title: RKIP does not contribute to MAP kinase pathway silencing in the Merkel Cell Carcinoma cell line UISO.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) has been shown to block MAP kinase pathway as well as NFkappaB signalling. By means of immunohistochemistry, we previously demonstrated that the MAP kinase pathway is virtually inactive in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). Similarly to MCC in situ high RKIP expression accompanies absence of ERK phosphorylation in the MCC cell line UISO suggesting that RKIP might be causative for MAP kinase pathway silencing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Applying an siRNA approach RKIP expression was knocked down in UISO cells and a possible influence on MAP kinase pathway activity was assessed by Western blot analysis using phospho-specific antibodies. Moreover, a possible effect of RKIP knock down in UISO cells on proliferation as well as chemosensitivity to cisplatin were examined applying the MTS assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Surprisingly the absence of phosphorylation of the MAP kinases ERK1 and ERK 2 even following growth factor stimulation was not affected by the RKIP knock down indicating that RKIP is not essential for blocking the MAP kinase pathway in the MCC cell line UISO. Moreover, proliferation as well as chemosensitivity towards cisplatin were not altered upon knock down of RKIP.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie, Venerologie und Allergologie, Julius-Maximilians-Universität, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Houben
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie, Venerologie und Allergologie, Julius-Maximilians-Universität, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ortmann
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie, Venerologie und Allergologie, Julius-Maximilians-Universität, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Juergen C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Becker