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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)
Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) have been increasingly recognized to play an important role in the pathobiology of pancreatic malignancy. We have investigated the effects of FGF-1 and FGF-2 on the behaviour and adhesion properties of human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines (BxPc3, T3M4 and HPAF) that were previously characterised for the expression of FGFRs. Here we show that exposure to FGF-1 and FGF-2 leads to significant and dose-dependent increase in
E-cadherin
-dependent cell-cell adhesion, tubular differentiation, and a reduced capacity to invade collagen gels. FGF stimulation produces phosphorylation of
E-cadherin
and beta-catenin on tyrosine residues, as well as increased
E-cadherin
localisation to the cytoplasmic membrane and association with
FGFR1
demonstrable by coimmunoprecipitation. These results demonstrate that FGF-1 and FGF-2 may be involved in the regulation of cell adhesion, differentiation and invasion of pancreatic cancer.
...
PMID:FGF-1 and FGF-2 modulate the E-cadherin/catenin system in pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines. 1140 20
Regional metastasis is an important factor in the prognosis and treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The results of earlier studies suggested the possibility of predicting nodal metastasis in HNSCC using biological markers. To identify which factors may be relevant in the metastatic behaviour of these tumours, the expression of several markers involved in tumour progression was studied in both nodal metastases and their corresponding primary tumours. Expression of p53, Rb, cyclin D1, myc, bcl-2,
EGFR
, neu,
E-cadherin
, epithelial cell adhesion molecule (Ep-CAM), and nm23 was studied in 54 primary tumours and their corresponding metastases in patients with HNSCC. The expression of most genes involved in tumourigenesis (p53, Rb, cyclin D1, myc, bcl-2,
EGFR
, neu, and
E-cadherin
) was similar in primary tumours and metastases. The expression of nm23 and Ep-CAM was found to be more frequently lower than higher in metastases, compared with their primary tumours. Whereas most genetic alterations of primary tumours remain unchanged in metastases, expression of the cell adhesion molecule Ep-CAM and of nm23 is more frequently reduced than increased in metastases, compared with their primary tumours, suggesting relevance to the process of metastasis. This also implies differences in the regulation of markers involved in tumourigenesis and the process of metastasis.
...
PMID:Expression of genetic markers in lymph node metastases compared with their primary tumours in head and neck cancer. 1143 61
The epithelium to mesenchyme transition is thought to play a fundamental role during embryonic development and tumor progression. Loss of cell-cell adhesion and modification of both cell morphology and gene expression are the main events associated with this transition. There is a large amount of evidence suggesting that growth factors can initiate these events. Yet, the connection from growth factor induction to changes in cell adhesion and morphology is largely unknown. To elucidate this connection, we have investigated the action of IGF-II on
E-cadherin
/beta-catenin complex-mediated cell-cell adhesion and on beta-catenin/TCF-3 mediated gene expression. We can show that (1) IGF-II induces a rapid epithelium to mesenchymal transition; (2)
IGF1R
, the receptor for IGF-II, belongs to the same membrane complex as
E-cadherin
and beta-catenin; (3) IGF-II induces a redistribution of beta-catenin from the plasma membrane to the nucleus and an intracellular sequestration and degradation of
E-cadherin
; (4) IGF-II induces the transcription of beta-catenin/TCF-3 target genes. Based on the given case of IGF-II and
E-cadherin
/beta-catenin complex, this study reveals the backbone of a cascade connecting growth factor signaling with cell-cell adhesion during EMT.
...
PMID:IGF-II induces rapid beta-catenin relocation to the nucleus during epithelium to mesenchyme transition. 1152 79
Although FGF signaling plays an integral role in the migration and patterning of mesoderm at gastrulation, the mechanism and downstream targets of FGF activity have remained elusive. Here, we demonstrate that
FGFR1
orchestrates the epithelial to mesenchymal transition and morphogenesis of mesoderm at the primitive streak by controlling Snail and
E-cadherin
expression. Furthermore, we show that
FGFR1
functions in mesoderm cell fate specification by positively regulating Brachyury and Tbx6 expression. Finally, we provide evidence that the attenuation of Wnt3a signaling observed in Fgfr1 -/- embryos can be rescued by lowering
E-cadherin
levels. We propose that modulation of cytoplasmic beta-catenin levels, associated with FGF-induced downregulation of
E-cadherin
, provides a molecular link between FGF and Wnt signaling pathways at the streak.
...
PMID:FGF signaling regulates mesoderm cell fate specification and morphogenetic movement at the primitive streak. 1170 22
Thus far, studies investigating the differences in tumour characteristics between breast cancer in BRCA1-carriers and other patients, have focused on highly selected groups of patients, potentially limiting the conclusions that can be drawn. Previously, we had identified 10 patients with BRCA1 germline mutations in a hospital-based series of 642 breast cancer patients not selected for age or family history. The aim of this analysis is to investigate the clinical and pathological features of these BRCA1 associated carcinomas as compared to other breast cancers in this representative sample. Tumours from patients with BRCA1 germline mutations (n = 10) were compared to an age-matched sample of other patients (n = 50) from the same cohort. The following characteristics were considered: axillary nodal status and tumour size, histologic parameters (tumour type, histologic grade, mitotic rate, tubule formation, nuclear grade, CIS and lymphangio invasion) and expression of several proteins (oestrogen and progesterone receptors, cyclin D1, p53,
HER2
/neu,
E-cadherin
). In BRCA1 associated tumours receptors for oestrogen and progesterone were expressed less frequently (respectively, P = 0.001 and P = 0.002) than in controls, which is in line with findings from other studies. Other differences were also in accordance with findings from other studies, although not statistically significant. We conclude that the features of BRCA1 associated tumours detected in a hospital-based series of breast cancer patients not selected for family history of age at diagnosis are similar to tumours in cases selected for family history or age at diagnosis.
...
PMID:Clinical and pathological features of BRCA1 associated carcinomas in a hospital-based sample of Dutch breast cancer patients. 1172 Apr 73
The expression and activity of epithelial proteinases is under stringent control to prevent aberrant hydrolysis of structural proteins and disruption of tissue architecture.
E-cadherin
-dependent cell-cell adhesion is also important for maintenance of epithelial structural integrity, and loss of
E-cadherin
expression has been correlated with enhanced invasive potential in multiple tumor models. To address the hypothesis that there is a functional link between
E-cadherin
and proteinase expression, we have examined the role of
E-cadherin
in proteinase regulation. By using a calcium switch protocol to manipulate junction assembly, our data demonstrate that initiation of de novo
E-cadherin
-mediated adhesive contacts suppresses expression of both relative matrix metalloproteinase-9 levels and net urinary-type plasminogen activator activity.
E-cadherin
-mediated cell-cell adhesion increases both phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3-kinase)-dependent AKT phosphorylation and epidermal growth factor receptor-dependent MAPK/
ERK
activation. Pharmacologic inhibition of the PI3-kinase pathway, but not the epidermal growth factor receptor/MAPK pathway, prevents
E-cadherin
-mediated suppression of proteinases and delays junction assembly. Moreover, inhibition of junction assembly with a function-blocking anti-
E-cadherin
antibody stimulates proteinase-dependent Matrigel invasion. As matrix metalloproteinase-9 and urinary-type plasminogen activator potentiate the invasive activity of oral squamous cell carcinoma, these data suggest
E-cadherin
-mediated signaling through PI3-kinase can regulate the invasive behavior of cells by modulating proteinase secretion.
...
PMID:Proteinase suppression by E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell attachment in premalignant oral keratinocytes. 1213 62
Melanoma begins with benign nevi and progresses to radial growth phase (RGP) and to vertical growth phase [(VGP), metastatic phenotype]. The molecular changes associated with these transitions are not yet well defined. However, transcriptional regulation of some genes that are critical in melanoma progression is beginning to be elucidated. The first part of this review will focus on our recent studies demonstrating that progression of human melanoma is associated with loss of expression of the transcription factor AP-2. In metastatic melanoma cells, this loss resulted in overexpression of MCAM/MUC18 and MMP-2, and lack of expression of c-
KIT
. In further investigations, we inactivated AP-2 in SB-2 primary cutaneous melanoma cells by using a dominant-negative AP-2, the AP-2B gene. Expression of AP-2B in SB-2 cells augmented their tumorigenicity in nude mice and upregulated MMP-2 expression and activity. We have also recently demonstrated that loss of AP-2 expression in metastatic melanoma cells resulted in overproduction of the thrombin receptor, PAR-1. Other studies have shown that AP-2 regulates additional genes involved in melanoma development and progression, including
E-cadherin
, p21/WAF-1,
HER2
, Bcl-2, FAS/APO-1, IGF-R-1, and VEGF. We propose that loss of AP-2 is crucial in the development of malignant melanoma. Additionally, the transition of melanoma cells from RGP to VGP is associated with overexpression of two transcription factors, CREB and ATF-1, both of which may act as survival factors for human melanoma cells. The second part of the review will briefly discuss the role of other transcription factors, including ATF-2, SNAIL, MITF, and NFkappaB in the progression of human melanoma and will summarize recent knowledge on how changes in the expression of these transcription factors contribute to acquisition of the metastatic phenotype in human melanoma.
...
PMID:Transcriptional regulation of metastasis-related genes in human melanoma. 1274 83
CD34+ cell-derived hematopoietic precursors amplified with
FLT3
-ligand, thrombopoietin and stem cell factor became, after a 6-day induction with GM-CSF, IL-4 and TGF-beta1, HLA-DR+, CD1a+, CD83-, CD86-, CD80- cells. A fraction of them expressed Langerin, Lag, and
E-cadherin
, resembling epidermal Langerhans cells (LC). TNF-alpha added for the last 3 days only marginally induced CD83 expression, but strikingly increased the proportion of immature Langerin+CD83- LC. Langerin+CD83+ and Langerin+CD83- cells were functionally distinct, the former internalizing less efficiently Langerin than the latter. Both CD1a-CD14- and CD1a-CD14+ cells sorted from
FLT3
-ligand, thrombopoietin and stem cell factor cultures responded to TNF-alpha by an increase of Langerin+ cells. Thus, TNF-alpha rescued LC precursors irrespective of their commitment to the monocytic lineage. When added to GM-CSF, IL-4 and TGF-beta1 containing-cultures, LPS or IL-1beta also induced significant numbers of Langerin+CD83- immature cells displaying a low allostimulatory activity, while CD40-ligand largely promoted highly allostimulatory Langerin-CD83+ cells. Altogether, these data show that in contrast to CD40-ligand, which induced LC maturation even in presence of TGF-beta1, nonspecific proinflammatory factors such as TNF-alpha, IL-1 or LPS, essentially induced immature LC generation, and little cell activation in the presence of TGF-beta1.
...
PMID:TNF-alpha induces the generation of Langerin/(CD207)+ immature Langerhans-type dendritic cells from both CD14-CD1a and CD14+CD1a- precursors derived from CD34+ cord blood cells. 1288 72
Constitutive activation of the MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK)1-ERK2 signaling module in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK)-C7 cells disrupts their ability to form cyst-like structures in collagen gels and induces an invasive, myofibroblast-like phenotype. However, the reversibility of these cellular events, as well as the relative role of both MEK isoforms (MEK1 and MEK2) and both
ERK
isoforms (ERK1 and ERK2) during these processes, has not yet been investigated. We now report that loss of constitutively active MEK1 (caMEK1) and, thus, loss of active ERK1/2 in C7caMEK1 cells is associated with increased MEK2 protein expression, reexpression of ERK1 protein, and epithelial redifferentiation of these cells. The morphological changes toward an epithelial phenotype in these revertant cell lines (C7rev4, C7rev5, C7rev7) are reflected by the upregulation of epithelial marker proteins, such as
E-cadherin
, beta-catenin, and cytokeratin, by the loss of alpha-smooth muscle actin expression, and by the ability of these epithelial revertants to form well-organized spherical cysts when grown in three-dimensional collagen gels. Further evidence for a role of the MEK1-ERK1/2 module in epithelial-mesenchymal transition was obtained from the analysis of two novel, spontaneously transdifferentiated MDCK-C7 cell clones (C7e1 and C7e2 cells). In these clones, increased MEK1/2-ERK1/2 phosphorylation, reduced MEK2 protein expression, and loss of ERK1 protein expression is associated with phenotypic alterations similar to those observed in transdifferentiated C7caMEK1 cells. C7e1 cells at least partially regained some of their epithelial characteristics at higher passages. In contrast, C7e2 cells maintained a transdifferentiated phenotype at high passage, were unable to generate cyst-like epithelial structures, and retained invasive properties when grown on a three-dimensional collagen matrix. We conclude that in renal epithelial MDCK-C7 cells, stable epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is associated with loss of ERK1 protein expression, reduced MEK2 protein expression, and increased basal ERK2 phosphorylation. In contrast, loss of active MEK1-ERK1/2 results in increased MEK2 protein expression and reexpression of ERK1 protein, concomitant with the restoration of epithelial phenotype and the ability to form cystic structures.
...
PMID:Loss of active MEK1-ERK1/2 restores epithelial phenotype and morphogenesis in transdifferentiated MDCK cells. 1290 Mar 89
We have investigated the role of a classical isoform of protein kinase C (PKCgamma) in promoting immortalized mammary cell tumorigenesis in vivo and the contribution of proteases and adhesion molecules to this process. We hypothesized that overexpression of PKCgamma in immortalized mammary epithelial cells may initiate, by activating the mitogenic
ERK
pathway, early changes in proteases, adhesion molecules, and markers of an epithelium-to-mesenchyme transition that may contribute to in vivo tumorigenesis. Here we show that compared to vector-transfected cells, immortalized murine mammary epithelial cells (NMuMG) overexpressing PKCgamma have stronger activation of (approximately 5-fold) ERK1/2 MAPKs, which results in a similar increase in cyclin D1. In addition, PKCgamma-expressing cells showed increased levels of vimentin, fibronectin (FN), beta1-integrins, enhanced adhesion to fibronectin, and its organization into fibrils. Concomitantly, PKCgamma induced a dramatic down-regulation of
E-cadherin
protein levels and its localization to cell-cell junctions. NMuMG cells expressing PKCgamma became resistant to death by anoikis and formed colonies in soft agar. This effect was dependent on
ERK
activation, because Mek1/2 inhibition with PD98059 abrogated anchorage-independent growth. Most importantly, unlike control NMuMG cells, PKCgamma-transfected cells inoculated s.c. into nude mice displayed tumorigenic and invasive capacity and were able to spontaneously metastasize. This behavior correlated with increased production of uPA and MMPs-9/-2 induced by PKCgamma. These results suggest that PKCgamma overexpression in immortalized mammary epithelial cells may generate, through an increase in
ERK
, signaling changes in the expression of genes associated with an epithelium-to-mesenchyme transition that may be sufficient to favor tumor growth in vivo.
...
PMID:Immortalized mammary epithelial cells overexpressing protein kinase C gamma acquire a malignant phenotype and become tumorigenic in vivo. 1293 3
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