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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)
Self-renewal and the maintenance of pluripotency of mouse embryonal stem (ES) cells in vitro requires exogenous leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). Mouse ES cells can be cultured and kept undifferentiated in the absence of embryonal feeder-cell layers when exogenous LIF concentrations are maintained above a threshold concentration. An important downstream target of LIF signal transduction in mouse ES cells is the transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). In contrast to mouse ES cells, human ES cells are unresponsive to LIF and depend on feeder cells for undifferentiated growth. Here, we investigated the activation patterns of LIF-downstream effectors in mouse and human
embryonal carcinoma
(EC) cells. We report that LIF induces both ERK-1 as well as STAT3 activation in mouse P19 EC cells. LIF enhances the proliferation rate of P19 EC cells, which depends on
ERK
activity but does not require activation of STAT3. In contrast, LIF does not activate STAT3,
ERK
, or the gp130 receptor in human N tera-2/D1 EC cells, although all receptor components are expressed. The negative feedback protein suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS-1) is constitutively expressed in N tera-2/D1 EC cells, suggesting that LIF signal transduction is inhibited by elevated levels of SOCS-1 expression.
...
PMID:LIF-induced STAT3 signaling in murine versus human embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells. 1185 63
Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) have been implicated as regulators of differentiation. The biological effect of MAPK signaling in the nucleus is achieved by signal-responsive transcription factors. Here we have investigated MAPK signaling and activation of AP-1 transcription factors in P19
embryonal carcinoma
cells undergoing cardiomyocyte differentiation. We show that aggregation and Me(2)SO treatment, which trigger the differentiation response, result in sustained activation of JNK1, p38, and ERK1/2 MAPKs and acquisition of AP-1 DNA binding activity. The induced AP-1 activity consists of c-Jun, JunD, and Fra-2 proteins and is accompanied with the increased expression of these proteins. JNK is involved in c-Jun phosphorylation, whereas
ERK
and p38 activities are essential for maximal c-Jun and Fra-2 expression, and AP-1 DNA binding activity. While the inhibition of
ERK
can partially prevent the formation of beating cardiomyocytes, the activity of p38 is absolutely required for the differentiation. Expression of dominant negative c-Jun(bZIP) in P19 cells can also inhibit the differentiation response. Surprisingly, however, expression of dominant negative SEK or JNK causes an inhibition of P19 cell proliferation. Taken together, the results show that
ERK
, JNK, p38, and AP-1 are activated in a coordinated and sustained manner, and contribute to proliferation and cardiomyocyte differentiation of P19 cells.
...
PMID:Mitogen-activated protein kinases and activator protein 1 are required for proliferation and cardiomyocyte differentiation of P19 embryonal carcinoma cells. 1188 86
Growth factors of the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family control the differentiation of neuronal cells of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Intracellular signalling of these growth factors is, at least in part, mediated by activation of the
RET
receptor tyrosine kinase. Here, we demonstrate that GDNF triggering inhibits the proliferation of the
embryonal carcinoma
cell line NT2/D1. This anti-proliferative effect is accompanied by down-regulation of the SSEA-3 antigen, a marker typical of undifferentiated NT2/D1 cells. We show that these effects are mediated by activation of
RET
signalling. The block of
RET
by a kinase-deficient dominant negative mutant impairs GDNF-dependent growth inhibition, whereas the adoptive expression of a constitutively active
RET
, the
RET
-MEN2A oncogene, promotes effects similar to those exerted by GDNF. We show that
RET
signalling increases the expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27(kip1) in NT2/D1 cells. Both DNA synthesis inhibition and SSEA-3 down-regulation are prevented if p27(kip1) expression is blocked by an antisense construct, which demonstrates that
RET
-triggered effects are mediated by p27(kip1).
...
PMID:Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor induces proliferative inhibition of NT2/D1 cells through RET-mediated up-regulation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27(kip1). 1189 5
The mouse kappa-opioid receptor (KOR) gene is expressed in mouse
embryonal carcinoma
P19 cells and induced by retinoic acid (RA) within 24 h. An RA-responsive cis-acting element is identified within promoter I of the KOR gene. This element contains a GC box, a putative binding site for transcription factor Sp1. Enhanced binding of Sp1 to this GC box correlates with RA induction of KOR gene. Phosphatase inhibitor (sodium pyrophosphate) decreases RA induction of this promoter, whereas hypophosphorylation of Sp1 results in an increase in its DNA binding affinity to this promoter as demonstrated by in vitro gel retardation and in vivo chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Consistently, the inhibitor of MEK, PD98058, dose-dependently enhances RA induction of this promoter, suggesting that the
ERK
signaling pathway is negatively involved in the RA induction of mouse KOR gene activities. Collectively, enhanced binding of Sp1 to promoter I of the KOR gene as a result of inhibiting the
ERK
pathway contributes to RA induction of this gene in P19.
...
PMID:Induction of the mouse kappa-opioid receptor gene by retinoic acid in P19 cells. 1217 13
The
embryonal carcinoma
-derived cell line, ATDC5, differentiates into chondrocytes in response to insulin or insulin-like growth factor-I stimulation. In this study, we investigated the roles of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases in insulin-induced chondrogenic differentiation of ATDC5 cells. Insulin-induced accumulation of glycosaminoglycan and expression of chondrogenic differentiation markers, type II collagen, type X collagen, and aggrecan mRNA were inhibited by the MEK1/2 inhibitor (U0126) and the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor (SB203580). Conversely, the JNK inhibitor (SP600125) enhanced the synthesis of glycosaminoglycan and expression of chondrogenic differentiation markers. Insulin-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and JNK but not that of p38 MAP kinase. We have previously clarified that the induction of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, p21(Cip-1/SDI-1/WAF-1), is essential for chondrogenic differentiation of ATDC5 cells. To assess the relationship between the induction of p21 and MAP kinase activity, we investigated the effect of these inhibitors on insulin-induced p21 expression in ATDC5 cells. Insulin-induced accumulation of p21 mRNA and protein was inhibited by the addition of U0126 and SB203580. In contrast, SP600125 enhanced it. Inhibitory effects of U0126 or stimulatory effects of SP600125 on insulin-induced chondrogenic differentiation were observed when these inhibitors exist in the early phase of differentiation, suggesting that MEK/
ERK
and JNK act on early phase differentiation. SB202580, however, is necessary not only for early phase but also for late phase differentiation, indicating that p38 MAP kinase stimulates differentiation by acting during the entire period of cultivation. These results for the first time demonstrate that up-regulation of p21 expression by ERK1/2 and p38 MAP kinase is required for chondrogenesis, and that JNK acts as a suppressor of chondrogenesis by down-regulating p21 expression.
...
PMID:p21(Cip-1/SDI-1/WAF-1) expression via the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway in insulin-induced chondrogenic differentiation of ATDC5 cells. 1524 98
Metastatic germ cell tumors (GCT) are curable, however GCTs refractory to cisplatin-based chemotherapy have a poor prognosis. This study explores D-type cyclins as molecular targets in GCTs because all-trans-retinoic acid (RA)-mediated differentiation of the human
embryonal carcinoma
(EC) cell line NT2/D1 is associated with G1 cell cycle arrest and proteasomal degradation of cyclin D1. RA effects on D-type cyclins are compared in human EC cells that are RA sensitive or dually RA and cisplatin resistant (NT2/D1-R1) and in clinical GCTs that have both EC and mature teratoma components. Notably, GCT differentiation was associated with reduced cyclin D1 but increased cyclin D3 expression. RA was shown here to repress cyclin D1 through a transcriptional mechanism in addition to causing its degradation. The siRNA-mediated repression of individual cyclin D species resulted in growth inhibition in both RA sensitive and resistant EC cells. Only repression of cyclin D1 occurred in vitro and when clinical GCTs mature, implicating cyclin D1 as a molecular therapeutic target. To confirm this, the
EGFR
-tyrosine kinase inhibitor, Erlotinib, was used to repress cyclin D1. This inhibited proliferation in RA and cisplatin sensitive and resistant EC cells. Taken together, these findings implicate cyclin D1 targeting agents for the treatment of GCTs.
...
PMID:Repression of cyclin D1 as a target for germ cell tumors. 1720 14
The distinction between seminoma and
embryonal carcinoma
based on morphology alone can sometimes be problematic, requiring the use of immunohistochemistry to facilitate diagnosis. D2-40 is a monoclonal antibody that reacts with an oncofetal antigen expressed by fetal germ cells and testicular germ cell tumors. The diagnostic value of D2-40 immunohistochemistry in distinguishing seminoma from
embryonal carcinoma
has not been determined. D2-40 immunoreactivity was evaluated in a series of testicular germ cell tumors and compared with that of
KIT
(CD117) and CD30, to assess the relative utility of this marker in discriminating between seminoma and
embryonal carcinoma
. Forty testicular germ cell neoplasms were examined, which included 19 seminomas, three embryonal carcinomas, three teratomas, one yolk sac tumor, and 14 mixed germ cell tumors. The 14 cases of mixed germ cell tumors contained components of seminoma (n=7),
embryonal carcinoma
(n=11), teratoma (n=10), yolk sac tumor (n=2), and choriocarcinoma (n=1). All cases of pure seminoma and the seminomatous components of mixed germ cell tumors exhibited positive immunoreactivity for D2-40. Focal positivity for D2-40 was also observed in 29% of the
embryonal carcinoma
samples. D2-40 immunoreactivity in seminomas was characterized by diffuse membrane staining, whereas for embryonal carcinomas, staining was focal and distributed along the apical surfaces of the neoplastic cells. Immunohistochemical staining for
KIT
was observed in 92% of the seminoma samples and in none of the embryonal carcinomas. Conversely, CD30 expression was identified in 93% of the
embryonal carcinoma
samples and in none of the seminomas. Other germ cell components showed no immunoreactivity for D2-40,
KIT
, or CD30.
KIT
and CD30 are effective immunohistochemical markers in separating seminoma from
embryonal carcinoma
. Although a highly sensitive marker for seminomas, D2-40 positivity was also observed in a subset of embryonal carcinomas, thus limiting the utility of this antibody for discriminating between these two malignancies.
...
PMID:D2-40 immunohistochemistry in the differential diagnosis of seminoma and embryonal carcinoma: a comparative immunohistochemical study with KIT (CD117) and CD30. 1727 61
LIF is a cytokine playing a key role in the regulation of self-renewal and maintenance of undifferentiated state in mouse ES cells. The response of pluripotent cells to LIF is mediated mainly by the STAT3 and
ERK
signalling pathways. Recently, we have shown that LIF potentiated retinoic acid-induced neural differentiation of pluripotent mouse
embryonal carcinoma
P19 cells. Here we demonstrate that pro-neural effects of LIF and partially also of retinoic acid are abolished by inhibition of the JAK2->STAT3 signalling pathway. In contrast, inhibition of the MEK1->
ERK
signalling pathway does not exhibit any effect. These results suggest that in neurogenic regions, cooperative action of LIF and other neuro-differentiation-inducing factors, such as retinoic acid, may be mediated by the STAT3 signalling pathway.
...
PMID:Neural differentiation potentiated by the leukaemia inhibitory factor through STAT3 signalling in mouse embryonal carcinoma cells. 1797 5
Testicular germ cell tumors of adolescents and adults (TGCTs) can be classified into seminomatous and nonseminomatous tumors. Various nonseminomatous cell lines, predominantly
embryonal carcinoma
, have been established and proven to be valuable for pathobiological and clinical studies. So far, no cell lines have been derived from seminoma which constitutes more than 50% of invasive TGCTs. Such a cell line is essential for experimental investigation of biological characteristics of the cell of origin of TGCTs, i.e., carcinoma in situ of the testis, which shows characteristics of a seminoma cell. Before a cell line can be used as model, it must be verified regarding its origin and characteristics. Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach was undertaken on TCam-2 cells, supposedly the first seminoma cell line. Fluorescence in situ hybridization, array comparative genomic hybridization, and spectral karyotyping demonstrated an aneuploid DNA content, with gain of 12p, characteristic for TGCTs. Genome wide mRNA and microRNA expression profiling supported the seminoma origin, in line with the biallelic expression of imprinted genes IGF2/H19 and associated demethylation of the imprinting control region. Moreover, the presence of specific markers, demonstrated by immunohistochemistry, including (wild type)
KIT
, stem cell factor, placental alkaline phosphatase, OCT3/4 (also demonstrated by a specific Q-PCR) and NANOG, and the absence of CD30, SSX2-4, and SOX2, confirms that TCam-2 is a seminoma cell line. Although mutations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes are rather rare in TGCTs, TCam-2 had a mutated BRAF gene (V600E), which likely explains the fact that these cells could be propagated in vitro. In conclusion, TCam-2 is the first well-characterized seminoma-derived cell line, with an exceptional mutation, rarely found in TGCTs.
...
PMID:Further characterization of the first seminoma cell line TCam-2. 1805 Mar 5
Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) of adults and adolescents are thought to be derived from primordial germ cells or gonocytes. TGCTs develop postpuberty from precursor lesions known as intratubular germ cell neoplasia undifferentiated. The tumors can be divided into two groups based on their histology and clinical behavior; seminomas resemble primordial germ cells or gonocytes and nonseminomas resemble embryonic or extraembryonic tissues at various stages of differentiation. The most undifferentiated form of nonseminoma,
embryonal carcinoma
, resembles embryonic stem cells in terms of morphology and expression profiling, both mRNAs and microRNAs. Evidence supports both environmental factors and genetic predisposition underlying the development of TGCTs. Various models of development have been proposed and are discussed. In TGCTs, gain of material from the short arm of chromosome 12 is invariable: genes from this region include the proto-oncogene KRAS, which has activating mutations in approximately 10% of tumors or is frequently overexpressed. A number of different approaches to increase the understanding of the development and progression of TGCTs have highlighted the involvement of
KIT
, RAS/RAF/MAPK, STAT, and PI3K/AKT signaling. We review the role of these signaling pathways in this process and the potential influence of environmental factors in the development of TGCTs.
...
PMID:Genes, chromosomes and the development of testicular germ cell tumors of adolescents and adults. 1838 40
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