The influence of aniso-osmolarity on the activity of the MAP kinases E
rk-1 and Erk-2 was studied in C6 glioma cells, Hypo-osmotic treatment
(205 mosmol/l) led to an increased activity of Erk-1 and Erk-2 within
3 min, which became maximal at 10 min and returned to basal level with
in 120 min. In contrast, Erk activity was reduced under hyper-osmotic
conditions (405 mosmol/l), compared to the normo-osmotic control (305
mosmol/l), Erk activation was accompanied by a mobility shift of Raf-1
, Hypo-osmotic exposure increased the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([C
a2+](i)). Absence of extracellular Ca2+ largely abolished the [Ca2+](i
) response to hypo-osmolarity, whereas Erk activation following hypo-o
smotic stimulation remained unaffected, suggesting a Ca2+ independence
of the osmosignalling pathway to the MAP kinases, Both the Ca2+ respo
nse as web as the Erk activation following hypo-osmotic exposure were
maintained in the presence of the phospholipase C inhibitor U73122. Ap
plication of 8-CPT cAMP, forskolin/isobutylmethylxanthine or isoproter
enol blocked Erk activation following hypo-osmotic treatment of the ce
lls, suggesting a role of the Ras/Raf pathway upstream from Erk-1 and
Erk-2. Protein kinase C (PKC) is unlikely to play a role in the hypo-o
smolarity-induced signalling towards MAP kinases, as revealed by inhib
ition of PRC with Go6850. Inhibition of pertussis- or cholera toxin-se
nsitive G-proteins as well as inhibition of tyrosine kinases with geni
stein and of PI3 kinase by wortmannin had no effect on the Erk respons
e to hypo-osmolarity. It is concluded that osmosignalling in C6 glioma
cells differs upstream of the MAP kinases from that observed in prima
ry rat astrocytes, H4IIE rat hepatoma cells and isolated rat hepatocyt
es.