p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase-Dependent Activation of Protein Phosphatases 1 and 2A Inhibits MEK1 and MEK2 Activity and Collagenase 1 (MMP-1) Gene Expression

Abstract

Degradation of collagenous extracellular matrix by collagenase 1 (also known as matrix metalloproteinase 1 [MMP-1]) plays a role in the pathogenesis of various destructive disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, chronic ulcers, and tumor invasion and metastasis. Here, we have investigated the role of distinct mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways in the regulation of MMP-1 gene expression. The activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK1)/ERK2 (designated ERK1,2) pathway by oncogenic Ras, constitutively active Raf-1, or phorbol ester resulted in potent stimulation of MMP-1 promoter activity and mRNA expression. In contrast, activation of stress-activated c-Jun N-terminal kinase and p38 pathways by expression of constitutively active mutants of Rac, transforming growth factor β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), MAPK kinase 3 (MKK3), or MKK6 or by treatment with arsenite or anisomycin did not alone markedly enhance MMP-1 promoter activity. Constitutively active MKK6 augmented Raf-1-mediated activation of the MMP-1 promoter, whereas active mutants of TAK1 and MKK3b potently inhibited the stimulatory effect of Raf-1. Activation of p38 MAPK by arsenite also potently abrogated stimulation of MMP-1 gene expression by constitutively active Ras and Raf-1 and by phorbol ester. Specific activation of p38α by adenovirus-delivered constitutively active MKK3b resulted in potent inhibition of the activity of ERK1,2 and its upstream activator MEK1,2. Furthermore, arsenite prevented phorbol ester-induced phosphorylation of ERK1,2 kinase-MEK1,2, and this effect was dependent on p38-mediated activation of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) and PP2A. These results provide evidence that activation of signaling cascade MKK3-MKK3b→p38α blocks the ERK1,2 pathway at the level of MEK1,2 via PP1-PP2A and inhibits the activation of MMP-1 gene expression.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study was supported by grants from the Academy of Finland (projects 30985 and 45996), Sigrid Jusélius Foundation, Cancer Research Foundation of Finland, Turku University Central Hospital (EVO grant 13336), and Finnish Culture Foundation and by a research contract from the Finnish Life and Pension Insurance Companies.

We thank Hanna Haavisto and Tarja Heikkilä for skillful technical assistance. We also thank the Bohmann lab for helpful discussions and Dirk Bohmann for critically reading the manuscript.

J. Westermarck and S. Li contributed equally to this work.