title: Dissociation of stress-activated protein kinase (p38-MAPK and JNKs) phosphorylation from the protective effect of preconditioning in vivo.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to examine and compare the role of the stress-activated protein kinases in ischemic and stretch-induced preconditioning. A model of anesthetized rabbits was used, and the preconditioning protocol included one or three cycles of short ischemia/reperfusion, or short mechanical stretch with acute pressure overload without or with the addition of the stretch blocker gadolinium. Infarct size was determined after 2h reperfusion and p38 MAPK and JNKs phosphorylation was determined after 20 min of prolonged ischemia. Preconditioning stimuli were equally effective in reducing the infarct size (14.2+/-3.4%, 12.9+/-3.0%, 15.9+/-3.3%, P<0.01 vs control). The addition of the stretch channel blocker gadolinium abrogated the effect of stretch preconditioning only, without any effect on ischemic preconditioning. Comparing p38-MAPK and p46/p54 JNKs phosphorylation in the ischemic and non-ischemic regions of the heart at the time of sustained ischemia, activation was observed in the ischemic or mechanically preconditioned groups compared with the control. The addition of gadolinium abolished this activation. The above results indicate that the phosphorylation of p38-MAPK and p46/p54 JNKs is increased in preconditioning but this effect can be dissociated from the protective effect of ischemic preconditioning. Activation of the stress-activated protein kinases may be related to the increased contracture, a characteristic of ischemic preconditioning.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Cardiology, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Iliodromitis
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gaitanaki
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lazou
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bofilis
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Karavolias
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Beis
authors.forename: D Th
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Kremastinos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000494:pharmacology; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D006339:Heart Rate; D019194:Ischemic Preconditioning; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4; D008297:Male; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011817:Rabbits; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
chemical_list: D005682:Gadolinium; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases