title: Upregulation of HO-1 is accompanied by activation of p38MAPK and mTOR in human oesophageal squamous carcinoma cells.
abstract: Induction of HO-1 protein can have both beneficial and detrimental effects for cells, including regulating proliferation and apoptosis of several tumours. We have investigated the regulation of HO-1, p38MAPK and mTOR in the context of proliferation, cell cycle events and apoptosis of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells. Real-time PCR and Western blots were used to determine the expression levels of HO-1, p38MAPK, p-p38MAPK and p-mTOR. MTT assays were used to measure proliferation, FACS for cell cycle events and Annexin V staining for apoptosis. Proliferation of Eca109 cells was inhibited and apoptosis was induced in the presence of p38MAPK inhibitor (SB203580) and mTOR inhibitor (Rapamycin, RAPA). HO-1 expression was downregulated in cells treated with SB203580 and RAPA. HO-1 overexpression inhibited apoptosis and induced G2/M arrest in SB203580 and RAPA-treated cells. HO-1 expression was upregulated in the presence of ethanol, and was accompanied by activation of p38MAPK and mTOR. However, ethanol-treated cells exposed to HO-1 inhibitor showed no effect on p38MAPK and mTOR activation. The data suggest that ethanol-induced upregulation of HO-1 in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma is accompanied by the activation of the p38MAPK and mTOR pathways.
authors: Cancer Centre, Union Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefangdadao Jianghan District, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China.
authors: Jian-Li
authors: JL
authors: Hu
authors: Lan
authors: L
authors: Xiao
authors: Zhen-Yun
authors: ZY
authors: Li
authors: Qiong
authors: Q
authors: Wang
authors: Yu
authors: Y
authors: Chang
authors: Yi
authors: Y
authors: Jin
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000077277:Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007093:Imidazoles; D011725:Pyridines; C496541:HMOX1 protein, human; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; C546842:MTOR protein, human; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C093642:SB 203580