title: ERKs and JNKs mediate hydrogen peroxide-induced Egr-1 expression and nuclear accumulation in H9c2 cells.
abstract: One of the most significant insults that jeopardize cardiomyocyte homeostasis is a surge of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the failing myocardium. Early growth response factor-1 (Egr-1) has been found to act as a transcriptional regulator in multiple biological processes known to exert deleterious effects on cardiomyocytes. We thus investigated the signaling pathways involved in its regulation by H2O2. Egr-1 mRNA levels were found to be maximally induced after 2 h in H2O2-treated H9c2 cells. Egr-1 respective response at the protein level, was found to be maximally induced after 2 h of treatment with 200 microM H2O2, remaining elevated for 6 h, and declining thereafter. H2O2-induced upregulation of Egr-1 mRNA and protein levels was ablated in the presence of agents inhibiting ERKs pathway (PD98059) and JNKs (SP600125, AS601245). Immunofluorescent experiments revealed H2O2-induced Egr-1 nuclear sequestration to be also ERK- and JNK-dependent. Overall, our results show for the first time the fundamental role of ERKs and JNKs in regulating Egr-1 response to H2O2 treatment in cardiac cells at multiple levels: mRNA, protein and subcellular distribution. Nevertheless, further studies are required to elucidate the specific physiological role of Egr-1 regarding the modulation of gene expression and determination of cell fate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Human Physiology, School of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: I K S
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Aggeli
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Beis
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gaitanaki
mesh_terms: D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1; C486110:Egr1 protein, rat; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases