; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007093:Imidazoles; D011725:Pyridines; D011946:Receptors, Antigen; D011419:Propidium; 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; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate; C093642:SB 203580