Rapid activation of JNK and p38 by glucocorticoids in primary cultured hippocampal cells

J Neurosci Res. 2005 May 15;80(4):510-7. doi: 10.1002/jnr.20491.

Abstract

Rapid activation of JNK and p38 and their translocation to the cell nucleus by glucocorticoids, corticosterone (Cort), and bovine serum-conjugated corticosterone (Cort-BSA) were studied in primary cultured hippocampal cells by using immunoblotting and immunofluorescence confocal microscopy. The rapid activation occurred 5 min after stimulation and was maintained at plateau for as long as 2-4 hr; i.e., the response persisted for 2 hr after washing out the 15-min application of Cort-BSA. The activation occurred at a minimal concentration of 10(-9) M for Cort and 10(-8) M for Cort-BSA. GDPbetaS blocked the activation, but RU38486, a nuclear glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, could not block the activation, indicating the involvement of the membrane-delineated receptor in this reaction. The protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor Go6976 blocked the response, whereas the protein kinase A inhibitor H89 could not, implying the involvement of PKC in the intracellular signal transduction pathway. The nongenomic nature of the responses and the transduction pathway and the significance of persistent action and biological significance are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Anisomycin / pharmacology
  • Blotting, Western / methods
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Drug Interactions
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Glucocorticoids / pharmacology*
  • Guanosine Diphosphate / analogs & derivatives*
  • Guanosine Diphosphate / pharmacology
  • Hippocampus / cytology*
  • Hormone Antagonists / pharmacology
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Microscopy, Confocal / methods
  • Mifepristone / pharmacology
  • Nerve Growth Factor / pharmacology
  • Neurons / drug effects*
  • Neurons / enzymology
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Protein Transport / drug effects
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Thionucleotides / pharmacology
  • Time Factors
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Hormone Antagonists
  • Protein Synthesis Inhibitors
  • Thionucleotides
  • Guanosine Diphosphate
  • Mifepristone
  • Anisomycin
  • guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate)
  • Nerve Growth Factor
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases