title: Inhibition of the p38 MAP kinase pathway destabilizes smooth muscle length during physiological loading.
abstract: We tested the hypothesis that mechanical plasticity of airway smooth muscle may be mediated in part by the p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway. Bovine tracheal smooth muscle (TSM) strips were mounted in a muscle bath and set to their optimal length, where the active force was maximal (F(o)). Each strip was then contracted isotonically (at 0.32 F(o)) with ACh (maintained at 10(-4) M) and allowed to shorten for 180 min, by which time shortening was completed and the static equilibrium length was established. To simulate the action of breathing, we then superimposed on this steady distending force a sinusoidal force fluctuation with zero mean, at a frequency of 0.2 Hz, and measured incremental changes in muscle length. We found that TSM strips incubated in 10 microM SB-203580-HCl, an inhibitor of the p38 MAP kinase pathway, demonstrated a greater degree of fluctuation-driven lengthening than did control strips, and upon removal of the force fluctuations they remained at a greater length. We also found that the force fluctuations themselves activated the p38 MAP kinase pathway. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that inhibition of the p38 MAP kinase pathway destabilizes muscle length during physiological loading.
authors.affiliation: Physiology Program, Harvard School of Public Health, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Oren J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Lakser
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Lindeman
authors.forename: Jeffrey J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Fredberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D009218:Myosins / Q000378:metabolism; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014132:Trachea / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D016474:Weight-Bearing; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007093:Imidazoles; D011725:Pyridines; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D009218:Myosins; C093642:SB 203580