title: The serine protease plasmin triggers expression of MCP-1 and CD40 in human primary monocytes via activation of p38 MAPK and janus kinase (JAK)/STAT signaling pathways.
abstract: The mechanism of proinflammatory activation of human monocytes by plasmin is unknown. Here we demonstrate that in human primary monocytes, plasmin stimulates mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling via phosphorylation of MAPK kinase 3/6 (MKK3/6) and p38 MAPK that triggers subsequent DNA binding of transcription factor activator protein-1 (AP-1). The AP-1 complex contained phosphorylated c-Jun and ATF2, and its DNA binding activity was blocked by the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580. In addition, plasmin elicits Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling, as detected by phosphorylation of JAK1 tyrosine kinase and STAT1 and STAT3 proteins. Plasmin-induced DNA binding of STAT1 and STAT3 was blocked by SB203580 and AG490, inhibitors of p38 MAPK and JAK, respectively, but not by U0126, an inhibitor of MKK1/2. DNA binding of NF-kappaB remained unaffected by any of these inhibitors. The plasmin-induced signaling led to expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and CD40, which required activation of both p38 MAPK and JAK/STAT signaling pathways. Additionally, signaling through both p38 MAPK and JAK is involved in the plasmin-mediated monocyte migration, whereas the formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine-induced chemotaxis remained unaffected. Taken together, our data demonstrate a novel function of the serine protease plasmin in a proinflammatory signaling network.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology of Natural Products and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Ulm, D-89081 Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Ladislav
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Burysek
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Syrovets
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Simmet
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D002465:Cell Movement; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005341:Fibrinolysin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D053613:Janus Kinase 1; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D009000:Monocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D011485:Protein Binding; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D012694:Serine / Q000378:metabolism; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013997:Time Factors; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000378:metabolism; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
chemical_list: D019013:CD40 Antigens; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; C494079:STAT1 protein, human; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494086:STAT3 protein, human; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014443:Tyrosine; D012694:Serine; D004247:DNA; D011494:Protein Kinases; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C507904:JAK1 protein, human; D053613:Janus Kinase 1; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D005341:Fibrinolysin