title: p38 Mitogen-activated protein kinase up-regulates LPS-induced NF-kappaB activation in the development of lung injury and RAW 264.7 macrophages.
abstract: Clarification of the key regulatory steps that lead to nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) under cellular and pathological conditions is very important. The action of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) on the upstream of NF-kappaB activation remains controversial. To examine this issue using an in vivo lung injury model, SB203580, a p38 MAPK inhibitor was given intraorally 1h prior to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment (intratracheally). The mice were sacrificed 4 h after LPS treatment. SB203580 substantially suppressed LPS-induced rises in p38 MAPK phosphorylation, neutrophil recruitment, total protein content in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and apoptosis of bronchoalveolar cells. Furthermore, SB203580 blocked LPS-induced NF-kappaB activation in lung tissue through down-regulation of serine phosphorylation, degradation of IkappaB-alpha, and consequent translocation of the p65 subunit of NF-kappaB to the nucleus. It is likely that, in cultured RAW 264.7 macrophages, SB203580 also blocked LPS-induced NF-kappaB activation in a dose-dependent manner. SB203580 inhibited LPS-induced serine phosphorylation, degradation of IkappaB-alpha, and tyrosine phosphorylation of p65 NF-kappaB. These data indicate that p38 MAPK acts upstream of LPS-induced NF-kappaB activation by modulating the phosphorylation of IkappaB-alpha and p65 NF-kappaB during acute lung injury. Because LPS-stimulated macrophages may contribute to inflammatory lung injury, the inhibition of the p38 MAPK-mediated intracellular signaling pathway leading to NF-kappaB activation represents a target for the attenuation of lung inflammation and parenchymal damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Division of Cell Biology, Ewha Medical Research Center, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, 911-1 Mok-6-dong, Yangcheon-ku, Seoul 158-056, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hee J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hui S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.forename: Jihee Lee
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D002460:Cell Line; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000633:toxicity*; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D015854:Up-Regulation; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; D007093:Imidazoles; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; C000606205:Nfkbia protein, mouse; D011725:Pyridines; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C093642:SB 203580