In our study, Tyr705 phosphorylation was Torin 2 cell line decreased by treatment with everolimus in a dose dependent manner in short-term treatment, however in long-term for 12–24 h, Tyr705 phosphorylation increase by treatment with low-concentration everolimus in HaCaT cells. Ser727 phosphorylation was not decreased, rather, it was slightly increased in short-term treatment, but in long-term for 12–24 h, Ser727 phosphorylation decrease by treatment with low-concentration everolimus (Figure 4). Stattic

inhibits Tyr705 phosphorylation and the dimerization of STAT3 molecules, and Ser727 phosphorylation should not be affected by stattic [16]. This results show that Tyr705 phosphorylation can be regulated indirectly by mTOR. It is known that a mTOR inhibitor cause compensatory activation of MAPKs signal [35, 36]. And, It is also known that MAPKs regulate STAT3 activity, therefore,

we considered that the Etomoxir in vitro inhibition of phosphorylation of STAT3 by everolimus mediate MAPKs pathway. It is well known that the STAT3 Ser727 residue is phosphorylated mainly by Erk1/2, p38 MAPK, JNK and mTOR [37–40]. Our results showed that everolimus activated Erk and p38 MAPK and phosphorylated STAT3 at Ser727, which SB203580 inhibited phosphorylation of STAT3 at Ser727 (Figures 4 and 5). A negative effect Batimastat nmr of Ser727 phosphorylation on Tyr705 phosphorylation in STAT3 has also been suggested [41]. These results support those of previous reports showing that activated Erk and p38 may synergistically regulate STAT3 activity in a negative manner. In addition, although JNK did not affect everolimus-mediated cell growth inhibition, the p38 MAPK inhibitor depressed everolimus-induced cell growth inhibition in HaCaT cells (Figure 5).

The phosphorylation of p38 MAPK was increased by exposure to everolimus, and inhibition of phosphorylation of STAT3 Tyr705 by everolimus rescued by pretreatment of SB203580. mTOR inhibition by everolimus results in inhibition of de novo protein synthesis, and results in p38 MAPK activation due to sense cellular stress, moreover they may result in STAT3 Aspartate inhibition [35]. We considered that p38 MAPK may be largely involved in the everolimus-induced inhibition of STAT3 activity in keratinocytes. So, Erk phosphorylation was also activated by everolimus and U0126 depressed everolimus-induced cell growth inhibition slightly in HaCaT cells. It is well known that Erk regulate STAT3 activity negatively [38]. Erk activity may partially contribute to everolimus-induced cell growth inhibition in keratinocyte. p38 MAPK pathways are known as stress response signals and interact with the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway [36]. Recently, it was reported that keratinocyte apoptosis induced by gefitinib, which is a selective EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is mediated by the JNK activation pathway [42].