Interleukin-1beta induces cyclo-oxygenase-2 expression in gastric cancer cells by the p38 and p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways

J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2001 Oct;16(10):1098-104. doi: 10.1046/j.1440-1746.2001.02593.x.

Abstract

Background and aims: Cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) is the inducible enzyme in the gastric mucosa responsible for prostaglandin production during inflammation and ulcer healing. The regulation of COX-2 gene expression in gastric epithelial cells is not well understood. In this study, we investigated the effect of interleukin (IL)-1beta on COX-2 expression in the human gastric cancer cell, and explored the signaling pathways involved.

Methods: Gastric cancer cell line AGS was treated with IL-1beta or the inhibitors of mitogen-activated protein-Erk kinase (MEK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase prior to the addition of IL-1beta. The COX-2 mRNA or protein levels were measured by using RT-PCR or western blot analysis, respectively. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production/secretion was determined by using the prostaglandin E2 EIA assay. The phosphorylation/activation of p44/42 and p38 MAP kinases were determined by using western blot analysis and using phospho-specific antibodies.

Results: Interleukin-1beta treatment dose- and time-dependently increased COX-2 mRNA and protein expression levels, and enhanced PGE2 production/secretion in AGS cells. In contrast, IL-1beta had no effect on the level of the constitutively expressed COX-1. In parallel to the increase of COX-2, we showed that p44/42 and p38 MAP kinase activities were also upregulated by IL-1beta treatment. To demonstrate the cause-effect relationship, we showed that inhibition of MEK and p38 MAP kinase with specific inhibitors suppressed IL-1beta-mediated increases in COX-2 mRNA and protein levels, and the PGE2 production.

Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that in human gastric cancer cells, IL-1beta upregulates the COX-2 gene expression through the activation of MEK/p44/42 and p38 MAP kinases pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • Dinoprostone / biosynthesis*
  • Dinoprostone / genetics
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Imidazoles / pharmacology
  • Interleukin-1 / pharmacology*
  • Isoenzymes / genetics
  • Isoenzymes / metabolism*
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / metabolism*
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / genetics
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / metabolism*
  • Pyridines / pharmacology
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Signal Transduction
  • Stomach Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Up-Regulation
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Flavonoids
  • Imidazoles
  • Interleukin-1
  • Isoenzymes
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Pyridines
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • PTGS2 protein, human
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Dinoprostone
  • SB 203580
  • 2-(2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one