title: High glucose-enhanced activation of mesangial cell p38 MAPK by ET-1, ANG II, and platelet-derived growth factor.
abstract: Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) p38 is activated in response to stress stimuli and growth factors relevant to the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. We postulated that mesangial cells exposed to high glucose and to endothelin-1 (ET-1), angiotensin II (ANG II), and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) demonstrate enhanced p38 activity and subsequent activation of the cAMP responsive element binding (CREB) transcription factor. Primary rat mesangial cells exposed to 5.6 (NG) or 30 mM glucose (HG) or NG plus 24.4 mM sorbitol (osmotic control) for < or = 4 days were acutely stimulated with ET-1, ANG II, or PDGF. After 3 days of HG, p38 phosphorylation and kinase activity increased twofold (P < 0.05 vs. NG, n = 5). No change in p38 activity was observed with sorbitol. In HG, activation of p38 by ET-1, ANG II, or PDGF was enhanced compared with NG and was protein kinase C (PKC) independent. In HG, CREB phosphorylation in response to ET-1, ANG II, and PDGF stimulation was enhanced compared with NG and was abolished by p38 inhibition with SB202190. To conclude, in HG, mesangial cell p38 is activated, which in turn stimulates CREB phosphorylation. Furthermore, in HG, mesangial cell p38 responsiveness to ET-1, ANG II, and PDGF and consequent CREB phosphorylation are enhanced through a PKC-independent pathway, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario L2S 3A1, Canada.
authors.forename: Evangelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tsiani
authors.forename: Poli
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lekas
authors.forename: I George
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Fantus
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dlugosz
authors.forename: Catharine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Whiteside
mesh_terms: D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005920:Glomerular Mesangium / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
chemical_list: D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D019332:Endothelin-1; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D000804:Angiotensin II; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D005947:Glucose