Oxidative stress stimulates multiple MAPK signalling pathways and phosphorylation of the small HSP27 in the perfused amphibian heart.

We investigated the activation of three subfamilies of MAPKs (ERK, JNKs and p38-MAPK) by oxidative stress in the isolated perfused amphibian heart. Activation of p43-ERK by 100 micro mol l(-1) H(2)O(2) was maximally observed within 5 min, remained elevated for 30 min and was comparable with the effect of 1 micro mol l(-1) PMA. p43-ERK activation by H(2)O(2) was inhibited by PD98059 but not by SB203580. The p46 and p52 species of JNKs were maximally activated by 2.5- and 2.1-fold, respectively, by 100 micro mol l(-1) H(2)O(2) within 2 min. JNK activation was still detectable after 15 min, reaching control values at 30 min of treatment. p38-MAPK was maximally activated by 9.75-fold by 100 micro mol l(-1) H(2)O(2) after 2 min and this activation progressively declined thereafter, reaching control values within 45 min of treatment. The observed dose-dependent profile of p38-MAPK activation by H(2)O(2) revealed that 30 micro mol l(-1) H(2)O(2) induced maximal phosphorylation, whereas 100-300 micro mol l(-1) H(2)O(2) induced considerable activation of the kinase. Our studies also showed that the phosphorylation of MAPKAPK2 by H(2)O(2) followed a parallel time-dependent pattern and that SB203580 abolished this phosphorylation. Furthermore, our experiments clearly showed that 30 micro mol l(-1) H(2)O(2) induced a strong, specific phosphorylation of HSP27. Our immunohistochemical studies showed that immune complexes of phosphorylated forms of both p38-MAPK and HSP27 were strongly enhanced by 30 micro mol l(-1) H(2)O(2) in the perinuclear region as well as dispersedly in the cytoplasm of ventricular cells and that SB203580 abolished this phosphorylation. These data indicate that oxidative stress is a powerful activator of all three MAPK subfamilies in the amphibian heart. Stimulation of p38-MAPK and the consequent phosphorylation of HSP27 may be important in cardioprotection under such conditions.