title: JAK/STAT signaling pathway mediates cytokine-induced iNOS expression in primary astroglial cell cultures.
abstract: The production of nitric oxide by the calcium-independent inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in glial cells has been implicated in the neuropathogenesis of various diseases. It is well known that in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and cytokines, such as IFN-gamma, glial cells are induced to synthesize large amount of nitric oxide (NO) (Bolaños et al., 1996; Nicoletti et al., 1998). The signaling transduction pathways for iNOS transcription in astroglial cells have however not yet been established. Because IFN-gamma receptor chains are associated with Janus tyrosine kinases (JAK1 and JAK2) (Darnell et al., 1994), we analyzed the involvement of the JAK/STAT signal transduction pathway in iNOS expression. Our study shows increased JAK2 and STAT1 alpha/beta tyrosine phosphorylation in primary astroglial cell culture after treatment with IFN-gamma and LPS. A temporal correlation was observed between JAK2 and STAT1 alpha/beta tyrosine phosphorylation, the appearance of interferon-regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) mRNA and the iNOS expression. Inhibition experiments showed that JAK2 and STAT1 alpha/beta tyrosine phosphorylation were necessary for IFN gamma-mediated iNOS induction in astroglial cells. We conclude that JAK2 and STAT1 alpha/beta tyrosine phosphorylation is an early event involved in the expression of iNOS in astroglial cells.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioimaging and Pathophysiology of Central Nervous System (IBFSNC)-CNR, Piazza Roma, Catania, Italy. dealpa@mbox.unict.it
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dell'Albani
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Santangelo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Torrisi
authors.forename: V G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Vellis
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Giuffrida Stella
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004347:Drug Interactions / Q000502:physiology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D050856:Interferon Regulatory Factor-1; D050832:Interferon-Stimulated Gene Factor 3; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D053614:Janus Kinase 2; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000378:metabolism; D020032:Tyrphostins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D050856:Interferon Regulatory Factor-1; D050832:Interferon-Stimulated Gene Factor 3; C494259:Irf1 protein, rat; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; D020032:Tyrphostins; C095512:alpha-cyano-(3,4-dihydroxy)-N-benzylcinnamide; C079868:gamma interferon activation factor; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D014443:Tyrosine; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C507927:Jak2 protein, rat; D053614:Janus Kinase 2