Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound   Target Concepts: 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)

Hyperhomocysteinemia is a well established risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and multiple factors likely lead to abnormal regulation of plasma homocysteine in patients with diabetes. To examine a possible role for insulin and glucose in homocysteine metabolism, we examined the activity of two important enzymes of homocysteine metabolism in hepatocytes. In various tissues of six mice, methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) activity was present in all tissues tested and the highest concentration (per gram) was in the brain. In contrast, cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) activity appeared to be present only in the liver and to a small extent in the kidney. Using HEP G2 cells in culture, MTHFR activity was 3.3+/-0.8 nmol/h when the glucose concentration in the medium was 100 mg/dl and fell to 2.3+/-0.3 nmol/h when glucose was increased to 300 mg/dl. MTHFR activity was 3.4+/-0.3 nmol/h when cells were exposed to an insulin concentration of 5 mU/ml and fell to 2.8+/-0.3 nmol/h when insulin concentration was increased to 200 mU/ml (P<0.01). In contrast CBS activity increased from 0.017 to 0.13 U/ml by increasing the glucose concentration in the medium (P<0.01), but decreased from 0.04 to 0.02 (P<0.01) when the insulin concentration was increased from 5 to 200 mU/ml, respectively. We conclude that CBS and MTHFR have different tissue distributions, with CBS being present predominantly in liver and kidney, and MTHFR found in many tissues. In addition, both insulin and glucose affect the activity of the two enzymes when added to hepatocytes in vitro. If such effects occur in humans with hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia, then alterations in homocysteine metabolism may contribute to the accelerated macrovascular disease associated with insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes.
Atherosclerosis 2001 Oct
PMID:The effect of glucose and insulin on the activity of methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase and cystathionine-beta-synthase: studies in hepatocytes. 1158 7

p73 is a newly described homologue of the tumour suppressor p53 that was cloned serendipitously and subsequently shown to possess considerable homology in the most evolutionarily conserved p53 domains. Yet despite the fact that p53 and p73 have extensive structural similarities, their functions are proving to be quite different. We now show that p73 is a growth-regulated protein in the vasculature, being markedly increased in cultured vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cells stimulated with 10% serum, with no significant change in p73 mRNA levels. Stability of p73 is increased after serum stimulation and, probably contributing to this increase in p73 stability, the c-Abl oncogene protein displays a higher molecular weight species and is probably phosphorylated and activated in serum-stimulated VSM cells. The serum-mediated induction of p73 is not altered when the cells are incubated with inhibitors of the MAP/ERK pathway or tyrosine kinases, and is not stimulated by PDGF-BB, demonstrating that the mechanism of the increase in p73 does not involve this classical receptor tyrosine kinase growth factor signalling cascade. p73 is markedly increased in plaque tissue taken from atherosclerotic human carotid arteries, but not in comparable intimal scrapings from normal human arteries. Our data indicate that the tumour suppressor homologue p73 probably plays a role in VSM cell cycle progression, being mediated by a specific, as yet unidentified, serum component, and identifies a new function for this protein as being important in the pathogenesis of human atherosclerosis as well as other vascular diseases.
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PMID:p73 is a growth-regulated protein in vascular smooth muscle cells and is present at high levels in human atherosclerotic plaque. 1160 83

Migration, proliferation and differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and macrophages are important pathological responses that contribute to the development and progression of vascular lesions. Cytokines such as TNFalpha are present at sites of vascular injury and regulate a variety of cellular functions of inflammatory cells and VSMC. Cell migration, proliferation and differentiation require de novo gene transcription resulting from extracellular signals being transduced to the nucleus, where multiple genes are regulated to participate in lesion formation. In VSMC and macrophages, TNFalpha induces activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK 1/2), which transmit signals from the cytosol to the nucleus. Potential nuclear targets of TNFalpha-activated ERK 1/2 include the transcription factors Ets-1, Egr-1, and c-fos, which are known to regulate cellular growth, differentiation, and migration. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of the transcription factors Ets-1, Egr-1 and c-fos in different types of vascular lesions, their regulation by TNFalpha and the role of ERK 1/2 in these signaling events. Atherosclerotic lesions from fructose-fed LDL-receptor deficient mice and neointimal lesions from rat aortae 2 weeks post balloon injury demonstrated the presence and colocalization of TNFalpha, phosphorylated and activated ERK 1/2, and transcription factors Ets-1, Egr-1 and c-fos. Neointimal lesions consisted primarily of VSMC, whereas atherosclerotic lesions predominantly contained macrophages. In cultured rat aortic VSMC, TNFalpha (100 U/ml) stimulated a rapid and transient expression of Ets-1, Egr-1 and c-fos with a maximal induction 1 h after stimulation. In cultured RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages, TNFalpha similarly induced the expression of Ets-1, Egr-1, and c-fos. Induction of these transcription factors was mediated via ERK 1/2 activation, since the ERK 1/2-pathway inhibitor PD98059 (10-30 microM) significantly inhibited their TNFalpha-induced expression. TNFalpha induced ERK 1/2 activation in both cell types. These findings underscore the importance of the ERK 1/2 pathway in the expression of TNFalpha-regulated transcription factors, which may participate in different forms of vascular lesion formation.
Atherosclerosis 2001 Nov
PMID:TNFalpha induces expression of transcription factors c-fos, Egr-1, and Ets-1 in vascular lesions through extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2. 1168 11

Previous work shows that osteopontin has a role during matrix reorganization after tissue injury including vascular conditions such as atherosclerosis and restenosis following angioplasty. In vitro, osteopontin promotes activities such as adhesion and migration but the mechanisms that regulate the expression of this matrix protein remain essentially unknown. This study examined if the ERK signaling pathway is involved in injury-induced osteopontin expression in cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells. Northern and Western blotting demonstrated a marked activation of osteopontin expression in response to injury. Treating the cells with PD98059, a specific MEK1 inhibitor, prior to injury, blocked this upregulation. MEK1 phosphorylates ERK1/ERK2, which belong to the family of mitogen-activated protein kinases. We conclude that ERK1/ERK2 are involved in the regulation of osteopontin expression in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells.
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PMID:Injury-induced osteopontin gene expression in rat arterial smooth muscle cells is dependent on mitogen-activated protein kinases ERK1/ERK2. 1171 72

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) migration and growth are positively regulated by protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Therefore, a dephosphorylation process controlled by protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) must also be critical. The present study identified six cytoplasmic PTPs expressed in VSMCs: low M(r) protein tyrosine phosphatase (LMW-PTP), SHP-2, PTP36, PTP2, PTP1B, and FAP1. We further examined the functions of LMW-PTP in VSMCs using the adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of recombinant LMW-PTP. PDGF-induced activation of p38, but not of ERK MAP kinase, was blocked by LMW-PTP. LMW-PTP as well as the p38 inhibitor SB203580 inhibited DNA synthesis and cell migration upon PDGF stimulation. LMW-PTP dephosphorylated activated PDGF receptors in NIH3T3 cells, but not in VSMCs. Thus, LMW-PTP negatively regulates PDGF functions by inhibiting the p38 pathway in VSMCs although its substrate is unclear. These findings strongly demonstrate that PTPs are important as negative regulators for VSMC growth and migration, processes that are closely related to the progression of atherosclerosis.
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PMID:Low M(r) protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibits growth and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells induced by platelet-derived growth factor. 1171 18

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation is a key event in the progression of atherosclerosis. Induction of both c-fos (through the transcription factor Elk-1) and c-jun, both immediate early genes, is important for the stimulation of VSMC proliferation and migration. It was earlier found that p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase upregulates c-jun gene transcription through phosphorylation of two myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) family transcription factors, MEF2A and MEF2C, while big MAP kinase 1 (BMK1) may upregulate c-jun gene transcription through MEF2A, MEF2C, and also MEF2D. Here, we report that inhibition of BMK1 by a dominant negative form of MEK5 or pharmacologic inhibition of p38 by SB 203580 additively suppress serum-induced VSMC proliferation. This additive effect of p38 and BMK1 inhibition implies that these two kinases coordinately regulate MEF2 transcription factors. The exclusive activation of MEF2D by BMK1 appears required for this cooperative upregulation of c-jun in VSMC, and coactivation of p38 and BMK1 also has additive effects on the activation of a reporter gene linked to the c-jun promoter in our experimental system. Thus, coordinate activity of both the p38 and BMK1 pathways appears necessary for optimal transcription of c-jun and, pari pasu, VSMC proliferation. These results may have implications for the future design of pharmacologic agents for inhibition of VSMC growth.
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PMID:Vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation requires both p38 and BMK1 MAP kinases. 1205 30

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) regulate lipid and glucose metabolism and exert several vascular effects that may provide a dual benefit of these receptors on metabolic disorders and atherosclerotic vascular disease. Endothelial cell migration is a key event in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We therefore investigated the effects of lipid-lowering PPARalpha-activators (fenofibrate, WY14643) and antidiabetic PPARgamma-activators (troglitazone, ciglitazone) on this endothelial cell function. Both PPARalpha- and PPARgamma-activators significantly inhibited VEGF-induced migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (EC) in a concentration-dependent manner. Chemotactic signaling in EC is known to require activation of two signaling pathways: the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)-->Akt- and the ERK1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK MAPK) pathway. Using the pharmacological PI3K-inhibitor wortmannin and the ERK MAPK-pathway inhibitor PD98059, we observed a complete inhibition of VEGF-induced EC migration. VEGF-induced Akt phosphorylation was significantly inhibited by both PPARalpha- and gamma-activators. In contrast, VEGF-stimulated ERK MAPK-activation was not affected by any of the PPAR-activators, indicating that they inhibit migration either downstream of ERK MAPK or independent from this pathway. These results provide first evidence for the antimigratory effects of PPAR-activators in EC. By inhibiting EC migration PPAR-activators may protect the vasculature from pathological alterations associated with metabolic disorders.
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PMID:PPAR activators inhibit endothelial cell migration by targeting Akt. 1205 75

Smooth muscle cell (SMC) interactions with collagen mediate cell migration during the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and restenosis. Discoidin domain receptors (DDRs) have been identified as novel collagen receptors. We used aortic SMCs from wild-type and DDR1(-/-) mice to evaluate the function of the DDR1 in regulating migration. DDR1(-/-) SMCs exhibited impaired attachment to and migration toward a type I collagen substrate. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 activities were concomitantly reduced in these cells. Transfection of a full-length cDNA for DDR1b rescued these deficits, whereas kinase-dead mutants of DDR1 restored attachment but not migration and MMP production. These results suggest that active DDR1 kinase is a central mediator of SMC migration.
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PMID:Tyrosine kinase activity of discoidin domain receptor 1 is necessary for smooth muscle cell migration and matrix metalloproteinase expression. 1206 15

A new series of 4-[4-(N-substituted carbamoyl)-1-piperazinyl]-6,7-dimethoxyquinazoline derivatives were found to show potent and selective inhibition of platelet-dervied growth factor (PDGF) receptor phosphorylation. In this exploration of the structure-activity relationships (SARs) of the prototype inhibitor KN1022, the 4-nitrophenylurea moiety was probed. We found that 4-substitution on the phenyl ring was optimal and the introduction of more than two substituents on the phenyl ring decreased activities. Bulky substituents on the phenyl ring enhanced activities. Thiourea analogues were also prepared, and the SARs were found to be slightly different from those of the urea derivatives. Through this research, we obtained some potent KN1022 derivatives such as 4-(4-methylphenoxy)phenyl (36, IC(50) 0.02 micromol/L), 4-tert-butylphenyl (16, IC(50) 0.03 micromol/L), and 4-phenoxyphenyl (21, IC(50) 0.08 micromol/L) analogues, which had almost a 10-fold increase in activity against KN1022. These potent compounds retained their high selectivity against the PDGF receptor family similar to KN1022. We also observed that these compounds could inhibit the PDGF-BB-induced proliferation of porcine vascular smooth muscle cells without cell toxicity almost at the same IC(50) values observed for PDGF receptor phosphorylation. To evaluate the biological effects in vivo, we selected some analogues on the basis of the measurement of the plasma drug concentration after oral administration to rats. Oral administration of the 4-chlorophenyl (6), 4-bromophenyl (9), or 4-isopropoxyphenyl (20) analogue to Sprague-Dawley rats (30 mg/kg, twice daily) resulted in significant inhibition (24-38%) of neointima formation in the carotid artery of the balloon catheter deendothelialized vessel in the rats. Therefore, 4-[4-(N-substituted carbamoyl)-1-piperazinyl]-6,7-dimethoxyquinazoline derivatives, which are potent inhibitors of PDGFR phosphorylation, may be expected to represent a new therapeutic approach for the treatment of various aspects of atherosclerosis and other cellular proliferative disorders.
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PMID:Potent and selective inhibitors of platelet-derived growth factor receptor phosphorylation. 1. Synthesis, structure-activity relationship, and biological effects of a new class of quinazoline derivatives. 1208 91

Endocytosis of oxidized low density lipoproteins (oxLDL) by macrophages, mediated by scavenger receptors, is thought to play a central role in foam cell formation and, thus, in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. OxLDL activates several MAP kinases, including the ERK, JNK and p38 MAP kinases, but the role of these activations in oxLDL uptake has not been studied. In the present investigation, we find that SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38, blocks oxLDL-exposed J774 cells from becoming foam cells. Inhibition of foam cell formation by blockade of the p38 pathway is, at least in part, due to inhibition of oxLDL-induced up-regulation of the scavenger receptor CD36. Using pharmaceutical inhibitors and dominant active MAP kinase kinases, we demonstrated that activation of the p38 pathway, but not the ERK or JNK pathways, is necessary and sufficient to transactivate PPARgamma, a nuclear receptor that has recently been shown to play a pivotal role in oxLDL-induced CD36 expression. Our results for the first time demonstrate a regulation of CD36 by p38, and the importance of the p38 pathway in regulation of foam cell formation.
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PMID:Activation of the p38 MAP kinase pathway is required for foam cell formation from macrophages exposed to oxidized LDL. 1219 7


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