title: Activation of synovial cell p38 MAP kinase by macrophage migration inhibitory factor.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a proinflammatory cytokine important in animal models of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We investigated the utilization by MIF of mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase signalling pathways in the stimulation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) and IL-8 expression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cultured human RA FLS were treated with recombinant MIF. Activation of MAPK was measured by Western blotting and blocked using specific inhibitors. The expression of COX-2, PGE(2), IL-6, and IL-8 were measured using flow cytometry, ELISA, and real-time polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MIF induced the phosphorylation of FLS p38 and extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK) MAP kinase. MIF significantly induced COX-2 and IL-6 protein and mRNA expression as well as PGE(2) and IL-8 production. Antagonism of p38 MAP kinase inhibited MIF induction of COX-2, PGE(2), and IL-6. In contrast, antagonism of ERK had no effect on COX-2, PGE(2), or IL-6. Neither antagonist inhibited MIF-induced IL-8.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MIF activates RA FLS COX-2 and IL-6 expression via p38 MAP kinase activation and induces IL-8 via p38 and ERK MAP kinase-independent pathways.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Monash University Department of Medicine, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Melbourne, Australia. lanie.santos@med.monash.edu.au
authors.forename: Leilani L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lacey
authors.forename: Yuanhang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leech
authors.forename: Eric F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Morand
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D015232:Dinoprostone