Signal transduction events in monocyte matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) production have been shown to include a PGE 2-cAMP-dependent step. To determine earlier pathway components, we examined the role of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in the regulation of monocyte MMP-1 and MMP-9, two major MMPs induced by LPS. Stimulation with LPS resulted in the activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) and mitogen-activated kinase p38. The p38-specific inhibitor SB203580 suppressed p38 activity and MMP-1 mRNA and protein, but increased ERK activity and MMP-9 mRNA and protein. In contrast, the MAPK kinase 1/2-specific inhibitor PD98059 inhibited MMP-1 and MMP-9. However, both MAPK inhibitors decreased the production of cyclooxygenase-2 and PGE 2, but only the inhibition of MMP-1 by SB203580 was reversed by PGE 2 or dibutyryl cAMP. Examination of the effect of these MAPK inhibitors on the promoters of MMP-1 and MMP-9 revealed that PD98059 inhibited the binding of transcription factors to all of the MMP promoter-specific complementary oligonucleotides tested. However, SB203580 only inhibited the binding of MMP-1-specific CREB and SP 1 oligonucleotides, which was reversed by PGE 2. Additionally, SB203580 enhanced transcription factor binding to the oligonucleotides complementary to a NF-κB site in the promoter of MMP-9. Thus, LPS induction of MMP-1 production by monocytes is regulated by both ERK1/2 and p38, whereas MMP-9 stimulation occurred mainly through the ERK1/2 pathway. Moreover, p38 regulates MMP-1 mainly through a PGE 2-dependent pathway, whereas ERK1/2-mediated MMP-1 and MMP-9 production involves the activation of additional MMP promoter sites through a PGE 2-independent mechanism.