Vomitoxin-induced cyclooxygenase-2 gene expression in macrophages mediated by activation of ERK and p38 but not JNK mitogen-activated protein kinases

Vomitoxin (VT) and other trichothecene mycotoxins mediate a broad range of immunotoxic effects via the induction of inflammation-associated genes in leukocytes. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that VT induces cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene expression in macrophages and that this is regulated at the level of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). Exposure of the murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 to 50-250 ng/ml VT for 24 h markedly enhanced the production of prostaglandin E-2 (PGE(2)), a major COX-2 metabolite. PGE(2) elevation was preceded by increases in COX-2 mRNA (2 h) and COX-2 protein (15 h) in VT-treated cells. VT induced rapid (15 min) and persistent (up to 240 min) phosphorylation of extracellular, signal regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) and p38 MAPK as well as a rapid (15 min) but transient (up to 60 min) phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinases 1 and 2 (JNK1/2). The ERK inhibitor PD98059 and p38 inhibitor SB203580 suppressed VT-induced PGE(2) and COX-2 protein expression, whereas impairment of JNK function by transient transfection with a dominant negative (dn) JNK vector had no effect on COX-2 protein expression. Relatedly, in cells transfected with a COX-2 promoter-luciferase construct, PD98059- and SB203580-, but not dnJNK-treatment, suppressed VT-induced luciferase transcription. VT also increased COX-2 mRNA stability, and this was inhibited by PD98059 but not by SB203580. Taken together, these results indicate that VT-induced PGE(2) production and COX-2 expression by elevating transcriptional activity and mRNA stability. Enhanced transcriptional activity was modulated by ERK and p38 signaling pathways, whereas mRNA stability was promoted exclusively by VT-activated p38 phosphorylation. These data provide insight into possible general mechanisms by which VT and other trichlothecenes upregulate proinflammatory genes and impart immunotoxicity.