Faculty Collaboration Database

Role of p38 MAPK in burn-induced intestinal barrier breakdown. J Surg Res 2009 Sep;156(1):64-9

Date

07/07/2009

Pubmed ID

19577248

Pubmed Central ID

PMC4251589

DOI

10.1016/j.jss.2009.03.066

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-67650673060 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   73 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Severe burn results in intestinal barrier breakdown, which may lead to the generation of a systemic inflammatory response and distant organ injury. Intestinal barrier integrity is regulated, in part, by the tight junction protein myosin light chain kinase (MLCK). Previous studies in cell culture have shown that activation of p38 MAPK plays an important role in modulating intestinal barrier function. We hypothesized that (1) severe burn up-regulates p38 MAPK activation and results in increased intestinal permeability via augmented expression of MLCK, and (2) inhibition of p38 MAPK will prevent the burn-induced increase in MLCK expression, resulting in improved intestinal barrier integrity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Balb/c mice were subjected to a 30% total body surface area (TBSA) full thickness steam burn, then randomized to receive an intraperitoneal injection of a p38 MAPK inhibitor (SB203580, 25 mg/kg) or vehicle. In vivo intestinal permeability to 4kDa FITC-Dextran was measured. Expression of phosphorylated p38 MAPK, total p38 MAPK, MLCK, and phosphorylated MLC from intestinal extracts was assessed by immunoblotting.

RESULTS: Severe burn increased intestinal permeability, which was associated with activation of p38 MAPK, and increased expression of MLCK. Treatment with SB203580 significantly attenuated burn-induced intestinal permeability (212 microg/mL versus 81 microg/mL, P<0.05), and decreased expression of intestinal MLCK resulting in decreased phosphorylation of MLC.

CONCLUSION: p38 MAPK plays an important role in regulating burn-induced intestinal permeability through activation of MLCK. Inhibition of p38 MAPK may be an important therapeutic target aimed at attenuating intestinal barrier breakdown by preventing the burn-induced alterations in tight junction proteins.

Author List

Costantini TW, Peterson CY, Kroll L, Loomis WH, Eliceiri BP, Baird A, Bansal V, Coimbra R

Author

Carrie Peterson MD, MS, FACS, FASCRS Associate Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Animals
Burns
Enzyme Activation
Intestinal Mucosa
Male
Mice
Mice, Inbred BALB C
Myosin Light Chains
Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase
Permeability
Phosphorylation
p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases