[P38MAPK pathway regulates COX-2 and caspase-3 expression in a mouse model of Parkinson disease].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) on the expression of COX-2 and caspase-3 in the substania nigra (SN) of mice with MPTP-induced Parkinson disease (PD).


METHODS
C57BL/CN mice were treated with MPTP to prepare a subacute PD model, and their behavioral changes following the treatment were observed. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were performed to detect the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), COX-2 and phosphorylation of P38MAPK in the SN and their changes following treatment with SB203580, a specific inhibitor of P38MAPK.


RESULTS
The 7-day model group showed typical symptoms of PD with decrements of TH-positive neurons and TH protein level in the SN of the midbrain by about 65% and 75%, respectively (P<0.01). In the 3-day model group, the COX-2-, caspase-3- and phosphorylated P38MAPK-immunoreactive cells and their protein levels in the SN increased markedly with obvious loss of TH-positive neurons. Administration of SB203580 obviously lessened the above changes (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
P38MAPK regulates the inflammation and apoptosis in the SN of the mouse model of subacute PD, and SB203580 may provide some neuroprotective effect.
Department of Anatomy, North China Coal Medical College, Tangshan 063000, China. weizifeng710418@163.com
Zi-feng
ZF
Wei
Yong-sheng
YS
Wang
Li-ren
LR
Ma
Qian
Q
Wang
Zuo-feng
ZF
Zhang
Yu-xin
YX
Zhang
D000818:Animals; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000378:metabolism*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
C077623:Ptgs2 protein, mouse; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C505409:Casp3 protein, mouse; D053148:Caspase 3