COM crystals activate the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction pathway in renal epithelial cells.
Interaction of calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) crystals with renal cells has been shown to result in altered gene expression, DNA synthesis, and cell death. In the current study the role of a stress-specific p38 MAP kinase-signaling pathway in mediating these effects of COM crystals was investigated. Exposure of cells to COM crystals (20 microg/cm(2)) rapidly stimulated strong phosphorylation and activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAP kinase) and re-initiation of DNA synthesis. Inhibition of COM crystal binding to the cells by heparin blocked the effects of COM crystals on p38 MAPK activation. We also show that specific inhibition of p38 MAPK by 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(4-methylsulfonylphenyl)-5-(4-pyridyl) imidazole (SB203580) or by overexpression of a dominant negative mutant of p38 MAP kinase abolishes COM crystal-induced re-initiation of DNA synthesis. The inhibition is dose-dependent and correlates with in situ activity of native p38 MAP kinase, determined as mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase-2 (MAPKAP kinase-2) activity in cell extracts. In summary, inhibiting activation of p38 MAPK pathway abrogated the DNA synthesis in response to COM crystals. These data are the first demonstrations of activation of the p38 MAPK signaling pathway by COM crystals and suggest that, in response to COM crystals, this pathway transduces critical signals governing the re-initiation of DNA synthesis in renal epithelial cells.
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Vattikuti Urology Institute, Henry Ford Health Sciences Center, Detroit, Michigan 48202, USA. hkoul1@hfhs.org
Hari K
HK
Koul
Mani
M
Menon
Lakshmi S
LS
Chaturvedi
Sweaty
S
Koul
Avtar
A
Sekhon
Akshay
A
Bhandari
Meiyi
M
Huang
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002129:Calcium Oxalate / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005799:Genes, Dominant; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013552:Swine; D013997:Time Factors; D014162:Transfection; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D000099190:MAP-Kinase-Activated Kinase 2
D002129:Calcium Oxalate; D004247:DNA; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007093:Imidazoles; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011725:Pyridines; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D000099190:MAP-Kinase-Activated Kinase 2; C093642:SB 203580