title: Nuclear factor of activated T cells c is a target of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in T cells.
abstract: p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) is essential for T-cell activation. Here we demonstrated that nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) is a direct target of p38 MAPK. Inhibition of p38 MAPK led to selective inactivation of NFAT in T cells. We further linked a strict requirement of p38 MAPK to activation of NFATc. A stimulatory effect of p38 MAPK on at least four other stages of NFATc activation was found. First, the p38 MAPK cascade activated the NFATc promoter and induced the transcription of NFATc mRNA. Second, p38 MAPK mildly increased the mRNA stability of NFATc. Third, p38 MAPK enhanced the translation of NFATc mRNA. Fourth, p38 MAPK promoted the interaction of NFATc with the coactivator CREB-binding protein. In contrast, p38 MAPK moderately enhanced the expulsion of NFATc from the nucleus in T cells. Therefore, p38 MAPK has opposite effects on different stages of NFATc activation. All together, the overall effect of p38 MAPK on NFATc in T cells is clear activation.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Immunology, School of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chia-Cheng
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Shu-Ching
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Hsiu-Ming
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Ming-Zong
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D020871:RNA Stability; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007093:Imidazoles; D007376:Interleukin-2; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011725:Pyridines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; C020723:citrate-binding transport protein; D000001:Calcimycin; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C093642:SB 203580