Le compartiment microvasculaire est une cible importante du stress oxydant qui est un facteur majeur de la dysfonction endothéliale, notamment au cours d’exposition aux rayonnements ionisants. L’altération de l’endothélium induite par le stress oxydant est impliquée dans la toxicité radio-induite des tissus sains. Limiter les dysfonctions endothéliales est donc un enjeu important des traitements radiothérapeutiques actuels. Cet objectif nécessite une meilleure caractérisation de la signalisation du stress oxydant dans les cellules endothéliales. La voie p38 MAPK est incontournable dans la réponse au stress oxydant mais reste encore insuffisamment caractérisée. Par une approche protéomique, nous avons identifié la nucléophosmine (NPM) comme nouveau partenaire de p38 dans le cytoplasme des cellules endothéliales. La phosphatase PP2a est aussi associée à ce complexe NPM/p38. Nos travaux montrent que le stress oxydant (H2O2, 500μM) régule la déphosphorylation de NPM via PP2a, entraine sa dissociation rapide du complexe et favorise sa translocation vers le noyau. De plus, nous montrons que la présence de NPM déphosphorylée au noyau altère la réponse des cellules aux dommages à l’ADN induits par le stress oxydant. Le céramide sphingolipide membranaire est également un facteur important des voies de stress, particulièrement dans les cellules endothéliales. Notre étude aborde donc l’implication de ce sphingolipide dans la régulation de la voie NPM/p38. Une meilleure caractérisation de la voie p38 et de ses acteurs permettra d’identifier de potentielles cibles afin de limiter les dysfonctions endothéliales et leurs conséquences délétères sur les tissus environnants. / The microvascular compartment is a significant target of oxidative stress that is a major factor in endothelial dysfunction, especially during exposure to ionizing radiation. The alteration of endothelium induced by oxidative stress is involved in radiation-induced toxicity of normal tissues. Limiting endothelial dysfunction is therefore an important issue of current radiotherapeutic treatments. This objective requires a better characterization of oxidative stress signaling in endothelial cells. p38 MAPK pathway is essential in oxidative stress response but still insufficiently characterized. By using a proteomic approach, we identified nucleophosmin (NPM) as a new partner of p38 in the cytoplasm of endothelial cells. PP2a phosphatase is also associated with the NPM/p38 complex. Our work shows that oxidative stress (H2O2, 500μM) regulates the NPM dephosphorylation via PP2a, causes a rapid dissociation of the complex, and promotes its translocation to the nucleus. In addition, we show that the presence of NPM dephosphorylated at T199 in the nucleus alters the cellular response to DNA damage induced by oxidative stress. The membrane sphingolipid ceramide is also an important factor in stress pathways, particularly in endothelial cells. Our study describes the involvement of this sphingolipid in the regulation of NPM/p38 pathway. A better characterization of the p38 pathway and its actors provided by our study will identify potential targets in order to limit endothelial dysfunction and its deleterious effect on surrounding tissues.

La migration des cellules endothéliales en réponse au VEGF est une étape cruciale du processus angiogénique. La liaison du VEGF sur son récepteur, le VEGFR2, conduit à l’autophosphorylation sur la tyrosine 1214 de ce dernier ce qui induit l’activation de la voie p38 MAP-kinase, le remodelage du cytosquelette d’actine et la migration cellulaire. Les microARNs sont de courts ARN non-codant qui régulent de façon post-transcriptionnelle l’expression des gènes. Nous avons identifié deux microARNs, miR-20a et miR-196a, dont les niveaux d’expression sont respectivement augmentés et diminués en réponse au VEGF dans les cellules endothéliales. Ces deux microARNs modulent le remodelage du cytosquelette d’actine, la migration et l’angiogenèse. Aussi, nous avons décrit leurs implications dans la régulation de la voie p38. Tout d’abord, miR-20a agit en amont de p38, et réprime l’expression de MKK3 en se liant de façon spécifique à sa région 3’UTR. MKK3 étant un activateur direct de p38 en réponse au VEGF, la surexpression de miR-20a empêche l’activation de p38, de son substrat la MAPKAP kinase-2 et la phosphorylation subséquente de HSP27. En conséquence, miR-20a inhibe la formation des fibres de tension, la migration endothéliale et l’angiogenèse. Ces résultats nous ont permis de conclure que miR-20a agit dans une boucle de régulation négative afin de moduler la migration dépendante de la voie p38 activée par VEGF. Ensuite, le niveau d’expression de miR-196a est diminué en réponse au VEGF et nous avons démontré sa liaison spécifique à la région 3’UTR de l’ANXA1. En accord avec nos précédents travaux démontrant que l’ANXA1 est importante pour la migration endothéliale dépendante de l’activation de p38 par le VEGF, la surexpression de miR-196a empêche la formation des lamellipodes, réduit les capacités migratoires des cellules endothéliales et inhibe ainsi l’angiogenèse in vitro et in vivo. En conclusion, une réduction de l’expression de miR-196a agit en synergie avec le VEGF, pour faciliter la migration endothéliale, en maintenant un niveau d’expression élevé de l’ANXA1 pro-migratoire. Nos résultats, en impliquant miR-20a et miR-196a dans la modulation de l’angiogenèse, apportent des concepts nouveaux sur la régulation de la voie p38 pro-migratoire en réponse au VEGF. Ces travaux ouvrent des perspectives pour le développement de nouvelles stratégies thérapeutiques visant à régulariser l’angiogenèse pathologique. / Endothelial cell migration in response to VEGF is a crucial step of angiogenesis. VEGF binding to its receptor VEGFR2 results in the autophosphorylation of the receptor at tyrosine 1214, which induces the downstream activation of the p38 MAP-kinase pathway leading to actin cytoskeleton remodeling and cell migration. MicroRNAs are short, non-coding RNAs that regulate post-transcriptionally gene expression. We identified two microRNAs, miR-20a and miR-196a, whose levels of expression were increased and decreased respectively in response to VEGF in endothelial cells. Both microRNAs modulate VEGF dependent-endothelial cell cytoskeleton remodeling, migration and angiogenesis. Also, we described that they are involved in regulating the p38 pathway. First, miR-20a acts upstream of p38, and negatively regulates MKK3 by specifically binding on MKK3 3’UTR. As MKK3 is a direct activator of p38 in response to VEGF, overexpression of miR-20a impairs p38 activation, the downstream activation of MAPKAPK2 and the phosphorylation of HSP27. Consequently, miR-20a reduces stress fibers formation, and subsequent endothelial cell migration and angiogenesis. We conclude that miR-20a may act in a feedback loop to regulate the p38 pathway-mediated VEGF-induced endothelial cell migration. Then, miR-196a is decreased in response to VEGF and we demonstrate its specific binding on ANXA1 3’UTR. In accordance with our previous work demonstrating that ANXA1 is important for VEGF-induced endothelial migration downstream of p38 pathway, overexpression of miR-196a impairs lamellipodia and endothelial cell migratory capacities upon VEGF treatment, leading to angiogenic defects. We conclude that miR-196a acts in a synergetic mechanism with VEGF to facilitate endothelial cell migration, by maintaining high level of the pro-migratory protein ANXA1. Finally, our results implicate miR-20a and miR-196a in the angiogenic process and give new insights in p38 pathway-dependent endothelial cell migration regulation in response to VEGF. The present work opens new avenues for strategies and future development of therapeutics in line with the treatment of angiogenic pathologies.

PURPOSE: The anti-tumor activity of glucose analogs 2-deoxy-glucose (2-DG) and D-allose was investigated alone or in combination with p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor SB202190 or platinum analogs as a strategy to pharmacologically target glycolytic tumor phenotypes. METHODS: Hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1alpha) protein accumulation in pancreatic cell lines treated with SB202190 alone and in combination with glucose analogs was analyzed by Western blot. HIF-1alpha transcriptional activity was measured in MIA PaCa-2 cells stably transfected with a hypoxia response element luciferase reporter following treatment with glucose analogs alone, and in combination with SB202190. Induction of cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) was measured by Western blot in the MIA PaCa-2 cells. In vitro anti-proliferative activity of 2-DG and D-allose alone, or in combination with oxaliplatin (pancreatic cell lines), cisplatin (ovarian cell lines), or with SB202190 were investigated using the MTT assay. RESULTS: SB202190 decreased HIF-1alpha protein accumulation and transcriptional activity. 2-DG demonstrated greater anti-proliferative activity than D-allose. Pre-treatment with SB202190 enhanced activity of both 2-DG and D-allose in MIA PaCa-2, BxPC-3, ASPC-1, and SK-OV-3 cells. The combination of D-allose and platinum agents was additive to moderately synergistic in all but the OVCAR-3 and HEY cells. SB202190 pre-treatment further enhanced activity of D-allose and 2-DG with platinum agents in most cell lines investigated. CONCLUSIONS: SB202190 induced sensitization of tumor cells to 2-DG and D-allose may be partially mediated by inhibition of HIF-1alpha activity. Combining glucose analogs and p38 MAPK inhibitors with chemotherapy may be an effective approach to target glycolytic tumor phenotypes.

IL-12 family cytokines IL-23 and IL-27 play an important role linking innate and adaptive immunity, and regulating T-cell responses. The production of IL-12, a structurally similar cytokine, is decreased in chronic HIV infection; therefore IL-23 and IL-27 may also be influenced by HIV infection. I hypothesized that HIV inhibits LPS-induced IL-23 and IL-27 production in human MDMs by suppressing the activation of signalling pathways regulating their expression. In vitro HIV-infection of MDMs did not have any effect on basal secretion of IL-23 or IL-27; however, HIV inhibited LPS-induced production of IL-12/23 p40 and IL-23 p19, and IL-27 EBI3 and IL-27 p28 mRNA expression, and IL-23, IL-12/23 p40 and IL-27 secretion. In order to evaluate the molecular mechanisms by which HIV inhibits IL-23 and IL-27 in LPS-stimulated MDMs, the signalling pathways regulating their expression were evaluated. The PI3K, p38 MAPK, and JNK MAPK pathways were found to positively regulate LPS-induced IL-27 secretion. Interestingly, in vitro HIV infection inhibited LPS-induced p38 and JNK MAPK activation in MDMs. In summary, I have shown that HIV inhibits IL-23 and IL-27 production in LPS-stimulated MDMs and that HIV may inhibit LPS-induced IL-27 production through the inhibition of p38 and JNK MAPK activation. It is currently unknown whether PKCs regulate LPS-induced IL-23 or IL-27 in human monocytes/macrophages. I demonstrated that classical PKCs differentially regulate LPS-induced IL-23 and IL-27 secretion within THP-1 cells, primary monocytes, and MDMs. Classical PKCs were found to positively regulate LPS-induced IL-12/23 p40 and IL-27 p28 mRNA expression and IL-12/23 p40, IL-23, and IL-27 secretion in primary human monocytes. Similarly, the classical PKCs were found to positively regulate IL-27 p28 mRNA expression and IL-27 secretion in THP-1 cells. However, classical PKCs did not regulate LPS-induced IL-27 production in MDMs, or LPS-induced IL-23 production in THP-1 cells. Overall, this demonstrates that classical PKCs differentially regulate LPS-induced IL-23 and IL-27 production in different myeloid cells.

Sexual development begins with the process by which the bipotential gonads of the embryonic urogenital ridge develop into either testes or ovaries. In the mouse, sex determination occurs at around 11.5 dpc and depends on the presence or absence of the Y chromosome and the associated activity of the testis-determining gene, Sry, in supporting cell precursors. The mutually antagonistic male and female developmental pathways are regulated by many cellular and molecular processes, disruption of which can lead to disorders of sex development (DSDs). However, many of the molecular mechanisms regulating the differentiation of the two gonads are still unknown. The boygirl (byg) mutant was identified in an ENU-based forward genetic screen for embryos with gonadal abnormalities. On the C57BL/6J background, XY byg/byg homozygotes exhibited complete embryonic gonadal sex reversal. The defective gene in byg, Map3k4, is a component of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signalling pathway and provides the first evidence for a function of this pathway in sex determination. This thesis describes experiments aimed at investigating the cellular and molecular basis of the sex reversal phenotype associated with the XY Map3k^4byg/byg mutant. Cellular characterisations revealed a defect in male-specific proliferation at 11.5 dpc, which was attributed to a defect in Sry up-regulation. Elucidation of the downstream kinases activated by MAP3K4 during sex determination was attempted, with particular focus on identifying a role for p38α MAP kinase (MAPK). Using a conditional knockout approach, the function of p38α in Steroidogenic factor-1 (Sf1)-positive somatic cells was assessed. However, specific inactivation in these cells did not affect gonad development. Conditional inactivation of Map3k4 itself in these Sf1¬-positive cells also did not disrupt gonad development, suggesting that this pathway is either initiated in a different cell lineage or at an earlier stage than deletion driven by Sf1-Cre can disrupt. Conditional inactivation of p38α in the Müllerian duct mesenchyme and ovarian granulosa cells using Amhr2-Cre did reveal a function for p38α in female fertility, but did not disrupt embryonic sexual development. Gene knockdown in organ culture was attempted to determine a role for multiple p38 MAPKs in all cell types of the gonad. Therefore, this thesis details further characterisations of a novel signalling pathway important for the expression of Sry, focussing on the role of the p38 MAPKs.

L’évolution des populations occidentales s’accompagne d’une augmentation de la sédentarité et des maladies métaboliques qui accroissent les problèmes de santé. Ces évolutions ont des répercussions sur le muscle squelettique qui voit sa capacité à produire de l’énergie aérobie diminuer. Néanmoins, le muscle squelettique est très plastique et les capacités oxydatives musculaires s’améliorent rapidement par l'activité physique. Les mitochondries sont des éléments majeurs des capacités oxydatives musculaires et la compréhension des mécanismes moléculaires qui régissent la biogenèse et la fonction mitochondriale est nécessaire pour prescrire au mieux l’activité physique.L’exercice intermittent semble être de plus en plus utilisé dans la pratique. Plusieurs arguments sont mis en avant pour préconiser cette modalité : 1) le temps passé à haute consommation d’oxygène, 2) la haute intensité et 3) les perturbations métaboliques induites par les variations d’intensité au cours de l’exercice. Cependant, l’influence des perturbations métaboliques sur les capacités oxydatives musculaires n’a pas encore été clairement démontrée. L’objet des mes travaux de thèse s’est donc focalisé sur ces perturbations métaboliques et leurs effets sur les voies de signalisation impliquées dans la biogenèse mitochondriale. Afin de caractériser l’implication des perturbations métaboliques dans la stimulation des voies de signalisation de la biogenèse mitochondriale, nous avons comparé l’influence d’exercices aigus sur ces voies de signalisation. Deux protocoles nous ont permis d’investiguer l’influence des variations métaboliques. Le premier a consisté, lors d’un exercice de intermittent, à identifier la durée du cycle induisant les plus grandes perturbations métaboliques et à caractériser les effets de la modalité d’exercice sur un exercice de 30 minutes de pédalage à 70%WRpic. Le second protocole visait à déterminer l’influence de la répétition des perturbations métaboliques sur les voies de signalisation régulant la biogenèse mitochondriale.Afin d’identifier la durée de cycle produisant le plus de variations métaboliques, nous avons analysé l’évolution de la consommation d’oxygène et quantifié les variations métaboliques. Pour cela nous avons utilisé trois paramètres : 1) un paramètre quantitatif, 2) un paramètre qualitatif et 3) un index associant les paramètres quantitatif et qualitatif. La comparaison de trois durées de cycle différentes (30s d’effort:30s de récupération passive ; 60s:60s et 120s:120s) nous a permis de mettre en évidence que la modalité 60s:60s est celle qui induit le plus de variations métaboliques et cela pour une dépense énergétique identique pour les trois modalités.Notre seconde étude a consisté à comparer 30 minutes de pédalage à 70%WRpic sous deux modalités différentes : continue (1 bloc de 30min) et intermittente (30 bloc de 1min entrecoupés de 1min). La répétition de phase d’exercice et de repos lors de l’exercice intermittent créée plus de perturbation du métabolisme et entraîne une phosphorylation supérieure de l'AMPK, CaMKII et p38 MAPK. Ces kinases sont situées en amont de PGC-1α, un important régulateur de la biogenèse mitochondriale dans le muscle squelettique. Ces résultats mettent donc en évidence un effet spécifique des perturbations métaboliques sur les voies de signalisation contrôlant la biogenèse mitochondriale.Ces travaux ouvrent de nouvelles perspectives sur les méthodes de réentraînement de personnes sédentaires ou atteintes de pathologie chronique. Les futurs travaux viseront à confirmer nos résultats lors d’interventions chroniques et d’explorer ces effets chez différentes populations. / Western life evolution is associated with an increase in sedentary behaviours and metabolic diseases leading to health alteration. This evolution affects the skeletal muscle, which is characterized by a decrease in its ability to produce aerobic energy. However, skeletal muscle is a highly malleable tissue, capable of considerable metabolic adaptations in response to physical activity. Mitochondria produce the aerobic energy within the skeletal muscle. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate mitochondrial biogenesis and its function is necessary to improve physical activity prescription.The intermittent exercise is currently used in rehabilitation programs. Several arguments are put forward to utilizing this method: 1) the time spent at high oxygen consumption, 2) the high intensity of exercise and 3) the metabolic disturbances induced by variations of intensity during exercise. However, the influence of metabolic disturbances on muscle oxidative capacity has not been clearly demonstrated. The purpose of my thesis work has therefore focused on these metabolic perturbations and their effects on signalling pathways involved in mitochondrial biogenesis. In order to characterize the influence of metabolic disturbances on the signalling pathways involved in mitochondrial biogenesis, we compared the influence of acute exercises. We realized two protocols to investigate the influence of metabolic disturbances. The first study compared three intermittent exercises in order to identify the optimal duty-cycle duration to induce the biggest metabolic disturbances and to compare metabolic responses of intermittent and continuous exercise performed at 70%WRpic. The second protocol evaluated the influence of the repetition of metabolic disturbances on signalling pathways involved in mitochondrial biogenesis.In order to identify the duty-cycle duration producing more metabolic fluctuations, we analysed the changes of oxygen consumption and quantified metabolic variations. We used three parameters: 1) a quantitative parameter, 2) a qualitative parameter, and 3) an index combining quantitative and qualitative parameters. Comparison of three different duty-cycle durations (30s work:30s passive recovery; 60s:60s, and 120s:120s) revealed that the 60s:60s modality induces more metabolic fluctuations for a same energy expenditure.Our second study compared 30 minutes of pedalling at 70%WRpic realized by two different modalities: continuous (30min 1 block) and intermittent (30 1min block interspersed by 1min of passive recovery). Repetition of transitions from rest to exercise during the intermittent exercise creates higher metabolic disturbances and leads to a higher phosphorylation of AMPK, p38 MAPK and CaMKII. These kinases are upstream of PGC-1α, an important regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscle. All together, these results demonstrate that metabolic disturbances are involved in mitochondrial signalling pathways activation.This work opens up new perspectives on exercise training prescription for sedentary or chronic pathology people. Future work will aim to confirm our results in chronic interventions and explore these effects in different populations.

<p>Mast cells are essential effector cells in the immune system as they release several inflammatory mediators. An accumulation of mast cells has been described in inflammatory conditions such as asthma and allergic rhinitis. Increased mast cell number, in the skin and other organs, is also a characteristic in mastocytosis, a disease without an effective treatment. One explanation for the increase in mast cell number is migration of mast cells in the tissue. In our studies we utilised mast cell lines, including HMC-1; cell lines transfected with the <i>c-kit</i> gene; and <i>in vitro</i> developed mast cells.</p><p>Our aim was to characterise, two variants of the HMC-1 cell line; the signalling pathways essential for mast cell migration towards TGF-β and SCF; and the mechanism regulating mast cell accumulation in mastocytosis.</p><p>Our results help to explain inconsistent findings regarding mast cell biology when HMC-1 cells have been used as a model system. The two variants, which we name HMC-1⁵⁶⁰ and HMC-1^{560, 816}, are used in different laboratories around the world. HMC-1⁵⁶⁰ and HMC-1^{560, 816} exhibited different characteristics regarding their karyotype, phenotype as well as their set of activating point mutations in the Kit receptor. Furthermore, divergent signalling pathways are of importance for mast cell migration towards TGF-β and SCF. The classical MAP kinase-signalling cascade was found to be of major relevance for TGF-β-induced migration. In contrast, this pathway had a modest impact on SCF-induced migration, which instead was highly dependent on p38 MAP kinase signalling. Finally, one mechanism for mast cell accumulation in mastocytosis appeared to be an activating point mutation in the gene for the Kit receptor. This mutation appeared to prone transfected cells and mast cell progenitors to a higher rate of migration towards SCF if compared with cells expressing wt Kit receptor.</p><p>In conclusion, our results show the importance of two different MAP kinase signalling pathways and mutations in the Kit receptor for mast cell migration induced by various types of stimuli. This knowledge helps us to understand the mechanism </p>

Mast cells are essential effector cells in the immune system as they release several inflammatory mediators. An accumulation of mast cells has been described in inflammatory conditions such as asthma and allergic rhinitis. Increased mast cell number, in the skin and other organs, is also a characteristic in mastocytosis, a disease without an effective treatment. One explanation for the increase in mast cell number is migration of mast cells in the tissue. In our studies we utilised mast cell lines, including HMC-1; cell lines transfected with the c-kit gene; and in vitro developed mast cells. Our aim was to characterise, two variants of the HMC-1 cell line; the signalling pathways essential for mast cell migration towards TGF-β and SCF; and the mechanism regulating mast cell accumulation in mastocytosis. Our results help to explain inconsistent findings regarding mast cell biology when HMC-1 cells have been used as a model system. The two variants, which we name HMC-1560 and HMC-1560, 816, are used in different laboratories around the world. HMC-1560 and HMC-1560, 816 exhibited different characteristics regarding their karyotype, phenotype as well as their set of activating point mutations in the Kit receptor. Furthermore, divergent signalling pathways are of importance for mast cell migration towards TGF-β and SCF. The classical MAP kinase-signalling cascade was found to be of major relevance for TGF-β-induced migration. In contrast, this pathway had a modest impact on SCF-induced migration, which instead was highly dependent on p38 MAP kinase signalling. Finally, one mechanism for mast cell accumulation in mastocytosis appeared to be an activating point mutation in the gene for the Kit receptor. This mutation appeared to prone transfected cells and mast cell progenitors to a higher rate of migration towards SCF if compared with cells expressing wt Kit receptor. In conclusion, our results show the importance of two different MAP kinase signalling pathways and mutations in the Kit receptor for mast cell migration induced by various types of stimuli. This knowledge helps us to understand the mechanism

IL-12 family cytokines IL-23 and IL-27 play an important role linking innate and adaptive immunity, and regulating T-cell responses. The production of IL-12, a structurally similar cytokine, is decreased in chronic HIV infection; therefore IL-23 and IL-27 may also be influenced by HIV infection. I hypothesized that HIV inhibits LPS-induced IL-23 and IL-27 production in human MDMs by suppressing the activation of signalling pathways regulating their expression. In vitro HIV-infection of MDMs did not have any effect on basal secretion of IL-23 or IL-27; however, HIV inhibited LPS-induced production of IL-12/23 p40 and IL-23 p19, and IL-27 EBI3 and IL-27 p28 mRNA expression, and IL-23, IL-12/23 p40 and IL-27 secretion. In order to evaluate the molecular mechanisms by which HIV inhibits IL-23 and IL-27 in LPS-stimulated MDMs, the signalling pathways regulating their expression were evaluated. The PI3K, p38 MAPK, and JNK MAPK pathways were found to positively regulate LPS-induced IL-27 secretion. Interestingly, in vitro HIV infection inhibited LPS-induced p38 and JNK MAPK activation in MDMs. In summary, I have shown that HIV inhibits IL-23 and IL-27 production in LPS-stimulated MDMs and that HIV may inhibit LPS-induced IL-27 production through the inhibition of p38 and JNK MAPK activation. It is currently unknown whether PKCs regulate LPS-induced IL-23 or IL-27 in human monocytes/macrophages. I demonstrated that classical PKCs differentially regulate LPS-induced IL-23 and IL-27 secretion within THP-1 cells, primary monocytes, and MDMs. Classical PKCs were found to positively regulate LPS-induced IL-12/23 p40 and IL-27 p28 mRNA expression and IL-12/23 p40, IL-23, and IL-27 secretion in primary human monocytes. Similarly, the classical PKCs were found to positively regulate IL-27 p28 mRNA expression and IL-27 secretion in THP-1 cells. However, classical PKCs did not regulate LPS-induced IL-27 production in MDMs, or LPS-induced IL-23 production in THP-1 cells. Overall, this demonstrates that classical PKCs differentially regulate LPS-induced IL-23 and IL-27 production in different myeloid cells.

P68 RNA helicase is a RNA helicase and an ATPase belonging to the DEAD-box family. It is important for the growth of normal cells, and is implicated in diverse functions ranging from pre-mRNA splicing, transcriptional activation to cell proliferation, and early organ development. The protein is documented to be phosphorylated at several amino-acid residues. It was previously demonstrated in several cancer cell-lines that p68 gets phosphorylated at threonine residues during treatments with TNF-α and TRAIL. In this study, the role of threonine phosphorylation of p68 under the treatment of anti-cancer drug, oxaliplatin in the colon cancer cells is characterized. Oxaliplatin treatment activates p38 MAP-kinase, which subsequently phosphorylates p68 at T564 and/or T446. P68 phosphorylation, at least partially, influences the role of the drug on apoptosis induction. This study shows an important mechanism of action of the anti-cancer drug which could be used for improving cancer treatment. This study also shows that p68 is an important transcriptional regulator regulating transcription of the cytoskeletal gene TPPP/p25. Previous analyses revealed that p68 RNA helicase could regulate expression of genes responsible for controlling stability and dynamics of different cytoskeletons. P68 is found to regulate TPPP/p25 gene transcription by associating with the TPPP/p25 gene promoter. Expression of TPPP/p25 plays an important role in cellular differentiation while the involvement of p68 in the regulation of TPPP/p25 expression is an important event for neurite outgrowth. Loss of TPPP expression contributes to the development and progression of gliomas. Thus, our studies further enhance our understanding of the multiple cellular functions of p68 and its regulation of the cellular processes.