title: p38 MAPK downregulates phosphorylation of Bad in doxorubicin-induced endothelial apoptosis.
abstract: Doxorubicin is the anthracycline with the widest spectrum of antitumor activity, and it has been shown that the antitumor activity is mediated in vivo by selective triggering of apoptosis in proliferating endothelial cells. We studied cultured human endothelial cells and observed that doxorubicin-induced apoptosis was mediated by p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Doxorubicin-provoked apoptosis was significantly inhibited by expression of dominant negative p38 MAPK or pharmacological inhibition with SB203580. Furthermore, blocking phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/Akt signaling significantly increased doxorubicin-induced caspase-3 activity and cell death, indicating that Akt is a survival factor in this system. Notably, we also found that doxorubicin-provoked apoptosis included p38 MAPK-mediated inhibition of Akt and Bad phosphorylation. Furthermore, doxorubicin-stimulated phosphorylation of Bad in cells expressing dominant negative p38 MAPK was impeded by the inhibition of PI3-K. In addition to the impact on Bad phosphorylation, doxorubicin-treatment caused p38 MAPK-dependent downregulation of Bcl-xL protein.
authors.affiliation: Lund University, Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital MAS, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grethe
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Coltella
authors.forename: Maria Flavia
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Di Renzo
authors.forename: M Isabella
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Pörn-Ares
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D051025:bcl-Associated Death Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D051020:bcl-X Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C494819:BAD protein, human; C494811:BCL2L1 protein, human; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D051025:bcl-Associated Death Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein; D004317:Doxorubicin; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases