Role of recombinant mitogen-activated protein kinases JNK and p38 in the regulation of apoptosis in blood mononuclear cells under conditions of oxidative stress in vitro.

Programmed death of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy donors was studied during culturing with various concentrations of H(2)O(2) and selective inhibitors of JNK (SP600125) and p38 MAPK (ML3403). In vitro incubation of mononuclear leukocytes with 1 mM H(2)O(2) stimulated apoptotic cell death. Treatment with inhibitors (SP600125 and ML3403) during in vitro oxidative stress prevented the increase in the number of annexin-positive mononuclear cells. Our results indicate that MAP kinases JNK and p38 are involved in the mechanisms of oxidative dysregulation of apoptosis.