u-0126 and Lymphoma

We previously demonstrated the doxorubicin-induced urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) expression in human RC-K8 lymphoma cells and NCI-H69 small cell lung carcinoma cells in which reactive oxygen species might be involved. Western blotting analysis revealed phosphorylation/activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, such as extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2, p38 MAP kinase and stress-activated protein kinase/c-jun N-terminal protein kinase (SAPK/JNK) in doxorubicin-treated RC-K8 and H69 cells, and, therefore, we attempted to identify the MAP kinases implicated in doxorubicin-induced uPA expression by the use of their specific inhibitors. U0126, SB202190 and JNKI-1, inhibitors for MAPK kinase, (MEK) 1/2, p38 MAP kinase and SAPK/JNK, respectively, specifically and clearly inhibited their corresponding kinases. U0126 and SB202190, but not JNKI-1, almost completely inhibited the doxorubicin-induced uPA expression in both RC-K8 and H69 cells. However, U0126 rather enhanced the doxorubicin-induced activation of caspase-3 and poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), and U0126 itself activated caspase-3 and PARP. Interestingly, JNKI-1 inhibited the doxorubicin-induced activation of caspase-3 and PARP. Therefore, doxorubicin treatment activates the above three kinases, but different MAP kinase signaling is responsible in the doxorubicin-induced caspase activation and expression of uPA. Thus, we could possibly manipulate the direction of doxorubicin-induced MAP kinase activation and the effects of doxorubicin on the tumor cell biology by the use of MAP kinase inhibitors.

Topics: Blotting, Northern; Blotting, Western; Butadienes; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Caspase 3; Caspases; Cell Line, Tumor; Doxorubicin; Enzyme Activation; Enzyme Inhibitors; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Imidazoles; Lung Neoplasms; Lymphoma; MAP Kinase Kinase 4; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8; Nitriles; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Phosphorylation; Poly Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose; Pyridines; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator