title: Visfatin induces MUC8 and MUC5B expression via p38 MAPK/ROS/NF-κB in human airway epithelial cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Among a variety of inflammatory mediators, visfatin is a proinflammatory adipocytokine associated with inflammatory reactions in obesity, metabolic syndrome, chronic inflammatory disease, and autoimmune disease. However, the biological role of visfatin in secretion of major mucins in human airway epithelial cells has not been reported. Therefore, this study was conducted in order to investigate the effect and the brief signaling pathway of visfatin on MUC8 and MUC5B expression in human airway epithelial cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Visfatin significantly induced MUC8 and MUC5B expression. Visfatin significantly activated phosphorylation of p38 MAPK. Treatment with SB203580 (p38 MAPK inhibitor) and knockdown of p38 MAPK by siRNA significantly blocked visfatin-induced MUC8 and MUC5B expression.Visfatin significantly increased ROS formation. Treatment with SB203580 significantly attenuated visfatin-induced ROS formation. Treatment with NAC (ROS scavenger) and DPI (NADPH oxidase inhibitor) significantly attenuated visfatin-induced MUC8 and MUC5B expression. However, treatment with NAC and DPI did not attenuate visfatin-activated phosphorylation of p38 MAPK. Visfatin significantly activated the phosphorylation of NF-κB. Treatment with PDTC (NF-κB inhibitor) significantly attenuated visfatin-induced MUC8 and MUC5B expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that visfatin induces MUC8 and MUC5B expression through p38 MAPK/ROS/NF-κB signaling pathway in human airway epithelial cells.
authors.forename: Si-Youn
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Eun Chae
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Chang Hoon
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Yoon Seok
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, Republic of Korea. ydkim@med.yu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Yong-Dae
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D055257:Mucin-5B / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009077:Mucins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000378:metabolism*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007093:Imidazoles; C524578:MUC5B protein, human; C105059:MUC8 protein, human; D055257:Mucin-5B; D009077:Mucins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D011725:Pyridines; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C093642:SB 203580