title: Phospho-p38 MAPK expression in COPD patients and asthmatics and in challenged bronchial epithelium.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) in regulating the inflammatory response in the airways of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthmatic patients is unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression of activated MAPK in lungs of COPD patients and in bronchial biopsies of asthmatic patients and to study MAPK expression in bronchial epithelial cells in response to oxidative and inflammatory stimuli.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemical expression of phospho (p)-p38 MAPK, p-JNK1 and p-ERK1/2 was measured in bronchial mucosa in patients with mild/moderate (n = 17), severe/very severe (n = 16) stable COPD, control smokers (n = 16), control non-smokers (n = 9), in mild asthma (n = 9) and in peripheral airways from COPD patients (n = 15) and control smokers (n = 15). Interleukin (IL)-8 and MAPK mRNA was measured in stimulated 16HBE cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences in p-p38 MAPK, p-JNK or p-ERK1/2 expression were seen in bronchial biopsies and peripheral airways between COPD and control subjects. Asthmatics showed increased submucosal p-p38 MAPK expression compared to COPD patients (p < 0.003) and control non-smokers (p < 0.05). Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), cytomix (tumour necrosis factor-α + IL-1β + interferon-γ) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) upregulated IL-8 mRNA at 1 or 2 h. p38 MAPKα mRNA was significantly increased after H₂O₂ and LPS treatment. JNK1 and ERK1 mRNA were unchanged after H₂O₂, cytomix or LPS treatments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  p-p38 MAPK expression is similar in stable COPD and control subjects but increased in the bronchi of mild asthmatics compared to stable COPD patients. p38 MAPK mRNA is increased after bronchial epithelial challenges in vitro. These data together suggest a potential role for this MAPK in Th2 inflammation and possibly during COPD exacerbations.
authors: Divisione di Pneumologia e Laboratorio di Citoimmunopatologia dell'Apparato Cardiorespiratorio, Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri, IRCCS, Veruno, Italy.
authors: Davide
authors: D
authors: Vallese
authors: Fabio L M
authors: FL
authors: Ricciardolo
authors: Isabella
authors: I
authors: Gnemmi
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Casolari
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Brun
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Sorbello
authors: Armando
authors: A
authors: Capelli
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Cappello
authors: Giorgio Narciso
authors: GN
authors: Cavallesco
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Papi
authors: Kian Fan
authors: KF
authors: Chung
authors: Bruno
authors: B
authors: Balbi
authors: Ian M
authors: IM
authors: Adcock
authors: Gaetano
authors: G
authors: Caramori
authors: Antonino
authors: A
authors: Di Stefano
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000201:enzymology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001980:Bronchi / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002460:Cell Line; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000201:enzymology*; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA / Q000378:metabolism; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C508606:CXCL8 protein, human; D016209:Interleukin-8; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases