title: ROS-mediated p38alpha MAPK activation and ERK inactivation responsible for upregulation of Fas and FasL and autocrine Fas-mediated cell death in Taiwan cobra phospholipase A(2)-treated U937 cells.
abstract: The aim of the present study is to explore the signaling pathway associated with Naja naja atra phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2))-induced apoptotic death of human leukemia U937 cells. Degradation of procaspases, production of tBid, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, and cytochrome c release were observed in PLA(2)-treated cells. PLA(2) treatment increased Fas and FasL protein expression, and upregulated transcription of Fas and FasL mRNA. Upon exposure to PLA(2), ROS generation, p38 MAPK activation, and ERK inactivation were found in U937 cells. Abolition of PLA(2)-induced ROS generation abrogated p38 MAPK activation and upregulation of Fas and FasL expression, but restored ERK activation and viability of PLA(2)-treated cells. Block of p38 MAPK by SB202190 abolished PLA(2)-induced Fas/FasL upregulation and ERK inactivation, but not ROS generation. Activated ERK suppressed p38 MAPK activation and Fas/FasL protein expression. Selective inactivation or overexpression of p38alpha MAPK proved that upregulation of Fas/FasL and ERK inactivation were related to p38alpha MAPK activation. Deprivation of catalytic activity with PLA(2) blocked completely PLA(2)-induced Fas/FasL upregulation. Downregulation of FADD abolished PLA(2)-induced procaspase-8 degradation and rescued viability of PLA(2)-treated cells. Taken together, our results indicate that Fas/FasL upregulation in PLA(2)-treated U937 cells is elicited by ROS-mediated p38alpha MAPK activation and ERK inactivation, and suggest that autocrine Fas/FasL apoptotic mechanism is involved in PLA(2)-induced cell death. J. Cell. Physiol. 219: 642-651, 2009. (c) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University-Kaohsiung Medical University Joint Research Center, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wen-Hsin
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yun-Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Long-Sen
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004546:Elapid Venoms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000633:toxicity; D017815:Elapidae / Q000378:metabolism; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D008954:Models, Biological; D054467:Phospholipases A2 / Q000633:toxicity*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013624:Taiwan; D020298:U937 Cells; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004546:Elapid Venoms; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D019014:fas Receptor; D045304:Cytochromes c; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D054467:Phospholipases A2