We have previously shown that the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 (SB) significantly induced Cyp1a1 gene expression at the mRNA and activity levels, whereas it dramatically inhibited the induction of Cyp1a1 by TCDD in murine hepatoma Hepa 1c1c7 cells.
We analysed the involvement of MAPK homologues in IL-6 transduction pathways and found that interleukin-6 triggered activation of p38 stress-activated protein kinase (p38) but not of jun kinase. p38 activity was required for biological functions including acute phase protein secretion from HepG2 hepatoma and proliferation of B9 hybridoma cells.