title: Smad and p38-MAPK signaling mediates apoptotic effects of transforming growth factor-beta1 in human airway epithelial cells.
abstract: Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) belongs to a family of multifunctional cytokines that regulate a variety of biological processes, including cell differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. The effects of TGF-beta1 are cell context and cell cycle specific and may be signaled through several pathways. We examined the effect of TGF-beta1 on apoptosis of primary human central airway epithelial cells and cell lines. TGF-beta1 protected human airway epithelial cells from apoptosis induced by either activation of the Fas death receptor (CD95) or by corticosteroids. This protective effect was blocked by inhibition of the Smad pathway via overexpression of inhibitory Smad7. The protective effect is associated with an increase in the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 and was blocked by the overexpression of key gatekeeper cyclins for the G1/S interface, cyclins D1 and E. Blockade of the Smad pathway by overexpression of the inhibitory Smad7 permitted demonstration of a TGF-beta-mediated proapoptotic pathway. This proapoptotic effect was blocked by inhibition of the p38 MAPK kinase signaling with the inhibitor SB-203580 and was associated with an increase in p38 activity as measured by a kinase assay. Here we demonstrate dual signaling pathways involving TGF-beta1, an antiapoptotic pathway mediated by the Smad pathway involving p21, and an apoptosis-permissive pathway mediated in part by p38 MAPK.
authors.affiliation: Univ. of Chicago, Sect. of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC 6076, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
authors.forename: Nidhi S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Undevia
authors.forename: Delbert R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Dorscheid
authors.forename: Bertha A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Marroquin
authors.forename: Wendy L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Gugliotta
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tse
authors.forename: Steven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000235:genetics; D019927:Cyclin E / Q000235:genetics; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051906:Smad7 Protein; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; D019927:Cyclin E; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C497806:SMAD7 protein, human; D051906:Smad7 Protein; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D015534:Trans-Activators; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D019014:fas Receptor; D019938:Cyclin D1; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases