p38 MAPK mediates the regulation of α1(I) procollagen mRNA levels by TNF‐α and TGF‐β in a cell line of rat hepatic stellate cells

摘要

>The role of members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family on tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)-mediated down-regulation of col1a1 gene was studied. TNF-α increased extracellular-regulated kinase and Jun-N-terminal kinase phosphorylation, but these effects were not related to its inhibitory effect on α1(I) procollagen (col1a1) mRNA levels. Phosphorylation of p38 MAPK was decreased in response to TNF-α, and the specific p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 mimicked the effect of TNF-α on col1a1 mRNA levels. Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) increased p38 MAPK phosphorylation and SB203580 prevented the induction of col1a1 mRNA levels by TGF-β. These results suggest that p38 MAPK plays an important role in regulating the expression of col1a1 in hepatic stellate cells in response to cytokines.