Biomedical subjects

T Uematsu

Publications and source records attributed to T Uematsu.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed2000

p38 MAP kinase is required for vasopressin-stimulated HSP27 induction in aortic smooth muscle cells.

We previously showed that arginine vasopressin (AVP) stimulates heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) induction through protein kinase C activation in aortic smooth muscle A10 cells. In the present study, we examined whether the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase superfamily is involved in the AVP-stimulated HSP27 induction in A10 cells. AVP stimulated the phosphorylation of p42/p44 MAP kinase and p38 MAP kinase. On the contrary, AVP had little effect on SAPK (stress-activated protein kinase)/JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase) phosphorylation. The HSP27 accumulation by AVP was not affected by PD98059, an inhibitor of the upstream kinase that activates p42/p44 MAP kinase. SB203580 and PD169316, specific inhibitors of p38 MAP kinase, suppressed the AVP-induced accumulation of HSP27. 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate, an activator of protein kinase C, induced accumulation of HSP27 and was not inhibited by PD98059 but was inhibited by SB203580. Calphostin C and ET-18-OCH(3), inhibitors of protein kinase C, reduced the phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase by AVP. SB203580 and PD169316 suppressed the AVP-increased levels in mRNA for HSP27. Dissociation of the aggregated HSP27 to the dissociated HSP27 was induced by AVP. These results strongly suggest that p38 MAP kinase takes part in the pathway of the AVP-stimulated induction of HSP27 in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Basic fibroblast growth factor stimulates vascular endothelial growth factor release in osteoblasts: divergent regulation by p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase.

We previously showed that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) activates p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase via Ca2+ mobilization, resulting in interleukin-6 (IL-6) synthesis in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells. In the present study, we investigated the effect of bFGF on the release of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in these cells. bFGF stimulated VEGF release dose dependently in the range between 10 and 100 ng/ml. SB203580, an inhibitor of p38 MAP kinase, markedly enhanced the bFGF-induced VEGF release. bFGF induced the phosphorylation of both p42/p44 MAP kinase and p38 MAP kinase. PD98059, an inhibitor of upstream kinase of p42/p44 MAP kinase, reduced the VEGF release. SB203580 enhanced the phosphorylation of p42/p44 MAP kinase induced by bFGF. The enhancement by SB203580 of the bFGF-stimulated VEGF release was suppressed by PD98059. The depletion of extracellular Ca2+ by [ethylenebis(oxyethylenenitrilo)]tetracetic acid (EGTA) or 1,2-bis-(O-aminophinoxy)-ethane-N,N,N,N-tetracetic acid tetracetoxymethyl ester (BAPTA/AM), a chelator of intracellular Ca2+, suppressed the bFGF-induced VEGF release. A23187, a Ca ionophore, or thapsigargin, known to induce Ca2+ release from intracellular Ca2+ store, stimulated the release of VEGF by itself. A23187 induced the phosphorylation of p42/p44 MAP kinase and p38 MAP kinase. PD98059 suppressed the VEGF release induced by A23187. SB203580 had little effect on either A23187-induced VEGF release or the phosphorylation of p42/p44 MAP kinase by A23187. These results strongly suggest that bFGF stimulates VEGF release through p42/p44 MAP kinase in osteoblasts and that the VEGF release is negatively regulated by bFGF-activated p38 MAP kinase.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Lack of tPA significantly affects antithrombotic therapy by a GPIIb/IIIa antagonist, but not by a thrombin inhibitor in mice.

The interaction of fibrinolytic components with platelets or coagulation factors after endothelial injury, was investigated in mouse deficient in tissue type plasminogen activator (tPA -/-), or urokinase (uPA -/-) and in their wild type control (tPA +/+, uPA +/+). A thrombus was induced in the murine carotid artery using the photochemical reaction. Blood flow was continuously monitored and the time needed before the vessel became completely obstructed was within 11 min in all types of mice. When GR144053, a platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonist, or argatroban, a thrombin inhibitor, was applied, the time required to occlusion was prolonged in a dose-dependent manner in all types of mice. However, when GR144053 was injected in tPA -/- mice, the most significant changes were observed: that is the estimated ED50 was 14.8 times higher than the one in tPA +/+ mice. On the other hand, when argatroban was injected in tPA -/- mice, the estimated ED50 was not changed. Platelet aggregation, haemostasis tests and bleeding times were not significantly different among the different types of mice. In conclusion, the antithrombotic effect of platelet inhibition by a GPIIb/IIIa antagonist, is severely affected by the absence or presence of tPA-production. Thus, the lack of tPA significantly reduces the antithrombotic efficacy.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Transient ischemic injury in the rat retina caused by thrombotic occlusion-thrombolytic reperfusion.

PURPOSE: To establish a clinically relevant model of transient retinal ischemia by thrombotic occlusion-thrombolytic reperfusion of the central retinal artery of the rat. METHODS: Thrombus was photochemically induced in the central retinal artery by the combination of intravenous injection of photo-sensitive dye, rose bengal, and green laser irradiation focused on the artery. Transient retinal ischemia for 60 minutes was achieved by a subsequent systemic administration of tissue-type plasminogen activator to reperfuse the occluded vessel. Samples of retinas were excised from the animals killed 3, 9, 12, 24, 48, and 78 hours after the reperfusion. The experimental data were processed using the TdT-dUTP terminal nick-end labeling (TUNEL) method to detect apoptotic cells. RESULTS: The transient retinal ischemia caused time-sequential apoptotic changes in the retinal cells as evaluated by counting the number of TUNEL-positive cells. The most remarkable changes occurred in the central area of retina, and further on the sections taken 24 hours after reperfusion. The peripheral area was less affected, and the outer nuclear cell layer was almost unaffected throughout the observation period. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed method to cause retinal transient ischemia is highly reproducible, and it is easy to simulate the progress and topographical distribution of retinal changes observed in the clinical cases of central retinal arterial occlusion and its subsequent thrombolytic reperfusion. This may provide a useful tool for constructing the effective thrombolytic strategies against the central retinal arterial occlusion and for evaluating the effects of neuroprotective agents.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Involvement of p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase in prostaglandin f(2alpha)-stimulated induction of heat shock protein 27 in osteoblasts.

We previously reported that prostaglandin F(2alpha) (PGF(2alpha)) activates both phosphoinositide-hydrolyzing phospholipase C and phosphatidylcholine-hydrolyzing phospholipase D in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells and then induces the activation of protein kinase C (PKC). In this study, we investigated the effect of PGF(2alpha) on the induction of heat shock protein 27 (HSP27), a low-molecular-weight heat shock protein, in these cells. PGF(2alpha) significantly induced the accumulation of HSP27 dose-dependently within the range of 10 nM to 10 microM. PGF(2alpha) stimulated the increase in the levels of mRNA for HSP27. A total of 10 nM 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), an activator of PKC, induced the accumulation of HSP27. The stimulative effect of PGF(2alpha) was reduced in the PKC down-regulated cells. Calphostin C, a specific inhibitor of PKC, suppressed the PGF(2alpha)-induced HSP27 accumulation as well as that induced by TPA. HSP27 induction by PGF(2alpha) was reduced by U-73122, a phospholipase C inhibitor, or propranolol, a phosphatidic acid phosphohydrolase inhibitor. PGF(2alpha) and TPA stimulated p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase. PD98059, an inhibitor of the upstream kinase that activates p42/p44 MAP kinase, suppressed the induction of HSP27 stimulated by PGF(2alpha) or TPA. PD98059 and calphostin C reduced the levels of mRNA for HSP27 increased by PGF(2alpha). These results indicate that PGF(2alpha) stimulates the induction of HSP27 via p42/p44 MAP kinase activation, which depends on upstream PKC activation in osteoblasts.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

PubMed1999

Failure of preventive effects of 2-deoxy-D-glucose on ischemia-induced gerbil hippocampal neuronal damage by induced hyperthermia.

Post-ischemic administration of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), a glucose antimetabolite, markedly reduces the occurrence of ischemia-induced delayed neuronal death (DND) in the gerbil hippocampus. This means that the reduction of energy dependent metabolism after ischemia prevents ischemia-induced damages of hippocampal neurons. In the present study, we demonstrated hyperthermia during ischemia fails to preserve neurons in hippocampal CA1 of 2-DG treated gerbil following transient forebrain ischemia.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Involvement of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in basic fibroblast growth factor-induced interleukin-6 synthesis in osteoblasts.

We previously showed that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-induced activation of protein kinase C (PKC) via phosphatidylinositol-hydrolyzing phospholipase C and phosphatidylcholine-hydrolyzing phospholipase D suppresses interleukin-6 (IL-6) synthesis by bFGF itself in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells. In the present study, we further investigated the mechanism underlying the bFGF-induced IL-6 synthesis in MC3T3-E1 cells. bFGF time-dependently induced the phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase. SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38 MAP kinase, suppressed the bFGF-induced IL-6 synthesis dose-dependently. The phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase by bFGF was suppressed by TMB-8, an inhibitor of intracellular Ca(2+) mobilization, or the depletion of extracellular Ca(2+) with EGTA. A23187, a Ca-ionophore, stimulated the phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase. SB203580 inhibited the A23187-induced synthesis of IL-6. 1-Oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol, a synthetic diacylglycerol activating PKC, reduced the bFGF-induced IL-6 synthesis. 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, an activator of PKC, attenuated the phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase by bFGF, but did not affect the A23187-induced phosphorylation. These results strongly suggest that bFGF-induced IL-6 synthesis is mediated via p38 MAP kinase activation in osteoblasts, and that PKC acts at a point upstream from p38 MAP kinase.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Sphingosine 1-phosphate regulates heat shock protein 27 induction by a p38 MAP kinase-dependent mechanism in aortic smooth muscle cells.

In an aortic smooth muscle cell line, A10 cells, we investigated the effect of sphingosine 1-phosphate on the induction of heat shock protein 27 (HSP27), a low-molecular-weight heat shock protein. Sphingosine 1-phosphate significantly induced the accumulation of HSP27 in a pertussis toxin-sensitive manner. The effect was dose-dependent in the range between 0.1 and 30 microM. Sphingosine 1-phosphate stimulated an increase in the levels of mRNA for HSP27. Sphingosine 1-phosphate stimulated both p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase and p38 MAP kinase activation. PD98059, an inhibitor of the upstream kinase that activates p42/p44 MAP kinase, did not affect sphingosine 1-phosphate-stimulated HSP27 induction. In contrast, SB203580, an inhibitor of p38 MAP kinase, reduced sphingosine 1-phosphate-induced HSP27 induction. SB203580 reduced the levels of mRNA for HSP27 induced by sphingosine 1-phosphate. These results indicate that sphingosine 1-phosphate stimulates the induction of HSP27 via p38 MAP kinase activation in aortic smooth muscle cells.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Comparison of the antithrombotic effects and bleeding risk of fractionated aurin tricarboxylic acid and the GPIIb/IIIa antagonist GR144053 in a hamster model of stenosis.

The present study compared the antithrombotic properties of fractionated aurin tricarboxylic acid (ATA), an inhibitor of platelet glycoprotein (GP) Ib, and GR144053, a GPIIb/IIIa antagonist, in a hamster model of stenosis. Endothelial cell injury in the hamster carotid artery was achieved by a 2F modified catheter. Arterial blood flow in the control groups was interrupted 5.4+/-0.9 minutes after the injury. When ATA (0.01, 0.03, 0.1, 0.3, and 1.0 mg/kg per hour) or GR144053 (0.1, 0.3, and 1.0 mg/kg per hour) were continuously infused intravenously, the time elapse before the vessel completely occluded was prolonged in a dose-dependent manner. However, all arteries in the ATA-treated groups ultimately occluded during the observation period even if the aggregation of platelets ex vivo and induced by botrocetin was completely inhibited. When either ATA (0.1 mg/kg per hour) or GR144053 (0.3 mg/kg per hour) were infused via an implanted osmotic pump together with tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), late patency of the reperfused artery was improved compared to that of arteries treated with TPA alone. However, the cyclic reflow pattern after reperfusion on days 0 and 1 was not reduced by the ATA treatment. The bleeding time was significantly prolonged when either ATA or GT144053 was coadministered with tPA. The treatment with ATA showed an especially marked prolongation of the bleeding time. In conclusion, both inhibition of platelet activation by ATA or GR144053 prevent arterial thrombosis and enhance the thrombolytic effect of tPA, but GR144053 was more protective in its antithrombotic effect and more effective during thrombolytic therapy than ATA.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-alpha induced neutrophil apoptosis by cyclic AMP: involvement of caspase cascade.

Treatment of neutrophils with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in the presence of cycloheximide induced apoptosis within 3 h, as evaluated by the occurrence of morphological nuclear changes characteristic of apoptosis. Pretreatment of neutrophils with dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP) suppressed the TNF-alpha/cycloheximide-induced apoptosis in neutrophils in a concentration-dependent manner, while dbcAMP by itself did not induce any morphological changes. Forskolin, or a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, also produced a concentration-dependent inhibition on apoptosis. This inhibition by dbcAMP was completely reversed by pretreatment with the protein kinase A inhibitor, N-[2-(p-bromocinnamylamino) ethyl]-5-isoquinoline sulphonamide (H-89). DbcAMP also inhibited the TNF-alpha/cycloheximide-induced activation of caspase-3, but it had no effect on the activation of caspase-8 in human neutrophils. Furthermore, dbcAMP did not directly inhibit activated caspase-3 activity. Inhibitor of protein kinase C, phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C, tyrosine kinase, nitric oxide synthase, or granulocyte colony-stimulating factor or granulocyte monocyte colony-stimulating factor did not affect apoptosis. These results indicate that the elevation of levels of endogenous intracellular cyclic AMP and subsequent activation of protein kinase A play a crucial role in the prevention of apoptosis triggered by TNF-alpha/cycloheximide in human neutrophils, and that the possible target of cyclic AMP is a product in the metabolic pathway between caspase-8 and caspase-3.

4-(3-Butoxy-4-methoxybenzyl)-2-imidazolidinone↗

PubMed1999

Extracellular sphingomyelinase induces interleukin-6 synthesis in osteoblasts.

In osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells, we have recently reported that sphingosine 1-phosphate among sphingomyelin metabolites acts as a second messenger for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF)-induced interleukin-6 (IL-6) synthesis. In the present study, we investigated the effect of extracellular sphingomyelinase on IL-6 synthesis in MC3T3-E1 cells. Sphingomyelinase stimulated IL-6 synthesis in a time-dependent manner for up to 24 h. This stimulative effect was dose dependent in the range between 1 and 300 mU/ml. Calphostin C, a highly and potent inhibitor of protein kinase C, enhanced sphingomyelinase-induced IL-6 synthesis. DL-Threo-dihydrosphingosine, an inhibitor of sphingosine kinase, significantly inhibited the IL-6 synthesis induced by sphingomyelinase. Sphingomyelinase markedly elicited sphingomyelin hydrolysis. In addition, the effect of a combination of sphingomyelinase and TNF on IL-6 synthesis was synergistic. These results strongly suggest that extracellular sphingomyelinase induces sphingomyelin hydrolysis in osteoblasts, resulting in IL-6 synthesis, and that protein kinase C acts as a negative controller of the IL-6 synthesis.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Vasopressin stimulates the induction of heat shock protein 27 and alphaB-crystallin via protein kinase C activation in vascular smooth muscle cells.

In the present study, we examined the effect of vasopressin on the induction of the low-molecular-weight heat shock proteins heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) and alphaB-crystallin in an aortic smooth muscle cell line, A10 cells. Vasopressin induced a time-dependent accumulation of HSP27 and alphaB-crystallin. The stimulatory effects of vasopressin were dose-dependent over the range 0.1 nmol/L to 0.1 micromol/L. The EC50 values for vasopressin were 2 (HSP27) and 4 nmol/L (alphaB-crystallin). Vasopressin induced increases in the levels of the mRNAs for HSP27 and alphaB-crystallin. 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), a protein kinase C (PKC)-activating phorbol ester, induced an accumulation of HSP27 (EC50, 20 nmol/L) and alphaB-crystallin (EC50, 2 nmol/L). In contrast, 4alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate, a non-PKC-activating phorbol ester, had no such effect. Staurosporine and calphostin C, inhibitors of PKC, significantly reduced the vasopressin-induced accumulation of HSP27 and alphaB-crystallin as well as that induced by TPA. BAPTA/AM and TMB-8, inhibitors of intracellular Ca2+ mobilization, significantly reduced the vasopressin-induced accumulation of HSP27 and alphaB-crystallin. These results strongly suggest that vasopressin stimulates the induction of HSP27 and alphaB-crystallin via PKC activation in vascular smooth muscle cells and that this effect of vasopressin is dependent on intracellular Ca2+ mobilization.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Prevention of ischemia-induced hippocampal neuronal damage by 2-deoxy-D-glucose in gerbils.

It has been reported that delayed neuronal death (DND) in the hippocampus following transient forebrain ischemia is associated with internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, indicating apoptosis. This suggests that the process of DND is energy dependent. Transient severe forebrain ischemia was induced in Mongolian gerbils by bilateral occlusion of the common carotid arteries. Post-ischemic administration of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), a glucose antimetabolite, markedly reduced the occurrence of ischemia-induced DNA fragmentation and DND in the hippocampus. These results suggest that the reduction of energy dependent metabolism after ischemia may be an attractive therapeutic strategy for preserving hippocampal neurons vulnerable to ischemia.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Involvement of free radicals in cerebral vascular reperfusion injury evaluated in a transient focal cerebral ischemia model of rat.

Free radicals have been suggested to be largely involved in the genesis of ischemic brain damage, as shown in the protective effects of alpha-phenyl-N-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN), a spin trapping agent, against ischemic cerebral injury. In the present study, the effects of PBN as well as MCI-186, a newly-developed free radical scavenger, and oxypurinol, an inhibitor of xanthine oxidase, were evaluated in a rat transient middle cerebral aretery (MCA) occlusion model to clarify the possible role of free radicals in the reperfusion injury of brain. The volume of cerebral infarction, induced by 2-h occlusion and subsequent 2-h reperfusion of MCA in Fisher-344 rats, was evaluated. The administration of PBN (100 mg/kg) and MCI-186 (100 mg/kg) just before reperfusion of MCA significantly reduced the infarction volume. In contrast, oxypurinol (100 mg/kg) failed to show any preventive effect on the infarction. These results suggest that free radical formation is involved in the cerebral damage induced by ischemia-reperfusion of MCA, and that hydroxyl radical is responsible for the reperfusion injury after transient focal brain ischemia. It is also suggested that xanthine oxidase is not a major source of free radicals.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation is involved in prostaglandin F2alpha-induced interleukin-6 synthesis in osteoblasts.

Prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) significantly induced p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activity in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells. PD98059, a selective inhibitor of MAP kinase kinase, inhibited PGF2alpha-induced interleukin-6 (IL-6) synthesis as well as PGF2alpha-induced p42/p44 MAP kinase activation. PD98059 suppressed the IL-6 synthesis induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a protein kinase C (PKC) activator, or NaF, an activator of heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein, as well as the p42/p44 MAP kinase activation by TPA or NaF. Calphostin C, a highly potent and specific inhibitor of PKC, inhibited the PGF2alpha-induced p42/p44 MAP kinase activity. These results strongly suggest that PKC-dependent p42/p44 MAP kinase activatioin is involved in PGF2alpha-induced IL-6 synthesis in osteoblasts.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Effect of ceramide on interleukin-6 synthesis in osteoblast-like cells.

We previously showed that prostaglandin (PG) E1 stimulates the synthesis of interleukin-6 (IL-6) through activation of protein kinase (PK) A in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells and that PGF2alpha induces IL-6 synthesis through PKC activation. In other studies, we demonstrated that thrombin stimulates IL-6 synthesis, which depends on intracellular Ca2+ mobilisation in these cells and that tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) induces IL-6 synthesis through sphingosine 1-phosphate, a product of sphingomyelin turnover. In the present study, among sphingomyelin metabolites, we examined the effect of ceramide on the IL-6 synthesis induced by various agonists in MC3T3-E1 cells. C2-ceramide, a cell-permeable ceramide analogue, suppressed the PGE1-induced IL-6 synthesis. C2-ceramide inhibited the IL-6 synthesis induced by PGF2alpha or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, an activator of PKC. C2-ceramide reduced the IL-6 synthesis induced by cholera toxin, forskolin or dibutyryl cAMP. C2-ceramide inhibited the IL-6 synthesis induced by thrombin. The IL-6 synthesis stimulated by thapsigargin, which is known to stimulate Ca2+ mobilisation from intracellular Ca2+ stores, or A23187, a Ca-ionophore, was also inhibited by C2-ceramide. C2-ceramide did not affect the IL-6 synthesis induced by interleukin-1. On the contrary, C2-ceramide enhanced the TNF-induced IL-6 synthesis. D,L-threo-dihydrosphingosine, an inhibitor of sphingosine kinase, inhibited the enhancement by C2-ceramide as well as the TNF-effect. These results strongly suggest that ceramide modulates the IL-6 synthesis stimulated by various agonists in osteoblasts.

Alprostadil↗

PubMed1999

Neuronal apoptosis studied by a sequential TUNEL technique: a method for tract-tracing.

A novel tract-tracing procedure by using a sequential in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling of DNA fragments (TUNEL) is described. This method identifies fragmented DNA transported into neuronal fibers in tissue sections of gerbil hippocampal CA1 neurons following transient forebrain ischemia. The transported DNA has been confirmed by another method, fluorescence DNA detection technique by DAPI. Many methods have been developed to study the neuroanatomical connections in the central nervous system. Principally, these techniques are based on tract-tracing studies using xenobiotics into the central nervous system. Our tract-tracing method is originated from an intrinsic marker that is produced during the apoptotic process of neurons. Furthermore, the advantage of this method is that only the selected cells undergoing apoptosis are recognized and traced to the end of the related neuronal fiber. Usually, apoptotic cells possess intact intracellular metabolic mechanisms until completion of cell death. Thus, apoptotic neurons retain the axonal transport mechanisms which enables us to detect fragmented DNA moving from nuclei to distal terminals of neuronal fibers. Since TUNEL-positive DNA movement within neuronal fibers occurs only during a limited period, it is essential that a time-course of the TUNEL technique is used to study tract-tracing of apoptotic neurons. Although this method can identify only the apical dendrites of cells that are undergoing apoptosis during the limited period, some projections of the gerbil hippocampal CA1 neurons undergoing apoptosis are clearly demonstrated.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Involvement of p42/p44 MAP kinase in endothelin-1-induced interleukin-6 synthesis in osteoblast-like cells.

We previously reported that endothelin-1 induces synthesis of interleukin-6 (IL-6) via activation of protein kinase C in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells. In the present study, we further investigated whether p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase is involved in endothelin-1-induced IL-6 synthesis in these cells. Endothelin-1 stimulated p42/p44 MAP kinase activation in a dose-dependent manner in the range between 0.1 nmol/L and 0.1 micromol/L. PD98059, a specific inhibitor of the upstream kinase that activates p42/p44 MAP kinase, suppressed endothelin-1-induced IL-6 synthesis as well as endothelin-1-activated p42/p44 MAP kinase. Both p42/p44 MAP kinase activation and IL-6 synthesis induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a protein kinase C-activating phorbol ester, were reduced by PD98059. Calphostin C, a highly specific inhibitor of protein kinase C, suppressed endothelin-1-stimulated p42/p44 MAP kinase activation as well as endothelin-1-induced IL-6 synthesis. These results strongly suggest that protein kinase C-dependent p42/p44 MAP kinase activation is involved in endothelin-1-induced IL-6 synthesis in osteoblast-like cells.

Animals↗