[Effect of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6-p38 alpha signal pathway on receptor for advanced glycation end-product expression in alveolar epithelial cells induced by mechanical stretch].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6 (MKK6) p38 alpha in mechanical stretch induced receptor for advanced glycation end-product (RAGE) expression in alveolar epithelial cells (A549).


METHODS
Recombinant plasmids were transfected into A549 cells with liposome DOTAP. A549 cells transfected with p38 alpha (AF)/pGFP and MKK6b (E)/pGFP plasmids were taken as treated groups, while the groups that transfected with pcDNA3 plasmid and pGFP plasmid served as blank transfection group and control group, respectively. All the groups were then cultured in 6-well Bioflex cell culture plates and exposed to cyclic mechanical stretch at 20% elongation. The infection and expression of gene were assessed by Western blotting analysis. The activity of p38 kinase in A549 cells and the expression of RAGE protein and mRNA were observed.


RESULTS
The transfection of MKK6b (E) led to a markedly increase in p38 kinase activity compared with control group. In contrast, the transfection of p38 alpha (AF) significantly inhibited p38 kinase activity. Compared with control group, stretch markedly increased RAGE protein and mRNA expression in MKK6b (E) transfected cells, while it markedly decreased RAGE expression in p38 alpha (AF) transfected cells.


CONCLUSIONS
MKK6 p38 alpha signaling pathway regulates the expression of RAGE induced by mechanical stretch in A549 cells.
Department of Anesthesiology, Guangzhou First Municipal People's Hospital, Guangzhou 510180, Guangdong, China.
Ning
N
Ding
Hui
H
Xiao
Li-xin
LX
Xu
Shou-zhang
SZ
She
D056809:Alveolar Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D048669:MAP Kinase Kinase 6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048669:MAP Kinase Kinase 6