Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) Activated by Prostaglandin E2 Phosphorylates Connexin 43 and Closes Osteocytic Hemichannels in Response to Continuous Flow Shear Stress

作者:Riquelme Manuel A; Burra Sirisha; Kar Rekha; Lampe Paul D; Jiang Jean X*
来源:JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY, 2015, 290(47): 28321-28328.
DOI:10.1074/jbc.M115.683417

摘要

Cx43 hemichannels serve as a portal for the release of prostaglandins, a critical process in mediating biological responses of mechanical loading on bone formation and remodeling. We have previously observed that fluid flow shear stress (FESS) opens hemichannels; however, sustained FESS results in hemichannel closure, as continuous opening of hemichannels is detrimental to cell viability and bone remodeling. However, the mechanism that regulates the closure of the hemichannels is unknown. Here, we show that activation of p44/42 ERK upon continuous ITSS leads to Cx43 phosphorylation at Ser(279)-Ser(282), sites known to be phosphorylated sites by p44/42 MAPK. Incubation of osteocytic MLO-Y4 cells with conditioned media (CM) collected after continuous FESS increased MAPK-dependent phosphorylation of Cx43. CM treatment inhibited hemichannel opening and this inhibition was reversed when cells were pretreated with the MAPK pathway inhibitor. We found that prostaglandin E-2 (PGE(2)) accumulates in the CM in a time-dependent manner. Treatment with PGE, increased phosphop44/42 ERK levels and also Cx43 phosphorylation at Ser(279)-Ser(282) sites. Depletion of PGE(2) from CM, and pre-treatment with a p44/42 ERK pathway-specific inhibitor, resulted in a complete inhibition of ERK-dependent Cx43 phosphorylation and attenuated the inhibition of hemichannels by CM and PGE(2). Consistently, the opening of hemichannels by FESS was blocked by PGE, and CM and this blockage was reversed by U0126 and the CM depleted of PGE(2). A similar observation was also obtained in isolated primary osteocytes. Together, results from this study suggest that extracellular PGE(2) accumulated after continuous FFSS is responsible for activation of p44/42 ERK signaling and subsequently, direct Cx43 phosphorylation by activated ERK leads to hemichannel closure.

  • 出版日期2015-11-20