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MEKK2 gene disruption causes loss of cytokine production in response to IgE and c‐Kit ligand stimulation of ES cell‐derived mast cells
Author(s) -
Garrington Timothy P.,
Ishizuka Tamotsu,
Papst Philip J.,
Chayama Kosuke,
Webb Saiphone,
Yujiri Toshiaki,
Sun Weiyong,
Sather Sue,
Russell David M.,
Gibson Spencer B.,
Keller Gordon,
Gelfand Erwin W.,
Johnson Gary L.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1093/emboj/19.20.5387
Subject(s) - biology , microbiology and biotechnology , cytokine , map kinase kinase kinase , mast cell , signal transduction , mapk/erk pathway , immunology
Ligation of the high‐affinity IgE receptor (FcϵRI) or of c‐Kit stimulates cytokine production in mast cells. We show that MEK kinase 2 (MEKK2), a MAPK kinase kinase (MAP3K) that regulates the JNK and ERK5 pathways, is required for cytokine production in embryonic stem (ES) cell‐derived mast cells (ESMC). Targeted disruption of the MEKK2 or MEKK1 gene was used to abolish expression of the respective kinases in ESMC. Transcription of specific cytokines in response to IgE or c‐Kit ligand was markedly reduced in MEKK2 −/− ESMC relative to wild‐type ESMC. Cytokine production in MEKK1 −/− ESMC was similar to that of wild‐type ESMC, demonstrating the specificity of MEKK2 in signaling cytokine gene regulation. MEKK2 −/− ESMC also lost receptor‐mediated stimulation of JNK. In contrast, JNK activation in response to UV irradiation was normal, showing that MEKK2 is required for receptor signaling but not for cellular stress responses. MEKK2 is the first MAP3K shown to be required for mast cell tyrosine kinase receptor signaling controlling cytokine gene expression.