[Role of p38 pathway in PMA-induced in vitro invasion of JAR human choriocarcinoma cell line].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction pathways in regulating the in vitro invasion of JAR human choriocarcinoma cells induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA).


METHODS
ELISA was used to detect the kinase activity of the JAR cells in response to PMA stimulation, and the in vitro invasion capabilities of the stimulated cells were observed using transwell assay. Changes in the proliferation and activity of the JAR cells cultured in vitro following PMA treatment were also observed by MTT assay.


RESULTS
p38 MAPK was activated dose-dependently in JAR cells upon the stimulation by PMA, which significantly enhanced the in vitro invasion of the JAR cells, while treatment of the cells with SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK, inhibited the invasion of the cells. The growth of the cells, as observed from the growth curves, was not affected by the treatment of PMA and/or SB203580.


CONCLUSIONS
Activation of p38 MAPK signal transduction pathway may enhance the invasion capability of JAR cells, and p38 MAPK inhibition may therefore yield new possibility to control the invasion of choriocarcinoma.
Zhang
Xi-Qian
XQ
Department of Obstetrics Gynecology, Nanfang Hospital, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. zhangxq@fimmu.com
Zhao
Xiao-Shan
XS
Pang
Zhan-Jun
ZJ
Li
Hong
H
Chen
Si-Mei
SM
Luo
Ren
R
Chen
Shi-Ling
SL
Xing
Fu-Qi
FQ
D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002822:Choriocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000502:physiology*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011247:Pregnancy; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
D007093:Imidazoles; D011725:Pyridines; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; C093642:SB 203580