Conditional up-regulation of IL-2 production by p38 MAPK inactivation is mediated by increased Erk1/2 activity.
The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase regulates many cellular processes in almost all eukaryotic cell types. In T cells, p38 was shown to regulate thymic development and cytokine production. Here, the role of p38 on interleukin-2 (IL-2) production by human peripheral blood CD4+ T cells was examined. When T cells were stimulated under weak stimulation conditions, pharmaceutical and molecular p38 inhibitors induced a dramatic increase of IL-2 production. In contrast, IL-2 levels were not affected significantly when strong stimulation was provided to T cells. The increase in IL-2 production, following p38 inhibition, was associated with a strong up-regulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk)1/2 activity. Furthermore the Erk inhibitor U0126 was able to counteract the effect of p38 inhibition on IL-2 production, supporting the conclusion that p38 mediates its effect through Erk. These results suggest that the p38 kinase, through its ability to control Erk activation levels, acts as a gatekeeper, which prevents inappropriate IL-2 production. Also, the finding that p38 acts in a strength-of-stimulation-dependent way provides an explanation for previously reported, contradictory results regarding the role of this kinase in IL-2 expression.
Kogkopoulou
Olga
O
Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece.
Tzakos
Evaggelos
E
Mavrothalassitis
George
G
Baldari
Cosima T
CT
Paliogianni
Fotini
F
Young
Howard A
HA
Thyphronitis
George
G
D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D025461:Feedback, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007376:Interleukin-2; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases