title: Inhibition of delayed induction of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase attenuates kainic acid-induced neuronal loss in the hippocampus.
abstract: The activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) has been implicated in the pathological changes accompanying inflammatory and apoptotic processes of various cell types including neurons. In a kainic acid (KA)-induced mouse seizure model, p38 MAPK is induced in reactive astrocytes in the CA3 region of the hippocampus where severe neuronal loss occurs. Here we report the delayed and protracted activation of p38 MAPK in the CA3 region of the hippocampus of mice treated with KA. In this model, the inhibition of p38 MAPK isoforms by SB203580, a specific inhibitor, attenuated neuronal loss in the CA3 and CA1 regions of the hippocampus, which was accompanied by the suppression of the p38 MAPK activation as well as astrogliosis. Thus, the delayed and sustained induction of p38 MAPK plays a crucial role in the neuronal damage of KA-induced brain seizures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Inha University School of Medicine, 7-241 Shinheung-dong, Jung-Gu, Inchon, 400-712, South Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young-Mi
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Chun Shu
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Piao
authors.forename: Jung-Bin
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ja-Kyeong
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D051698:Activating Transcription Factor 2; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects*; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / Q000633:toxicity; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D048055:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000494:pharmacology; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
chemical_list: D051698:Activating Transcription Factor 2; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D007093:Imidazoles; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011725:Pyridines; D014157:Transcription Factors; D048055:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C093642:SB 203580; D007608:Kainic Acid