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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 epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor gene
EGFR
has been placed in a retrovirus vector to examine the growth properties of cells that experimentally overproduce a full-length EGF receptor. NIH 3T3 cells transfected with the viral DNA or infected with the corresponding rescued retrovirus developed a fully transformed phenotype in vitro that required both functional
EGFR
expression and the presence of
EGF
in the growth medium. Cells expressing 4 x 10(5)
EGF
receptors formed tumors in nude mice, while control cells did not. Therefore, the
EGFR
retrovirus, which had a titer on NIH 3T3 cells that was greater than 10(7) focus-forming units per milliliter, can efficiently transfer and express this gene, and increased numbers of
EGF
receptors can contribute to the transformed phenotype.
...
PMID:Epidermal-growth-factor-dependent transformation by a human EGF receptor proto-oncogene. 350 May 13
Methods for isolating highly purified Leydig cells permit the study of acute responses and biochemical properties of Leydig cells independent of other testicular cell types. The present study describes the development of a primary culture system for purified Leydig cells from adult rats in which the cells retain their ability to secrete testosterone for at least 72 h in culture. When Leydig cells were cultured in tissue culture medium 199--0.1% BSA (M199-BSA), basal testosterone secretion declined by 72 h, whereas hCGB-stimulated testosterone secretion was reduced by 48 h. Changing the culture medium twice daily or adding 0.5% fetal calf serum (fcs) enhanced basal and gonadotropin-stimulated testosterone secretion at 72 h in culture, although responsiveness to hCG was reduced to 57% of that in freshly isolated cells. Incubation of Leydig cells in the defined culture medium Dulbecco's Modified Eagles-Ham's F-12 (1:1, vol/vol) supplemented with 15 mM Hepes buffer, transferrin, insulin, and
epidermal growth factor
(DHG:F12 + Hepes +
TIE
) in either the presence or absence of 0.5% fcs yielded functional Leydig cells for longer intervals in culture. Furthermore, testosterone secretion was greater in DHG:F12 + Hepes +
TIE
than in M199-BSA at all time intervals tested. In DHG:F12 + Hepes +
TIE
, basal and gonadotropin-stimulated testosterone production by Leydig cells were maintained for 72 h in culture. Degenerative changes in morphology were apparent in some cells at 72 h, but not at earlier times in culture. This primary culture system for isolated Leydig cells provides a valuable tool to examine the temporally regulated events in Leydig cell function.
...
PMID:Primary culture of purified Leydig cells isolated from adult rat testes. 684 62
The topical application of recombinant growth factors such as
epidermal growth factor
, platelet-derived growth factor-BB homodimer (rPDGF-BB), keratinocyte growth factor (rKGF), and neu differentiation factor has resulted in significant acceleration of healing in several animal models of wound repair. In this study, we established highly reproducible and quantifiable full and deep partial thickness porcine burn models in which burns were escharectomized 4 or 5 days postburn and covered with an occlusive dressing to replicate the standard treatment in human burn patients. We then applied these growth factors to assess their efficacy on several parameters of wound repair: extracellular matrix and granulation tissue production, percent reepithelialization, and new epithelial area. In full thickness burns, only rPDGF-BB and the combination of rPDGF-BB and rKGF induced significant changes in burn repair. rPDGF-BB induced marked extracellular matrix and granulation tissue production (P = 0.013) such that the burn defect was filled within several days of escharectomy, but had no effect on new epithelial area or reepithelialization. The combination of rPDGF-BB and rKGF in full thickness burns resulted in a highly significant increase in extracellular matrix and granulation tissue area (P = 0.0009) and a significant increase in new epithelial area (P = 0.007), but had no effect on reepithelialization. In deep partial thickness burns, rKGF induced the most consistent changes. Daily application of rKGF induced a highly significant increase in new epithelial area (P < 0.0001) but induced only a modest increase in reepithelialization (83.7% rKGF-treated versus 70.2% control; P = 0.016) 12 days postburn. rKGF also doubled the number of fully reepithelialized burns (P = 0.02) at 13 days postburn, at least partially because of marked stimulation of both epidermal and follicular proliferation as assessed by proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression. In situ hybridization for
KGFR
in porcine burns revealed strong expression of
KGFR
on hair follicles and basal epidermis, confirming direct rKGF action on follicular as well as epidermal keratinocytes. Although the epithelial proliferation induced by rKGF resulted in marked neoepidermal psoriasiform hyperplasia with exaggerated rete ridges and neoepidermal and follicular maturation as assessed by expression of cytokeratin 10, a marker of keratinocyte terminal differentiation was not delayed and appeared to be accelerated in some rKGF-treated burns. Recombinant
epidermal growth factor
induced a trend toward increased new epithelial area in deep partial thickness burns, but had no effect on reepithelialization. The recombinant neu differentiation factor-alpha 2 isoform had no significant biological effects in either full or deep partial thickness burns.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
...
PMID:Growth factors in porcine full and partial thickness burn repair. Differing targets and effects of keratinocyte growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor-BB, epidermal growth factor, and neu differentiation factor. 748 90
We used molecular cloning and functional analyses to extend the family of
Neu
differentiation factors (NDFs) and to explore the biochemical activity of different NDF isoforms. Exhaustive cloning revealed the existence of six distinct fibroblastic pro-NDFs, whose basic transmembrane structure includes an immunoglobulin-like motif and an
epidermal growth factor
(
EGF
)-like domain. Structural variation is confined to three domains: the C-terminal portion of the
EGF
-like domain (isoforms alpha and beta), the adjacent juxtamembrane stretch (isoforms 1 to 4), and the variable-length cytoplasmic domain (isoforms a, b, and c). Only certain combinations of the variable domains exist, and they display partial tissue specificity in their expression: pro-NDF-alpha 2 is the predominant form in mesenchymal cells, whereas pro-NDF-beta 1 is the major neuronal isoform. Only the transmembrane isoforms were glycosylated and secreted as biologically active 44-kDa glycoproteins, implying that the transmembrane domain functions as an internal signal peptide. Extensive glycosylation precedes proteolytic cleavage of pro-NDF but has no effect on receptor binding. By contrast, the
EGF
-like domain fully retains receptor binding activity when expressed separately, but its beta-type C terminus displays higher affinity than alpha-type NDFs. Likewise, structural heterogeneity of the cytoplasmic tails may determine isoform-specific rate of pro-NDF processing. Taken together, these results suggest that different NDF isoforms are generated by alternative splicing and perform distinct tissue-specific functions.
...
PMID:Structural and functional aspects of the multiplicity of Neu differentiation factors. 750 48
Human tumors can constitutively express cytokines and growth factors, but the extent of this expression has not been investigated. Using 44 different probes to cytokines, growth factors, and their receptors, we tested 21 melanoma and 5 melanocyte cultures for RNA transcript expression by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. With 30 amplification cycles, expression of the cytokines interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), IL-7, gro alpha, IL-8 and the p35 chain of IL-12 was detected in more than 60% of melanomas. Concomitant receptors for IL-6 and IL-7 were also detected. IL-1 alpha, IL-5, Rantes, IL-10, interferon (IFN)-beta, tumor-necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, G-colony-stimulating factor (CSF) and GM-CSF were expressed at lower levels. Melanocytes showed greatly reduced cytokine RNA transcripts, and only gro alpha was consistently detected. No expression of IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-9, the p40 chain of IL-12, IFN-alpha or IFN-gamma RNA transcripts was detected in melanomas or melanocytes. The growth factors expressed by melanomas and, after further signal amplification, by melanocytes were transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha,
epidermal growth factor
(
EGF
), TGF-beta, endothelial-cell growth factor (ECGF), basic-fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), nerve growth factor (NGF) and steel. The receptors
EGFR
, FGFR, NGFRp70 and c-kit were also expressed by melanomas and melanocytes. These results point to new possible autocrine and paracrine pathways in melanoma biology.
...
PMID:Expression of cytokine/growth factors and their receptors in human melanoma and melanocytes. 750 78
We analyzed the binding site(s) for Grb2 on the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (
EGFR
), using cell lines overexpressing EGFRs containing various point and deletion mutations in the carboxy-terminal tail. Results of co-immunoprecipitation experiments suggest that phosphotyrosines Y-1068 and Y-1173 mediate the binding of Grb2 to the
EGFR
. Competition experiments with synthetic phosphopeptides corresponding to known autophosphorylation sites on the
EGFR
demonstrated that phosphopeptides containing Y-1068, and to a lesser extent Y-1086, were able to inhibit the binding of Grb2 to the
EGFR
, while a Y-1173 peptide did not. These findings were confirmed by using a dephosphorylation protection assay and by measuring the dissociation constants of Grb2's SH2 domain to tyrosine-phosphorylated peptides, using real-time biospecific interaction analysis (BIAcore). From these studies, we concluded that Grb2 binds directly to the
EGFR
at Y-1068, to a lesser extent at Y-1086, and indirectly at Y-1173. Since Grb2 also binds Shc after
EGF
stimulation, we investigated whether Y-1173 is a binding site for the SH2 domain of Shc on the
EGFR
. Both competition experiments with synthetic phosphopeptides and dephosphorylation protection analysis demonstrated that Y-1173 and Y-992 are major and minor binding sites, respectively, for Shc on the
EGFR
. However, other phosphorylation sites in the carboxy-terminal tail of the
EGFR
are able to compensate for the loss of the main binding sites for Shc. These analyses reveal a hierarchy of interactions between Grb2 and Shc with the
EGFR
and indicate that Grb2 can bind the tyrosine-phosphorylated
EGFR
directly, as well as indirectly via Shc.
...
PMID:Hierarchy of binding sites for Grb2 and Shc on the epidermal growth factor receptor. 751 60
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its receptor, the product of c-
MET
proto-oncogene, are highly expressed in both fetal and adult lung, though their physiologic functions in the lung are largely unknown. In the present study, we examined whether alveolar type II cells in the lung are the target of HGF and whether HGF has any effects on growth of these cells. The alveolar epithelial type II cells were isolated from the lungs of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats by elastase digestion, and the cells were used to determine whether they express HGF and c-
MET
mRNAs and whether recombinant HGF has any effect on their DNA synthesis in primary culture. The effects were further compared with those induced by
epidermal growth factor
(
EGF
), acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF), transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1). Northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization revealed that type II cells express c-
MET
mRNA but not HGF mRNA. HGF stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation into type II cells in primary cultures. An increase was also seen in labeling index as determined by nuclear immunostaining of bromodeoxyuridine-incorporated DNA. While aFGF (200 ng/ml) exerted an effect comparable to HGF (25 ng/ml) on DNA synthesis in type II cells,
EGF
(20 ng/ml) and TGF-alpha (100 ng/ml) had lesser effects. TGF-beta 1, a potent inhibitor of epithelial cell proliferation, at 0.25 to 2 ng/ml, did not inhibit HGF-induced [3H]thymidine incorporation into type II cells. The results indicate that HGF exerts its effects on type II cells as a potent mitogen by a paracrine mode of action.
...
PMID:Hepatocyte growth factor stimulates DNA synthesis in alveolar epithelial type II cells in vitro. 753 19
Antagonists of steroid hormones are clinically important in the management of breast cancer. However, the duration of response is limited due to the development of hormone-independent tumors in virtually all cases. In an attempt to obtain insight into the mechanisms underlying antiestrogen resistance, the consequences of epigenetic changes in gene expression were studied in vitro. Estrogen-dependent ZR-75-1 human breast cancer cells were treated with 5-azacytidine, an inhibitor of DNA methylation, and cultured in the absence of estradiol or in the presence of antiestrogens. Estrogen-independent cell colonies developed within 3 weeks at high frequency in 5-azacytidine-treated cultures (0.7 x 10(-3), in contrast to control cultures (< or = 10(-8). The derived cells (ZR/AZA) were resistant to 4-hydroxytamoxifen and ICI 164,384, independent of the selection protocol, but had lost the ability to grow anchorage-independent. Whereas expression of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and pS2 were down-regulated, expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor and
HER2
/neu were increased in ZR/AZA cells. In contrast to the stable altered expression patterns of estrogen receptor and EGF receptor, transient keratin 7 expression was observed. Transforming growth factor-alpha mRNA was identified in ZR-75-1 cells and ZR/AZA cells and
EGF
-like peptides were secreted in the culture medium. Proliferation of ZR/AZA cells could be partially inhibited with an EGF receptor-blocking antibody. Presence of both growth factor receptors and possible ligands suggests the development of an autocrine growth mechanism. Our data show that epigenetic alterations of gene expression result in rapid progression of breast cancer cells to hormone independence.
...
PMID:Induction of estrogen independence of ZR-75-1 human breast cancer cells by epigenetic alterations. 753 60
The receptor (
EGFR
) for
epidermal growth factor
(
EGF
) and transforming growth alpha (TGF alpha) is often overexpressed in certain types of human malignancy and high levels of expression of the receptor and/or coexpression of growth factors.
EGF
and TGF alpha have also been correlated with poor prognosis in many patients. We have produced a number of rat monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against four distinct epitopes on the external domain of the EGF receptor and are currently evaluating their potential for therapeutic use. Nine of these of MAbs were found to inhibit the binding of TGF and
EGF
to the receptor on tumor cells and these MAbs were able to inhibit the growth in vitro and in vivo of tumor cells that overexpress the EGF receptor. Here, we describe the results of experiments to determine the antitumor activity of combination treatment with two antibodies directed against separate epitopes on the external domain of human
EGFR
. Our results showed that treatment of human tumor xenografts with a combination of two anti-
EGFR
MAbs that bind to two distinct epitopes on the external domain of EGF receptor was not as effective as treatment with ICR62 alone, which binds to epitope C on the
EGFR
and is of IgG2b isotype. A phase I clinical trial with antibody ICR62 is currently underway in Royal Marseden Hospital (UK) in patients with head and neck and lung carcinomas.
...
PMID:Antitumor activity of combinations of antibodies directed against different epitopes on the extracellular domain of the human EGF receptor. 753 11
Although signaling by the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor is thought to be dependent on receptor tyrosine kinase activity, it is clear that mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase can be activated by receptors lacking kinase activity. Since analysis of the signaling pathways used by kinase-defective receptors could reveal otherwise masked capabilities, we examined in detail the tyrosine phosphorylations and enzymes of the MAP kinase pathway induced by kinase-defective
EGF
receptors. Following
EGF
stimulation of B82L cells expressing a kinase-defective EGF receptor mutant (K721M), we found that ERK2 and ERK1 MAP kinases, as well as MEK1 and MEK2 were all activated, and SHC became prominently tyrosine-phosphorylated. By contrast, kinase-defective receptors failed to induce detectable phosphorylations of GAP (GTPase-activating protein), p62, JAK1, or p91STAT1, all of which were robustly phosphorylated by wild-type receptors. These data demonstrate that kinase-defective receptors induce several protein tyrosine phosphorylations, but that these represent only a subset of those seen with wild-type receptors. This suggests that kinase-defective receptors activate a heterologous tyrosine kinase with a specificity different from the EGF receptor. We found that kinase-defective receptors induced ErbB2/c-
Neu
enzymatic activation and ErbB2/c-
Neu
binding to SHC at a level even greater than that induced by wild-type receptors. Thus, heterodimerization with and activation of endogenous ErbB2/c-
Neu
is a possible mechanism by which kinase-defective receptors stimulate the MAP kinase pathway.
...
PMID:An incomplete program of cellular tyrosine phosphorylations induced by kinase-defective epidermal growth factor receptors. 753 32
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