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Effects of Ziram on Human Natural Killer Cells MAP kinases p38 and p44/42
Author(s) -
Taylor Thyneice Rochelle,
Whalen Margaret M
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.710.4
Subject(s) - p38 mitogen activated protein kinases , lytic cycle , mapk/erk pathway , kinase , phosphorylation , microbiology and biotechnology , sensitization , mitogen activated protein kinase , chemistry , biology , immunology , virus
Human natural killer cells (NK) are lymphocytes that can recognize and kill virally infected cells, antibody coated cells, and tumor cells without any prior sensitization. Ziram is used as a fungicide in agriculture and as an accelerating agent in the production of latex. Previous studies have shown that ziram inhibits the ability human NK cells to lyse tumor target cells. Mitogen activated proteins kinases (MAPK) are important signaling enzymes in NK cells. Exposure of NK cells to another environmental contaminant, which also blocks NK lytic function, tributyltin (TBT), induced phosphorylation (activation) of MAPK. Thus, disturbances in MAPK activation state could contribute to TBT (and possibly ziram) ‐induced loss of lytic function. The current study examines whether ziram causes MAPK activation. The MAPKs, p44/42, p38 and JNK were examined. A 10 minute exposure to 10 µM or 5 µM ziram caused a significant increases in phosphorylation of p44/42 (3 fold and 2 fold, respectively). A 10 minute exposure to 10 µM, 5 µM, or 2.5 µM ziram caused a significant increase in phosphorylation of p38 (4 fold, 3 fold, and 2 fold, respectively. These results suggest that MAPK activation may be part of the mechanism by which ziram inhibits NK lytic function, and that MAPK activation may be an effect that is shared by several environmental contaminants that have been shown to decrease NK lytic function. Supported by NIH grant S06 GM008092‐33.