title: MAP kinases in lung endothelial permeability induced by microtubule disassembly.
abstract: Lung endothelial barrier function is regulated by multiple signaling pathways, including mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) 1/2 and p38. We have recently shown involvement of microtubule (MT) disassembly in endothelial cell (EC) barrier failure. In this study, we examined potential involvement of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK in lung EC barrier dysfunction associated with MT disassembly. MT inhibitors nocodazole (0.2 microM) and vinblastine (0.1 microM) induced sustained activation of Ras-Raf-MEK1/2-ERK1/2 and MKK3/6-p38-MAPKAPK2 MAPK cascades in human and bovine pulmonary EC, as detected by phosphospecific antibodies and in MAPK activation assays. These effects were linked to increased permeability assessed by measurements of transendothelial electrical resistance and cytoskeletal remodeling analyzed by morphometric analysis of EC monolayers. MT stabilization by taxol (5 microM, 1 h) attenuated nocodazole-induced ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK activation and phosphorylation of p38 MAPK substrate 27-kDa heat shock protein and regulatory myosin light chains, the proteins involved in actin polymerization and actomyosin contraction. Importantly, only pharmacological inhibition of p38 MAPK by SB-203580 (20 microM, 1 h) attenuated nocodazole-induced MT depolymerization, actin remodeling, and EC barrier dysfunction, whereas the MEK/ERK1/2 inhibitor U0126 (5 microM, 1 h) exhibited no effect. These data suggest a direct link between p38 MAPK activation, remodeling of MT network, and EC barrier regulation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, MFL Center Tower, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
authors.forename: Anna A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Birukova
authors.forename: Konstantin G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Birukov
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gorshkov
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Joe G N
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Alexander D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Verin
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000205:Actomyosin / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002070:Butadienes / Q000494:pharmacology; D002199:Capillary Permeability / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism*; D009570:Nitriles / Q000494:pharmacology; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002070:Butadienes; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007093:Imidazoles; D009570:Nitriles; D011725:Pyridines; C113580:U 0126; D000205:Actomyosin; D011494:Protein Kinases; C093642:SB 203580