title: Role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) in cytokine-induced rat islet cell apoptosis.
abstract: The signaling pathways mediating nitric oxide production and apoptosis in pancreatic beta-cells are not fully understood. We investigated cytokine-induced protein phosphorylation events in insulin-producing cells and evaluated their role in inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) induction and cell death. Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), but not interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), induced phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase, and mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase 1 (MSK1) in rat insulin-producing RINm5F cells. This was paralleled by an increased phosphorylation of the transcription factors activating transcription factor-2 (ATF-2) and cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB). The p38 inhibitor SB203580 prevented cytokine-induced phosphorylation of CREB and MSK1, but not of ATF-2. IFN-gamma induced the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1. The combination of IL-1beta and IFN-gamma increased both apoptosis and necrosis in rat islet cells. SB203580, but not the extracellular signal-regulated kinase inhibitor PD98059, partially prevented cytokine-induced apoptosis, an effect that was not associated with reduced nitrite production or lowered iNOS expression. In conclusion, cytokine-induced p38 activation participates in beta-cell apoptosis, possibly by a nitric oxide-independent mechanism or by enhancing the sensitivity to nitric oxide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsla University, Biomedicum, P.O. Box 571, S-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saldeen
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Welsh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D048056:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 9; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005419:Flavonoids; D007093:Imidazoles; D007375:Interleukin-1; D011725:Pyridines; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat; D048056:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 9; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C093642:SB 203580; C093973:2-(2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one