title: The role of p38 MAPK in valproic acid induced microglia apoptosis.
abstract: Valproic acid (VPA), a widely prescribed drug for seizures and bipolar disorder, induces apoptosis in microglia, but the underlying mechanism by which microglia apoptosis in response to VPA is not yet known. In this study, we found that the mitochondrial pathway played an important role in VPA-induced apoptosis in both BV-2 microglia and mouse primary microglial cells. In addition, VPA increased the level of phospho-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), but had no effects on phospho-ERK and phospho-JNK MAPKs. Moreover, p38 inhibitor SB203580 strongly inhibited VPA-induced apoptosis and caspase-3 activation. Taken together, our results clearly demonstrated that VPA could induce apoptosis of microglia via p38 MAPK and mitochondrial apoptosis pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, 44#, Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan 250012, China.
authors.forename: Nanchang
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Cui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Youting
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Tongxia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Deling
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Zhaofu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014635:Valproic Acid; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases