title: Jun N-terminal kinase 1 regulates epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition induced by TGF-beta1.
abstract: Transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) is a cardinal cytokine in the pathogenesis of airway remodeling, and promotes epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). As a molecular interaction between TGF-beta1 and Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) has been demonstrated, the goal of this study was to elucidate whether JNK plays a role in TGF-beta1-induced EMT. Primary cultures of mouse tracheal epithelial cells (MTEC) from wild-type, JNK1-/- or JNK2-/- mice were comparatively evaluated for their ability to undergo EMT in response to TGF-beta1. Wild-type MTEC exposed to TGF-beta1 demonstrated a prominent induction of mesenchymal mediators and a loss of epithelial markers, in conjunction with a loss of trans-epithelial resistance (TER). Significantly, TGF-beta1-mediated EMT was markedly blunted in epithelial cells lacking JNK1, while JNK2-/- MTEC underwent EMT in response to TGF-beta1 in a similar way to wild-type cells. Although Smad2/3 phosphorylation and nuclear localization of Smad4 were similar in JNK1-/- MTEC in response to TGF-beta1, Smad DNA-binding activity was diminished. Gene expression profiling demonstrated a global suppression of TGF-beta1-modulated genes, including regulators of EMT in JNK1-/- MTEC, in comparison with wild-type cells. In aggregate, these results illuminate the novel role of airway epithelial-dependent JNK1 activation in EMT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Alcorn
authors.forename: Amy S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Guala
authors.forename: Jos
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van der Velden
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McElhinney
authors.forename: Charles G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Irvin
authors.forename: Roger J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Yvonne M W
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Janssen-Heininger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases