p38 MAPK is required for CD40-induced gene expression and proliferation in B lymphocytes

J Immunol. 1998 Oct 1;161(7):3225-36.

Abstract

We have investigated the activation of the p38 MAPK pathway in response to CD40 engagement in multiple B cell lines and in human tonsillar B cells to define the role of p38 MAPK in proliferation, NF-kappaB activation and gene expression. Cross-linking CD40 rapidly stimulates both p38 MAPK and its downstream effector, MAPKAPK-2. Inhibition of p38 MAPK activity in vivo with the specific cell-permeable inhibitor, SB203580, under conditions that completely prevented MAPKAPK-2 activation, strongly perturbed CD40-induced tonsillar B cell proliferation while potentiating the B cell receptor (BCR)-driven proliferative response. SB203580 also significantly reduced expression of a reporter gene driven by a minimal promoter containing four NF-kappaB elements, indicating a requirement for the p38 MAPK pathway in CD40-induced NF-kappaB activation. However, CD40-mediated NF-kappaB binding was not affected by SB203580, suggesting that NF-kappaB may not be a direct target for the CD40-induced p38 MAPK pathway. In addition, SB203580 selectively reduced CD40-induced CD54/ICAM-1 expression, whereas CD40-dependent expression of CD40 and CD95/Fas and four newly defined CD40-responsive genes cIAP2, TRAF1, TRAF4/CART and DR3 were unaffected. Our observations show that the p38 MAPK pathway is required for CD40-induced proliferation and that CD40 induces gene expression via both p38 MAPK-dependent and -independent pathways.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / pharmacology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / enzymology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • CD40 Antigens / biosynthesis
  • CD40 Antigens / immunology
  • CD40 Antigens / physiology*
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / physiology*
  • Cell Division / immunology
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation / immunology*
  • HLA-DR3 Antigen / biosynthesis
  • Humans
  • Imidazoles / pharmacology
  • Immunoglobulin M / immunology
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / biosynthesis
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Lymphocyte Activation* / immunology
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell
  • Mice
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases*
  • NF-kappa B / genetics
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Nuclear Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Palatine Tonsil / cytology
  • Palatine Tonsil / enzymology
  • Palatine Tonsil / immunology
  • Protein Binding / immunology
  • Protein Biosynthesis
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Proteins*
  • Pyridines / pharmacology
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / metabolism
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / physiology
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / metabolism
  • TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 1
  • TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 4
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Associated Peptides and Proteins
  • Viral Proteins / biosynthesis
  • fas Receptor / biosynthesis
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases

Substances

  • Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • CD40 Antigens
  • HLA-DR3 Antigen
  • Imidazoles
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • NF-kappa B
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Proteins
  • Pyridines
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
  • TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 1
  • TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 4
  • TRAF4 protein, human
  • Traf4 protein, mouse
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Associated Peptides and Proteins
  • Viral Proteins
  • anti-IgM
  • fas Receptor
  • inhibitor of apoptosis, Nucleopolyhedrovirus
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1
  • MAP-kinase-activated kinase 2
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • SB 203580