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)

Using a combination of screening, RACE, and RT-PCR, we have isolated a new rat brain cDNA, we refer to as rMNK2, that showed strong homology to known MAP-kinases. The deduced amino acid sequence of rMNK2 indicated that it is the rat homolog of human p63(mapk), showing 94.5% identity. rMNK2 showed 77% homology with rat ERK3 and its human homolog p97(mapk), and 43% homology with both rat genes rMNK1(ERK1) and ERK2, within the kinase domain. This suggest that rMNK2 and ERK3 belong to a separate subfamily within the rat MAP-kinase multigene family. The most interesting difference lies in subdomain VIII, where this new subfamily contain a SEG/SPR motif instead of the TEY/APE found in the ERK subfamily, the TPY/APE found in the JNK/SAPK subfamily or the TGY/APE found in the p38/RK subfamily. The human homologs of ERK3 and rMNK2 (p97(mapk) and p63(mapk)) also show this significant change. Expression of rMNK2 has been detected in brain and to a lesser extent in lung by reverse transcription/PCR (RT-PCR). In situ hybridization of rat brain slices demonstrated a restricted expression of rMNK2 in the choroid plexus and hippocampus. This is interesting because the human homolog p63(mapk) maps to 18q12-21, a region that might be implicated in manic-depressive illness.
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PMID:Isolation of a cDNA encoding the rat MAP-kinase homolog of human p63mapk. 887 88

p63, a p53 family member, is required for craniofacial and limb development as well as proper skin differentiation. However, p63 mutations associated with the ankyloblepharon-ectodermal dysplasia-clefting (AEC) syndrome (Hay-Wells syndrome) were found in the p63 carboxyl-terminal region with a sterile alpha-motif. By two-hybrid screen we identified several proteins that interact with the p63alpha carboxyl terminus and its sterile alpha-motif, including the apobec-1-binding protein-1 (ABBP1). AEC-associated mutations completely abolished the physical interaction between ABBP1 and p63alpha. Moreover the physical association of p63alpha and ABBP1 led to a specific shift of FGFR-2 alternative splicing toward the K-SAM isoform essential for epithelial differentiation. We thus propose that a p63alpha-ABBP1 complex differentially regulates FGFR-2 expression by supporting alternative splicing of the K-SAM isoform of FGFR-2. The inability of mutated p63alpha to support this splicing likely leads to the inhibition of epithelial differentiation and, in turn, accounts for the AEC phenotype.
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PMID:P63 alpha mutations lead to aberrant splicing of keratinocyte growth factor receptor in the Hay-Wells syndrome. 1269 35

Within the human prostate epithelium four cell populations can be discriminated based on their expression of keratins (K). Basal cells express high levels of K5 and K14, as well as p63, whereas they have very low levels of androgen receptor, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), K8, and K18. Luminal secretory cells lack p63, K5, and K14 but express high levels of K8, K18, androgen receptor, and PSA. Additionally, cells have been identified with a keratin phenotype intermediate between basal and luminal cells that co-express high levels of K5 and K18 (K5/18) as well as hepatocyte growth factor receptor c-MET. Although intermediate cells have been proposed as precursor cells of prostate cancer, their biology is ill defined. Epithelial cells in proliferative inflammatory atrophy (PIA) appear to be cycling rapidly as indicated by expression of Ki-67, and morphological transitions have been identified between PIA and high-grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia. Many of the atrophic epithelial luminal cells in PIA are candidates for intermediate cells based in part on weak expression of PSA and androgen receptor, high levels of K8/18, and lack of p63. The objective of this study was to further clarify the phenotype of the proposed intermediate cells in PIA and to quantitatively determine the level in which these intermediate cells preferentially occur in PIA lesions. Intermediate cells were immunohistochemically demonstrated using antibodies to K5, K14, K18, and c-MET. Using radical prostatectomy specimens (n = 15) the area fraction of intermediate cells in normally differentiated prostate epithelium and PIA were quantified by a grid point counting method. Atrophic luminal cells of PIA lesions expressed K5 in 39.2 +/- 7.4% of cells compared to 2.4 +/- 2.3% in normal epithelium (P < 0.00001). By contrast, K14 was only expressed in 3.0 +/- 3.2% of the luminal cells. Previous studies have shown that virtually 100% of these atrophic luminal cells are strongly positive for K8/18. c-MET was present in 44.1 +/- 14.1% of luminal cells in PIA but only in 2.1 +/- 2.8% of luminal cells in normal epithelium (P < 0.00001). To unambiguously determine whether intermediate luminal cells in PIA show increased proliferative activity and decreased p27(kip1) expression, double-staining immunofluorescence of Ki-67 and K5, as well as p27(Kip1) and K5 was performed. Luminal cells in PIA often co-expressed K5 and Ki-67. Although p27(Kip1) was strongly expressed in K5-negative differentiated cells in normal epithelium, p27(Kip1) staining was absent in many of the K5-positive cells in the luminal compartment of PIA. We conclude that cells phenotypically intermediate between basal and secretory cells are enriched in PIA lesions. The finding of a large number of highly proliferating intermediate cells in PIA provides further support that these cells may serve as preferred target cells in prostate carcinogenesis.
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PMID:Intermediate cells in human prostate epithelium are enriched in proliferative inflammatory atrophy. 1270 36

Cultivated human corneal epithelial cells have been successfully used for corneal reconstruction. Explant and single cell systems are currently used for human corneal epithelial cultivation. This study was conducted to characterize the phenotypes of human corneal epithelial cells expanded ex vivo by these two culture systems with regard to their growth potential, morphology and antigen expression patterns. Human corneal epithelial cells were expanded by limbal explant culture or limbal single cell suspension culture on a mitomycin C treated 3T3 fibroblast feeder layer. The phenotypes of primary cultured cells were evaluated by morphology and immunohistochemical staining with antibodies for proposed keratinocyte stem cell markers (p63, EGFR, K19 and integrin beta1) and differentiation markers (K3, involucrin and gap junction protein connexin 43). BrdU labeling was performed to identify the label-retaining cells. Human corneal epithelial cells were grown from limbal tissues preserved as long as 16 days by both culture systems. The growth rate depended on the tissue freshness, the time from death to preservation and the time from death to culture, but not on the donor age. Cell growth was observed in 96.2% (n = 43) of single cell suspension cultures and in 90.8% (n = 213) of explant cultures. The cell expansion was confluent in 10-14 days in single cell suspension cultures and 14-21 days in explant cultures. The cell morphology in single cell suspension culture was smaller, more compact and uniform than that in explant culture. Immunostaining showed a greater number of the small cells expressing p63, EGFR, K19 and integrin beta1, while more larger cells stained positively for K3, involucrin and connexin 43 in both culture systems. BrdU-label retaining cells were identified in 2.3+/-0.7% of explant cultures and 3.73+/-1.5% of single cell cultures chased for 21 days. In conclusion, the limbal rims are a great treasure for ex vivo expansion of human corneal epithelial cells. The phenotypes of corneal epithelial cells, ranging from basal cells to superficial differentiated cells, are well maintained in both culture systems. Slow-cycling BrdU-label retaining cells, that are characteristic of stem cells, were identified in the cultures.
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PMID:Phenotypic characterization of human corneal epithelial cells expanded ex vivo from limbal explant and single cell cultures. 1518 99

In the literature, sufficient attention has not been paid to the precise subcellular localization of immunohistochemical signals, the knowledge of which is essential for proper interpretation of immunostains and distinction of genuine staining from biotin-associated or other nonspecific stainings. The subcellular localization of the signals can in fact be easily deduced from the known biologic or ultrastructural characteristics of the antigens. Extracellular antigens obviously are located in the extracellular compartment. Cellular antigens fall into 3 major groups: membranous, nuclear, and cytoplasmic. Membranous antigens include cell adhesion molecules (such as E-cadherin, N-CAM), cell surface/transmembrane receptors and proteins (such as tyrosine kinase receptors, most leukocyte antigens, CD10, CEA), and molecules linking surface molecules to cytoskeleton (such as beta-catenin, dystrophin). Nuclear antigens include cell cycle-associated proteins (such as cyclins, p16, Ki-67), nuclear enzymes (such as TdT), transcription factors (such as TTF-1, CDX-2, myogenin, PAX-5), tumor suppressor gene products (such as p53, p63, WT1, Rb), steroid hormone receptors (such as ER, PR), calcium-binding proteins (such as S-100 protein, calretinin), and some viral proteins (such as CMV, herpes). Cytoplasmic antigens can take up a granular pattern due to localization in organelles, granules, or secretory vesicles (such as chromogranin, hormones, lysozyme, HMB-45), fibrillary pattern attributable to the filamentous nature of the molecules (intermediate filaments and microfilaments), or diffuse or patchy pattern due to localization in the cytosol or large vesicles (such as myoglobin, albumin, thyroglobulin). Aberrant localization of the molecules, when present, can provide important insight into disease processes and aid in their diagnosis, such as loss of membranous E-cadherin expression in lobular breast carcinoma, aberrant nuclear localization of beta-catenin in colorectal adenocarcinoma, pattern of ALK staining in anaplastic large cell lymphoma correlating with the different types of chromosomal translocations, presence of additional cytoplasmic CD10 staining in the enterocytes indicative of microvillous inclusion disease, and "reversed" staining for EMA in micropapillary mammary carcinoma.
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PMID:Subcellular localization of immunohistochemical signals: knowledge of the ultrastructural or biologic features of the antigens helps predict the signal localization and proper interpretation of immunostains. 1530 32

This study has investigated a panel of immunomarkers in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis was used to investigate the possibility of identifying different subgroups in NSCLC based on their molecular expression profile rather than morphological features. A tissue microarray consisting of 284 cases of NSCLC was constructed. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the presence of 18 biomarkers including synaptophysin, chromogranin, bombesin, NSE, GFI1, ASH-1, p53, p63, p21, p27, E2F-1, cyclin D1, Bcl-2, TTF-1, CEA, HER2/neu, cytokeratin 5/6, and pancytokeratin. Univariate analysis of all 18 markers for prognostic significance was performed. Immunohistochemical scoring data for NSCLC were analysed by unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were plotted for the different cluster groups of lung tumours identified by this method. Analysis of the three different World Health Organization (WHO) subtypes (adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma) of NSCLC individually showed that different markers were significant in different subtypes. For example, p53 and p63 were significant for squamous cell carcinoma (p = 0.007 and p = 0.03, respectively), whereas cyclin D1 and HER2/neu were significant prognostic markers for adenocarcinoma (p = 0.025 and p = 0.015, respectively). These markers were not significant prognostic predictors for NSCLC as a group. Hierarchical clustering analysis of NSCLC produced four separate cluster groups, although the vast majority of cases were found in two cluster groups, one dominated by squamous cell carcinoma and the other by adenocarcinoma. The clinical outcomes of cases from the four cluster groups were not significantly different. Prognostic indicators vary between different morphological subtypes of NSCLC. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis, based on an extended immunoprofile, identifies two main cluster groups corresponding to adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma; cases of large cell carcinomas are assigned to one of these two groups based on their molecular phenotype.
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PMID:Evaluation of immunohistochemical markers in non-small cell lung cancer by unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis: a tissue microarray study of 284 cases and 18 markers. 1530 43

Not uncommonly, bile duct adenomas (BDAs) and hamartomas (BDHs) of the liver may be difficult to distinguish from metastatic well-differentiated ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. However, this distinction is critical for proper staging and patient management. The primary purpose of this study was to determine if a panel of immunohistochemical stains can help distinguish BDA or BDH from metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma in the liver. Routinely processed tissue sections from 25 BDA, 10 BDH, 25 metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinomas to the liver and 6 cases each of metastatic colorectal, breast, and lung adenocarcinomas were immunohistochemically stained for CK7, CK8/CK18, CK19, CK20, p53, p63, TAG-72, monoclonal CEA (mCEA), polyclonal CEA (pCEA), HER-2/neu, AMACR (alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase), Dpc4 (Smad4), and mesothelin. The slides were evaluated in a blinded fashion, and the results were compared between the benign and malignant lesions. Significantly more (P < 0.05) metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinomas were positive for CK20 (76%), p53 (60%), TAG-72 (88%), mCEA (92%), HER2/neu (40%), and mesothelin (64%) and showed loss of Dpc4 (44%), in comparison to BDA (CK20, 40%; p53, 0%; TAG-72, 0%; mCEA, 0%; HER2/neu, 12%; mesothelin, 0%; loss of Dpc4, 0%) or BDH (CK20, 10%; p53, 0%; TAG-72, 0%; mCEA, 10%; HER2/neu, 0%; mesothelin, 0%; loss of Dpc4, 0%). Of these antibodies, p53, TAG-72, mCEA, loss of Dpc4, and mesothelin had the highest specificity for pancreatic adenocarcinoma, with mCEA having the highest sensitivity (92%). No significant differences were observed in the degree of CK7, CK8/CK18, CK19, or pCEA expression between the three types of lesions. Although none of the BDA or BDH was positive for either p63 or AMACR, two of the metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinomas (8%) were positive for each of these peptides (P > 0.05). For nonpancreatic adenocarcinomas, mCEA showed a reasonably high sensitivity and 100% specificity in the differential diagnosis versus BDA. Immunohistochemical expression of p53, TAG-72, mCEA, mesothelin, and loss of Dpc4 can help distinguish metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma in the liver from BDA or BDH. Although p63 and AMACR are also specific for pancreatic adenocarcinoma, their low sensitivity limits their use in clinical practice.
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PMID:Immunohistochemistry can help distinguish metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinomas from bile duct adenomas and hamartomas of the liver. 1572 8

Human breast carcinomas represent a heterogeneous group of tumors diverse in behavior, outcome, and response to therapy. However, the current system of pathological classification does not take into account biologic determinants of prognosis. The purpose of this study was to classify and characterize breast carcinomas based on variations in protein expression patterns derived from immunohistochemical analyses on tissue microarrays (TMAs). Therefore, 11 TMAs representing 168 invasive breast carcinomas were constructed. Breast tumors were classified into four different subtypes depending on estrogen receptor (ER) and HER2 expression. Basal-type tumors expressed neither of these proteins and represented 7.6% of our series; basal-like HER2-overexpressing tumors did not express ER and represented 17.7%; luminal-type tumors expressed ER and represented 72.8% of this series (luminal A 56.3%, luminal B 16.5%). Moreover, we characterized each subtype based on P-cadherin (P-CD), p63, cytokeratin (CK)5, BCL2, and Ki67 expression. Basal-type tumors were mostly grade III, more frequently P-CD-, p63-, and CK5-positive, and had a high proliferation rate. Conversely, luminal-type tumors rarely expressed basal markers and had a low grade and proliferation rate. Basal-like HER2-overexpressing tumors showed a basal-type profile similar with a high grade and up-regulation of P-CD and CK5. With this study, we show that P-CD, p63, and CK5 are important molecular markers that can be used to distinguish a basal phenotype. In addition, we also demonstrate the usefulness of TMAs in breast carcinoma immunoprofiling.
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PMID:p63, cytokeratin 5, and P-cadherin: three molecular markers to distinguish basal phenotype in breast carcinomas. 1601 53

Heterozygosity for a PAX6 deficiency (PAX6+/-) results in low levels of the PAX6 transcription factor and causes aniridia. Corneal changes in aniridia-related keratopathy (ARK) include peripheral pannus and epithelial abnormalities, which eventually result in corneal opacity and contribute to visual loss. The corneal abnormalities of Pax6+/- mice provide an excellent model for the corneal changes seen in PAX6+/- humans. The aim of the present study was to investigate the contributions of different factors (including altered cell proliferation, abnormal epithelial differentiation and incursion of the conjunctival epithelium) that may underlie the pathogenesis of the corneal changes caused by low levels of Pax6 in heterozygous Pax6+/Sey-Neu (Pax6+/-) mice. BrdU incorporation showed enhanced proliferation of Pax6+/- corneal epithelium compared to wild-type controls and analysis of p63 (a marker of high proliferative potential) revealed a slight increase in frequency of p63-positive basal corneal epithelial cells in Pax6+/- mice. Immunohistochemical investigation of K12 (a Pax6-regulated marker of corneal epithelial differentiation) in 2-52-week-old mice showed that K12 expression was delayed and down-regulated in the Pax6+/- corneal epithelium, implying that differentiation of the Pax6+/- corneal epithelium was delayed and abnormal. Goblet cells were identified within the peripheral corneal epithelium of the Pax6+/- eyes, but some were surrounded by cells expressing K12, suggesting they may have arisen in situ in the corneal epithelium. These findings suggest that low levels of Pax6 may be directly responsible for failure or delay of proper differentiation of the corneal epithelial cells, but the proliferative component of the mutant epithelium is probably not impaired. This abnormal differentiation suggests that ARK is not entirely attributable to a limbal stem cell deficiency.
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PMID:Developmental and cellular factors underlying corneal epithelial dysgenesis in the Pax6+/- mouse model of aniridia. 1608 Sep 17

Knowledge of the molecular events that govern human thyroid tumorigenesis has grown considerably in the past ten years. Key genetic alterations and new oncogenic pathways have been identified. Molecular genetic aberrations in thyroid carcinomas bear noteworthy resemblance to those in acute myelogenous leukemias. Thyroid carcinomas and myeloid leukemias both possess transcription factor gene rearrangements-PPARgamma-related translocations in thyroid carcinoma and RARalpha-related and CBF-related translocations (amongst others) in myeloid leukemia. PPARgamma and RARalpha are closely related members ofthe same nuclear receptor subfamily, and the PML-RARalpha and PAX8-PPARgamma fusion proteins both function as dominant negative inhibitors of their wild-type parent proteins. Thyroid carcinomas and myeloid leukemias also both harbor NRAS mutations (15-25% of both cancers) and receptor tyrosine kinase mutations--RET mutations in thyroid carcinomas and FLT3 mutations in myeloid leukemias. The NRAS and tyrosine receptor kinase mutations are not observed in the same thyroid carcinoma or leukemia patients, suggesting that multiple initiating pathways exist in both. Lastly, thyroid carcinomas and myeloid leukemias possess p53 mutations at relatively low frequency (10-15%) in patients who tend to be older and have more aggressive, therapy resistant disease. Such parallels are unlikely to occur by chance alone and argue that common mechanisms underlie these diverse epithelial and hematologic cancers. The comparison of thyroid carcinomas and myeloid leukemias may highlight areas of thyroid cancer investigation worthy of further focus. For example, few collaborating mutations have been defined in thyroid carcinomas even though they play a clear role in myeloid leukemias, as exemplified by RARalpha rearrangements and FLT3 mutations that together dictate the promyleocytic leukemia phenotype. Functional interactions between collaborating mutations are possible at multiple levels, and it is tempting to speculate that some thyroid carcinomas might develop through an unique combination or co-activation of RET and RAS and/or RET and PPARgamma (and/or other) signaling systems. In fact, the ELE1-RET (PTC3) fusion protein contains the ELE1 nuclear receptor co-activator domain and it appears to physically associate with and inhibit wild-type PPARgamma in some papillary carcinomas. The similarities of the fusion proteins in thyroid carcinoma and myeloid leukemia suggest that a more directed search for fusion genes in non-thyroid carcinomas is warranted. In fact, novel fusion genes have been identified recently in aggressive midline, secretory breast, and renal cell carcinomas, although the epithelial nature of the latter is not well-documented. Interestingly, these cancers all tend to present more frequently in adolescence and young adulthood in a manner similar to thyroid and myeloid malignancies that have fusion genes. The analyses of cancers that present earlier in life may enhance fusion gene recognition in other carcinoma types. Definition and biologic characterization of the precursor cells that give rise to thyroid carcinoma will also be important. Myeloid leukemias are thought to arise from stem/progenitor cells that acquire disturbed self-renewal and differentiation capacities but retain characteristics of the myeloid lineages. Although the presence of comparable stem/progenitor cells in the thyroid are not defined, distinct thyroid cancer lineages and patterns of differentiation exist and candidate stem/progenitor cells such as the p63-immunoreactive solid cell nests are apparent. A last important area is development of molecular-based therapies for thyroid carcinoma patients resistant to standard radio-iodine treatment. Treatments for such cancers are limited and pathways defined by thyroid cancer mutations are prime targets for pharmacologic interventions with molecular inhibitors. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors and nuclear receptor ligands have proven dramatically effective in some myeloid leukemia patients. Various molecular inhibitors are being investigated now in thyroid cancer models. Such developments predict that the thyroid cancer model will continue to provide biologic insights into human carcinoma biology and that improved pathologic diagnosis and treatment for thyroid cancer patients sit on the not too distant horizon.
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PMID:Molecular events in follicular thyroid tumors. 1620 39


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