Methylmercury induces oncostatin M expression via Jak1/STAT3 and ASK1/JNK/cJun pathways in mouse microglial BV2 cells

Abstract

We have recently found that methylmercury induces neuronal cell death via induction of OSM expression and its extracellular release in microglia in the mouse brain. Induction of OSM expression by methylmercury was attenuated by knockdown of JAK1 or ASK1/JNK kinase expression. In addition, knockdown of STAT3 or cJun, transcription factors activated by these kinases, attenuated the induction of OSM expression, but simultaneous repression of both factors did not result in further attenuation, suggesting that they may be involved in the induction of OSM expression by cooperating with each other.