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)

Two cDNA clones corresponding to genes that are induced at least 10-fold in peripheral human blood leukocytes by staphylococcal enterotoxin A were isolated and sequenced. Clone 1-3E encodes a 247-residue protein that comprises a putative signal sequence, and resembles a serine protease; the cognate mRNA is expressed in T lymphocyte clones but in none of the other human cell lines tested. The deduced protein sequence is most closely related (68% homology) to that of the postulated protease CCPI from activated murine cytotoxic T lymphocytes and to that of rat mast cell protease II (47% homology). The other cDNA, 3-10C, encodes a protein of 99 residues that resembles human beta-thromboglobulin (42% homology); the cognate mRNA was also found in SEA-stimulated U937 cells, a histiocytic lymphoma-derived cell line.
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PMID:Induction of mRNA for a serine protease and a beta-thromboglobulin-like protein in mitogen-stimulated human leukocytes. 295 13

Human skin is believed to harbor a reservoir population of precursor melanocytes. It has been difficult to identify these putative cells experimentally, because they lack phenotypic features that define mature melanocytes. We have evaluated expression of the KIT tyrosine kinase receptor, which is critical for melanocyte development, as a possible marker of these cells. Sections of human skin were evaluated with single- and double-immunolabeling techniques. KIT-reactive dendritic cells were identified in the basal layer of the epithelia and were most numerous in the follicular infundibula and the rete ridges. These cells were located on the epithelial side of the basement membrane and lacked expression of cytokeratin and mast cell tryptase. The location of the KIT-reactive cells was distinctly different from that of Langerhans cells (identified with anti-CD1a) or Merkel cells (identified with CAM 5.2). Within the epidermis and upper follicular infundibulum the majority of the KIT-reactive dendritic cells also coexpressed TRP-1, a marker present in differentiated melanocytes. In the deeper follicular regions, the coexpression of TRP-1 in the KIT-reactive cells was absent. Throughout the epidermis and follicle, however, the KIT-reactive cells coexpressed BCL-2, a marker known to be increased in melanocytes. Thus, KIT expression reveals a population of intraepithelial cells that have immunophenotypic characteristics of mature melanocytes within the upper epithelial regions, but lack the differentiated melanocytic phenotype within the deeper follicular regions. We propose that these KIT(+), BCL-2(+), and TRP-1(-) cells constitute a precursor melanocyte reservoir of human skin.
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PMID:KIT expression reveals a population of precursor melanocytes in human skin. 861 59

Human mast cell precursors arise in the bone marrow and circulate to different tissue microenvironments, where they develop distinct phenotypes that may be characterized by differential expression of the serine protease, chymase. The growth and development of mast cells is stimulated by mast cell growth factor, which is also known as kit ligand because its obligate receptor is KIT, the protein product of the c-KIT proto-oncogene. The in vivo influence of the KIT-kit ligand axis on the phenotype of human mast cells has not been determined. We used immunohistochemistry to detect in situ expression of tryptase and chymase by mast cells of a patient with urticaria pigmentosa and aggressive systemic mastocytosis, whose pathologic mast cells are clonally derived and chronically stimulated by KIT because they all contain the same point mutation causing constitutive activation of KIT. Mast cells in both spleen and skin expressed tryptase, but only in the skin did a majority of mast cells express chymase. We conclude that chronic stimulation of the KIT-kit ligand axis does not irrevocably commit mast cells to a chymase-positive or chymase-negative phenotype. These findings suggest that factors other than kit ligand predominate in determining mast cell phenotype.
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PMID:Chronically KIT-stimulated clonally-derived human mast cells show heterogeneity in different tissue microenvironments. 945 20

Immunohistochemistry plays a key role in the diagnosis and classification of hematolymphoid neoplasms. New cell and lineage markers are constantly being discovered and added to the existing long list of antibodies. In this review article we provide general information and new applications of the commonly used hematolymphoid markers. We also discuss the features and applications of some newly discovered markers, such as ALK, fascin, granzyme/perforin, and tryptase. There is no universal "panel" for the diagnosis of hematolymphoid neoplasms. However, in this review article, we provide suggested panels for a given hematolymphoid neoplasm that is based on our experience and that reported in the literature.
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PMID:Practical applications of immunohistochemistry in hematolymphoid neoplasms. 1019 91

Systemic mastocytosis is a disease of mast cell proliferation that may be associated with hematologic disorders. There are no features on examination that allow the diagnosis of systemic disease, and mast cell-derived mediators, which may be elevated in urine or blood, may also be elevated in individuals with severe allergic disorders. Thus, the diagnosis usually depends on results of bone marrow biopsy. To facilitate evaluation, surrogate markers of the extent and severity of the disease are needed. Because of the association of mastocytosis with hematologic disease, plasma levels were measured for soluble KIT (sKIT) and soluble interleukin-2 receptor alpha chain (sCD25), which are known to be cleaved in part from the mast cell surface and are elevated in some hematologic malignancies. Results revealed that levels of both soluble receptors are increased in systemic mastocytosis. Median plasma sKIT concentrations as expressed by AU/mL (1 AU = 1.4 ng/mL) were as follows: controls, 176 (n = 60); urticaria pigmentosa without systemic involvement, 194 (n = 8); systemic indolent mastocytosis, 511 (n = 30); systemic mastocytosis with an associated hematologic disorder, 1320 (n = 7); aggressive mastocytosis, 3390 (n = 3). Plasma sCD25 levels were elevated in systemic mastocytosis; the highest levels were associated with extensive bone marrow involvement. Levels of sKIT correlated with total tryptase levels, sCD25 levels, and bone marrow pathology. These results demonstrate that sKIT and sCD25 are useful surrogate markers of disease severity in patients with mastocytosis and should aid in diagnosis, in the selection of those needing a bone marrow biopsy, and in the documentation of disease progression. (Blood. 2000;96:1267-1273)
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PMID:Soluble stem cell factor receptor (CD117) and IL-2 receptor alpha chain (CD25) levels in the plasma of patients with mastocytosis: relationships to disease severity and bone marrow pathology. 1094 67

A novel subtype of myeloid leukemia exhibiting a partial differentiation of mast cell-lineage cells is described. The disease is characterized by an increase in myeloblasts as well as an increase in immature (blast-like) metachromatic cells (>10% in bone marrow or blood smears). Metachromatic cells express KIT (CD117) and tryptase, but lack basophil-related antigens. In contrast to mast cell leukemia/systemic mastocytosis, metachromatic cells do not express CD2 or CD25, do not form multifocal dense aggregates in the bone marrow, and do not exhibit transforming mutations at codon 816 of c-kit. In the few patients recorded so far, a complex karyotype without recurring anomaly was found. The prognosis appears to be grave, although complete remission in response to chemotherapy has been described.
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PMID:Myelomastocytic leukemia: myeloid neoplasm characterized by partial differentiation of mast cell-lineage cells. 1203 70

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a potent mitogenic factor for smooth muscle cells, myofibroblasts, and fibroblasts, proliferation of which is a hallmark of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). Mast cells produce bFGF and have been associated with pulmonary fibrosis. We hypothesize that smooth muscle cell/myofibroblast-like cells will be spatially associated with bFGF-containing mast cells and that bFGF receptors will be expressed on the effector cells in IPF and LAM. We performed quantitative immunohistochemistry for bFGF, mast cell tryptase, smooth muscle actin for smooth muscle cell/myofibroblast-like cells, and fibroblast growth factor receptors (Flg, Bek) and measured collagen and elastic fiber in lung sections from IPF (n = 14), LAM (n = 9), and control lung (n = 10). IPF and LAM lung contained more smooth muscle cell/myofibroblast-like cells than did control lung. bFGF-containing mast cells were abundant both in IPF and LAM and were associated with collagen, elastic fibers, and smooth muscle cell/myofibroblast-like cells in IPF. Flg was expressed on epithelial cells, endothelial cells, smooth muscle cell/myofibroblast-like cells, and macrophages in IPF. In LAM, Flg was expressed on epithelial cells adjacent to smooth muscle cell/myofibroblast-like cell aggregates. Bek was expressed dominantly on smooth muscle cell/myofibroblast-like cells in LAM and on smooth muscle cell/myofibroblast-like cells as well as neutrophils in IPF. These data suggest that mast cell-derived bFGF might exert fibrogenic, proliferative effects on smooth muscle cell/myofibroblast-like cells through its receptors.
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PMID:Basic fibroblast growth factor and its receptors in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and lymphangioleiomyomatosis. 1220 79

Despite maturation arrest, blast cells in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are often capable of expressing lineage-restricted (granulomonocytic or myelomastocytic) differentiation antigens. Tryptases are lineage-associated serine proteases primarily expressed in mast cells, and less abundantly in blood basophils. We have recently shown that myeloblasts in a group of patients with AML (approximately 40%) produce significant amounts of tryptase(s). In these patients, serum tryptase levels are elevated (> 15 ng/ml) and reflect the total burden of leukemic cells. In most cases, myeloblasts express alpha-tryptase mRNA in excess over beta-tryptase mRNA, and secrete the respective protein (= pro-alpha-tryptase) in a constitutive manner. It was also found that these AML blasts frequentlyco-express tryptase with additional mast cell lineage- and/or basophil-related differentiation antigens including KIT (CD117), histamine, and 2D7. We hypothesize that tryptase-positive AMLs arise from a leukemic progenitor that exhibits a limited potential to differentiate into mast cells and/or basophils.
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PMID:Tryptase a novel biochemical marker of acute myeloid leukemia. 1261 10

Since serum tryptase levels are elevated in some patients with myeloproliferative disorders, we examined their utility in identifying a subset of patients with hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) and an underlying myeloproliferative disorder. Elevated serum tryptase levels (> 11.5 ng/mL) were present in 9 of 15 patients with HES and were associated with other markers of myeloproliferation, including elevated B12 levels and splenomegaly. Although bone marrow biopsies in these patients showed increased numbers of CD25+ mast cells and atypical spindle-shaped mast cells, patients with HES and elevated serum tryptase could be distinguished from patients with systemic mastocytosis and eosinophilia by their clinical manifestations, the absence of mast cell aggregates, the lack of a somatic KIT mutation, and the presence of the recently described fusion of the Fip1-like 1 (FIP1L1) gene to the platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha gene (PDGFRA). Patients with HES and elevated serum tryptase were more likely to develop fibroproliferative end organ damage, and 3 of 9 died within 5 years of diagnosis in contrast to 0 of 6 patients with normal serum tryptase levels. All 6 patients with HES and elevated tryptase treated with imatinib demonstrated a clinical and hematologic response. In summary, elevated serum tryptase appears to be a sensitive marker of a myeloproliferative variant of HES that is characterized by tissue fibrosis, poor prognosis, and imatinib responsiveness.
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PMID:Elevated serum tryptase levels identify a subset of patients with a myeloproliferative variant of idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome associated with tissue fibrosis, poor prognosis, and imatinib responsiveness. 1452 92

Mast cell sarcoma is an extremely rare and aggressive type of mast cell disease. Only a few cases have been described so far, and little is known about the biology and phenotype of afflicted cells. We describe morphologic and immunophenotypic properties of neoplastic mast cells in a case of an intracranial mast cell sarcoma. In Wright-Giemsa-stained cytospin preparations, the morphology of dispersed cells appeared to be highly atypical with a considerable percentage of metachromatic blasts and mast cells with bilobed or multilobed nuclei. Combined toluidine blue/immunofluorescence staining revealed expression of CD13, CD45, CD88, CD116, and CD117 (c-KIT) on neoplastic mast cells. As assessed by immunohistochemistry, mast cells were immunoreactive for tryptase and CD68R, In contrast, the CD2 antigen that is expressed in mast cells in patients with indolent systemic mastocytosis was not detectable. Mast cells also failed to display the c-KIT mutation Asp-816-Val, which is typically found in systemic mast cell disorders. Together, neoplastic mast cells in a case of mast cell sarcoma were found to exhibit unique morphologic, phenotypical, and molecular features when compared with mast cells in indolent mastocytosis or normal tissue mast cells.
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PMID:Morphologic and immunophenotypic properties of neoplastic cells in a case of mast cell sarcoma. 1282 96


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