title: Extracellular signal regulated MAP-kinase signalling in osmotically stressed trout hepatocytes.
abstract: Activation of the extracellular signal-regulated MAP-kinase (ERK) by anisoosmotic conditions, the underlying signalling pathways, and the role of protein kinases in cell volume regulation were investigated in trout hepatocytes. While hyperosmolarity left phosphorylated ERK (pERK) levels unaffected, hypoosmolarity caused a significant increase of pERK within 2 min which peaked at around 30 min. Chelating extracellular Ca2+ to prevent the influx of Ca2+ associated with swelling reduced iso- and abolished hypoosmotic ERK activation. Similarly, inhibiting the ERK activator MEK, tyrosine kinases, or PKC inhibited the increase of pERK. In contrast, exposing cells to chelerytrine or staurosporine, PKC inhibitors of little specificity, increased pERK independently from osmotic conditions. Blocking PI3 kinase, application of 8-Br-cAMP, exposure to a P-receptor antagonist, and inhibition of p38 MAP-kinase had no effect on ERK activity. A significant reduction of regulatory volume decrease (RVD) after hypoosmotic swelling caused by MEK-inhibition and an even more pronounced reduction due to p38 inhibition indicates a role for MAP-kinases in volume regulation, but a lack of correlation between the impact of protein kinase inhibitors on pERK levels and on RVD suggests that ERK may merely modulate volume recovery. Immunocytochemical detection of pERK indicated cytoplasmic activation, but no nuclear accumulation within 30 min, supporting the notion that ERK exerts non-genomic effects. Overall, our data underscore the complexity of hypoosmotic ERK signalling and suggest a role of ERK and p38 in acute cell volume regulation.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Zoologie und Limnologie, Leopold Franzens Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Hannes L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Ebner
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fiechtner
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pelster
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Krumschnabel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D048429:Cell Size; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D017686:Oncorhynchus mykiss / Q000378:metabolism*; D009997:Osmotic Pressure; D021381:Protein Transport; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D012965:Sodium Chloride; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D002118:Calcium