title: The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases modulate endothelial cell survival and tissue repair.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study is designed to investigate the role of p38 MAPK in modulating human pulmonary artery endothelial cells (HPAECs) survival and tissue repair functions.
  
  
  METHODS
  HPAECs (passage 8-12) were used for all experiments. Cells were treated with IL-1β (0.5 or 2 ng/ml) or p38 inhibitor (SB203580 or SB220025, 5 μM each). Cells were also transfected with 50 nM siRNAs. Cell length was measured using ImageJ software. Collagen gel contraction and wound close assay were performed to evaluate tissue repair functions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IL-1β activated p38 MAPK and induced morphologic change of HPAECs. The p38 inhibitors further augmented IL-1β-induced cell morphologic change, prevented cell death, and augmented collagen gel contraction. Suppression of p38α, γ, or δ, but not p38β resulted in cell morphologic alteration, and suppressing any one of p38 isoforms by siRNAs increased cell survival. Suppression of p38α or δ augmented gel contraction. While p38α suppression stimulated cell migration, suppressing the rest of three isoforms inhibit cell migration. Nuclear factor p65-siRNA blocked IL-1β-induced cell morphologic change, but did not affect p38 inhibitor-induced change.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that p38 MAPK may negatively modulate tissue repair functions of endothelial cells via p65 independent pathway.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hematology, Rheumatology and Respiratory Medicine, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuhiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kanaji
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Diane S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Allen-Gipson
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakanishi
authors.forename: Xingqi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: YingJi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hesham
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Basma
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Michalski
authors.forename: Maha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farid
authors.forename: Stephen I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Rennard
authors.forename: Xiangde
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000166:cytology; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA / Q000276:immunology*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007093:Imidazoles; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011725:Pyridines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C110631:SB 220025; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C093642:SB 203580