We previously reported that endothelin-1 (ET-1) activates p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells and consequently induces synthesis of interleukin-6. In the present study, we investigated the effect of ET-1 on the induction of heat shock protein 27 (HSP 27) in MC3T3-E1 cells. ET-1 time and dose dependently stimulated HSP 27 accumulation. ET-1 induced an increase in the levels of mRNA for HSP 27. Both staurosporine and calphostin C, inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC), suppressed the ET-1-induced HSP 27 accumulation. 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), a PKC activator, induced the HSP 27 accumulation and the expression of mRNA for HSP 27. The ET-1-stimulated HSP 27 accumulation was reduced in PKC-downregulated MC3T3-E1 cells. The HSP 27 accumulation by ET-1 was not suppressed by PD-98059, an inhibitor of the upstream kinase that activates p42/p44 MAP kinase. ET-1 or TPA induced the phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase. SB-203580, an inhibitor of p38 MAP kinase, reduced the ET-1-stimulated HSP 27 accumulation. Calphostin C and U-73122, a phospholipase C inhibitor, suppressed the ET-1-induced phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase. U-73122 and propranolol, a phosphatidic acid phosphohydrolase inhibitor, reduced the ET-1-stimulated HSP 27 accumulation. SB-203580 suppressed the ET-1-stimulated increase in the mRNA levels for HSP 27. These results strongly suggest that ET-1 stimulates HSP 27 induction in osteoblasts and that p38 MAP kinase activation is involved in the HSP 27 induction.