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)

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is usually known as an immunosuppressive cytokine, but we and others have shown stimulatory effects of TGF-beta on activation of Th2 T-lymphocytes. In the present investigation we have studied the effect of TGF-beta1 on phosphorylation of ERK, a MAP-kinase downstream of the Ras pathway. ERK is phosphorylated by MEK-1 and PD098059 and U0126 are specific inhibitors for this kinase. We demonstrate in the present study that these inhibitors abrogate the inhibitory effect of adh-splc (adherent-spleen cells) on activation of primary rat T-cells and induce a strong costimulatory effect almost as strong as we have previously shown with TGF-beta1. When TGF-beta1 is acting stimulatory on T-cell activation, it decreases phosphorylation of ERK-2 and thereby its activation. To investigate whether TGF-beta1 and MEK-1 inhibitors influence the same pathways, we compared their effects on cytokine profiles associated with SEA-induced rat T cell activation. TGF-beta1 induced IL-10 production, slightly decreased TNF-alpha production and decreased IFN-gamma production. The PD098059 inhibitor decreased both IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha production and together with TGF-beta1, it totally blocked IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and IL-10 production. Thus TGF-beta1 and PD098059 showed overlapping but not identical effects on the cytokine pattern.
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PMID:Association of decreased phosphorylation of ERK-2 with costimulation of rat T cell activation by MEK-1 inhibitors and TGF-beta1. 1088 Aug 40

IL-12 is a central immunoregulatory cytokine that promotes cell-mediated immune responses and the differentiation of naive CD4+ cells into Th1 cells. We and others have demonstrated that the Stat4 is critical for IFN-gamma production by activated T cells and Th1 cells. However, several studies have suggested that other pathways may be involved in IL-12-stimulated IFN-gamma expression. In this report we demonstrate that IL-12 activates mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 3/6 (MKK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), but not p44/42 (ERK) or stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase MAPK. The activation of p38 MAPK is required for normal induction of IFN-gamma mRNA and IFN-gamma secretion by IL-12 in activated T cells and Th1 cells. Importantly, IL-12-stimulated p38 MAPK effector functions occur through a Stat4-independent mechanism and correlate with increased serine phosphorylation of activating transcription factor-2. The requirement for p38 MAPK in IL-12 function suggests that this pathway may be an important in vivo target for the anti-inflammatory actions of p38 MAPK inhibitors.
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PMID:The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase is required for IL-12-induced IFN-gamma expression. 1090 40

We studied how the interaction between human dendritic cells (DC) and Toxoplasma gondii influences the generation of cell-mediated immunity against the parasite. We demonstrate that viable, but not killed, tachyzoites of T. gondii altered the phenotype of immature DC. DC infected with viable parasites up-regulated the expression of CD40, CD80, CD86, and HLA-DR and down-regulated expression of CD115. These changes are indicative of DC activation induced by T. gondii. Viable and killed tachyzoites had contrasting effects on cytokine production. DC infected with viable T. gondii rather than DC that phagocytosed killed parasites induced secretion of high amounts of IFN-gamma by T cells from T. gondii-seronegative donors. IFN-gamma production in response to DC infected with viable parasites required CD28 and CD40 ligand (CD40L) signaling. In addition, this IFN-gamma response was dependent in part on IL-12 secretion. Production of IL-12 p70 occurred after interaction between T cells and DC infected with viable T. gondii, but not after incubation of T cells with DC plus killed tachyzoites. IL-12 synthesis was inhibited by blockade of CD40L signaling. IL-12-independent IFN-gamma production required CD80/CD86-CD28 interaction and, to a lesser extent, CD40-CD40L signaling. Taken together, T. gondii-induced activation of human DC is associated with T cell production of IFN-gamma through CD40-CD40L-dependent release of IL-12 and through CD80/CD86-CD28 and CD40-CD40L signaling that mediate IFN-gamma secretion even in the absence of bioactive IL-12.
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PMID:Human dendritic cells discriminate between viable and killed Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites: dendritic cell activation after infection with viable parasites results in CD28 and CD40 ligand signaling that controls IL-12-dependent and -independent T cell production of IFN-gamma. 1090 56

Interferons (IFNs) regulate the expression of a number of cellular genes by activating the JAK-STAT pathway. We have recently discovered that CCAAAT/enhancer-binding protein-beta (C/EBP-beta) induces gene transcription through a novel IFN response element called the gamma-IFN-activated transcriptional element (Roy, S. K., Wachira, S. J., Weihua, X., Hu, J., and Kalvakolanu, D. V. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 12626-12632. Here, we describe a new IFN-gamma-stimulated pathway that operates C/EBP-beta-regulated gene expression independent of JAK1. We show that ERKs are activated by IFN-gamma to stimulate C/EBP-beta-dependent expression. Sustained ERK activation directly correlated with C/EBP-beta-dependent gene expression in response to IFN-gamma. Mutant MKK1, its inhibitors, and mutant ERK suppressed IFN-gamma-stimulated gene induction through the gamma-IFN-activated transcriptional element. Ras and Raf activation was not required for this process. Furthermore, Raf-1 phosphorylation negatively correlated with its activity. Interestingly, C/EBP-beta-induced gene expression required STAT1, but not JAK1. A C/EBP-beta mutant lacking the ERK phosphorylation site failed to promote IFN-stimulated gene expression. Thus, our data link C/EBP-beta to IFN-gamma signaling through ERKs.
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PMID:ERK1 and ERK2 activate CCAAAT/enhancer-binding protein-beta-dependent gene transcription in response to interferon-gamma. 1099 51

Chemokines constitute a superfamily of proteins that function as chemoattractants and activators of leukocytes. Astrocytes, the major glial cell type in the CNS, are a source of chemokines within the diseased brain. Specifically, we have shown that primary human astrocytes and human astroglioma cell lines produce the CXC chemokines IFN-gamma-inducible protein-10 and IL-8 and the CC chemokines monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and RANTES in response to stimuli such as TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IFN-gamma. In this study, we investigated chemokine receptor expression and function on human astroglioma cells. Enhancement of CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) mRNA expression was observed upon treatment with the cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-1beta. The peak of CXCR4 expression in response to TNF-alpha and IL-1beta was 8 and 4 h, respectively. CXCR4 protein expression was also enhanced upon treatment with TNF-alpha and IL-1beta (2- to 3-fold). To study the functional relevance of CXCR4 expression, stable astroglioma transfectants expressing high levels of CXCR4 were generated. Stimulation of cells with the ligand for CXCR4, stromal cell-derived factor-1alpha (SDF-1alpha), resulted in an elevation in intracellular Ca(2+) concentration and activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade, specifically, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2) mitogen-activated protein kinase. Of most interest, SDF-1alpha treatment induced expression of the chemokines monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, IL-8, and IFN-gamma-inducible protein-10. SDF-1alpha-induced chemokine expression was abrogated upon inclusion of U0126, a pharmacological inhibitor of ERK1/2, indicating that the ERK signaling cascade is involved in this response. Collectively, these data suggest that CXCR4-mediated signaling pathways in astroglioma cells may be another mechanism for these cells to express chemokines involved in angiogenesis and inflammation.
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PMID:CXC chemokine receptor 4 expression and function in human astroglioma cells. 1116 Mar 34

The selective accumulation of eosinophils in tissue is a characteristic feature of allergic diseases where there is a predominance of lymphocytes expressing a Th2 phenotype. In an attempt to define factors determining specific eosinophil accumulation in vivo, we have used a radiolabeled technique to assess the occurrence and the mechanisms underlying (111)In-eosinophil recruitment into Th1- and Th2-predominant, delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions. Eosinophils were purified from the blood of IL-5 transgenic mice, labeled with (111)In and injected into nontransgenic CBA/Ca mice. Th1- and Th2-predominant, DTH reactions were induced in mice by immunization with methylated bovine serum albumin (MBSA) in Freund's complete adjuvant or with Schistosoma mansoni eggs, respectively. In these animals, (111)In-eosinophils were recruited in skin sites in an antigen-, time-, and concentration-dependent manner. Depletion of CD4+ lymphocytes abrogated (111)In-eosinophil recruitment in both reactions. Pretreatment of animals with anti-IFN-gamma mAb abrogated (111)In-eosinophil recruitment in MBSA-immunized and -challenged animals, whereas anti-IL-4 inhibited (111)In-eosinophil recruitment in both models. Local pretreatment with an anti-eotaxin polyclonal antibody inhibited the MBSA and SEA reactions by 51% and 39%, respectively. These results demonstrate that, although eosinophilia is not a feature of Th1-predominant, DTH reactions, these reactions produce the necessary chemoattractants and express the necessary cell adhesion molecules for eosinophil migration. The control of the circulating levels of eosinophils appears to be a most important strategy in determining tissue eosinophilia.
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PMID:Eosinophil recruitment into sites of delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions in mice. 1126 81

The repeated injection of bacterial superantigens (SAg), such as staphylococcus enterotoxin (SE) A or B, has been shown in mice to induce a state of unresponsiveness characterized by the lack of secretion of Th1 lymphokines, such as IL-2 and IFN-gamma, following subsequent SAg challenge. We made the observation, in vivo as well as in vitro, that unresponsiveness to SAg could be transferred from SEA- to SEB-reactive T cells (and reversibly from SEB- to SEA-specific T cells) in C57BL/6 mice but not in BALB/c mice. Since C57BL/6 mice, unlike BALB/c mice, possess TCR V(beta)3+ and V(beta)11+ T cells able to react with both SEA and SEB, we hypothesized that SAg-unresponsive V(beta)3(+) and V(beta)11+ T cells could mediate linked suppression of other SAg-reactive T cells. To analyze further this possibility, spleen cells from BALB/c mice made unresponsive to SEB were tested for their capacity to suppress the response of normal BALB/c cells to SEB. The production of both IFN-gamma and IL-2 following SEB stimulation was greatly impaired in co-cultures containing CD4(+) T cells, but not CD8(+) T cells, isolated from unresponsive animals. In vivo, the production of both IFN-gamma and IL-2 responses to SEB was dramatically reduced in animals adoptively transferred with unresponsive spleen cells. This suppression was abrogated in recipients injected with neutralizing anti-IL-10 antibodies. Moreover, in animals made unresponsive to SEB, SAg-reactive CD4(+) T cells were found to express high levels of CTLA-4, a molecule recently described to play an essential role in the suppressive function of regulatory T cells. Taken together these results demonstrate that the repetitive injection of SAg induces the differentiation of regulatory CD4(+) T cells capable of suppressing SAg-reactive naive T cells.
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PMID:Chronic exposure to superantigen induces regulatory CD4(+) T cells with IL-10-mediated suppressive activity. 1128 82

In this study, the ability of purified bovine gammadelta T cells in vitro to be activated by superantigens (SAg) was investigated. Freshly isolated WC1(+) gammadelta T cells, in the presence of autologous glutaraldehyde-fixed or gamma-irradiated antigen presenting cells (APC) and IL-2, were incubated with staphylococcal enterotoxins A and B (SEA and SEB), and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1). Both a proliferative response and the expression of particular T cell receptor genes of the gamma variable (TCR Vgamma) repertoire family were induced. Genes encoding TCR Vgamma1 and TCR Vgamma2 family, but not TCR Vgamma5 were detected. The cells also expressed cytokine transcripts, namely, those of IL-12, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, but not IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-7 and IL-10. The activation and proliferation of freshly isolated gammadelta T cells by non-processed antigens required two signals, one originating from the APC and a second dependent on exogenous IL-2. Our results show that purified bovine WC1(+) gammadelta T cells could be driven to proliferate and to express a particular TCRVgamma profile in response to superantigen activation. The possible implication of cytokines expressed by bovine gammadelta T cells in immunopathogenesis is discussed.
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PMID:Purified bovine WC1+ gamma delta T lymphocytes are activated by staphylococcal enterotoxins and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 superantigens: proliferation response, TCR V gamma profile and cytokines expression. 1137 2

Bacterial superantigens trigger an excessive, Th1-cytokine response leading to toxic shock. We designed a peptide antagonist that inhibits SEB-induced expression of human genes for IL-2, IFN-gamma, and TNF-beta, cytokines that mediate shock. The peptide antagonist shows homology to a beta-strand-hinge-alpha-helix domain that is conserved structurally in superantigens produced by Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes yet remote from known binding sites for the major histocompatibility class II molecule and T-cell receptor. For Th1-cell activation, superantigens depend on this domain. The peptide protected mice against lethal challenge with SEB or SEA. Moreover, it rescued mice undergoing toxic shock. Surviving mice rapidly developed broad-spectrum, protective immunity, which rendered them resistant to further lethal challenges with different staphylococcal and streptococcal superantigens. Thus, the lethal effect of superantigens, mediated by Th1 cytokines, can be blocked with a peptide antagonist that inhibits their action at the top of the toxicity cascade, before activation of T cells takes place.
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PMID:Superantigen antagonist blocks Th1 cytokine gene induction and lethal shock. 1140 77

A wide variety of cytokines are present at the maternal-fetal interface, but the extreme cellular complexity of the placenta has made it difficult to determine which cytokines are produced by which cells. Hence novel flow cytometric methods have been applied to determine intracellular cytokine production by specific cell-types in placental cell suspensions. Cell suspensions were prepared from first and third trimester chorionic villi and third trimester amniochorion by enzymatic digestion and Percoll density gradient centrifugation. After overnight incubation in the presence of monensin, cells were fixed, permeabilized and labelled with antibodies for villous cytotrophoblast (cytokeratin+, MHC class I-), extravillous cytotrophoblast (cytokeratin+, MHC class 1+) and leucocytes (CD45+). These cell types were further characterized by their expression of EGFR (proliferative cytotrophoblast) and c-erbB2 (invasive cytotrophoblast). Production of IL-4, IL-10, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma and IL-12 was determined by simultaneous labelling with the appropriate monoclonal antibodies. Only IL-4 was detected consistently in all samples of cytotrophoblast. IL-10 was not detected but IL-10 mRNA was demonstrated in third trimester chorionic villus digests by RT-PCR. Although IL-4 secretion has not been demonstrated, these data suggest that, in vivo there may be a "Th2 type cytokine bias" orchestrated by the trophoblast. It is proposed that other cytokines (including IL-10 and TNF-alpha) are produced by decidual leukocytes, and not cytotrophoblast, at the maternal-fetal interface.
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PMID:Flow cytometric measurement of intracellular Th1 and Th2 cytokine production by human villous and extravillous cytotrophoblast. 1144 May 43


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