title: Regulation of inducible nitricoxide synthase gene transcription by p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in human embryonic kidney 293 cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the transcriptional regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene by p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK).
  
  
  METHODS
  With human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells as the target and the assistance of lipofectamine-mediated co-transfection techniques and luciferase reporter gene systems, FLAG-tagged p38 isoforms (namely FLAG-p38 alpha, FLAG-p38 beta;, FLAG-p38 gamma and FLAG-p38 phi;) in pcDNA3, pcDNA3, piNOS-Luc and pCMV-beta; were transfected into HEK 293 cells, and the relative activity of luciferase was subsequently tested.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Highest luciferase activity occurred only in p38 alpha group compared with the other three isoform groups under no stimulation. Under the stimulation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the luciferase activity of each group was obviously increased and the highest activity occurred in p38 beta group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LPS can induce transcription and activation of iNOS gene, and p38 MAPK is involved in the transcription regulation of iNOS gene in HEK 293 cells.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Shock and Microcirculation of PLA, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
authors.forename: Ai-hua
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Xiao-wei
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Wen-hong
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Kan
authors.forename: Qing-he
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Jing-zhen
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000502:physiology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000235:genetics*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
chemical_list: C496319:NOS2 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases