Mitogen-activated protein kinase signalling pathways in IL-1β-dependent rat airway smooth muscle proliferation

Asthma is associated with abnormal airway smooth muscle (ASM) growth that may contribute to airway narrowing and hyperresponsiveness. We investigated the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in IL-1β induced ASM proliferation in the rat. Rat tracheal ASM cells were dissociated and maintained in culture. We examined the effect of selective MAPK inhibitors, SB239063 (a p38 MAPK inhibitor), U0126 (a mitogen-activated and extracellular regulated kinase kinase, MEK-1, inhibitor which inhibits downstream extracellular regulated kinase, ERK, activity), and SP600125 (a c-jun N-terminal kinase, JNK, inhibitor) on IL-1β-induced proliferation. Proliferation of ASM cells was significantly increased following exposure to IL-1β in a dose-dependent manner. p38, JNK and ERK MAPKs were activated by IL-1β in a time-dependent manner, with peak activation time at 30, 60 min and at 6 h, respectively. This activation was inhibited by their respective inhibitors. SP600125 (20 μM) had no effect on IL-1β-induced ERK and p38 phosphorylation. SB239063, U0126 and SP600125 dose-dependently inhibited IL-1β-dependent proliferation at doses that inhibit the activities of p38, ERK and JNK MAPKs, respectively. No additive or synergistic effects were observed on proliferative responses with any combination of these compounds. In conclusion, the three major MAPK pathways, ERK as well as the p38 MAPK and JNK pathways, are independent regulators of IL-1β-dependent proliferation of rat ASM. British Journal of Pharmacology (2004) 143, 1042–1049. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0705971