title: Inhibition of p38 kinase reveals a TNF-alpha-mediated, caspase-dependent, apoptotic death pathway in a human myelomonocyte cell line.
abstract: TNF-alpha transduces signals of survival or death via its two receptors, R1/p55/p60 and RII/p80/p75. The role of caspases as effectors of cell death is universally accepted, although caspase inhibitors may potentiate TNF cytotoxicity in some instances. In conditions when macromolecular synthesis is blocked, caspases are part of the machinery that executes TNF-triggered apoptotic death in U937, a human myelomonocyte cell line, and in the Jurkat T cell line. However, inhibition of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) triggered TNF cytotoxicity in U937 cells and murine splenic macrophages, but not the Jurkat cell line. TNF induced expression of the antiapoptotic protein c-IAP2 (cytoplasmic inhibitor of apoptosis protein 2), and was blocked in the presence of a p38 MAPK inhibitor, which also induced caspase-dependent, TNF-mediated apoptosis in U937 cells. Thus, inhibition of p38 MAPK resulted in the activation of caspase 9 and cleavage of the adaptor molecule BH3 interacting domain death agonist, and blocked NF-kappaB-mediated transactivation, without affecting the nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB. Collectively, these data show that activation of p38 MAPK is critical to cell survival by TNF in U937 cells, and demonstrate lineage-specific regulation of TNF-triggered signals of activation or apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Biological Sciences, University of Agricultural Sciences, Gandhi Krishi Vigyan Kendra Campus, New Bellary Road, Bangalore 560065, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Varghese
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chattopadhaya
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sarin
mesh_terms: D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / Q000276:immunology; D000590:Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D053453:Caspase 9; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D008264:Macrophages / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D022423:Myeloid Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000502:physiology* / Q000633:toxicity; D020298:U937 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
chemical_list: D000590:Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; D004338:Drug Combinations; D016328:NF-kappa B; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C096713:benzyloxycarbonylvalyl-alanyl-aspartyl fluoromethyl ketone; D003513:Cycloheximide; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C506433:CASP9 protein, human; C506434:Casp9 protein, mouse; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases