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)

The urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (u-PAR) facilitates extracellular matrix degradation in part by accelerating plasmin formation at the cell surface. We previously reported that u-PAR expression is elevated in colon cancer cell lines characterized by their in vitro invasive capacity. Since, u-PAR expression is increased by a variety of growth factors, which signal through the extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/ERK2), we determined if these mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) regulate u-PAR expression in two cultured colon cancer cell lines. An in-gel kinase assay showed that ERK1 activity was considerably higher in RKO cells, which display > or = 10(5) receptors/cell, than the GEO cells which have approximately 10(4) urokinase receptors per cell. The expression of either an ERK-inactivating phosphatase (CL100), or a kinase-defective ERK1, decreased the activity of a u-PAR promoter-driven CAT reporter in RKO cells. Immune complex kinase assays indicated that the constitutive ERK1 activity in RKO cells was largely a result of an activated MEK1. Further, treatment of RKO cells with a specific inhibitor (PD 098059) of MEK1 activation, which diminished ERK1 activity, reduced the amount of urokinase specifically bound to the cell surface and this was associated with reduced laminin degradation. The expression of a dominant negative c-Raf-1 also reduced u-PAR promoter activity suggesting that MEK1 activation involved an activator at, or upstream, of this serine-threonine kinase. Transfection of the u-PAR-deficient GEO cells with a constitutively activated MEK1 expression construct up-regulated u-PAR promoter activity. Similarly treatment of GEO cells with a phosphatase inhibitor (sodium vanadate) caused a dose-dependent increase in ERK1 activity which paralleled increased cell surface binding of urokinase. Taken together, these data suggest that elevated u-PAR expression, in at least a sub-population of colon cancer, is partly a consequence of a constitutively activated ERK-1-dependent signaling cascade.
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PMID:Elevated urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor expression in a colon cancer cell line is due to a constitutively activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1-dependent signaling cascade. 919 Oct 56

The goal of this research was to evaluate the in vitro stability of fibrin coatings on polymeric materials in the presence of plasmin. Factor XIIIa-crosslinked and noncrosslinked fibrin layers were coated on three different polyurethane substrates: Corethane, Tegaderm, and a biodegradable polyurethane, PCL/HDI/Phe. Degradation assays indicated that crosslinking the fibrin coatings enhanced the stability of the coatings on both Tegaderm and PCL/HDI/Phe; however, the persistence of the coating on the woven Corethane was not influenced by crosslinking. Degradation assay results also showed that the fibrin coating on the Corethane was significantly less stable than the fibrin coatings on the Tegaderm and PCL/HDI/Phe films. The chromogenic substrate assay data showed crosslinking did not affect the specific plasmin activity on the coatings; therefore, the increased stability resulting from crosslinking was not achieved through a reduction of fibrinolysis. The plasmin activity on the coated Corethane samples was much greater than that on either of the coated flat wound dressing materials. The large surface area of Corethane, a porous woven vascular graft material, may have had a direct influence on the fibrinolysis of its coatings by providing a large number of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) binding sites. A thin, crosslinked, fibrin-coated polyurethane provides a theoretically attractive biomaterial for use in a wound dressing application and should be subject to ongoing research.
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PMID:Plasmin degradation of fibrin coatings on synthetic polymer substrates. 1039 86

Degradation of angiogenic mediators might be an underlying cause of chronic wounds. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated the expression and integrity of vascular endothelial growth factor, a potent angiogenic mediator, and its receptors, Flt-1 and KDR, in chronic venous leg ulcerations. Immunohisto- chemical, in situ hybridization, and semiquantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analyses all indicate that expression of vascular endothelial growth factor is elevated in ulcerative tissue, with vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA being especially pronounced in the hyperplastic epithelium of the wound margin. Flt-1 and KDR protein and mRNA were detected in the papillary vessels in close vicinity to the lesional epithelium of chronic wounds. Although increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor protein was detected in the epidermis, the intensity of this staining was weak compared with the epidermal staining in psoriatic lesions and compared with the strong vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA signal in chronic wounds and psoriasis. To analyze whether this apparent decrease in immunoreactivity could be the result of degradation of vascular endothelial growth factor by proteolytic activities from the wound environment, we examined the stability of recombinant vascular endothelial growth factor in wound fluid from chronic leg ulcers. As demonstrated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, incubation of rVEGF165 with chronic, but not acute, wound fluid resulted in rapid proteolytic degradation of rVEGF165. Protease inhibitor studies indicate that serine proteases, such as plasmin, are involved in this degradation. Together, our data show that, although vascular endothelial growth factor expression is elevated in chronic wounds, increased proteolytic activity in this environment results in its degradation, which may contribute to an impaired wound healing response.
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PMID:Expression and proteolysis of vascular endothelial growth factor is increased in chronic wounds. 1088 1

Tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (TFPI-2) is a 32 kDa serine protease inhibitor found at high levels in extracellular matrix. Recombinant human TFPI-2 has recently been shown to be a strong inhibitor of trypsin, plasmin, plasma kallikrein, and factor XIa amidolytic activity. Earlier studies in our laboratory showed that the expression of TFPI-2 is lost during tumor progression in human gliomas. We stably transfected this protease inhibitor in multiform glioblastoma cell line (SNB-19) and in low-grade glioma cell line (Hs683) in sense and antisense orientation respectively. This confirmed that the upregulation/down-regulation of TFPI-2 plays a significant role in the invasive behavior of human gliomas both in vitro and in vivo models. Collectively, these results suggested an idea to determine whether TFPI-2 is necessary for cell survival and inhibition of tumor formation in nude mice, due to apoptosis of intracerebrally injected SNB-19 cells. In the present study we determined p-ERK levels and found that they are decreased in TFPI-2 over-expressed clones (SNB-19) and increased in TFPI-2 down-regulated clones (Hs683). We also checked the levels of BAX/BCl-2, caspases (for e.g., 9, 7, 3, 8), PARP, cytochrome-c and Apaf-1. Moreover, the increase of apoptosis in vitro is associated with increased and decreased expression of apoptotic protein BAX in sense clones (SNB-19) and antisense clones (Hs683) respectively, when compared to controls and vice versa with Bcl-2 the anti-apoptotic protein. Caspases (9, 7 and 3), cytochrome-c, Apaf-1 and PARP levels are increased in SNB-19 and decreased in Hs683. Caspase 8 was not expressed in either cell line. Caspases 9 and 3 activity assay revealed higher activity in sense clones (SNB-19) but lesser in antisense clones (Hs683) compared to controls. This is the first report of TFPI-2 playing a novel role in cell survival in human gliomas.
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PMID:A novel role of tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 in apoptosis of malignant human gliomas. 1149 41

Hormonal contraception for men requires administration of testosterone and gestagens. The effects of a long-acting testosterone ester and 2 different progestins on hemostatic activation parameters were studied in relation to cardiovascular risk. In phase 1, 7 healthy men aged 28-38 years received a single intramuscular injection of 200 mg norethisterone-enanthate (NET-EN) on Day 0. Plasma samples were obtained on Days 0, 14, 41, and 84. In phase 2, 3 groups of 14 healthy men aged 18-45 years received four injections (every 6 weeks) of 1000 mg testosterone undecanoate (TU), plus daily oral placebo or daily oral levonorgestrel (LNG, 250 microg); or four injections (every 6 weeks) of NET-EN. Treatment lasted 24 weeks. Plasma samples were obtained at weeks 0, 16, 24, and 52. All samples were assayed for levels of coagulation factors VIIc, VIIa, XIIc, and XIIa; prothrombin fragment F1+2 (F1+2); antithrombin; plasmin-alpha(2)-antiplasmin-complex (PAP); and fibrinogen. NET-EN alone led to a depletion of sexual hormones and a marked shift in hemostatic parameters with increasing levels of FXIIc, fibrinogen, antithrombin, and F1+2, whereas FVIIc and FVIIa levels decreased. PAP levels increased significantly. Opposite effects were seen in the TU/placebo group, with a significant down-regulation of fibrinolysis and the hemostatic turnover rate. Testosterone effects were attenuated by additional administration of gestagens. The effect of hormonal male contraception using long-acting testosterone esters with or without gestagens was significantly measurable within the hemostatic system. Down-regulation of the hemostatic system with testosterone alone may indicate an antithrombotic effect, whereas clinical consequences of an additional gestagen compound cannot be derived.
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PMID:Contraceptive steroids influence the hemostatic activation state in healthy men. 1206 57

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

We recently described a subset of patients with a myeloproliferative variant of hypereosinophilic syndrome (MHES) characterized by elevated serum tryptase levels, increased atypical mast cells in the bone marrow, tissue fibrosis, and the presence of the fusion tyrosine kinase, FIP1L1-PDGFRalpha, which is a therapeutic target of imatinib mesylate. Seven patients with MHES were treated with imatinib mesylate (300-400 mg daily). Clinical improvement and resolution of eosinophilia was observed in all patients, although cardiac dysfunction, when present, was not altered by therapy. Reversal of bone marrow pathology, including increased cellularity, the presence of spindle-shaped mast cells, and myelofibrosis, was evident in all patients at 4 to 8 weeks following initiation of therapy. This was accompanied by a decrease in activated eosinophils and mast cells in the peripheral blood and bone marrow, respectively. Serum tryptase levels declined rapidly to normal levels in all patients and remained in the normal range throughout therapy. Molecular remission, with disappearance of detectable FIP1L1/PDGFRA (F/P) transcripts, was achieved in 5 of 6 patients tested. The lack of reversal of cardiac abnormalities and persistence of the F/P mutation in some patients suggests that early intervention with higher doses of imatinib mesylate may be desirable in the treatment of patients with MHES.
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PMID:Molecular remission and reversal of myelofibrosis in response to imatinib mesylate treatment in patients with the myeloproliferative variant of hypereosinophilic syndrome. 1450 92

In this study, we showed that plasminogen (Plg) and plasmin (Pla) bind to lysine-binding sites on cell surface and trigger a signaling pathway that activates the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) MEK and ERK1/2, which in turn leads to the expression of the primary response genes c-fos and early growth response gene egr-1. Our data show that the Plg/Pla-stimulated steady-state mRNA levels of both genes reached a maximum by 30 min and then returned to basal levels by 1h. The gene induction was sensitive to both pharmacological and genetic inhibition of MEK. Leupeptin, a serine protease inhibitor, suppressed Pla but not Plg-induced c-fos and egr-1 expression, emphasizing the role played by the serine protease activity associated with Pla. Pre-incubation with cholera toxin completely blocked the Plg/Pla-induced gene expression, suggesting that another signaling pathway, which recruits G protein-coupled receptors, may also be involved. Furthermore, Plg/Pla also stimulated AP-1 and EGR-1 DNA-binding activities, which were abrogated by pharmacological inhibition of MEK. Altogether, these results suggest that Plg/Pla stimulates c-fos and egr-1 expression via activation of the MEK/ERK pathway.
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PMID:Plasminogen/plasmin regulates c-fos and egr-1 expression via the MEK/ERK pathway. 1572 Dec 99

Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) characterized by unexplained and persistent hypereosinophilia is heterogeneous and comprises several entities: a myeloproliferative form where myeloid lineages are involved with the interstitial chromosome 4q12 deletion leading to fusion between FIP1L1 and PDGFRA genes, the latter acquiring increased tyrosine kinase activity. And a lymphocytic variant, where hypereosinophilia is secondary to a primitive T lymphoid disorder demonstrated by the presence of a circulating T-cell clone. We performed molecular characterization of HES in 35 patients with normal karyotype by conventional cytogenetic analysis. TCRgamma gene rearrangements suggesting T clonality were seen in 11 (31%) patients, and FIP1L1-PDGFRA by RT-PCR in six (17%) of 35 patients, who showed no evidence of T-cell clonality. An elevated serum tryptase level was observed in FIP1L1-PDGFRA-positive patients responding to imatinib, whereas serum IL-5 levels were not elevated in T-cell associated hypereosinophilia. Sequencing FIP1L1-PDGFRA revealed scattered breakpoints in FIP1L1-exons (10-13), whereas breakpoints were restricted to exon 12 of PDGFRA. In the 29 patients without FIP1L1-PDGFRA, no activating mutation of PDGFRA/PDGFRB was detected; however; one patient responded to imatinib. FISH analysis of the 4q12 deletion was concordant with FIP1L1-PDGFRA RT-PCR data. Further investigation of the nature of FIP1L1-PDGFRA affected cells will improve the classification of HES.
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PMID:Molecular characterization of the idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) in 35 French patients with normal conventional cytogenetics. 1577 98


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