title: MCP-1 induces activation of MAP-kinases ERK, JNK and p38 MAPK in human endothelial cells.
abstract: Activation of vascular endothelial cells (ECs) plays an important pathogenic role in the development of atherosclerosis. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is a potent chemoattractant of monocytes. Besides induction of monocyte recruitment, it has been suggested that MCP-1 can also affect the cellular responses of ECs. We investigated whether MCP-1 activated the three major mitogen activated protein (MAP)-kinases extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun amino terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAPK. Stimulation of ECs with MCP-1 induced a time- and concentration-dependent activation of all three MAP-kinases, concentrations as low as 0.1 ng/ml were sufficient for this mechanism. MCP-1 also induced secretion of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 which along with ERK activation was inhibited by PD098059. The results demonstrate that MCP-1 can lead to direct activation of MAP kinases together with induction of MMP2 in ECs. Our data thus propose a new mechanism for the proatherogenic effect of MCP-1.
authors.affiliation: Innere Medizin III, Universität Heidelberg, Bergheimer Strasse, 58 69115, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Werle
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schmal
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hanna
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kreuzer
mesh_terms: D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D054390:Receptors, CCR2; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
chemical_list: C515334:CCR2 protein, human; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D054390:Receptors, CCR2; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases