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)

Cadmium (Cd) is widely dispersed in the environment due to occupational and personal (cigarette) emissions. Exposure of human embryonic kidney 293T (HEK-293T) cells to CdCl2 resulted in growth inhibition and apoptosis. Our previous studies demonstrated that JWA, a novel retinoic acid-inducible and cytoskeleton-associated gene, is a potential environmental-responsive gene with increased expression attributed to oxidative and heat-shock stresses. In the present study, JWA was also found to be responsive to Cd exposure. After treatment with 20 microM CdCl2 for 12 h, the expression level of JWA was increased with accompanied growth inhibition and apoptosis. In addition, knock-down JWA protein expression by using transient transfecting of HEK-293T cells with antisense JWA express vector showed a protective effect against Cd-induced apoptosis. To determine whether the upregulation of JWA by Cd involved regulation by transcriptional mechanisms, further reporter gene assays were employed, which demonstrated a marked increase in JWA promoter activity. In addition, elevated intracellular levels of ROS components (O2-* and H2O2) and activation of JNK, ERK, and MAPK were found with corresponding upregulation of JWA protein expression. These results suggest that Cd-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis may involve ROS generation and subsequent affect on MAPK signal pathway. JWA responsiveness to CdCl2 might be through both transcriptional and posttranslational mechanisms.
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PMID:JWA gene is involved in cadmium-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis in HEK-293T cells. 1747 8

Calcium and iron play dual roles in neuronal function: they are both essential but when present in excess they cause neuronal damage and may even induce neuronal death. Calcium signals are required for synaptic plasticity, a neuronal process that entails gene expression and which is presumably the cellular counterpart of cognitive brain functions such as learning and memory. Neuronal activity generates cytoplasmic and nuclear calcium signals that in turn stimulate pathways that promote the transcription of genes known to participate in synaptic plasticity. In addition, evidence discussed in this article shows that iron deficiency causes learning and memory impairments that persist following iron repletion, indicating that iron is necessary for normal development of cognitive functions. Recent results from our group indicate that iron is required for long-term potentiation in hippocampal CA1 neurons and that iron stimulates ryanodine receptor-mediated calcium release through ROS produced via the Fenton reaction leading to stimulation of the ERK signaling pathway. These combined results support a coordinated action between iron and calcium in synaptic plasticity and raise the possibility that elevated iron levels may contribute to neuronal degeneration through excessive intracellular calcium increase caused by iron-induced oxidative stress.
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PMID:Calcium, iron and neuronal function. 1750 66

In the present study, baicalein (BE) but not its glycoside, baicalin (BI), induced heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) gene expression at both the mRNA and protein levels, and the BE-induced HO-1 protein was blocked by adding cycloheximide (CHX) or actinomycin D (Act D). Activation of ERK, but not JNK or p38, proteins via induction of phosphorylation in accordance with increasing intracellular peroxide levels was detected in BE-treated RAW264.7 macrophages. The addition of the ERK inhibitor, PD98059, (but not the p38 inhibitor, SB203580, or the JNK inhibitor, SP600125) and the chemical antioxidant, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), significantly reduced BE-induced HO-1 protein expression by respectively blocking ERK protein phosphorylation and intracellular peroxide production. Additionally, BE but not BI effectively protected RAW264.7 cells from hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-induced cytotoxicity, and the preventive effect was attenuated by the addition of the HO inhibitor, SnPP, and the ERK inhibitor, PD98059. H(2)O(2)-induced apoptotic events including hypodiploid cells, DNA fragmentation, activation of caspase 3 enzyme activity, and a loss in the mitochondrial membrane potential with the concomitant release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to the cytosol were suppressed by the addition of BE but not BI. Blocking HO-1 protein expression by the HO-1 antisense oligonucleotide attenuated the protective effect of BE against H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis by suppressing HO-1 gene expression in macrophages. Overexpression of the HO-1 protein inhibited H(2)O(2)-induced apoptotic events such as DNA fragmentation and hypodiploid cells by reducing intracellular peroxide production induced by H(2)O(2), compared with those events in neo-control (neo-RAW264.7) cells. In addition, CO, but not bilirubin and biliverdin, addition inhibits H(2)O(2)-induced cytotoxicity in macrophages. It suggests that CO can be responsible for the protective effect associated with HO-1 overexpression. The notion of induction of HO-1 gene expression through a ROS-dependent manner suppressing H(2)O(2)-induced cell death is identified in the present study.
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PMID:Baicalein inhibition of hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis via ROS-dependent heme oxygenase 1 gene expression. 1753 86

Chronic cardiovascular and neurodegenerative complications induced by hyperglycemia have been considered to be associated most relevantly with endothelial cell damages (ECD). The protective effects of the aqueous extract of Psidium guajava L. budding leaves (PE) on the ECD in human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) model were investigated. Results revealed that glyoxal (GO) and methylglyoxal (MGO) resulting from the glycative and autoxidative reactions of the high blood sugar glucose (G) evoked a huge production of ROS and NO, which in turn increased the production of peroxynitrite, combined with the activation of the nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB), leading to cell apoptosis. High plasma glucose activated p38-MAPK, and high GO increased the expressions of p38-MAPK and JNK-MAPK, whereas high MGO levels induced the activity of ERK-MAPK. Glucose and dicarbonyl compounds were all found to be good inducers of intracellular PKCs, which together with MAPK acted as the upstream triggering factor to activate NFkappaB. Conclusively, high plasma glucose together with dicarbonyl compounds can trigger the signaling pathways of MAPK and PKC and induce cell apoptosis through ROS and peroxynitrite stimulation and finally by NFkappaB activation. Such effects of PE were ascribed to its high plant polyphenolic (PPP) contents, the latter being potent ROS inhibitors capable of blocking the glycation of proteins, which otherwise could have brought forth severe detrimental effects to the cells.
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PMID:Molecular action mechanism against apoptosis by aqueous extract from guava budding leaves elucidated with human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) model. 1789 56

It is known that TNF-alpha increases the production of ROS and decreases antioxidant enzymes, resulting in an increase in oxidative stress. IL-10 appears to modulate these effects. The present study investigated the role of p38 and ERK1/2 MAPKs in mediating the interplay of TNF-alpha and IL-10 in regulating oxidative stress and cardiac myocyte apoptosis in Sprague-Dawley male rats. Isolated adult cardiac myocytes were exposed to TNF-alpha (10 ng/ml), IL-10 (10 ng/ml), and IL-10 + TNF-alpha (ratio 1) for 4 h. H(2)O(2) (100 microM) as a positive control and the antioxidant Trolox (20 micromol/l) were used to confirm the involvement of oxidative stress. H(2)O(2) treatment increased oxidative stress and apoptosis; TNF-alpha mimicked these effects. Exposure to TNF-alpha significantly increased ROS production, caused cell injury, and increased the number of apoptotic cells and Bax-to-Bcl-xl ratio. This change was associated with an increase in the phospho-p38 MAPK-to-total p38 MAPK ratio and a decrease in the phospho-ERK1/2-to-total ERK1/2 ratio. IL-10 treatment by itself had no effect on these parameters, but it prevented the above-listed changes caused by TNF-alpha. The antioxidant Trolox modulated TNF-alpha-induced changes in Bax/Bcl-xl, cell injury, and MAPKs. Preexposure of cells to the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB-203580 prevented TNF-alpha-induced changes. Inhibition of the ERK pathway with PD-98059 attenuated the protective role of IL-10 against TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis. This study provides evidence in support of the essential role of p38 and ERK1/2 MAPKs in the interactive role of TNF-alpha and IL-10 in cardiac myocyte apoptosis.
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PMID:p38 and ERK1/2 MAPKs mediate the interplay of TNF-alpha and IL-10 in regulating oxidative stress and cardiac myocyte apoptosis. 1790 2

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) plays a major role in chronic heart failure, signaling through two different receptor subtypes, TNFR1 and TNFR2. Our aim was to further delineate the functional role and signaling pathways related to TNFR1 and TNFR2 in cardiac myocytes. In cardiac myocytes isolated from control rats, TNFalpha induced ROS production, exerted a dual positive and negative action on [Ca(2+)] transient and cell fractional shortening, and altered cell survival. Neutralizing anti-TNFR2 antibodies exacerbated TNFalpha responses on ROS production and cell death, arguing for a major protective role of the TNFR2 pathway. Treatment with either neutralizing anti-TNFR1 antibodies or the glutathione precursor, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), favored the emergence of TNFR2 signaling that mediated a positive effect of TNFalpha on [Ca(2+)] transient and cell fractional shortening. The positive effect of TNFalpha relied on TNFR2-dependent activation of the cPLA(2) activity, independently of serine 505 phosphorylation of the enzyme. Together with cPLA(2) redistribution and AA release, TNFalpha induced a time-dependent phosphorylation of ERK, MSK1, PKCzeta, CaMKII, and phospholamban on the threonine 17 residue. Taken together, our results characterized a TNFR2-dependent signaling and illustrated the close interplay between TNFR1 and TNFR2 pathways in cardiac myocytes. Although apparently predominant, TNFR1-dependent responses were under the yoke of TNFR2, acting as a critical limiting factor. In vivo NAC treatment proved to be a unique tool to selectively neutralize TNFR1-mediated effects of TNFalpha while releasing TNFR2 pathways.
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PMID:TNFR1 and TNFR2 signaling interplay in cardiac myocytes. 1791 4

Flavonoids are micronutrients that are widely detected in foods of plant origin and have been ascribed pharmacological properties. Several biological functions of flavonoids have been thus far identified, whereas there currently exists a lack of evidence to support the relationship between the structure-activity relationship and apoptosis-inducing activity. In an attempt to determine the importance of the OH group or substitution of the 5- or 7-carbon in the diphenylpropane skeleton of flavonoids, we selected 14 different flavonoids with different structures, particularly with regard to the 5- or 7-carbon, and found that naringenin treatment caused a slight decrease in the cell viability of the human colorectal carcinoma RKO cells. Next, in order to characterize the effects of specific substitutions of the 7-carbon of naringenin on apoptosis-regulatory activities, and in an attempt to develop anti-proliferative flavonoid derivatives that would be more effective against colon cancer, we originally synthesized several modified naringenin derivatives (MNDs) including 7-O-benzyl naringenin (KUF-1) and 7-O-(m-metoxybenzyl) naringenin (KUF-2). Treatment with KUF-1 or KUF-2 resulted in significant apoptosis-inducing effects concomitant with losses in mitochondrial membrane potential, caspase activation, intracellular ROS production, and sustained ERK activation. Our data show that KUF-1 or KUF-2 regulate the apoptosis of RKO cells via intracellular ROS production coupled with the concomitant activation of the ERK signaling pathway, thereby implying that hydroxylation or substitution at C7 is critical for the apoptosis-inducing activity of flavonoids.
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PMID:Regulation of apoptosis by modified naringenin derivatives in human colorectal carcinoma RKO cells. 1800 24

This study is the first to investigate the anticancer effect of plumbagin in human melanoma A375.S2 cells. Plumbagin exhibited effective cell growth inhibition by inducing cancer cells to undergo S-G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis. Further investigation revealed that plumbagin's inhibition of cell growth was also evident in a nude mice model. Blockade of cell cycle was associated with increased levels of p21, and reduced amounts of cyclin B1, cyclin A, Cdc2, and Cdc25C. Plumbagin also enhanced the levels of inactivated phosphorylated Cdc2 and Cdc25C. Plumbagin triggered the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway indicated by a change in Bax/Bcl-2 ratios, resulting in caspase-9 activation. We also found the generation of ROS is a critical mediator in plumbagin-induced cell growth inhibition. Plumbagin increased the activation of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1, JNK and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), but not p38. In addition, antioxidants vitamin C and catalase significantly decreased plumbagin-mediated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation and apoptosis. Moreover, blocking ERK and JNK by specific inhibitors suppressed plumbagin-triggered mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Taken together, these results imply a critical role for ROS and JNK in the plumbagin's anticancer activity.
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PMID:Plumbagin induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis through reactive oxygen species/c-Jun N-terminal kinase pathways in human melanoma A375.S2 cells. 1802 67

In addition to ultraviolet radiation, human skin is also exposed to infrared radiation (IR) from natural sunlight. IR typically increases the skin temperature. This study examined whether or not heat shock-induced ROS stimulates MMPs in keratinocyte HaCaT cells. In HaCaT cells, heat shock was found to increase the intracellular ROS levels, including hydrogen peroxide and superoxide. The heat shock treatment induced MMP-1 and MMP-9, but not MMP-2, at the mRNA and protein levels. Moreover, heat shock caused the rapid activation of the three distinct MAPKs, ERK, JNK, and p38 kinase. The heat shock-induced expression of MMP-1 and MMP-9 was significantly suppressed by a pretreatment with the antioxidant NAC or catalase. On the other hand, SOD inhibited heat shock-induced activity of MMP-9 induction, but not MMP-1. A pretreatment with NAC or catalase, but not SOD, attenuated the phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, and p38 kinase by heat shock. The potential sites of ROS generation by heat shock along with its role in the heat shock-induced expression of MMP-1 and MMP-9 were next analyzed. These results indicate that heat shock-induced ROS is promoted via NADPH oxidase, xanthine oxidase, and mitochondria. Indeed, the NADPH oxidase and xanthine oxidase activities were increased by heat shock. Overall, the ROS produced by heat shock may play an important role in the heat shock-induced activation of MAPKs, which can induce MMP-1 and-9 expressions.
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PMID:Reactive oxygen species produced by NADPH oxidase, xanthine oxidase, and mitochondrial electron transport system mediate heat shock-induced MMP-1 and MMP-9 expression. 1803 52

One of the major characteristics of human skin photoaging induced by ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the dehydration of the skin. Water movement across plasma membrane occurs via diffusion through lipid bilayer and via aquaporins (AQPs). We find that UV induces aquaporin-3 (AQP3) down-regulation in human skin keratinocytes. MEK/ERK inhibitors PD98059 and U0126 inhibit UV-induced down-regulation of AQP3. Antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine or NAC blocks UV-induced MEK/ERK activation and down-regulation of AQP3. All-trans retinoic acid or atRA, while alone inducing AQP3 expression, attenuates UV-induced down-regulation of AQP3 and water permeability. Using special inhibitors, we find that activation of EGFR and inhibition on ERK activation are involved in atRA's protective effects against UV-induced AQP3 down-regulation. Using specific AQP3's water transport inhibitors and siRNA knockdown, we observe that AQP3 is involved in cell migration and in vitro wound healing. UV-induced AQP3 down-regulation results in reduced water permeability, decreased cell migration, and delayed wound healing, which are attenuated by atRA pretreatment. We conclude that atRA protects against UV-induced down-regulation AQP3 and decrease in water permeability, reduction in cell migration and delayed in vitro wound healing via trans-activation of EGFR and inhibition on ROS-mediated MEK/ERK pathway. This novel finding provides evidence to support possible involvement of AQP3 in UV induced skin dehydration.
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PMID:All-trans retinoic acid attenuates ultraviolet radiation-induced down-regulation of aquaporin-3 and water permeability in human keratinocytes. 1806 29


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