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 immunohistochemical Cathepsin D (CD) expression of tumour and stromal cells was investigated in a series of 93 human colorectal adenocarcinomas and 22 adenomas with the intention to evaluate its prognostic significance and its contribution in the metastatic potential of colorectal cancer. CD expression was correlated with the expression of extracellular matrix components (collagen type IV, laminin and fibronectin), p53 protein, pRb, bcl-2, c-erbB-2, EGFR, proliferation indices (Ki-67, PCNA) as well as with other conventional clinicopathological features. CD expression (> 10% of positive tumour cells) was observed in 60.2% of carcinomas and in 72.7% of adenomas. Stromal CD expression was detected in all cases. A statistically significant positive correlation between neoplastic cells CD and stromal cells CD (SCCD) was observed in both carcinomas and adenomas. Cancer cells CD (CCCD) was positively correlated with collagen type IV and pRb expression as well as with PCNA score. In carcinomas, SCCD expression was statistically correlated with p53 protein and pRb expression and a trend for correlation with PCNA score was found. These data suggest that Cathepsin D of cancer and stromal cells, especially in combination with other markers, may provide more information about the biological behaviour of colorectal cancer.
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PMID:Immunohistochemical evaluation of cathepsin D expression in colorectal tumours: a correlation with extracellular matrix components, p53, pRb, bcl-2, c-erbB-2, EGFR and proliferation indices. 1047 Jan 63

Cell migration and wound contraction requires assembly of actin into a functional myosin motor unit capable of generating force. However, cell migration also involves formation of actin-containing membrane ruffles. Evidence is provided that actin-myosin assembly and membrane ruffling are regulated by distinct signaling pathways in the migratory cell. Interaction of cells with extracellular matrix proteins or cytokines promote cell migration through activation of the MAP kinases ERK1 and ERK2 as well as the molecular coupling of the adaptor proteins p130CAS and c-CrkII. ERK signaling is independent of CAS/Crk coupling and regulates myosin light chain phosphorylation leading to actin-myosin assembly during cell migration and cell-mediated contraction of a collagen matrix. In contrast, membrane ruffling, but not cell contraction, requires Rac GTPase activity and the formation of a CAS/Crk complex that functions in the context of the Rac activating protein DOCK180. Thus, during cell migration ERK and CAS/Crk coupling operate as components of distinct signaling pathways that control actin assembly into myosin motors and membrane ruffles, respectively.
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PMID:Regulation of cell contraction and membrane ruffling by distinct signals in migratory cells. 1047 63

Tissue sections from aggressive human intraocular (uveal) and metastatic cutaneous melanomas generally lack evidence of significant necrosis and contain patterned networks of interconnected loops of extracellular matrix. The matrix that forms these loops or networks may be solid or hollow. Red blood cells have been detected within the hollow channel components of this patterned matrix histologically, and these vascular channel networks have been detected in human tumors angiographically. Endothelial cells were not identified within these matrix-embedded channels by light microscopy, by transmission electron microscopy, or by using an immunohistochemical panel of endothelial cell markers (Factor VIII-related antigen, Ulex, CD31, CD34, and KDR[Flk-1]). Highly invasive primary and metastatic human melanoma cells formed patterned solid and hollow matrix channels (seen in tissue sections of aggressive primary and metastatic human melanomas) in three-dimensional cultures containing Matrigel or dilute Type I collagen, without endothelial cells or fibroblasts. These tumor cell-generated patterned channels conducted dye, highlighting looping patterns visualized angiographically in human tumors. Neither normal melanocytes nor poorly invasive melanoma cells generated these patterned channels in vitro under identical culture conditions, even after the addition of conditioned medium from metastatic pattern-forming melanoma cells, soluble growth factors, or regimes of hypoxia. Highly invasive and metastatic human melanoma cells, but not poorly invasive melanoma cells, contracted and remodeled floating hydrated gels, providing a biomechanical explanation for the generation of microvessels in vitro. cDNA microarray analysis of highly invasive versus poorly invasive melanoma tumor cells confirmed a genetic reversion to a pluripotent embryonic-like genotype in the highly aggressive melanoma cells. These observations strongly suggest that aggressive melanoma cells may generate vascular channels that facilitate tumor perfusion independent of tumor angiogenesis.
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PMID:Vascular channel formation by human melanoma cells in vivo and in vitro: vasculogenic mimicry. 1066 12

Transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) family members are known for their important role in bone physiology. TGFbeta(1) and, to a smaller extent, bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) have been reported to regulate the gene expression of different osteoblast markers in vitro. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms involved in these actions. Here we report that BMP-2, like TGFbeta(1), up-regulated alpha1(I) collagen mRNA expression in ROS 17/2.8 osteoblastic cells. This was mediated through an increase in the transcriptional rate of the gene rather than through the stabilization of alpha1(I) collagen mRNA, and required new protein synthesis. In addition, TGFbeta(1)- and BMP-2-induced increases in alpha1(I) collagen mRNA levels were both dependent on protein kinase C and protein tyrosine kinase activities. Furthermore, the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) [MAPK/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase kinase 1/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (MEK-1/ERK)] pathway participated in the up-regulation of alpha1(I) collagen gene expression by TGFbeta(1) and BMP-2. In response to either TGFbeta(1) or BMP-2, the stimulation of alpha1(I) collagen mRNA levels was paralleled by an early increase in extracellular signal-regulated kinase protein activity. Moreover, the effects of both TGFbeta(1) and BMP-2 on alpha1(I) collagen gene expression were markedly decreased in transfected ROS 17/2.8 cells expressing a dominant-negative MEK-1. Our findings therefore show that TGFbeta(1) and BMP-2, which signal through discrete cell-surface receptors, are able to trigger analogous, if not identical, protein-phosphorylation-transducing cascades leading to comparable actions on the transcription of the alpha1(I) collagen gene in osteoblastic cells.
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PMID:Protein kinase signalling pathways involved in the up-regulation of the rat alpha1(I) collagen gene by transforming growth factor beta1 and bone morphogenetic protein 2 in osteoblastic cells. 1049 7

The formation and organization of skeletal tissue is strongly influenced by mechanical stimulation. There is increasing evidence that gravitational stress has an impact on the expression of early response genes in mammalian cells and may play a role in the formation of extracellular matrix. In particular, osteoblasts may be unique in their response to gravitational stimuli since in these cells microgravity has been reported to reduce collagen synthesis, while in fibroblasts the opposite effect was observed. Here, we have investigated the influence of hypergravity induced by centrifugation on the collagen synthesis of human osteoblast-like cells (hOB) and studied the possible involvement of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling cascade. Collagen synthesis was significantly increased by 42+/-16% under hypergravity at 13 x g, an effect paralleled by the enhanced expression of the collagen I alpha 2 (COL1A2) mRNA. No difference was seen in the proportion of collagen types I, III, and V synthesized by hOB. Hypergravity induced a markedly elevated phosphorylation of the p44/42 MAP kinases (ERK 1/2). The inhibition of this pathway suppressed the hypergravity-induced stimulation of both collagen synthesis as well as COL1A2 mRNA expression by about 50%. Our results show that the collagen synthesis of non-transformed hOB is stimulated under hypergravitational conditions. This response appears to be partially mediated by the MAP kinase pathway.
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PMID:Hypergravity stimulates collagen synthesis in human osteoblast-like cells: evidence for the involvement of p44/42 MAP-kinases (ERK 1/2). 1050 74

Two collagen receptors, integrins alpha1beta1 and alpha2beta1, can regulate distinct functions in cells. Ligation of alpha1beta1, unlike alpha2beta1, has been shown to result in recruitment of Shc and activation of the Ras/ERK pathway. To identify the downstream signaling molecules activated by alpha2beta1 integrin, we have overexpressed wild-type alpha2, or chimeric alpha2 subunit with alpha1 integrin cytoplasmic domain in human osteosarcoma cells (Saos-2) lacking endogenous alpha2beta1. The chimeric alpha2/alpha1 chain formed a functional heterodimer with beta1. In contrast to alpha2/alpha1 chimera, forced expression of alpha2 integrin resulted in upregulation of alpha1 (I) collagen gene transcription in response to three-dimensional collagen, indicating that the cytoplasmic domain of alpha2 integrin was required for signaling. Furthermore, signals mediated by alpha2beta1 integrin specifically activated the p38alpha isoform, and selective p38 inhibitors blocked upregulation of collagen gene transcription. Dominant negative mutants of Cdc42, MKK3, and MKK4 prevented alpha2beta1 integrin-mediated activation of p38alpha. RhoA had also some inhibitory effect, whereas dominant negative Rac was not effective. Our findings show the isoform-specific activation of p38 by alpha2beta1 integrin ligation and identify Cdc42, MKK3, and MKK4 as possible downstream effectors. These observations reveal a novel signaling mechanism of alpha2beta1 integrin that is distinct from ones previously described for other integrins.
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PMID:Integrin alpha2beta1 mediates isoform-specific activation of p38 and upregulation of collagen gene transcription by a mechanism involving the alpha2 cytoplasmic tail. 1052 44

Perlecan, a large, multi-domain, heparan sulfate proteoglycan originally identified in basement membrane, interacts with extracellular matrix proteins, growth factors and receptors, and influences cellular signalling. Perlecan is present in a variety of basement membranes and in other extracellular matrix structures. We have disrupted the gene encoding perlecan (Hspg2) in mice. Approximately 40% of Hspg2-/- mice died at embryonic day (E) 10.5 with defective cephalic development. The remaining Hspg2-/- mice died just after birth with skeletal dysplasia characterized by micromelia with broad and bowed long bones, narrow thorax and craniofacial abnormalities. Only 6% of Hspg2-/- mice developed both exencephaly and chondrodysplasia. Hspg2-/- cartilage showed severe disorganization of the columnar structures of chondrocytes and defective endochondral ossification. Hspg2-/- cartilage matrix contained reduced and disorganized collagen fibrils and glycosaminoglycans, suggesting that perlecan has an important role in matrix structure. In Hspg2-/- cartilage, proliferation of chondrocytes was reduced and the prehypertrophic zone was diminished. The abnormal phenotypes of the Hspg2-/- skeleton are similar to those of thanatophoric dysplasia (TD) type I, which is caused by activating mutations in FGFR3 (refs 7, 8, 9), and to those of Fgfr3 gain-of-function mice. Our findings suggest that these molecules affect similar signalling pathways.
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PMID:Perlecan is essential for cartilage and cephalic development. 1054 53

Fusion of tumorigenic HeLa cells with human skin fibroblasts results in chromosomally stable hybrids that are nontumorigenic and no longer express the HeLa tumor-associated marker intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP). Previous studies of spontaneous tumorigenic segregants from the nontumorigenic hybrids implicated the loss of one copy of human fibroblast chromosome 11 in the concomitant reexpression of tumorigenicity. In an attempt to identify genes involved in the control of tumorigenic expression, we performed differential display screening of nontumorigenic hybrid cells and tumorigenic segregants. Subsequent northern blot analyses reproducibly showed 17 differentially expressed genes, eight of which were expressed differentially in the nontumorigenic hybrids and nine of which were expressed differentially in the tumorigenic hybrids. The former were genes for 80K-L protein (a substrate of protein kinase C), AXL/UFO (a receptor tyrosine kinase), insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3, apolipoprotein AI regulatory protein, collagen type I alpha-2 chain, transforming growth factor-beta-induced gene product 3 (BIGH3), pregnancy-specific beta-1-glycoprotein, and fibroblast activation protein alpha. The latter nine genes were genes for serum/glucocorticoid-regulated kinase (SGK; a serine/threonine protein kinase), PTPCAAX1 (a tyrosine phosphatase), CXCR-4 (a G-protein-coupled membrane receptor), L-kynurenine hydrolase, beta-1, 4-galactosyltransferase, keratin 8, keratin 17, and H19 and a novel gene. The differential expression of these genes provided several interesting candidates for regulation of tumorigenic expression, including those involved in signal transduction and the extracellular matrix, cytoskeletal proteins, cell-surface enzyme, and the H19 gene.
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PMID:Differential gene expression in tumorigenic and nontumorigenic HeLa x normal human fibroblast hybrid cells. 1056 6

Furan cholangiocarcinogenesis in rat liver is proving to be a unique and useful animal model for investigating important aspects of the cellular and molecular pathogenesis of cholangiocarcinoma potentially relevant to the human disease. We now describe the first culture model of rat cholangiocarcinoma cells derived from a transplantable cholangiocarcinoma originally induced in the liver of a furan-treated rat. An epithelial cell isolate highly enriched in viable cholangiocarcinoma cells was consistently obtained from transplantable cholangiocarcinoma tissue utilizing a similar procedure to that recently developed by us to establish a new rat hyperplastic bile ductular epithelial cell culture model characterized by the appearance of polarized bile ducts in vitro. Primary cholangiocarcinoma cell cultures could be readily established with these isolated cells and, in addition, we established from one such culture a novel rat cholangiocarcinoma cell line designated C611B. Cultured C611B cholangiocarcinoma cells retained a number of important characteristic features of the carcinoma cells of the parent tumor, including marked expression of the tyrosine kinase growth factor receptor proteins c-Met and c-Neu. Under basal culture conditions, the C611B cell line exhibited a cell doubling time of approximately 24 h and was aneuploid, with a predominant chromosomal count of 43. Moreover, C611B cells on collagen gels were 100% tumorigenic when transplanted into inguinal fat pads of syngeneic rats. All tumors formed at the transplantation site were cytokeratin 19-positive, mucin-producing tubular adenocarcinomas whose histological and phenotypic features closely resembled those of the furan-induced parent transplantable rat cholangiocarcinoma. Based on our findings, we believe that this novel rat cholangiocarcinoma cell culture model can serve as a valuable resource for investigating aberrant growth properties and tumor progression in biliary cancer.
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PMID:Establishment of a novel rat cholangiocarcinoma cell culture model. 1059 Feb 29

Although basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) had been shown to inhibit type I collagen gene expression in osteoblast, its inhibitory mechanism is unknown. In the present study, we investigated the underlying mechanisms by which growth factors downregulate type I collagen gene expression. Treatment of mouse osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells with okadaic acid (40 ng/ml), an inhibitor of phosphoserine/threonine-specific protein phosphatase and activator of ERK1/2, for 24 h and 48 h completely inhibited steady-state mRNA levels of type I collagen. FGF-2 (30 ng/ml), platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB), 30 ng/ml, and serum, which activate ERK mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway also inhibited collagen type I gene expression, suggesting that the activation of ERK pathway mediates inhibition of type I collagen mRNA. This observation was further confirmed by experiments using inhibitors of the ERK pathway (i.e., PD and U0126), which increased type I collagen mRNA in MC3T3-E1 cells, indicating that the inhibition of ERK pathway upregulates type I collagen gene expression. Low serum (0.3%) markedly increased type I collagen mRNA. MEK inhibitor PD inhibited c-fos induction by FGF-2 and PDGF-BB, suggesting that c-fos is the downstream target of ERK pathway. Our data have clearly demonstrated for the first time that the ERK MAPK pathway play an important role in the regulation of type I collagen gene expression in osteoblastic cells. Results also showed that one of the mechanisms by which FGF-2 and PDGF-BB downregulate type I collagen gene expression in the osteoblast is through the activation of ERK signaling pathway.
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PMID:Extracellular-signal regulated kinase signaling pathway mediates downregulation of type I procollagen gene expression by FGF-2, PDGF-BB, and okadaic acid in osteoblastic cells. 1064 32


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