Glucocorticoid modulation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 and p38 in human ovarian cancer HO-8910 cells.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the signaling pathway through testing the effects of dexamethasone (Dex) on the activation of the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and p38 kinase (p38) in HO-8910 cells.


METHODS
Activation of the ERK1/2 and p38 was detected by Western blotting using the antibodies against the total ERK1/2 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) protein and the phosphorylated forms of them.


RESULTS
Dex could suppress the activation of ERK1/2, while enhance the activation of p38 rapidly and strongly in a dose- and time- dependent manner. Neither effect could be blocked by RU486, the antagonist of glucocorticoid receptor (GR).


CONCLUSIONS
Dex has rapid effects on the activation of ERK1/2 and p38, and these effects are not mediated by GR.
Xia
Bing
B
Department of Pathophysiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China. xiabing72@hotmail.com
Lu
Jian
J
Wang
Gang
G
D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases