STIMULATION OF MITOGEN-ACTIVATED PROTEIN-KINASE AND CELLULAR PROLIFERATION IN RENAL PROXIMAL TUBULAR CELLS

We have studied activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP ki nase) and [H-3]-thymidine uptake as a marker for cellular proliferatio n in a proximal tubular cell line of the American Opossum kidney (OK c ells). Adrenaline, serotonin, epidermal growth factor and insulin all stimulated MAP kinase and [H-3]-thymidine uptake. This stimulation of cellular proliferation was markedly reduced by an inhibitor of the MAP kinase pathway, PD 98059. Epidermal growth factor stimulated MAP kina se activity more effectively than the other agonists, but all four had similar effects on OK cellular proliferation. These data indicate tha t amine neurotransmitters may be of similar importance for tubular reg eneration as classical growth factors.