Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:2.7.10.1 (ERK)
 95,504 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The neurotrophin receptor tropomyosin-related kinase A (TrkA) and its ligand nerve growth factor (NGF) are expressed in astrocytomas, and an inverse association of TrkA expression with malignancy grade was described. We hypothesized that TrkA expression might confer a growth disadvantage to glioblastoma cells. To analyze TrkA function and signaling, we transfected human TrkA cDNA into the human glioblastoma cell line G55. We obtained three stable clones, all of which responded with striking cytoplasmic vacuolation and subsequent cell death to NGF. Analyzing the mechanism of cell death, we could exclude apoptosis and cellular senescence. Instead, we identified several indications of autophagy: electron microscopy showed typical autophagic vacuoles; acridine orange staining revealed acidic vesicular organelles; acidification of acidic vesicular organelles was prevented using bafilomycin A1; cells displayed arrest in G2/M; increased processing of LC3 occurred; vacuolation was prevented by the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine; no caspase activation was detected. We further found that both activation of ERK and c-Jun N-terminal kinase but not p38 were involved in autophagic vacuolation. To conclude, we identified autophagy as a novel mechanism of NGF-induced cell death. Our findings suggest that TrkA activation in human glioblastomas might be beneficial therapeutically, especially as several of the currently used chemotherapeutics also induce autophagic cell death.
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PMID:Autophagic cell death induced by TrkA receptor activation in human glioblastoma cells. 1763 73

Neuritic retraction represents a prominent feature of the degenerative phenotype associated with mutations in leucine rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) that are implicated in autosomal dominant and some cases of sporadic Parkinson's disease. Alterations in macroautophagy, the vacuolar catabolism of cytoplasmic constituents, have been described in Parkinson's disease. In this study, we utilized retinoic-acid differentiated SH-SY5Y cells to determine whether autophagy contributes to mutant LRRK2-associated neurite degeneration. Transfection of pre-differentiated SH-SY5Y cells with LRRK2 cDNA containing the common G2019S mutation resulted in significant decreases in neurite length, which were not observed in cells transfected with wild type LRRK2 or its kinase-dead K1906M mutation. G2019S LRRK2 transfected cells also exhibited striking increases in autophagic vacuoles in both neuritic and somatic compartments, as demonstrated by fluorescence and western blot analysis of the autophagy marker green fluorescent protein-tagged microtubule-associated protein Light Chain 3 and by transmission electron microscopy. RNA interference knockdown of LC3 or Atg7, two essential components of the conserved autophagy machinery, reversed the effects of G2019S LRRK2 expression on neuronal process length, whereas rapamycin potentiated these effects. The mitogen activated protein kinase/extracellular signal regulated protein kinase (MAPK/ERK) kinase (MEK) inhibitor 1,4-diamino-2,3-dicyano-1,4-bis[2-aminophenylthio]butadiene (U0126) reduced LRRK2-induced neuritic autophagy and neurite shortening, implicating MAPK/ERK-related signaling. These results indicate an active role for autophagy in neurite remodeling induced by pathogenic mutation of LRRK2.
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PMID:Role of autophagy in G2019S-LRRK2-associated neurite shortening in differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. 1818 54

The object of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms mediating TNFalpha-induced apoptosis and autophagy in L929 cells. Herein, we found that the treatment of L929 cells with TNFalpha caused a time-dependent increase in p53 activity. The inhibition of p53 activation reduced TNFalpha-induced apoptosis and autophagy that were accompanied by the decrease in the levels of AIF, Beclin1 and LC3. Subsequently, TNFalpha activated ERK, JNK and p38 in apoptosis and autophagy, in which ERK/JNK played a promoting role whereas p38 played an inhibiting one. In addition, TNFalpha-induced p53 activation was reduced by ERK or JNK inhibition, but it was not affected by p38 inhibition. Further data showed that the inhibition of autophagy reduced TNFalpha-induced apoptosis in L929 cells. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that TNFalpha-induced MAPKs mediate p53 activation in apoptotic and autophagic cell death, as well as autophagy may amplify apoptosis when associated with a death signaling pathway.
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PMID:ERK and JNK mediate TNFalpha-induced p53 activation in apoptotic and autophagic L929 cell death. 1879 94

The cytotoxicity of cadmium (Cd) induced autophagy and apoptosis in MES-13 cells was determined by flow cytometry. Autophagy was also assessed by formation of autophagosomes and processing of LC3. Pharmacological inhibition of autophagy resulted in increased of cell viability, suggesting autophagy plays a role in cell death in Cd-treated mesangial cells. Cd also induced a rapid elevation in cytosolic calcium ([Ca(2+)](i) ), and modulation of [Ca(2+)](i) via treatment with IP (3)R inhibitor or knockdown of calcineurin resulted in a change in the proportion of cell death, suggesting that the release of calcium from the ER plays a crucial role in Cd-induced cell death. Inhibition of Cd-induced ERK activation by PD 98059 suppressed Cd-induced autophagy, and BAPTA-AM eliminated activation of ERK. BAPTA-AM also inhibited Cd-induced mitochondrial depolarization and activation of caspases. These findings demonstrated that Cd induces both autophagy and apoptosis through elevation of [Ca(2+)](i), followed by Ca(2+)-ERK and Ca(2+)-mitochondria-caspase signaling pathways.
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PMID:Cadmium-induced autophagy and apoptosis are mediated by a calcium signaling pathway. 1885 67

Safingol, the synthetic L-threo-stereoisomer of endogenous (D-erythro-) sphinganine, is an inhibitor of protein kinase C and sphingosine kinase in vitro, and in some cell types has been implicated in ceramide generation and induction of apoptosis. Utilizing electron microscopy, acridine orange staining, and immunoblot and fluorescent localization studies of the myosin light chain-associated protein (LC3), we determined that safingol induces cell death of an exclusively autophagic character and lacking any of the hallmarks of apoptosis. Safingol inhibited PKCbeta-I, PKC delta and PKC epsilon, and inhibited phosphorylation of critical components of the PI3k/Akt/mTOR pathway (Akt, p70S6k and rS6) and the MAPk pathway (ERK). Inhibition of PI3k with LY294002 or suppression of PKC delta and PKC epsilon with siRNA in HCT-116 cells induced autophagy, though not to the extent caused by safingol. Conversely, activation of PKCs with phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) or transient transfection of a constitutively active form of Akt each reduced safingol's autophagic induction, but not completely, indicating that Akt- and PKC-dependent pathways both contribute partially and independently to safingol-induced autophagy. Accordingly, combining siRNA depletion of PKC epsilon with LY294002 inhibition of PI3k induced autophagy to a degree comparable to safingol. Liquid chromatography, electrospray tandem mass spectrometry analysis indicated that safingol did not elevate levels of any endogenous sphingolipids previously shown to induce autophagy (ceramide, sphingosine-1-phosphate and dihydroceramide); therefore, these effects may be due to safingol per se or another metabolite. Thus, our studies establish that safingol induces autophagy through inhibition of PKCs and PI3k by safingol directly rather than via changes in endogenous sphingolipids.
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PMID:Safingol (L-threo-sphinganine) induces autophagy in solid tumor cells through inhibition of PKC and the PI3-kinase pathway. 1909 47

Apoptosis and autophagy are genetically regulated, evolutionarily conserved processes that can jointly seal the fate of cancer cells. However, substantial gaps remain in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that mediate the two cellular processes. In the present study, the exposure of murine fibrosarcoma L929 cells to oridonin led to the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and, subsequently, the ROS triggered apoptosis by Bax translocation, cytochrome c release and ERK activations. In addition, oridonin induced autophagy in L929 cells, and the inhibition of autophagy by 3-MA or siRNA against LC3 and beclin 1 promoted oridonin-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, p38 and NFkappaB were confirmed to have roles in inhibiting apoptosis but promoting autophagy. Moreover, the inhibition of autophagy could reduce oridonin-induced activation of p38. Finally, NFkappaB activation was inhibited by blocking the p38 pathway. In conclusion, these findings indicate that oridonin-induced apoptosis can be regulated by ROS-mediated signaling pathways, and oridonin-induced autophagy may block apoptosis by upregulating p38 and NFkappaB activation.
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PMID:Molecular mechanisms of oridonin-induced apoptosis and autophagy in murine fibrosarcoma L929 cells. 1920 53

Macroautophagy is a process by which cytoplasmic content and organelles are sequestered by double-membrane bound vesicles and subsequently delivered to lysosomes for degradation. Macroautophagy serves as a major intracellular pathway for protein degradation and as a pro-survival mechanism in time of stress by generating nutrients. In the present study, bafilomycin A(1), a vacuolar type H(+)-ATPase inhibitor, suppresses macroautophagy by preventing acidification of lysosomes in colon cancer cells. Diminished macroautophagy was evidenced by the accumulation of undegraded LC3 protein. Suppression of macroautophagy by bafilomycin A(1) induced G(0)/G(1) cell cycle arrest and apoptosis which were accompanied by the down-regulation of cyclin D(1) and cyclin E, the up-regulation of p21(Cip1) as well as cleavages of caspases-3, -7, -8, and -9 and PARP. Further investigation revealed that bafilomycin A(1) increased the phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, and p38. In this regard, p38 inhibitor partially reversed the anti-proliferative effect of bafilomycin A(1). To conclude, inhibition of macroautophagy by bafilomycin A(1) lowers G(1)-S transition and induces apoptosis in colon cancer cells. Our results not only indicate that inhibitors of macroautophagy may be used therapeutically to inhibit cancer growth, but also delineate the relationship between macroautophagy and apoptosis.
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PMID:Inhibition of macroautophagy by bafilomycin A1 lowers proliferation and induces apoptosis in colon cancer cells. 1928 6

Continuous macroautophagic activity is critical for the maintenance of neuronal homeostasis; however, unchecked or dysregulated autophagy can lead to cell death. Cultured Purkinje neurons die by an autophagy-associated cell death mechanism when deprived of trophic support. Here, we report that insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) completely blocked the autophagy-associated cell death of Purkinje neurons. To examine the mechanism by which IGF-I influences autophagy, neurons were infected with adeno-RFP-LC3 and subjected to trophic factor withdrawal, and the size and number of autophagosomes were analyzed by live-cell fluorescence imaging. In control neurons, autophagy occurred at a constitutive low level with most autophagosomes measuring less than 0.75 microm. Trophic factor withdrawal increased the number and size of autophagosomes with most autophagosomes ranging between 0.75 and 1.5 microm and some reaching 1.5-2.25 microm. IGF-I added at the time of trophic factor withdrawal prevented the accumulation of the larger autophagosomes; however, it had no effect on the conversion of LC3, an indicator of autophagy induction. Instead, the rate of autophagosome-to-lysosome fusion measured by colocalization of RFP-LC3 and LysoSensor Green was accelerated by IGF-I. Treating the neurons with bafilomycin A(1) in the presence of IGF-I led to the accumulation of autophagosomes even larger than those induced by trophic factor withdrawal alone, indicating that IGF-I regulates autophagic vesicle turnover. Finally, the effect of IGF-I on autophagy was mediated by an Akt/mTOR-de pend ent and an ERK-independent pathway. These data suggest a novel role for IGF-I in protecting Purkinje neurons from autophagy-associated cell death by increasing autophagy efficiency downstream of autophagy induction.
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PMID:Insulin-like growth factor-I prevents the accumulation of autophagic vesicles and cell death in Purkinje neurons by increasing the rate of autophagosome-to-lysosome fusion and degradation. 1950 89

Autophagy has been emerging as a novel cytoprotective mechanism to increase tumor cell survival under conditions of metabolic stress and hypoxia as well as to escape chemotherapy-induced cell death. To elucidate whether autophagy might also protect cancer cells from the growth inhibitory effects of targeted therapies, we evaluated the autophagic status of preclinical breast cancer models exhibiting auto-acquired resistance to the anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody trastuzumab (Tzb). We first examined the basal autophagic levels in Tzb-naive SKBR3 cells and in two pools of Tzb-conditioned SKBR3 cells (TzbR), which optimally grow in the presence of Tzb doses as high as 200 microg/ml Tzb. Fluorescence microscopic analyses revealed that the number of punctate LC3 structures -a hallmark of autophagy- was drastically higher in Tzb-refractory cells than in Tzb-sensitive SKBR3 parental cells. Immunoblotting analyses confirmed that the lipidation product of the autophagic conversion of LC3 was accumulated to high levels in TzbR cells. High levels of the LC3 lipidated form in Tzb-refractory cells were accompanied by decreased p62/sequestosome-1 protein expression, a phenomenon characterizing the occurrence of increased autophagic flux. Moreover, increased autophagy was actively used to survive Tzb therapy as TzbR pools were exquisitely sensitive to chemical inhibitors of autophagosomal formation/function. Knockdown of LC3 expression via siRNA similarly resulted in reduced TzbR cell proliferation and supra-additively interacted with Tzb to re-sensitize TzbR cells. Sub-groups of Tzb-naive SKBR3 parental cells accumulated LC3 punctate structures and decreased p62 expression after treatment with high-dose Tzb, likely promoting their own resistance. This is the first report showing that HER2-overexpressing breast cancer cells chronically exposed to Tzb exhibit a bona fide up-regulation of the autophagic activity that efficiently works to protect breast cancer cells from the growth-inhibitory effects of Tzb. Therapeutic targeting autophagosome formation/function might represent a novel molecular avenue to reduce the emergence of Tzb resistance in HER2-dependent breast carcinomas.
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PMID:Autophagy facilitates the development of breast cancer resistance to the anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody trastuzumab. 1960 30

Prior studies demonstrated that resistance to the ERBB1/2 inhibitor Lapatinib in HCT116 cells was mediated by increased MCL-1 expression. We examined whether inhibition of BCL-2 family function could restore Lapatinib toxicity in Lapatinib adapted tumor cells and enhance Lapatinib toxicity in naive cells. The BCL-2 family antagonist Obatoclax (GX15-070), that inhibits BCL-2/BCL-X(L)/MCL-1 function, enhanced Lapatinib toxicity in parental HCT116 and Lapatinib adapted HCT116 cells. In breast cancer lines, regardless of elevated ERBB1/2 expression, GX15-070 enhanced Lapatinib toxicity within 3-12 h. The promotion of Lapatinib toxicity neither correlated with cleavage of caspase 3 nor was blocked by inhibition caspases; and was not associated with changes in the activities of ERK1/2, JNK1/2 or p38 MAPK but with reduced AKT, mTOR and S6K1 phosphorylation. The promotion of Lapatinib toxicity by GX15-070 correlated with increased cytosolic levels of apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) and expression of ATG8 (LC3), and the formation of large vesicles that intensely stained for a transfected LC3-GFP construct. Knock down of the autophagy regulatory proteins ATG5 or Beclin1 suppressed the induction of LC3-GFP vesicularization and significantly reduced cell killing, whereas knock down of MCL-1 and BCL-X(L) enhanced the induction of LC3-GFP vesicularization and significantly enhanced cell killing. Knockdown of Beclin1 and AIF abolished cell killing. Collectively, our data demonstrate that Obatoclax mediated inhibition of MCL-1 rapidly enhances Lapatinib toxicity in tumor cells via a toxic form of autophagy and via AIF release from the mitochondrion.
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PMID:Inhibition of MCL-1 enhances lapatinib toxicity and overcomes lapatinib resistance via BAK-dependent autophagy. 1990 22


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