Signaling by eNOS through a superoxide-dependent p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway

Expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in transfected U-937 cells upregulates phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced tumor necr osis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production through a superoxide (O-2(-))-depe ndent mechanism. Because mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) have been shown to participate in both reactive oxygen species signaling and TNF-alp ha regulation, their possible role in eNOS-derived O-2(-) signal transducti on was examined. A redox-cycling agent, phenazine methosulfate, was found t o both upregulate TNF-alpha (5.8 +/- 1.0 fold; P = 0.01) and increase the p hosphorylation state of p42/44 MAPK (3.1 +/- 0.2 fold; P = 0.01) in PMA-dif ferentiated U-937 cells. Although S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine, a nitric oxide (NO) donor, also increased TNF-alpha production, NO exposure led to phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, not p42/44 MAPK. Upregulation of TNF-alpha pro duction by eNOS transfection was associated with increases in activated p42 /44 MAPK (P = 0.001), whereas levels of phosphorylated p38 MAPK were unaffe cted. Furthermore, cotransfection with Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase, which bl ocks TNF-alpha upregulation by eNOS, also abolished the effects on p42/44 M APK. Expression of Gln(361)eNOS, a mutant that produces O-2(-) but not NO, still resulted in p42/44 MAPK phosphorylation. In contrast, two NADPH bindi ng site deletion mutants of eNOS that lack oxidase activity had no effect o n p42/44 MAPK. Finally, PD-98059, a p42/44 MAPK pathway inhibitor, blocked TNF-alpha upregulation by eNOS (P = 0.02). Thus O-2(-) produced by eNOS inc reases TNF-alpha production via a mechanism that involves p42/44 MAPK activ ation.