Recent studies indicate that maximal IL-8 protein expression requires activation of NF-κB as well as activation of the MAP kinases ERK, JNK, and p38. However, the precise relationship between NF-κB transactivation and MAP kinase activation remains unclear. We examined the requirements of NF-κB, ERK, JNK, and p38 for TNF-α-induced transcription from the IL-8 promoter in a human bronchial epithelial cell line. Treatment with TNF-α induced activation of all three MAP kinases. Using a combination of chemical and dominant-negative inhibitors, we found that inhibition of NF-κB, ERK, and JNK, but not p38, each decreased TNF-α-induced transcription from the IL-8 promoter. Inhibition of JNK signaling also substantially reduced TNF-α-induced NF-κB transactivation, whereas inhibition of ERK and p38 had no effect. On the other hand, ERK was required and sufficient for TNF-α-induced activation of activator protein (AP)-1 promoter sequences, which together function as a basal level enhancer. JNK activation was also required for AP-1 transactivation. Finally, inhibition of p38 attenuated IL-8 protein abundance, suggesting that p38 regulates IL-8 expression in a posttranscriptional manner. We conclude that, in human airway epithelial cells, MAP kinases may regulate IL-8 promoter activity by NF-κB-dependent (in the case of JNK) and -independent (ERK) processes, as well as by posttranscriptional mechanisms (p38).

Increased airway smooth muscle in airway remodeling results from myocyte proliferation and hypertrophy. Skeletal and vascular smooth muscle hypertrophy is induced by phosphatidylinositide-3 kinase (PI(3) kinase) via mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and p70S6 kinase (p70S6K). We tested the hypothesis that this pathway regulates contractile protein accumulation in cultured canine airway myocytes acquiring an elongated contractile phenotype in serum-free culture. In vitro assays revealed a sustained activation of PI(3) kinase and p70S6K during serum deprivation up to 12 d, with concomitant accumulation of SM22 and smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (smMHC) proteins. Immunocytochemistry revealed that activation of PI3K/mTOR/p70S6K occurred almost exclusively in myocytes that acquire the contractile phenotype. Inhibition of PI(3) kinase or mTOR with LY294002 or rapamycin blocked p70S6K activation, prevented formation of large elongated contractile phenotype myocytes, and blocked accumulation of SM22 and smMHC. Inhibition of MEK had no effect. Steady-state mRNA abundance for SM22 and smMHC was unaffected by blocking p70S6K activation. These studies provide primary evidence that PI(3) kinase and mTOR activate p70S6K in airway myocytes leading to the accumulation of contractile apparatus proteins, differentiation, and growth of large, elongated contractile phenotype airway smooth muscle cells.