Enhanced GRP78 protein expression via the IRE1α/ASK1/p38 MAPK pathway during As2O3-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress in BEAS-2B cells

Abstract

Inorganic arsenic is widely present in the environment. Exposure to moderate to high concentrations of arsenic from drinking water or air can cause various cancers and multisystem dysfunction. Glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress sensor of unfolded protein response (UPR) under stress conditions and it enhances cell survival. The aim of this study is to investigate molecular mechanisms of arsenic-induced GRP78 expression in BEAS-2B cells model. We found that GRP78 protein expression was enhanced, while the level of GRP78 mRNA expression did not change under arsenic trioxide (As2O3)-induced ER stress condition in BEAS-2B cells. Cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor, completely inhibited As2O3-induced GRP78 protein expression. GRP78 mRNA expression was inhibited by actinomycin-D (Act-D). However, GRP78 protein expression was upregulated in the presence of Act-D under As2O3-induced ER stress condition. These data indicated that the upregulation of GRP78 protein under As2O3-induced UPR condition was possibly due to the increased biosynthesis of GRP78 protein. Moreover, both inositol-requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1α) RNase and kinase inhibitor KIRA6 and IRE1α kinase inhibitor APY29 completely inhibited As2O3-induced GRP78 protein expression and phosphorylation of JNK, ERK and p38 MAPK. Activation of apoptotic signaling kinase 1 (ASK1) is a downstream effector of IRE1α kinase. ASK1 inhibitor selonsertib and p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 partially inhibited As2O3-induced GRP78 protein expression, respectively. Our results suggested that As2O3 enhanced GRP78 protein expression in BEAS-2B cells via IRE1α kinase/ASK1/p38 MAPK signaling pathway. To our knowledge, this is the first report on illuminating the related mechanisms of increased GRP78 protein expression in As2O3-induced ER stress condition through a novel IRE1α pathway.