Activation of p90RSK and cAMP response element binding protein in stimulated neutrophils:: Novel effects of the pyridinyl imidazole SB 203580 on activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase cascade

Neutrophils stimulated with the chemoattractant FMLP or the phorbol ester PMA are known to exhibit activation of a 90-kDa renaturable protein kinase. Activation of this kinase was maximal at similar to 1-3 min after cell stimulation and the time course for activation was similar to that of the extracellular-regulated kinases (ERKs) and p38-mitogen activated protein kinase (p38(MAPK)). Compounds that block activation of ERK-1/2 (PD 98059) or that inhibit the activity of p38(MARK) (SB 203580) blocked activation of this 90-kDa kinase. SE 203580 is a highly selective inhibitor of p38(MARK) in vitro and is under intense study as a lead compound for developing novel anti-inflammatory agents. However, we demonstrate that SB 203580 at concentrations greater than or equal to 10 mu M can also inhibit activation of ERK-1/2 in neutrophils. An Ab to the protein kinase p90(RSK2) (also referred to as MAPKAP-K1b, or p90(rsk)) immunoprecipitated the active 90-kDa kinase from lysates of stimulated neutrophils. No activity was observed for this enzyme in immunoprecipitates obtained from unstimulated cells, and the amounts of activity were markedly reduced if the cells mere treated with PD 98059 or SE 203580 before stimulation. Neutrophils stimulated with FMLP exhibited phosphorylation of the cAMP response element binding protein (CREB), and this reaction was inhibited by SB 203580 and PD 98059. These data establish that the renaturable 90-kDa protein kinase is p90(RSK2) and that CREB may be a substrate for this enzyme in these cells. Novel effects of compound SB 203580 on stimulated neutrophils are also described.