Activated protein C inhibits proliferation and tumor necrosis factor α-stimulated activation of p38, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and Akt in rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts.

ABSTRACT: Synovial fibroblast proliferation is a hallmark of the invasive pannus in the rheumatoid joint. Activated protein C (APC) is a natural anticoagulant that exerts antiinflammatory and cyto-protective effects in various diseases via endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) and proteinase-activated receptor (PAR)-mediated pathways. In this study, we investigated the effect and the underlying cellular signaling mechanisms of APC on proliferation of human rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts (RSFs). We found that APC stimulated proliferation of mouse dermal fibroblasts (MDFs) and normal human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) by up to 60%, but robustly downregulated proliferation of RSFs. APC induced the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) and enhanced expression of p21 and p2

SUBMITTER: Julovi SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4344457 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature