p38 MAPK regulates expression of immune response genes and contributes to longevity in C. elegans

PLoS Genet. 2006 Nov 10;2(11):e183. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.0020183. Epub 2006 Sep 11.

Abstract

The PMK-1 p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway and the DAF-2-DAF-16 insulin signaling pathway control Caenorhabditis elegans intestinal innate immunity. pmk-1 loss-of-function mutants have enhanced sensitivity to pathogens, while daf-2 loss-of-function mutants have enhanced resistance to pathogens that requires upregulation of the DAF-16 transcription factor. We used genetic analysis to show that the pathogen resistance of daf-2 mutants also requires PMK-1. However, genome-wide microarray analysis indicated that there was essentially no overlap between genes positively regulated by PMK-1 and DAF-16, suggesting that they form parallel pathways to promote immunity. We found that PMK-1 controls expression of candidate secreted antimicrobials, including C-type lectins, ShK toxins, and CUB-like genes. Microarray analysis demonstrated that 25% of PMK-1 positively regulated genes are induced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Using quantitative PCR, we showed that PMK-1 regulates both basal and infection-induced expression of pathogen response genes, while DAF-16 does not. Finally, we used genetic analysis to show that PMK-1 contributes to the enhanced longevity of daf-2 mutants. We propose that the PMK-1 pathway is a specific, indispensable immunity pathway that mediates expression of secreted immune response genes, while the DAF-2-DAF-16 pathway appears to regulate immunity as part of a more general stress response. The contribution of the PMK-1 pathway to the enhanced lifespan of daf-2 mutants suggests that innate immunity is an important determinant of longevity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Infections
  • Bacterial Toxins / pharmacology
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / drug effects
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / enzymology*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / microbiology
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / physiology*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism*
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Genes, Helminth
  • Immunity / genetics*
  • Longevity / drug effects
  • Longevity / genetics
  • Longevity / immunology*
  • Longevity / physiology
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Models, Immunological
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / pathogenicity
  • Receptor, Insulin / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Transcription, Genetic / drug effects
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects
  • Up-Regulation / genetics*
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Transcription Factors
  • daf-16 protein, C elegans
  • DAF-2 protein, C elegans
  • Receptor, Insulin
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Pmk-1 protein, C elegans
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE5793
  • GEO/GSE5801