title: [Effect of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase gene knockout on cell proliferation of embryonic fibroblasts in mice].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) gene knockout on the proliferation of embryonic fibroblasts in mice (MEFs).
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of p38 in MEFs p38+/+ and p38(-/-) cells were detected by Western blotting. The growth curves of p38+/+ and p38(-/-) cells were plotted with the results of methylthiazoletetrazolium (MTT) colorimetric assay, and the ratios of different cell phases of p38+/+ and p38(-/-) cells were analyzed by flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The growth curves showed that the growth rate was notably retarded and cell double time elongated in p38(-/-) cells, and there was 15.5% decrease of the number of p38(-/-) cells in comparison with that of p38+/+ cells in 96-hour culture. G2/M transition was inhibited in p38(-/-) cells. Meanwhile, G1/S transition was also inhibited in p38(-/-) cells, as shown by the results of flow cytometry. The ratios of G0/G1, G2/M, and S phases of p38+/+ cells were 34.47%, 10.81%, and 54.72%, respectively; while those of p38(-/-) cells were 48.49%, 4.06%, and 47.44%, respectively. There were 40.7% increase and 13.3% decrease in the cell numbers of G1 and S phases of p38(-/-) cells in comparison with those of p38+/+ cells, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  p38 gene knockout in MEFs leads to cell cycle arrest and decreased cell proliferation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology and Key Laboratory of Proteomics of Gongdong Province, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-wei
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Yu-sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wei-wei
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases