Antigen activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase in mast cells through protein kinase C-dependent and independent pathways.

We demonstrate discrete pathways for activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase in cultured RBL-2H3 mast cells through protein kinase C (PKC), cytosolic calcium, and a third pathway that provides sustained signals for activation in Ag-stimulated cells. Thus, p42 MAP kinase was activated by increasing intracellular free Ca2+ with thapsigargin or by stimulating PKC with PMA. The latter stimulation was selectively blocked by the protein kinase C inhibitor, Ro31-7549. Stimulation of p42 MAP kinase by Ag resulted in relatively sustained activation of MAP kinase which was only partially suppressed by Ro31-7549. Kinetic studies revealed two components of the MAP kinase response to Ag: a rapid but transient component that was Ro31-7549 sensitive and presumably PKC dependent; and a more sustained component that was Ro31-7549 resistant and presumably PKC independent. Similarly, Ro31-7549 inhibited the early but not late release of arachidonic acid, a finding that was consistent with the known regulation of phospholipase A2 by MAP kinase. Early tyrosine phosphorylation events which were thought to be essential for Ag-induced activation of p42 MAP kinase and release of arachidonic acid were unaffected by Ro31-7549. The findings suggested that release of arachidonic acid was regulated primarily through MAP kinase but that PKC may transiently influence this release, either directly or indirectly through MAP kinase.