title: Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases is essential for hydrogen peroxide -induced apoptosis in retinal pigment epithelial cells.
abstract: Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells are constantly exposed to oxidative injury while clearing byproducts of photoreceptor turnover, a circumstance thought to be responsible for degenerative retinal diseases. The mechanisms of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-induced apoptosis in RPE cells are not fully understood. We studied signal transduction mechanisms of H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis in the human RPE cell line ARPE-19. Activation of two stress kinases (JNK and p38) occurs during H(2)O(2) stimulation, and H(2)O(2)-mediated cell death was significantly reduced by their specific inhibition. Exposure to a lethal dose of H(2)O(2) elicited Bax translocation to the mitochondria and release of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) from the mitochondria, both of which were abolished by either JNK- or p38-specific inhibitors. Both H(2)O(2)-induced cell death and JNK/p38 phosphorylation were partially inhibited by C. difficile toxin B, inhibitor of Rho, Rac, and cdc42. Use of pull-down assays revealed that the small GTPase activated by H(2)O(2) is Rac1. This study is the first to demonstrate that H(2)O(2) induces a Rac1/JNK1/p38 signaling cascade, and that JNK and p38 activation is important for H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis as well as AIF/Bax translocation of RPE cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, The Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: T-C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Y-C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: H-C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: A-C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: S-L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: H-K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Y-P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Tsao
mesh_terms: D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D000873:Anthracenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D048055:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000166:cytology*; D021381:Protein Transport; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000873:Anthracenes; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007093:Imidazoles; D011725:Pyridines; C107953:RAC1 protein, human; C031815:toxB protein, Clostridium difficile; C432165:pyrazolanthrone; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D048055:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein; C093642:SB 203580