Anisomycin Treatment Research Articles

Cocaine-but not methamphetamine-associated memory requires de novo protein synthesis

Context-induced drug craving and continuous drug use manifest the critical roles of specific memory episodes associated with the drug use experiences. Drug-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) in C57BL/6J mouse model, in this regard, is an appropriate behavioral paradigm to study such drug use-associated memories. Requirement of protein synthesis in various forms of long-term memory formation and storage has been phylogenetically demonstrated. This study was undertaken to study the requirement of protein synthesis in the learning and memory aspect of the conditioned place preference induced by cocaine and methamphetamine, two abused drugs of choice in local area. Since pCREB has been documented as a candidate substrate for mediating the drug-induced neuroadaptation, the pCREB level in hippocampus, nucleus accumbens, and prefrontal cortex was examined for its potential participation in the formation of CPP caused by these psychostimulants. We found that cocaine (2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg/dose)-induced CPP was abolished by the pretreatment of anisomycin (50 mg/kg/dose), a protein synthesis inhibitor, whereas methamphetamine (0.5 or 1.0 mg/kg/dose)-induced CPP was not affected by the anisomycin pretreatment. Likewise, cocaine-induced CPP was mitigated by another protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide (15 mg/kg/injection) pretreatment, whereas methamphetamine-induced CPP remained intact by such pretreatment. Moreover, anisomycin treatment 2 h after each drug-place pairing disrupted the cocaine-induced CPP, whereas the same treatment did not affect methamphetamine-induced CPP. An increase of accumbal pCREB level was found to associate with the learning phase of cocaine, but not with the learning phase of methamphetamine. We further found that intraaccumbal CREB antisense oligodeoxynucleotide infusion diminished cocaine-induced CPP, whereas did not affect the methamphetamine-induced CPP. Taken together, these data suggest that protein synthesis and accumbal CREB phosphorylation are essential for the learning and consolidation of the cocaine-induced CPP, whereas methamphetamine-induced CPP may be unrelated to the synthesis of new proteins.

Activation of p38 Mitogen‐Activated Protein Kinase Promotes Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Internalization

Endocytic trafficking plays an important role in the regulation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). To address if cellular kinases regulate EGFR internalization, we used anisomycin, a potent activator of kinase cascades in mammalian cells, especially the stress-activated mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase subtypes. Here, we report that activation of p38 MAP kinase by anisomycin is sufficient to induce internalization of EGFR. Anisomycin and EGF employ different mechanisms to promote EGFR endocytosis as anisomycin-induced internalization does not require tyrosine kinase activity or ubiquitination of the receptor. In addition, anisomycin treatment did not result in delivery and degradation of EGFR at lysosomes. Incubation with a specific inhibitor of p38, or depletion of endogenous p38 by small interfering RNAs, abolished anisomycin-induced internalization of EGFR while having no effect on transferrin endocytosis, indicating that the effect of p38 activation on EGFR endocytosis is specific. Interestingly, inhibition of p38 activation also abolished endocytosis of EGFR induced by UV radiation. Our results reveal a novel role for p38 in the regulation of EGFR endocytosis and suggest that stimulation of EGFR internalization by p38 might represent a general mechanism to prevent generation of proliferative or anti-apoptotic signals under stress conditions.

Anisomycin/p38 MAPK Activation Restores Cardioprotection in the Aged Heart

Preconditioning mediated via G-protein coupled receptors is typically lost with advancing age. We previously reported untreated hearts from young (3 months) and aged C57/Bl6 mice (18 months) recovered similarly following ischemia and reperfusion. However, treatment with the delta-opioid receptor ligand, DPDPE (1μM), significantly improved recovery in young, but failed to alter recovery in aged hearts (Peart et al., FASEB Journal, 2005, 19 (5): A1563). Examination of post-receptor signaling through Western immunoblot analysis following acute opioid receptor activation revealed similar translocation of GRK2 along with phosphorylation of Akt, p42/44 MAPK and p70S6K in both young and aged hearts. However, while stimulation with DPDPE produced a pronounced phosphoylation of HSP27, a distal mediator of p38 MAPK, in the young hearts, phosphorylation was unchanged in aged hearts. Based on these findings, we sought to investigate the role of p38 MAPK in the age-related loss of opioid preconditioning. To this end, Langendorff-perfused hearts from young or aged C57 mice underwent 25 min ischemia and 45 min reperfusion in the presence or absence of 1μM anisomycin, an activator of p38 MAPK. Contractile recovery was paralleled in untreated young and aged hearts (50±1% and 53±5%, respectively). Importantly, anisomycin treatment elicited pronounced anti-ischemic protection, comparable in both young and aged hearts (73±3% and 76±2%, respectively. P<0.05 vs untreated). In summary, while anti-stunning effect of delta-opioid receptor activation is lost in the aged heart, exogenous activation of p38 MAPK maintains preconditioning in the aged. These results suggest a failure in post-receptor signalling upstream of p38 MAPK. This study was supported by NIH grant HL-08311 and AHA Postdoctoral Fellowship.

P38 MAPK Activation Elevates Serotonin Transport Activity via a Trafficking-independent, Protein Phosphatase 2A-dependent Process

Presynaptic, plasma membrane serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) transporters (SERTs) clear 5-HT following vesicular release and are regulated through trafficking-dependent pathways. Recently, we provided evidence for a trafficking-independent mode of SERT regulation downstream of adenosine receptor (AR) activation that is sensitive to p38 MAPK inhibitors. Here, we probe this pathway in greater detail, demonstrating elevation of 5-HT transport by multiple p38 MAPK activators (anisomycin, H(2)O(2), and UV radiation), in parallel with p38 MAPK phosphorylation, as well as suppression of anisomycin stimulation by p38 MAPK siRNA treatments. Studies with transporter-transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells reveal that SERT stimulation is shared with the human norepinephrine transporter but not the human dopamine transporter. Saturation kinetic analyses of anisomycin-SERT activity reveal a selective reduction in 5-HT K(m) supported by a commensurate increase in 5-HT potency (K(i)) for displacing surface antagonist binding. Anisomycin treatments that stimulate SERT activity do not elevate surface SERT surface density whereas stimulation is lost with preexposure of cells to the surface-SERT inactivating reagent, 2-(trimethylammonium)ethyl methane thiosulfonate. Guanylyl cyclase (1H-(1,2,4)-oxadiazolo[4,3-a]-quinoxalin-1-one) and protein kinase G inhibitors (H8, DT-2) block AR stimulation of SERT yet fail to antagonize SERT stimulation by anisomycin. We thus place p38 MAPK activation downstream of protein kinase G in a SERT-catalytic regulatory pathway, distinct from events controlling SERT surface density. In contrast, the activity of protein phosphatase 2A inhibitors (fostriecin and calyculin A) to attenuate anisomycin stimulation of 5-HT transport suggests that protein phosphatase 2A is a critical component of the pathway responsible for p38 MAPK up-regulation of SERT catalytic activity.

Transcriptional activation of immediate-early genes c-fos, c-jun, and Egr-1 in response to anisomycin treatment of cells transformed by the E1A and cHa-ras oncogenes

The antibiotic anisomycin, a well-known stress factor, has been found to induce the transcription of immediate-early gene c-fos, which is under negative control in cells transformed by oncogenes E1A and cHa-ras. The c-fos gene activation is short-term: it reaches its maximum 1 h after anisomycin treatment, and then the transcription level decreases, which is characteristic of immediate-early genes. The transcription levels of two other immediate-early genes, c-jun and Egr-1, are already relatively high in the absence of anisomycin; however, anisomycin treatment further increases them. In E1A+ras transformants, anisomycin induces the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK/ERK) pathway and the jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) MAP kinase pathway of signal transduction, whereas p38 kinase pathway is not activated. Specific inhibitors of different MAP kinase cascades have been used to demonstrate that the anisomycin-induced transcription of the c-fos gene is mainly regulated via the MEK/ERK pathway, whereas the high c-jun transcription level is maintained by JNK activity. The anisomycin treatment of E1A+ras transformants, even at high concentrations of the antibiotic, does not ultimately lead to the accumulation of acetylated forms of core histones, including histone H3; therefore, the anisomycin-induced transcriptional activation of immediate-early genes is not related to chromatin decondensation in the region of the promoters of these genes.

Activation of p38 MAP kinase enhances sensitivity of muscle glucose transport to insulin

Muscle contractile activity is followed by an increase in the sensitivity of glucose transport to insulin. There is evidence suggesting that activation of p38 MAP kinase (p38) is involved in the stimulation of glucose transport by insulin and contractions. Exercise results in an increase in p38 phosphorylation that lasts for hours. In this context, we tested the hypothesis that activation of p38 results in an increase in insulin sensitivity. Muscles were exposed to anisomycin for 30 min to activate p38. Anisomycin increased p38 phosphorylation approximately 2.5-fold and glucose transport activity 2- to 3-fold. Three hours after anisomycin treatment, by which time the acute effect on glucose transport had partially worn off, sensitivity of muscle glucose transport to 60 microU/ml insulin was markedly increased. Both the activation of p38 and the increase in insulin sensitivity induced by anisomycin were completely prevented by pretreatment of muscles with the p38 inhibitor SB-202190. However, in contrast to the finding with anisomycin, inhibition of p38 activation did not prevent the contraction-induced increase in insulin sensitivity. Thus our results show that activation of p38 is followed by an increase in insulin sensitivity of muscle glucose transport. However, activation of p38 is not necessary for induction of an increase in muscle insulin sensitivity by contractions. This finding provides evidence that contractions have an additional effect that makes p38 activation unnecessary for enhancement of insulin sensitivity by contractile activity.

Superinduction of CYP1A1 in MCF10A cultures by cycloheximide, anisomycin, and puromycin: a process independent of effects on protein translation and unrelated to suppression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor proteolysis by the proteasome.

Exposure of the human breast epithelial cell line MCF10A to > or = 1 microg/ml cycloheximide (CHX)-induced accumulations of CYP1A1 mRNA 6-fold greater than that achieved with only 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Cotreatment with CHX and TCDD caused superinduction of CYP1A1 with accumulations of CYP1A1 mRNA 30-fold greater than that achieved with only TCDD. Similar results were obtained with the protein translation inhibitors anisomycin (ANS) and puromycin (PUR). Intra- and interinhibitor comparisons of dose/concentration response curves demonstrated the absence of a quantitative relationship between [3H]leucine incorporation and CYP1A1 induction/superinduction. The inducing/superinducing activities of CHX were suppressed by coincubation with the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) antagonists alpha-naphthoflavone and 3'-methoxy-4'-nitroflavone (PD168641). Electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated that nuclear extracts from CHX-treated and CHX + TCDD cotreated cultures formed approximately 58 and approximately 340% of the AhR/DNA complexes obtained with TCDD-treated cultures, respectively. In contrast, rat liver extracts did not form AhR/DNA complexes after in vitro transformation with CHX. AhR turnover in TCDD-treated hepatoma 1c1c7 cultures was suppressed by cotreatment with CHX. In contrast, CHX or ANS treatment of MCF10A cultures induced AhR loss and enhanced AhR loss in cultures cotreated with TCDD. Cotreatment with N-benzoyloxycarbonyl-(Z)-Leu-Leu-leucinal (MG132) but not leptomycin B suppressed AhR loss. Hence, in MCF10A cells, CHX is not an AhR agonist but can superinduce CYP1A1 via an AhR-dependent mechanism; CYP1A1 superinduction by translation inhibitors is neither quantitatively related to effects on protein synthesis nor due to a generalized prevention of AhR proteolysis, and proteasome-mediated degradation of the activated AhR can occur in the nucleus.

Chromosomal Protein HMGN1 Modulates Histone H3 Phosphorylation

Here we demonstrate that HMGN1, a nuclear protein that binds to nucleosomes and reduces the compaction of the chromatin fiber, modulates histone posttranslational modifications. In Hmgn1−/− cells, loss of HMGN1 elevates the steady-state levels of phospho-S10-H3 and enhances the rate of stress-induced phosphorylation of S10-H3. In vitro, HMGN1 reduces the rate of phospho-S10-H3 by hindering the ability of kinases to modify nucleosomal, but not free, H3. During anisomycin treatment, the phosphorylation of HMGN1 precedes that of H3 and leads to a transient weakening of the binding of HMGN1 to chromatin. We propose that the reduced binding of HMGN1 to nucleosomes, or the absence of the protein, improves access of anisomysin-induced kinases to H3. Thus, the levels of posttranslational modifications in chromatin are modulated by nucleosome binding proteins that alter the ability of enzymatic complexes to access and modify their nucleosomal targets.

Phosphorylation of Ser19 increases both Ser40 phosphorylation and enzyme activity of tyrosine hydroxylase in intact cells.

We have previously shown that the phosphorylation of Ser19 in tyrosine hydroxylase can increase the rate of phosphorylation of Ser40 in tyrosine hydroxylase threefold in vitro. In this report we investigated the role of Ser19 on Ser40 phosphorylation in intact cells. Treatment of bovine chromaffin cells with anisomycin produced a twofold increase in Ser19 phosphorylation with no increase in Ser31 phosphorylation and only a small increase in Ser40 phosphorylation. Treatment of bovine chromaffin cells with forskolin produced a fourfold increase in Ser40 phosphorylation but no significant increase in either Ser19 or Ser31 phosphorylation. When chromaffin cells were first treated with anisomycin, the level of Ser40 phosphorylation after treatment by forskolin was 76% greater than the level of Ser40 phosphorylation in cells treated with forskolin alone. This potentiation of Ser40 phosphorylation by anisomycin could be completely blocked by the p38 MAP (mitogen-activated protein) kinase inhibitor SB 203580. The potentiation of Ser40 phosphorylation by anisomycin was not due to an increase in Ser40 kinase activity. Anisomycin treatment of chromaffin cells potentiated the forskolin-induced increase in tyrosine hydroxylase activity by 50%. This potentiation of activity was also blocked by SB 203580. These data provide the first evidence that the phosphorylation of Ser19 can potentiate the phosphorylation of Ser40 and subsequent activation of tyrosine hydroxylase in intact cells.

Anisomycin downregulates gap-junctional intercellular communication via the p38 MAP-kinase pathway

Phosphorylation of connexin 43 (Cx43) molecules (e.g. by extracellular signal-regulated kinase) leads to reductions in gap-junctional intercellular communication (GJIC). GJIC levels also appear to be lower in the presence of p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, for unknown reasons. In this study, we used assays of the recovery of fluorescence by photobleached WB-F344 cells to demonstrate that GJIC levels are decreased by anisomycin [a protein synthesis inhibitor as well as an activator of p38 MAP kinase and c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK)] as a result of time-dependent depletion of the phosphorylated forms of Cx43. Using immunohistochemistry, we also detected far less of the Cx43 proteins at cell borders. These findings agree with the photobleaching assay results. Moreover, prior treatment with SB203580 (a specific inhibitor of p38 MAP kinase) appeared to be effective in preventing the loss of phosphorylated forms of Cx43 and the loss of Cx43 proteins at cell borders. Total protein labelling with [(35)S]-methionine and [(32)P]-orthophosphates labelling of Cx43 showed that anisomycin enhanced the phosphorylation level of Cx43 along with inhibition of protein synthesis. SB203580 prevented the former but not the latter. The effect of anisomycin on GJIC was not dependent on the inhibition of protein synthesis because the addition of SB203580 completely maintained the level of GJIC without restoring protein synthesis. The Cx43 phosphorylation level increased by anisomycin treatment, whereas the amount of phosphorylated forms of Cx43 decreased, suggesting that activation of Cx43 phosphorylation might lead to the loss of Cx43. These results suggest that activation of p38 MAP kinase leads to reduction in the levels of phosphorylated forms of Cx43, possibly owing to accelerated degradation, and that these losses might be responsible for the reduction in numbers of gap junctions and in GJIC.

MAPKAP kinase 2 phosphorylates tristetraprolin on in vivo sites including Ser178, a site required for 14-3-3 binding.

MAPKAP kinase 2 (MK2) is required for tumor necrosis factor synthesis. Tristetraprolin (TTP) binds to the 3'-untranslated region of tumor necrosis factor mRNA and regulates its fate. We identified in vitro and in vivo phosphorylation sites in TTP using nanoflow high pressure liquid chromatography microelectrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry and novel methods for direct digestion of TTP bound to affinity matrices (GSH-beads or anti-Myc linked to magnetic beads). MK2Delta3B, activated in Escherichia coli by p38alpha, phosphorylates TTP in vitro at major sites Ser(52) and Ser(178) (>10-fold in abundance) as well as at several minor sites that were detected after enriching for phosphopeptides with immobilized metal affinity chromatography. MK2 phosphorylation of TTP creates a functional 14-3-3 binding site. In cells, TTP was phosphorylated at Ser(52), Ser(178), Thr(250), and Ser(316) and at SP sites in a cluster (Ser(80)/Ser(82)/Ser(85)). Anisomycin treatment of NIH 3T3 cells increased phosphorylation of Ser(52) and Ser(178). Overexpression of MK2 sufficed to increase phosphorylation of Ser(52) and Ser(178) but not Ser(80)/Ser(82)/Ser(85) or Thr(250). Thus, Ser(52) and Ser(178) are putative MK2 sites in vivo. Identified phosphosite(s) may be biologic switches controlling mRNA stability and translation.

Formation of caspase-3 complexes and fragmentation of caspase-12 during anisomycin-induced apoptosis in AKR-2B cells without aggregation of Apaf-1

Treatment of AKR-2B fibroblasts with anisomycin (10 microM) led to a rapid disintegration of the cells (t1/2 = 5 h) which was complete after 24 h. Cell death was associated with typical hallmarks of apoptosis like membrane blebbing, exposure of phophatidylserine on the cell surface, nuclear condensation and specific cleavage of rRNA. However, there was no dissipation of the mitochondrial potential and no intranucleosomal fragmentation. By affinity labeling with YVK(-bio)D.aomk in combination with immunostaining against activated caspase-3 analyzed by 2-D gel electrophoresis it was shown that caspase-3 is the dominant executioner caspase. Gel filtration experiments of cytosolic extract analyzed by Western blotting revealed the formation of high-molecular-weight complexes of caspase-3 (600 kDa and 250 kDa, respectively), but there was no complex formation of Apaf-1. Anisomycin treatment led to a strong activation of the stress kinases p38 kinases and the jun kinases, that was not sufficient for the activation of caspase-3 which required much higher concentrations. By using the selective inhibitors SB 203580 for p38 kinases and SP 600125 for c-jun kinases, respectively, it is shown that activation of these kinases is not necessary for cell death induced by anisomycin in AKR-2B cells. Furthermore, we disclose the activation of caspase-12 in AKR-2B cells following the addition of anisomycin. Caspase-12 zymogen present as a cytosolic complex (> 600 kDa) is activated by anisomycin leading to an uncomplexed cleaved enzyme. Since anisomycin treatment did neither lead to stress of the endoplasmic reticulum nor to a breakdown of intracellular Ca(2+)-stores, alternative pathways involved in the activation of caspases are discussed.

PKCalpha-mediated ERK, JNK and p38 activation regulates the myogenic program in human rhabdomyosarcoma cells.

We have previously suggested that PKCalpha has a role in 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-mediated growth arrest and myogenic differentiation in human embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma cells (RD). Here, by monitoring the signalling pathways triggered by TPA, we demonstrate that PKCalpha mediates these effects by inducing transient activation of c-Jun N-terminal protein kinases (JNKs) and sustained activation of both p38 kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) (all referred to as MAPKs). Activation of MAPKs following ectopic expression of constitutively active PKCalpha, but not its dominant-negative form, is also demonstrated. We investigated the selective contribution of MAPKs to growth arrest and myogenic differentiation by monitoring the activation of MAPK pathways, as well as by dissecting MAPK pathways using MEK1/2 inhibitor (UO126), p38 inhibitor (SB203580) and JNK and p38 agonist (anisomycin) treatments. Growth-arresting signals are triggered either by transient and sustained JNK activation (by TPA and anisomycin, respectively) or by preventing both ERK and JNK activation (UO126) and are maintained, rather than induced, by p38. We therefore suggest a key role for JNK in controlling ERK-mediated mitogenic activity. Notably, sarcomeric myosin expression is induced by both TPA and UO126 but is abrogated by the p38 inhibitor. This finding indicates a pivotal role for p38 in controlling the myogenic program. Anisomycin persistently activates p38 and JNKs but prevents myosin expression induced by TPA. In accordance with this negative role, reactivation of JNKs by anisomycin, in UO126-pre-treated cells, also prevents myosin expression. This indicates that, unlike the transient JNK activation that occurs in the TPA-mediated myogenic process, long-lasting JNK activation supports the growth-arrest state but antagonises p38-mediated myosin expression. Lastly, our results with the MEK inhibitor suggest a key role of the ERK pathway in regulating myogenic-related morphology in differentiated RD cells.

Anisomycin treatment paradigm affects duration of long-term potentiation in slices of the amygdala

Anisomycin has been widely used as an inhibitor of protein synthesis in studies on learning and memory as well as synaptic plasticity. However, its mode of action is complicated. Besides the inhibition of translation, this drug displays other effects, most prominently on mitogen-activated protein kinases. In this report we analyze the effects of anisomycin on the late phase of long-term potentiation (LTP) in amygdala slices. The late phase of LTP was evoked by high-frequency repeated-train stimulation delivered to the external capsule and recorded in the lateral amygdaloid nucleus. In the no-drug condition, stimulation resulted in LTP lasting over 3 h without any sign of decay. Application of the drug 15 min before high-frequency stimulation (HFS) caused LTP decay to baseline within 1 h after induction. However, delivering the drug just after the first train of HFS resulted in LTP that returned to baseline level within 3 h since the onset of stimulation. These results show that the duration of the LTP in the amygdala depends on the anisomycin treatment paradigm and thus special caution should be exercised when interpreting the data obtained with this drug.

Differential effects of stress stimuli on a JNK-inactivating phosphatase.

Stress signals elicit a wide variety of cellular responses, many of which converge on the phosphorylation of JNK and p38 kinases, the activation of which has been well-characterized. How these kinases are switched off by dephosphorylation is not well understood. Here we describe how diverse cellular stresses affect differently the stability and activity of a JNK-inactivating dual-specificity threonine-tyrosine phosphatase M3/6. Both anisomycin and arsenite activate the JNK pathway and, in addition, inactivate the M3/6 phosphatase. However, while anisomycin treatment of cells leads to M3/6 protein degradation, arsenite appears to inactivate M3/6 directly. These results might have implications for the mechanism of tumour promotion by arsenic.

The DEXD/H-box RNA helicase RHII/Gu is a co-factor for c-Jun-activated transcription.

Tandem affinity purification (TAP) and mass spectrometric peptide sequencing showed that the DEAD-box RNA helicase RHII/Gu is a functional interaction partner of c-Jun in human cells. The N-terminal transcription activation region of, c-Jun interacts with a C-terminal domain of RHII/Gu. This interaction is stimulated by anisomycin treatment in a manner that is concurrent with, but independent of, c-Jun phosphorylation. A possible explanation for this effect is provided by the observation that RHII/Gu translocates from nucleolus to nucleoplasm upon anisomycin or UV treatment or when JNK signaling is activated by overexpression of a constitutively active form of MEKK1 kinase. Several experiments show that the RNA helicase activity of RHII/Gu supports c-Jun-mediated target gene activation: dominant-negative forms of RHII/Gu, as well as a neutralizing antibody against the enzyme, significantly interfered with c-Jun target gene activity but not with transcription in general. These findings clarify the mechanism of c-Jun-mediated transcriptional regulation, and provide evidence for an involvement of RHII/Gu in stress response and in RNA polymerase II-catalyzed transcription in mammalian cells.

P38 Triggers late preconditioning elicited by anisomycin in heart: involvement of NF-kappaB and iNOS.

We investigated the role of stress-activated p38 MAP kinase (p38/SAPK-2) signaling in delayed preconditioning of the heart. Adult male out-bred ICR mice were treated with p38 activator, anisomycin (0.1 mg/kg IP), or vehicle (5% DMSO). Twenty-four hours later, hearts were perfused in Langendorff mode and subjected to 30 minutes of ischemia and 30 minutes of reperfusion. Improvement in postischemic recovery of end-diastolic pressure and reduction in infarct size was observed, which was abolished by SB203580, a specific p38 inhibitor, and pyrrolidinediethyldithiocarbamate (PDTC), the NF-kappaB inhibitor, but not by PD 98059, a specific inhibitor for MEK1 or 2. Transient increase in p38 phosphorylation was observed 15 minutes after anisomycin treatment which subsided by 30 minutes. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay demonstrated rapid activation of NF-kappaB DNA binding with anisomycin, peaking at 30 minutes. Western blot confirmed the accumulation of p50 and p65 in nuclear extracts after anisomycin treatment. Anisomycin-induced NF-kappaB DNA binding activity was inhibited by SB203580 and PDTC. Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA, protein, and nitric oxide (NO) synthesis were enhanced in anisomycin-treated mice. SB203580 and PDTC blocked the increased expression of iNOS and increase in synthesis of NO. Selective iNOS inhibitor S-methylisothiourea abolished the protective effect of anisomycin. Furthermore, postischemic cardioprotective effect of anisomycin was absent in mice with targeted ablation of iNOS gene but not in the wild-type B6.129 mice. For the first time, these results suggest that direct pharmacological activation of p38 triggers delayed preconditioning by signaling mechanism involving NF-kappaB activation and synthesis of NO from iNOS.

JNK phosphorylates the HSF1 transcriptional activation domain: role of JNK in the regulation of the heat shock response.

The role of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling cascade in the stress-inducible phosphorylation of heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) was investigated using known agonists and antagonists of JNK. We showed that treatment of HeLa cells with MG132, a proteasome inhibitor and known INK activator, caused the transcriptional activation domain of HSF1 to be targeted and phosphorylated by JNK2 in vivo. Dose-response and time course studies of the effects of heat shock and anisomycin treatment showed a close correlation of the activation of JNK and hyperphosphorylation of HSF1. SB203580 inhibited INK at the 100 microM concentration and significantly reduced the amount of hyperphosphorylated HSF1 upon heat shock or anisomycin treatment. SB203580 and dominant-negative JNK suppress hsp70 promoter-driven reporter gene expression selectively at 45 degrees C but not at 42 degrees C heat stress, suggesting that JNK would be preferentially associated with the protective heat shock response against severe heat stress. The possibility that JNK-mediated phosphorylation of HSF1 may selectively stabilize the HSF1 protein and confers protection to cells under conditions of severe stress is discussed.

Novel Role for JNK as a Stress-activated Bcl2 Kinase

Interleukin (IL)-3-induced Bcl2 phosphorylation at Ser(70) may be required for its full and potent antiapoptotic activity. However, in the absence of IL-3, increased expression of Bcl2 can also prolong cell survival. To determine how Bcl2 may be functionally phosphorylated following IL-3 withdrawal, a stress-activated Bcl2 kinase (SAK) was sought. Results indicate that anisomycin, a potent activator of the stress kinase JNK/SAPK, can induce Bcl2 phosphorylation at Ser(70) and that JNK1 can be latently activated following IL-3 withdrawal to mediate Bcl2 phosphorylation. JNK1 directly phosphorylates Bcl2 in vitro, co-localizes with Bcl2, and collaborates with Bcl-2 to mediate prolonged cell survival in the absence of IL-3 or following various stress applications. Dominant-negative (DN)-JNK1 can block both anisomycin and latent IL-3 withdrawal-induced Bcl2 phosphorylation (>90%) and potently enhances cell death. Furthermore, low dose okadaic acid (OA), a potent protein phosphatase 1 and 2A inhibitor, can activate the mitogen-activated protein kinases JNK1 and ERK1/2, but not p38 kinase, to induce Bcl2 phosphorylation and prolong cell survival in factor-deprived cells. Since PD98059, a specific MEK inhibitor, can only partially inhibit OA-induced Bcl2 phosphorylation but completely blocks OA-induced Bcl2 phosphorylation in cells expressing DN-JNK1, this supports the conclusion that OA may stimulate Bcl2 phosphorylation via a mechanism involving both JNK1 and ERK1/2. Collectively, these findings indicate a novel role for JNK1 as a SAK and may explain, at least in part, how functional phosphorylation of Bc12 can occur in the absence of growth factor.

Cell Adhesion and Focal Adhesion Kinase Regulate Insulin Receptor Substrate-1 Expression

Integrins are transmembrane receptors involved in interactions between cells and extracellular matrix proteins. Here we show that cell adhesion regulates insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) mRNA synthesis. When fibroblasts are held in suspension, lower levels of IRS-1 mRNA, but not of IRS-2 mRNA, are detected, and this effect is due to the negative regulation of IRS-1 transcription rather than to decreased mRNA stability. Upon fibronectin- or vitronectin-mediated integrin stimulation, the level of IRS-1 mRNA was restored within 4 h. The focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is known to be activated upon integrin stimulation, and we found that IRS-1 was not expressed in FAK(-)(/-) cells. Stable re-expression of epitope-tagged FAK in FAK(-)(/-) fibroblasts (DA2 cells) restored normal levels of IRS-1 expression, confirming that IRS-1 mRNA expression is regulated by FAK. It is known that integrins activate the JNK pathway. However, in adherent FAK(-)(/-) cells, we failed to detect activation of JNK, whereas JNK was stimulated in DA2 cells. This confirms the role of FAK in integrin-induced JNK stimulation. FAK-independent stimulation of JNK with anisomycin treatment both in FAK(-)(/-) cells and in suspended FAK(+/+) cells confirmed that IRS-1 mRNA transcription can be partially regulated by JNK. We suggest that integrins can modulate insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 signaling pathways by regulating the levels of IRS-1 in cells and that FAK-mediated signaling to JNK is one pathway involved in this process.