title: [The extracellular signal-regulated kinase was promoted by pyrroloquinoline quinine in cultured Schwann cells].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) kinase cascade, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) signal pathway on Schwann cells proliferation promoted by Pyrroloquinoline Quinine (PQQ) and its molecular mechanisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Schwann cells were cultured and purified in vitro. The purity was identified by S-100. Different time and concentration of PQQ was added into culture medium. The expression of ERK1/2 and phosphorylated-ERK1/2 was detected by western blot. The expression of p-ERK1/2 after blocking of MEK signal pathway by specific inhibitor PD98059 was detected by western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Morphological change was observed in PQQ treated Schwann cells. 1-500 nmol/L PQQ could up-regulate the expression of p-ERK1/2, and 1000 nmol/L had no effects, while 10 000 nmol/L exhibited inhibitory effect (P < 0.05). p-ERK1/2 increased to peak 1 h after PQQ added, and this up-regulation of p-ERK1/2 was inhibited by PD98059 (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PQQ could affect morphology of Schwann cells and activation of ERK1/2. MEK inhibitor PD98059 could, block this activation. It suggests that MEK/ERK signal pathway should be involved in Schwann cells proliferation promoted by PQQ.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Shi-qing
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hao-huan
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011804:Quinolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D011758:Pyrroles; D011804:Quinolines; C410406:pyrroloquinoline; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases