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 maternal deaths occurring in the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC), which serves as a supraregional reference hospital for the 5 regions of Northern and Central Tanzania, are reviewed for the 1971-1977 period and avoidable factors are discussed. All deaths occurring within the hospital during pregnancy or the first 6 weeks of the puerperium were included in this survey. Postmortem examination was performed in 35% of the cases. In the remaining cases the diagnosis was made on clinical grounds. During the period under review, there were 10 deaths among 83 cases, a mortality of 12%. The major cause of rupture was obstructed labor associated with a contracted pelvis or abnormal lie. 25% of the patients had had a previous cesarean section scar give way. 2 other deaths were attributed to anesthetic accidents and 1 was probably due to pulmonary embolism. The primary cause of death in the 7 remaining cases was hemorrhage (4) and sepsis (3). If deaths from ruptured uterus are to be avoided, early diagnosis is essential. 1044 cases of moderate and severe EPH gestosis (preeclampsia) were treated in KCMC during the period under review together with 54 cases of eclampsia. There were 5 deaths among the patients with eclampsia, a mortality of 9%. In addition to the 11 sepsis deaths there were 3 others included among the cases of ruptured uterus. There were 4 cases of septic abortion and 3 of those admitted to criminal interference. Preexisting anemia was a complicating factor in 5 cases, all of whom died within 15 minutes of arrival. There were 4 deaths among 251 cases of ruptured ectopic pregnancy. There were 10 deaths associated with cesarean section among 1271 sections peformed during the period under review. Deaths from associated diseases included the following: enterocolitis (12 deaths); renal and hypertensive disease (4 deaths); cardiac disease (2 deaths); anemia (2 deaths); malaria (2 deaths); tuberculous meningitis (2 deaths); and miscellaneous associated conditions (11 deaths).
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PMID:Maternal deaths in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania. 47 24

Supernatants of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) incubated for 24 hr in the presence of extracts of freeze-thawed blood stage parasites of Plasmodium vivax or P. falciparum mediate inactivation of gametocytes of either species when incubated in vitro with whole human blood cells. Cultured P. falciparum gametocytes incubated with these malaria extract-stimulated PBMC supernatants in the presence of human blood from which white blood cells (WBC) had been removed were not inactivated. Thus the effects of the PBMC supernatants on gametocyte infectivity were dependent upon the presence of WBC. The suppressive effects mediated in the presence of WBC could be partially reversed in the presence of concentrations of 1 mM or higher of the L-arginine analogue NGL-monomethyl arginine acetate (L-NMMA). Our results indicate that the effects of WBC in inactivating gametocytes are due, at least in part, to a mechanism involving an L-arginine-dependent pathway. Previous studies have shown that the mediators of gametocyte inactivation in the stimulated PBMC supernatants comprised tumour necrosis factor (TNF) acting in conjunction with unidentified, but essential, 'complementary factors'. In the present study we show that these mediators, TNF and complementary factors, affect gametocytes indirectly through their interaction with WBC.
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PMID:Cytokine-mediated inactivation of malarial gametocytes is dependent on the presence of white blood cells and involves reactive nitrogen intermediates. 849 73

Interactive effects of gossypol and chloroquine as determined by activities of serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and liver lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALK-pase), glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-pase) and cholesterol level were investigated in rats. Administration of gossypol for eight weeks, at a concentration of 20 mg per kg body wt. per day with or without chloroquine had no effect on the serum enzymes and glucose-6-phosphatase activities. When chloroquine at a concentration of 5 mg per kg body wt. thrice a week was administered alone, there was a marked decrease in total protein content and ALK-pose activities, while a significant increase in LDH activity was observed. Administration of either gossypol or chloroquine decreased the level of cholesterol. A greater decrease was recorded when both were given together. It is suggested that gossypol can be employed as a male contraceptive among malaria-infected populations.
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PMID:Experimental analysis of gossypol and chloroquine interaction in serum and in liver of rat. 1035 61

We have cloned Pfnek-1, a gene encoding a novel protein kinase from the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. This enzyme displays maximal homology to the never-in-mitosis/Aspergillus (NIMA)/NIMA-like kinase (Nek) family of protein kinases, whose members are involved in eukaryotic cell division processes. Similar to other P. falciparum protein kinases and many enzymes of the NIMA/Nek family, Pfnek-1 possesses a large C-terminal extension in addition to the catalytic domain. Bacterially expressed recombinant Pfnek-1 protein is able to autophosphorylate and phosphorylate a panel of protein substrates with a specificity that is similar to that displayed by other members of the NIMA/Nek family. However, the FXXT motif usually found in NIMA/Nek protein kinases is substituted in Pfnek-1 by a SMAHS motif, which is reminiscent of a MAP/ERK kinase (MEK) activation site. Mutational analysis indicates that only one of the serine residues in this motif is essential for Pfnek-1 kinase activity in vitro. We show (a) that recombinant Pfnek-1 is able to specifically phosphorylate Pfmap-2, an atypical P. falciparum MAPK homologue, in vitro, and (b) that coincubation of Pfnek-1 and Pfmap-2 results in a synergistic increase in exogenous substrate labelling. This suggests that Pfnek-1 may be involved in the modulation of MAPK pathway output in malaria parasites. Finally, we demonstrate that recombinant Pfnek-1 can be used in inhibition assays to monitor the effect of kinase inhibitors, which opens the way to the screening of chemical libraries aimed at identifying potential new antimalarials.
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PMID:Pfnek-1, a NIMA-related kinase from the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum Biochemical properties and possible involvement in MAPK regulation. 1132 79

The pathogenicity of Plasmodium falciparum is due to the unique ability of infected erythrocytes (IRBCs) to adhere to vascular endothelium. We investigated whether adhesion of IRBCs to CD36, the major cytoadherence receptor on human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMECs), induces intracellular signaling and regulates adhesion. A recombinant peptide corresponding to the minimal CD36-binding domain from P falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1), as well as an anti-CD36 monoclonal antibody (mAb) that inhibits IRBC binding, activated the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway that was dependent on Src-family kinase activity. Treatment of HDMECs with a Src-family kinase-selective inhibitor (PP1) inhibited adhesion of IRBCs in a flow-chamber assay by 72% (P <.001). More importantly, Src-family kinase activity was also required for cytoadherence to intact human microvessels in a human/severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mouse model in vivo. The effect of PP1 could be mimicked by levamisole, a specific alkaline-phosphatase inhibitor. Firm adhesion to PP1-treated endothelium was restored by exogenous alkaline phosphatase. In contrast, inhibition of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2) and p38 MAP kinase pathways had no immediate effect on IRBC adhesion. These results suggest a novel mechanism for the modulation of cytoadherence under flow conditions through a signaling pathway involving CD36, Src-family kinases, and an ectoalkaline phosphatase. Targeting endothelial ectoalkaline phosphatases and/or signaling molecules may constitute a novel therapeutic strategy against severe falciparum malaria.
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PMID:Src-family kinase signaling modulates the adhesion of Plasmodium falciparum on human microvascular endothelium under flow. 1251 11

It is well known that dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) is used as an insecticide and prevents many people in the tropical zone from devastating malaria. On the other hand, a number of reports have indicated that it may act as an endocrine disruptor and also has possible carcinogenic effects. However, the effects of DDT on the neural cells remain to be investigated. In this study, therefore, we observed the effects of p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDT and its major metabolite p,p'-DDE on the differentiation and survival of PC12 pheochromocytoma cells. After stimulation with nerve growth factor, PC12 cells exhibited remarkable neurite outgrowth, suggesting that neuronal differentiation was induced by this growth factor. p,p'-DDT and o,p'-DDT suppressed this neurite outgrowth dose dependently, and p,p'-DDE also revealed a similar effect but to a lesser extent. Apoptotic cell death was induced within 3-6 h after treatment with p,p'-DDT and o,p'-DDT. Again p,p'-DDE showed a weaker apoptosis-inducing effect. In the organochlorine-treated PC12 cells phosphorylation of p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) was upregulated, whereas phosphorylation bands were not detected in any kinases of other MAPK groups such as p38 MAPK and SAPK/JNK. A kinase assay on p44/42 MAPK revealed that the extent of phosphorylation of Elk-1 substrates well correlated with the suppressive effect on neuronal differentiation and apoptosis-inducing activity. These results suggest that p,p'-DDT and o,p'-DDT exerted their effects on neuronal cells by the stimulation of p44/42 MAPK, and p,p'-DDE had less effects than the other two organochlorines.
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PMID:Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane suppresses neurite outgrowth and induces apoptosis in PC12 pheochromocytoma cells. 1252 60

Plasmodium, the causative agent of malaria, must first infect hepatocytes to initiate a mammalian infection. Sporozoites migrate through several hepatocytes, by breaching their plasma membranes, before infection is finally established in one of them. Here we show that wounding of hepatocytes by sporozoite migration induces the secretion of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), which renders hepatocytes susceptible to infection. Infection depends on activation of the HGF receptor, MET, by secreted HGF. The malaria parasite exploits MET not as a primary binding site, but as a mediator of signals that make the host cell susceptible to infection. HGF/MET signaling induces rearrangements of the host-cell actin cytoskeleton that are required for the early development of the parasites within hepatocytes. Our findings identify HGF and MET as potential targets for new approaches to malaria prevention.
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PMID:Hepatocyte growth factor and its receptor are required for malaria infection. 2198 87

Both iron deficiency and malaria are common in much of sub-Saharan Africa, and the interaction between these conditions is complex. To investigate the association between nutritional iron status, immunoglobulins, and clinical Plasmodium falciparum malaria, we determined the incidence of malaria in a cohort of children between the ages of 8 months and 8 years who were living on the Kenyan coast. Biochemical iron status and malaria-specific immune responses were determined during 2 cross-sectional surveys. We found that the incidence of clinical malaria was significantly lower among iron-deficient children (incidence-rate ratio [IRR], 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.51-0.99; P<.05), that the incidence of malaria was significantly associated with plasma ferritin concentration (IRR for log ferritin concentration, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.01-2.17; P<.05), and that iron status was strongly associated with a range of malaria-specific immunoglobulins. We conclude that iron deficiency was associated with protection from mild clinical malaria in our cohort of children in coastal Kenya and discuss possible mechanisms for this protection.
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PMID:Iron deficiency and malaria among children living on the coast of Kenya. 1565 90

High levels of free heme are found in pathological states of increased hemolysis, such as sickle cell disease, malaria, and ischemia reperfusion. The hemolytic events are often associated with an inflammatory response that usually turns into chronic inflammation. We recently reported that heme is a proinflammatory molecule, able to induce neutrophil migration, reactive oxygen species generation, and IL-8 expression. In this study, we show that heme (1-50 microM) delays human neutrophil spontaneous apoptosis in vitro. This effect requires heme oxygenase activity, and depends on reactive oxygen species production and on de novo protein synthesis. Inhibition of ERK and PI3K pathways abolished heme-protective effects upon human neutrophils, suggesting the involvement of the Ras/Raf/MAPK and PI3K pathway on this effect. Confirming the involvement of these pathways in the modulation of the antiapoptotic effect, heme induces Akt phosphorylation and ERK-2 nuclear translocation in neutrophils. Futhermore, inhibition of NF-kappa B translocation reversed heme antiapoptotic effect. NF-kappa B (p65 subunit) nuclear translocation and I kappa B degradation were also observed in heme-treated cells, indicating that free heme may regulate neutrophil life span modulating signaling pathways involved in cell survival. Our data suggest that free heme associated with hemolytic episodes might play an important role in the development of chronic inflammation by interfering with the longevity of neutrophils.
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PMID:Heme inhibits human neutrophil apoptosis: involvement of phosphoinositide 3-kinase, MAPK, and NF-kappaB. 1526 37

Chemotherapy of malaria fever with chloroquine is often associated with generalized pruritus of unknown pathogenesis. This adverse side effect leads to diminished compliance. We report that chloroquine (1.25-40 mg/kg, s.c.) elicits dose-related, compulsive, and vigorous scratching in mice. This frenzied behavior is essentially abolished when the mice are pretreated s.c. or orally with nalfurafine (TRK-820), a centrally penetrating kappa opioid agonist. Peripheral kappa receptors are involved because chloroquine-induced scratching is also antagonized by the peripherally restricted kappa agonist, ICI 204,448: R,S-N-[2-(N-methyl-3,4-dichlorophenylacetamido)-2-(3-carboxyphenyl) ethyl]pyrrolidine. We propose that combination therapy for malaria with chloroquine and a kappa agonist (probably one targeting peripheral receptors) will lead to better treatment compliance because of a reduced incidence of pruritus.
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PMID:Kappa opioid agonists suppress chloroquine-induced scratching in mice. 1547 49


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