title: p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor reduces neurocan production in cultured spinal cord astrocytes.
abstract: Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans are formed in scar tissue after a spinal cord injury and inhibit axon regrowth. The production of neurocan, one of these chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans, in cultured spinal cord astrocytes increased after the addition of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in a dose-dependent manner (2-200 ng/ml). In astrocytes stimulated by 20 ng/ml of EGF, neurocan production was inhibited after the addition of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor (SB203580: 3-10 μM) in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that the activation of p38 MAPK is one of the mechanisms of neurocan production in EGF-stimulated astrocytes. The p38 MAPK inhibitor may reduce neurocan production and accelerate axonal regrowth after a spinal cord injury.
authors.affiliation: Spine Center, Ehime University Hospital, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Tohon City, Ehime, Japan.
authors.forename: Gotaro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yamaoka
authors.forename: Tadao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morino
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morizane
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Horiuchi
authors.forename: Hiromasa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miura
authors.forename: Tadanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogata
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D058580:Neurocan / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000378:metabolism; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007093:Imidazoles; D058580:Neurocan; D011725:Pyridines; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C093642:SB 203580