Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase by muscarinic receptors in astroglial cells: Role in DNA synthesis and effect of ethanol

Kevin Yagle, Hailing Lu, Marina Guizzetti, Thomas Möller, Lucio G. Costa

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

48 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) can be phosphorylated by mitogens binding to G-protein-coupled receptors and is considered a major pathway involved in cell proliferation. In this study, we report on the activation of MAPK by muscarinic acetyl-choline receptors in astroglial cells, namely the 1321N1 human astrocytoma cell line, primary rat cortical astrocytes, and fetal human astrocytes. Carbachol caused a rapid and transient phorphorylation of MAPK (ERK1/2) in all cell types, with an increase in MAPK activity, without changing the levels of MAPK proteins. Human astrocytoma cells were used to characterize the effect of carbachol on MAPK. Experiments with M2- and M3-receptor subtype-selective antagonists, and with pertussis toxin, indicated that the M3 subtype is responsible for activating MAPK in glial cells. Pretreatment of cells with the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide I, or downregulation of PKC by 24-h treatment with the phorbol ester TPA inhibited carbachol-induced MAPK activation. Additional experiments with PKC α- or PKC ε-specific compounds indicated that the ε isozyme of PKC is primarily involved in MAPK activation by carbachol. Chelation of calcium also inhibited MAPK activation by carbachol. Two MEK (MAPK kinase) inhibitors inhibited carbachol-induced DNA synthesis but only at concentrations that exceeded those sufficient to block carbachol-induced MAPK activation. Ethanol (≤200 mM) had no effect on MAPK when present alone and did not affect carbachol-induced MAPK activation under various experimental conditions, although it inhibits carbachol-induced DNA synthesis at low concentrations (10-100 mM). These results suggest that activation of MAPK by carbachol may be necessary but not sufficient for its mitogenic effect in astroglial cells, and that does not represent a target for ethanol-induced inhibition of DNA synthesis elicited by muscarinic receptors.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)111-120
Number of pages10
JournalGLIA
Volume35
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Astroglial cells
  • Ethanol
  • Mitogen-activated-protein kinase
  • Muscarinic receptors
  • Protein kinase C

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase by muscarinic receptors in astroglial cells: Role in DNA synthesis and effect of ethanol'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this