title: Interferon alpha regulates MAPK and STAT1 pathways in human hepatoma cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Signaling events triggered by interferon (IFN) account for the molecular mechanisms of antiviral effect. JAK-STAT pathway plays a critical role in IFN signaling, and other pathways are also implicated in IFN-mediated antiviral effect. Changes in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and STAT1 pathways were evaluated in human hepatoma cells Huh7 and HepG2 upon IFN alpha treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Phosphorylation of ERK was significantly and specifically up-regulated, whereas enhanced phosphorylation of upstream kinase MEK was unobservable upon IFN alpha treatment. A mild increase in p38 MAPK, SAPK/JNK and downstream target ATF-2 phosphorylation was detectable after exposure to IFN alpha, indicating differential up-regulation of the MAPK signaling cascades. Moreover, STAT1 phosphorylation was strongly enhanced by IFN alpha.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IFN alpha up-regulates MAPK and STAT1 pathways in human hepatoma cells, and may provide useful information for understanding the IFN signaling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Biodefense, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Lan-Juan
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Xian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hua
authors.forename: Sheng-Fei
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Zhong-Tian
authors.initials: ZT
authors.lastname: Qi
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; C494079:STAT1 protein, human; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases