title: IL-4 regulation of p38 MAPK signalling is dependent on cell type.
abstract: p38 MAPK was originally characterized as a stress-induced kinase, along with JNK. Subsequently, p38 MAPK was found to be activated by stimuli other than cellular stress, such as growth factors and mitogens, like interleukin (IL)-2, IL-7 and IL-3. A notable exception was IL-4, as studies in mast cells showed no activation of p38 MAPK by this cytokine. In this study we show that the regulation of p38 MAPK is cell type dependent. Like other cytokines that signal through the gamma (gamma)(c), IL-4 can activate p38 MAPK in the CT6 T-cell line and BA/F3 pro-B-cells. However, IL-4 was unable to activate p38 MAPK in the murine macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7 and, indeed, prolonged exposure of cells to IL-4 results in suppression of LPS-induced MAPK activation. This result correlates with the well defined inhibitory effect of IL-4 on tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) production. In contrast, studies in primary human monocytes showed that prolonged exposure to IL-4 resulted in enhanced activation of LPS-stimulated p38 MAPK; this correlated with an enhanced TNFalpha production. These data highlight the complexity of IL-4 signalling mechanisms, the diversity that can exist in the regulation of a given signalling pathway by a given cytokine and, furthermore, indicate the problems that can arise from extrapolation between different cell systems.
authors.affiliation: UCSF Cancer Center, 2340 Sutter Street, 94115, USA.
authors.forename: Abigail E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: Lynn M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Ferdinand V
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Lali
authors.forename: Brian M J
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Foxwell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002455:Cell Division; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D051379:Mice; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D015847:Interleukin-4; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases