Neurotensin (NT), a gastrointestinal (GI) hormone, binds its receptor (NTR) to stimulate proliferation of normal and neoplastic GI tissues; the molecular mechanisms remain largely undefined. Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are a family of intracellular kinases that transmit mitogenic signals by translocating to the nucleus and activating transcription factors. The purposes of this study were: (1) to identify whether the MAPKs (ERK1/2 and JNK) are activated by NT and (2) to determine the effect of NT on downstream transcription factors using the human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line, MIA PaCa-2, which possesses high-affinity NTR. Both ERK and JNK activity were stimulated within 3-6 min by treatment with NT (10 nM); steady-state levels of ERK and JNK protein were unchanged. Moreover, NT treatment resulted in increased AP-1 binding activity as determined by gel shift analysis. Delineating the signal transduction mechanisms regulating the cellular effects of NT will provide important insights into the molecular pathways responsible for NT-mediated effects on both normal and neoplastic cells,