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 effects of angiogenic growth factors on the growth, vascular architecture and the downstream cytokine signaling of sarcomas are unknown. These are of potential great importance since sarcoma, like endothelium, is of mesodermal origin and therefore could grow in response to these factors. Three human sarcomas (leiomyosarcoma SK-LMS-1, liposarcoma SW872 and fibrosarcoma SW684) and one murine fibrosarcoma (KHT) were grown in nude and C3H/He mice, respectively. Tumor structural vessels, perfused vessels and hypoxia were quantified immunohistochemically. Fast-growing murine KHT tumors had a markedly higher number of structural vessels compared with the human sarcomas. In both murine and human sarcomas, approximately half of the total structural vessels were perfused, and the numbers of perfused vessels decreased with increasing tumor volume. In vitro, basal mRNA expression of several angiogenic growth factors and their receptors differed between two of the human sarcoma cell lines, SK-LMS-1 and SW872. Compared with SK-LMS-1, untreated SW872 cells had higher levels of mRNA expression for FGF11, FGF14, angiopoietin, CD105 and VEGFR1. Two sarcoma cell lines were also treated with 10 ng/ml of six angiogenic growth factors (FGF1, FGF2, FGF7, FGF10, VEGF and SCF) for 24 h, and mRNA expression of endogenous FGF family members (FGF1, FGF2, FGF10, FGF11, FGF13 and FGF14) were quantitatively measured using RNase protection at various times following treatments. Again, SW872 cells were more responsive to exogenous growth factor treatment compared with SK-LMS-1 cells in terms of the elevation of endogenous FGF mRNA expression. In the SW872 cells, all of the exogenous angiogenic growth factor treatments, except for VEGF, upregulated endogenous FGF1, FGF2 and FGF14 mRNA expression. The SK-LMS-1 cells, in contrast, only responded to exogenous FGF1, FGF7 and FGF10, but did not respond to VEGF.
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PMID:Comparison and modulation of angiogenic responses by FGFs, VEGF and SCF in murine and human fibrosarcomas. 1206 86

Dach1 is a mouse homologue of the Drosophila dachshund gene, which is a key regulator of cell fate determination during eye, leg, and brain development in the fly. We have investigated the expression and growth factor regulation of Dach1 during pre- and postnatal skeletal development in the mouse limb to understand better the function of Dach1. Dach1 was expressed in the distal mesenchyme of the early embryonic mouse limb bud and subsequently became restricted to the tips of digital cartilages. Dach1 protein was localized to postmitotic, prehypertrophic, and early hypertrophic chondrocytes during the initiation of ossification centers, but Dach1 was not expressed in growth plates that exhibited extensive ossification. Dach1 colocalized with Runx2/Cbfa1 in chondrocytes but not in the forming bone collar or primary spongiosa. Dach1 also colocalized with cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p27 (Kip1) and p57 (Kip2) in chondrocytes of the growth plate and in the epiphysis before the formation of the secondary ossification center. Because fibroblast growth factors (FGF), bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP), and hedgehog molecules (Hh) regulate skeletal patterning of the limb bud and chondrocyte maturation in developing endochondral bones, we investigated the regulation of Dach1 by these growth and differentiation factors. Expression of Dach1 in 11 days postcoitus mouse limb buds in organ culture was up-regulated by implanting beads soaked in FGF1, 2, 8, or 9 but not FGF10. BMP4-soaked beads down-regulated Dach1 expression, whereas Shh and bovine serum albumin had no effect. Furthermore, FGF4 or 8 could substitute for the apical ectodermal ridge in maintaining Dach1 expression in the limb buds. Immunolocalization of FGFR2 and FGFR3 revealed overlap with Dach1 expression during skeletal patterning and chondrocyte maturation. We conclude that Dach1 is a target gene of FGF signaling during limb skeletal development, and Dach1 may function as an intermediary in the FGF signaling pathway regulating cell proliferation or differentiation.
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PMID:Fibroblast growth factor signaling regulates Dach1 expression during skeletal development. 1220 18

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) comprise a family of 22 distinct proteins with pleiotropic signaling functions in development and homeostasis. These functions are mediated principally by four fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs), members of the receptor tyrosine kinase family, with heparin glycosaminoglycan as an important cofactor. Developmental studies in chick and mouse highlight the critical role of FGF-receptor signaling in multiple phases of limb development, including the positioning of the limb buds, the maintenance of limb bud outgrowth, the detailed patterning of the limb elements, and the growth of the long bones. Corroborating these important roles, mutations of two members of the FGFR family (FGFR1 and FGFR2) are associated with human disorders of limb patterning; in addition, mutations of FGFR3 and FGF23 affect growth of the limb bones. Analysis of FGFR2 mutations in particular reveals a complex pattern of genotype/phenotype correlation, which will be reviewed in detail. Circumstantial evidence suggests that the more severe patterning abnormalities are mediated by illegitimate paracrine signaling in the mesoderm, mediated by FGF10 or by a related FGF, and this is beginning to gain some experimental support. A further test of this hypothesis is provided by a unique family segregating two FGFR2 mutations in cis (S252L; A315S), in which severe syndactyly occurs in the absence of the craniosynostosis that typically accompanies FGFR2 mutations.
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PMID:FGFs, their receptors, and human limb malformations: clinical and molecular correlations. 1235 70

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) exert diverse effects resulting from their interaction with cognate receptors on target cells. Our current study was designed to examine the local production and action of two specific stromal-epithelial cell mediatory factors, keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) and FGF-10, in human endometrial carcinoma cells. The RT-PCR method was used to determine gene expression of KGF, FGF-10, and KGF receptor in human endometrial carcinoma cells (HEC-1) and human endometrial stromal cells. KGF mRNAs were expressed in both of these cell types. On the other hand, FGF-10 mRNA was detected only in the endometrial stromal cells, and KGF receptor mRNA was observed in the HEC-1 cells. The novel finding of the present study is that KGF is expressed in carcinoma cells and FGF-10 is expressed in human endometrial stromal cells. The distinct phosphorylation of ERK-1 and -2 (ERK1/2), which are members of the MAPK family, was observed when HEC-1 cells were treated with KGF or FGF-10. KGF and FGF-10 could induce the prompt phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and consequently stimulate DNA synthesis. KGF and FGF-10 did not activate the phosphorylation of Akt, protein kinase C, or signal transducer and activator of transcription-3. Blocking the MAPK pathway with the specific methyl ethyl ketone 1/2 inhibitor (U0126) completely neutralized the enhancement of cell proliferation induced by KGF and FGF-10. In addition, KGF and FGF-10 activated expressions of downstream nuclear transcription factors, such as Elk-1 and c-myc, but not c-fos. These results demonstrate for the first time that KGF and FGF-10 are capable of stimulating the growth of endometrial carcinoma cells via activating MAPK pathway through autocrine/paracrine fashion.
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PMID:Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway by keratinocyte growth factor or fibroblast growth factor-10 promotes cell proliferation in human endometrial carcinoma cells. 1257 12

We have performed a high-capacity, semiquantitative, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction screen for expression of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) family genes as well as their cognate receptors. By using cDNA prepared from embryonic day 12 to postnatal day 0 embryonic mouse pancreas, we have identified several factors potentially involved in the development of the endocrine pancreas. We find high-level early expression of TGFbeta-1 and -2, and constitutive expression of TGFbeta-3 and their receptors. Of the Inhibin/Activin members, we found exclusively Inhibin-alpha and Activin-betaB to be expressed, and the BMP family was represented by BMP4, BMP5, and BMP7. The predominant forms of the BMP and Activin type II receptors were ActR-IIB and BMPR-II and of the type I receptors, BMPR-1A and -1B were the highest expressed. FGF1, FGF7, FGF9, FGF10, FGF11, and FGF18 were also expressed in the pancreas at varying time points and levels, as well as FGF receptor forms FGFR1b, FGFR1c, FGFR2b, FGFR2c, FGFR3b, and FGFR4. To gain insight into the biological function, we misexpressed members of these families in the pancreas by using the early pancreas promoter Pdx1. Misexpression of FGF4 results in disruption of the pancreas morphology with epithelial structures interspersed in stroma tissue. The endocrine compartment was reduced to scattered single cells, and the exocrine consisted of unbranched ductal epithelia with acinar structures budding off. In contrast, misexpression of BMP-6 resulted in complete agenesis of the pancreas and reduced the size of the stomach and spleen dramatically and caused fusion of the liver and duodenum.
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PMID:Expression and misexpression of members of the FGF and TGFbeta families of growth factors in the developing mouse pancreas. 1266 4

Homeostasis of normal prostate and two-compartment nonmalignant prostate tumors is dependent on two-way communication between epithelial and stromal compartments. Independence of epithelial cells on controlling instructions from stroma is a hallmark of extremely malignant epithelial cell tumors. To better understand the evolution of stromal independence during malignant progression, we performed a clonal analysis of stromal cells derived from a well-defined model of two-way stromal-epithelial cell communication that loses response to stroma during prostate tumor progression. Directionally specific signaling from stroma to epithelium contributes to homeostasis between the two compartments. Stromal cells were characterized in respect to expression and activity of isotypes of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family of ligands and receptors in addition to morphology and cytoskeletal markers. One stromal subtype (DTS1) exhibited a fibroblast-like morphology and did not display smooth muscle cell (SMC) alpha-actin. The other (DTS2) exhibited SMC alpha-actin and an SMC-like morphology in vitro. Both subtypes expressed FGF7 and equally low levels of FGFR2IIIc mRNA, whereas fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) 1 predominated in DTS1 cells. DTS1 cells also expressed FGF10 and no detectable FGFR3, whereas the absence of FGF10 and presence of FGFR3 distinguished DTS2 cells. Epithelial cell-derived FGF9 bound to FGFR and stimulated growth of specifically FGFR3-positive DTS2 cells, not the FGFR3-negative DTS1 cells. These results demonstrate stromal cell heterogeneity in signal reception of FGF from epithelium. This correlated with potential heterogeneity in the response back to epithelial cells. Epithelium-dependent control of a stromal cell phenotype within a tumor may be a determinant of whether tumors remain in nonmalignant homeostasis or progress to malignancy.
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PMID:Stromal cell heterogeneity in fibroblast growth factor-mediated stromal-epithelial cell cross-talk in premalignant prostate tumors. 1294 18

Identical proline-->arginine gain-of-function mutations in fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) 1 (Pro252Arg), FGFR2 (Pro253Arg) and FGFR3 (Pro250Arg), result in type I Pfeiffer, Apert and Muenke craniosynostosis syndromes, respectively. Here, we characterize the effects of proline-->arginine mutations in FGFR1c and FGFR3c on ligand binding using surface plasmon resonance and X-ray crystallography. Both Pro252Arg FGFR1c and Pro250Arg FGFR3c exhibit an enhancement in ligand binding in comparison to their respective wild-type receptors. Interestingly, binding of both mutant receptors to FGF9 was notably enhanced and implicates FGF9 as a potential pathophysiological ligand for mutant FGFRs in mediating craniosynostosis. The crystal structure, of Pro252Arg FGFR1c in complex with FGF2, demonstrates that the enhanced ligand binding is due to an additional set of receptor-ligand hydrogen bonds, similar to those gain-of-function interactions that occur in the Apert syndrome Pro253Arg FGFR2c-FGF2 crystal structure. However, unlike the Apert syndrome Pro253Arg FGFR2c mutant, neither the Pfeiffer syndrome Pro250Arg FGFR1c mutant nor the Muenke syndrome Pro250Arg FGFR3c mutant bound appreciably to FGF7 or FGF10. This observation provides a potential explanation for why the limb phenotypes, observed in type I Pfeiffer and Muenke syndromes, are less severe than the limb abnormalities observed in Apert syndrome. Hence, although analogous proline-->arginine mutations in FGFR1-3 act through a common structural mechanism to result in gain-of-function, differences in the primary sequence among FGFRs result in varying effects on ligand binding specificity.
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PMID:Proline to arginine mutations in FGF receptors 1 and 3 result in Pfeiffer and Muenke craniosynostosis syndromes through enhancement of FGF binding affinity. 1461 73

Keratinocyte growth factor receptor (KGFR), also known as FGFR2 IIIb, is a splice variant of FGFR-2. KGFR is expressed in many types of epithelial cell and is activated with four known ligands [FGF-1, FGF-3, FGF-7 (also known as KGF) and FGF-10] that are predominantly synthesized by mesenchymal cells. KGFR is highly expressed in the late-proliferative phase of a normal endometrium and in endometrial adenocarcinoma. In the present study, we attempted to determine the expression and localization of KGFR in human cervical cancer cell lines and cervical cancer tissues. The KGFR protein was detected in CaSki and HeLa cells, but not in ME-180 cells of cervical cancer cell lines. In non-cancer cervical tissues, KGFR immunoreactivity was weakly expressed in the surface of squamous epithelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells. Immunohistochemically, the KGFR protein was detected in squamous cell carcinoma in 36 of 42 (86%) cervical cancer patients. In cervical cancer tissues, KGFR was detected in 17 of 18 (94%) of patients with the keratinizing type and 19 of 24 (79%) of patients with the non-keratinizing type of cervical cancer. Furthermore, KGFR was prominently localized in proliferating reserve cells and squamous metaplastic reserve cells adjacent to cancer cells. In contrast, KGFR was not detected in cervical ductal cells in cancer or non-cancer cervical tissues. These findings may indicate that KGFR mediates the growth and differentiation of reserve cells and squamous cell carcinoma in the cervix.
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PMID:Expression of keratinocyte growth factor receptor (KGFR/FGFR2 IIIb) in human uterine cervical cancer. 1506 36

Morphogenesis of hairs and feathers is initiated by an as yet unknown dermal signal that induces placode formation in the overlying ectoderm. To determine whether FGF signals are required for this process we over-expressed soluble versions of FGFR1 or FGFR2 in the skin of chicken embryos. This produced a complete failure of feather formation prior to any morphological or molecular signs of placode development. We further show that Fgf10 is expressed in the dermis of nascent feather primordia, and that anti-FGF10 antibodies block feather placode development in skin explants. In addition we show that FGF10 can induce expression of positive and negative regulators of feather development and can induce its own expression under conditions of low BMP signaling. Together these results demonstrate that FGF signaling is required for the initiation of feather placode development and implicate FGF10 as an early dermal signal involved in this process.
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PMID:FGF signaling is required for initiation of feather placode development. 1520 Dec 22

Tissue homeostasis in normal prostate and two-compartment nonmalignant prostate tumors depends on harmonious two-way communications between epithelial and stromal compartments. Within the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family, signaling to an epithelial cell-specific FGF receptor (FGFR) 2IIIb-heparan sulfate complex from stromal-specific FGF7 and FGF10 delivers directionally specific instruction from stroma to epithelium without autocrine interference. Using a two-compartment transplantable prostate tumor model in which survival of stromal cells in vivo depends on epithelial cells, we show that signaling from epithelial FGF9 to stromal FGFR3 potentially mediates epithelial-to-stromal communication that also is directionally specific. FGF9 mRNA was expressed exclusively in the epithelial cells derived from well-differentiated, two-compartment Dunning R3327 rat prostate tumors. In contrast, FGFR3 was expressed at functionally significant levels only in the derived stromal cells. Competition binding and immunoprecipitation assays revealed that FGF9 only bound to an FGFR on the stromal cells. FGF9 also failed to covalently cross-link to clonal lines of stromal cells devoid of FGFR3 that expressed FGFR1 and FGFR2IIIc. Furthermore, FGF9 specifically stimulated DNA synthesis in stromal cells expressing FGFR3. These results demonstrate a directionally specific paracrine signaling from epithelial FGF9 and stromal FGFR3. Similar to the FGF7/FGF10 to FGFR2IIIb signaling from the stroma to the epithelium, the directional specificity from epithelium to stroma appears set by a combination of cell-specific expression of isoforms and cell-context specificity of FGFR isotypes for FGF.
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PMID:Directionally specific paracrine communication mediated by epithelial FGF9 to stromal FGFR3 in two-compartment premalignant prostate tumors. 1523 66


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