Mechanisms for prostaglandin E-2 formation caused by proteinase-activated receptor-1 activation in rat gastric mucosal epithelial cells

Proteinase-activated receptor-1 (PAR1), a thrombin receptor, plays a protective role in gastric mucosa via prostanoid formation. Thus, we studied effects of PAR1 stimulation on prostaglandin E-2 (PGE(2)) formation in rat normal gastric mucosal epithelial RGM1 cells and analyzed the underlying signal transduction mechanisms. The PARI-activating peptide (PAR1-AP) and thrombin increased PGE(2) release from RGM1 cells for 18 h, an effect being suppressed by inhibitors of COX-1, COX-2, MEK, p38 MAP kinase (p38 MAPK), protein kinase C (PKC), Src and EGF receptor-tyrosine kinase (EGFR-TK), but not JNK and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)/a disintegrin and metalloprotemases (ADAMs). PAR1-AP caused persistent (6 h or more) and transient (5 min) phosphorylation of ERK and p38 MAPK, respectively, followed by delayed reinforcement at 18 h. PAR1-AP up-regulated COX-2 in a manner dependent on MEK and EGFR-TK, but not p38 MAPK. The PARI-mediated persistent ERK phosphorylation was reduced by inhibitors of Src and EGFR-TK. PAR1-AP actually phosphorylated EGF receptors and up-regulated mRNA for heparin-binding-EGF (HB-EGF), the latter effect being blocked by inhibitors of Src, EGFR-TK and MEK. Heparin, an inhibitor for HB-EGF, suppressed PAR1-mediated PGE2 formation and persistent ERK phosphorylation. These results suggest that PAR1 up-regulates COX-2 via persistent activation of MEK/ERK that is dependent on EGFR-TK activation following induction of HB-EGF, leading to PGE(2) formation. In addition, our data also indicate involvement of COX-1, PKC and p38 MAPK in PAR1-triggered PGE(2) formation. PAR1, thus stimulates complex multiple signaling pathways responsible for PGE(2) formation in RGM1 cells. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.