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)

An interaction between extracellular regulated kinase 1 (ERK1) and calponin has previously been reported (Menice, Hulvershorn, Adam, Wang and Morgan (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272 (40), 25157-25161) and has been suggested to reflect a function of calponin as a signalling molecule. We report in this study that calponin binds to both ERK1 and ERK2 under native conditions as well as in an overlay assay. Using chymotryptic fragments of calponin, the binding site of ERK on calponin was identified as the calponin homology (CH) domain, an N-terminal region of calponin found in other actin-binding proteins. ERK also bound, in a gel overlay assay, alpha-actinin, a protein with two tandem CH domains, as well as a 27 kDa thermolysin product of alpha-actinin containing the CH domains of alpha-actinin. The CH domain of calponin could compete with intact calponin or alpha-actinin for ERK binding. Titration of acrylodan-labelled calponin with ERK gave a K(a) of 6x10(6) M(-1) and titration of acrylodan-labelled calponin with a peptide from the alphaL16 helix of ERK gave a K(a) of 1x10(6) M(-1). Recombinant ERK was found to co-sediment with purified actin and induced a fluorescence change in pyrene-labelled F-actin (K(a)=5x10(6) M(-1)). The interaction of ERK with CH domains points to a new potential function for CH domains. The interaction of ERK with actin raises the possibility that actin may provide a scaffold for ERK signalling complexes in both muscle and non-muscle cells.
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PMID:Extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) interaction with actin and the calponin homology (CH) domain of actin-binding proteins. 1054 41

A recently reported new member of the Vav family proteins, Vav3 has been identified as a Ros receptor protein tyrosine kinase (RPTK) interacting protein by yeast two-hybrid screening. Northern analysis shows that Vav3 has a broad tissue expression profile that is distinct from those of Vav and Vav2. Two species of Vav3 transcripts, 3.4 and 5.4 kb, were detected with a differential expression pattern in various tissues. Transient expression of Vav in 293T and NIH 3T3 cells demonstrated that ligand stimulation of several RPTKs (epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR], Ros, insulin receptor [IR], and insulin-like growth factor I receptor [IGFR]) led to tyrosine phosphorylation of Vav3 and its association with the receptors as well as their downstream signaling molecules, including Shc, Grb2, phospholipase C (PLC-gamma), and phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase. In vitro binding assays using glutathione S-transferase-fusion polypeptides containing the GTPase-binding domains of Rok-alpha, Pak, or Ack revealed that overexpression of Vav3 in NIH 3T3 cells resulted in the activation of Rac-1 and Cdc42 whereas a deletion mutant lacking the N-terminal calponin homology and acidic region domains activated RhoA and Rac-1 but lost the ability to activate Cdc42. Vav3 induced marked membrane ruffles and microspikes in NIH 3T3 cells, while the N-terminal truncation mutants of Vav3 significantly enhanced membrane ruffle formation but had a reduced ability to induce microspikes. Activation of IR further enhanced the ability of Vav3 to induce membrane ruffles, but IGFR activation specifically promoted Vav3-mediated microspike formation. N-terminal truncation of Vav3 activated its transforming potential, as measured by focus-formation assays. We conclude that Vav3 mediates RPTK signaling and regulates GTPase activity, its native and mutant forms are able to modulate cell morphology, and it has the potential to induce cell transformation.
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PMID:Vav3 mediates receptor protein tyrosine kinase signaling, regulates GTPase activity, modulates cell morphology, and induces cell transformation. 1109 73

Glomus tumors usually occur in the peripheral soft tissues, but similar tumors have also been reported in the stomach and occasionally in the intestines. However, the relationship of these tumors to peripheral glomus tumors and gastrointestinal stromal tumors has not been fully clarified because previous series of gastrointestinal glomus tumors predate availability of immunohistochemistry. This clinicopathologic study examined 32 gastrointestinal glomus tumors. All but one of the tumors were located in the stomach and the remaining tumor was from the cecum. The tumors occurred with a strong female predominance (23 females and 9 males) and a median age of 55 years (range 19-90 years). The gastric tumors typically presented with gastrointestinal bleeding or ulcer-like symptoms, and 14 tumors had mucosal ulceration. Five tumors were incidental findings. The tumor sizes varied from 1.1 to 7 cm (median 2 cm), and most were located in the antrum. Histologically, the tumors typically had a solid pattern of sharply demarcated, round glomus cells with prominent, mildly dilated pericytoma-like vessels. Vascular invasion and focal atypia were relatively common (seen in 11 and 13 cases, respectively), and low mitotic activity (1-4 per 50 high power fields), was seen in 10 cases. Immunohistochemically, all tumors were positive for alpha-smooth muscle actin and calponin, and nearly all had a net-like pericellular laminin and collagen type IV positivity. All tumors were negative for desmin and S-100 protein. Three tumors had focal synaptophysin positivity, but none was positive for chromogranin. All tumors lacked KIT expression and the GIST-specific mutations in the c-kit gene. Follow-up revealed one patient death of metastatic disease to liver at 50 months; this tumor had 1 mitosis per 50 high power fields, but had spindle cell foci, mild atypia, and vascular invasion. Thirteen patients were well and alive after long-term follow-up. Gastrointestinal glomus tumors occur almost exclusively in the stomach, and they have a good overall prognosis, but a small, unpredictable potential for malignant behavior exists. These tumors are phenotypically similar to peripheral glomus tumors and differ from epithelioid GISTs.
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PMID:Gastrointestinal glomus tumors: a clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular genetic study of 32 cases. 1185 1

The Rac/Rho-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor, Vav-1, is a key component of the T-cell antigen receptor (TCR)-linked signaling machinery. Here we have used somatic cell gene-targeting technology to generate a Vav-1-deficient Jurkat T-cell line. The J.Vav1 cell line exhibits dramatic defects in TCR-dependent interleukin (IL)-2 promoter activation, accompanied by significant reductions in the activities of the NFAT(IL-2), NFkappaB, AP-1 and REAP transcription factors that bind to the IL-2 promoter region. In contrast, loss of Vav-1 had variable effects on early TCR-stimulated signaling events. J.Vav1 cells display a selective defect in sustained Ca(2+) signaling during TCR stimulation, and complementation of this abnormality by exogenously introduced Vav-1 is dependent on the Vav-1 calponin homology domain. While JNK activation was severely impaired, the stimulation of Ras, ERK and protein kinase C-theta activities, as well as the mobilization of lipid rafts, appeared normal in the J.Vav1 cells. Finally, evidence is presented to suggest that the alternative Vav family members, Vav-2 and Vav-3, are activated during TCR ligation, and partially compensate for the loss of Vav-1 in Jurkat T cells.
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PMID:Pleiotropic defects in TCR signaling in a Vav-1-null Jurkat T-cell line. 1223 21

Inflammatory fibroid polyps (IFPs) are rare mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract that consist of spindle-shaped stromal cells and an inflammatory infiltrate rich in eosinophils. Their etiology and histogenesis remain unknown. Based on previous reports of their immunoreactivity for CD34 and c-kit biomarkers, IFPs have been thought to be related to gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). After reviewing the current literature and examining IFPs at the light microscopic level, we evaluated a series of IFPs using an extensive panel of immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization markers in an effort to gain insight into their etiology and histogenesis and to determine their true relationship to GISTs. Sixteen routinely processed IFP specimens (14 gastric, 1 ileal, and 1 rectal) were immunohistochemically stained for antibodies to CD34, HMB-45, desmin, smooth muscle actin, calponin, h-caldesmon, anaplastic lymphoma kinase, S-100 protein, epithelial membrane antigen, c-kit (CD117), stem cell factor (SCF/N19 or kit ligand), p53, bcl-2, cyclin D1, and human herpesvirus-8 (HHV8). In situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus-encoded RNA (EBER) was also performed. Ten cases were further evaluated for the dendritic cell markers fascin, CD21, CD23, and CD35. Stromal cells were diffusely positive for CD34 and fascin in all (100%) cases, and these stromal cells were, in addition, immunoreactive for calponin and smooth muscle actin in 88% and 25% of cases, respectively. CD35 was also found to be focally reactive in the stromal cells. Cyclin-D1 was overexpressed in all (100%) IFPs. All other immunohistochemical markers and EBER were negative in the stromal cells. These findings suggest that the proliferating stromal cells in IFPs are of dendritic cell origin, with some cases also exhibiting myofibroblastic features. Absence of c-kit, SCF, and h-caldesmon immunoreactivity fails to support a relationship to GISTs. We also conclude that Epstein Barr virus and HHV8 are unlikely etiologic agents of IFPs. Overexpression of cyclin D1 in all cases suggests that a defect in cell-cycle regulation may be involved in the growth of IFPs.
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PMID:Inflammatory fibroid polyps of the gastrointestinal tract: evidence for a dendritic cell origin. 1470 72

We have investigated transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta)-mediated induction of actin stress fibers in normal and metastatic epithelial cells. We found that stress fiber formation requires de novo protein synthesis, p38Mapk and Smad signaling. We show that TGF-beta via Smad and p38Mapk up-regulates expression of actin-binding proteins including high-molecular-weight tropomyosins, alpha-actinin and calponin h2. We demonstrate that, among these proteins, tropomyosins are both necessary and sufficient for TGF-beta induction of stress fibers. Silencing of tropomyosins with short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) blocks stress fiber assembly, whereas ectopic expression of tropomyosins results in stress fibers. Ectopic-expression and siRNA experiments show that Smads mediate induction of tropomyosins and stress fibers. Interestingly, TGF-beta induction of stress fibers was not accompanied by changes in the levels of cofilin phosphorylation. TGF-beta induction of tropomyosins and stress fibers are significantly inhibited by Ras-ERK signaling in metastatic breast cancer cells. Inhibition of the Ras-ERK pathway restores TGF-beta induction of tropomyosins and stress fibers and thereby reduces cell motility. These results suggest that induction of tropomyosins and stress fibers play an essential role in TGF-beta control of cell motility, and the loss of this TGF-beta response is a critical step in the acquisition of metastatic phenotype by tumor cells.
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PMID:A critical role of tropomyosins in TGF-beta regulation of the actin cytoskeleton and cell motility in epithelial cells. 1531 45

Implants of collagen-fibronectin gels containing Bcl-2-transduced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (Bcl-2-HUVECs) induce the formation of human endothelial cell (EC)/murine vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) chimeric vessels in immunodeficient mice. Microfil casting of the vasculature 60 d after implantation reveals highly branched microvascular networks within the implants that connect with and induce remodeling of conduit vessels arising from the abdominal wall circulation. Approximately 85% of vessels within the implants are lined by Bcl-2-positive human ECs expressing VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and Tie-2, but not integrin alpha(v)beta(3). The human ECs are seated on a well formed human laminin/collagen IV-positive basement membrane, and are surrounded by mouse VSMCs expressing SM-alpha actin, SM myosin, SM22alpha, and calponin, all markers of contractile function. Transmission electron microscopy identified well formed EC-EC junctions, chimeric arterioles with concentric layers of contractile VSMC, chimeric capillaries surrounded by pericytes, and chimeric venules. Bcl-2-HUVEC-lined vessels retain 70-kDa FITC-dextran, but not 3-kDa dextran; local histamine rapidly induces leak of 70-kDa FITC-dextran or India ink. As in skin, TNF induces E-selectin and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 only on venular ECs, whereas intercellular adhesion molecule-1 is up-regulated on all human ECs. Bcl-2-HUVEC implants are able to engraft within and increase perfusion of ischemic mouse gastrocnemius muscle after femoral artery ligation. These studies show that cultured Bcl-2-HUVECs can differentiate into arterial, venular, and capillary-like ECs when implanted in vivo, and induce arteriogenic remodeling of the local mouse vessels. Our results support the utility of differentiated EC transplantation to treat tissue ischemia.
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PMID:Induction, differentiation, and remodeling of blood vessels after transplantation of Bcl-2-transduced endothelial cells. 1562 6

Immunohistochemistry is widely used for pathological diagnosis of breast lesions. Other than hormone receptors and HER2/neu analysis for primary breast carcinomas, several markers may be useful for differential diagnoses, although in limited situations. To decide the malignant potential of intraductal proliferative lesions, analysis for the staining pattern of cytokeratins may be a good reference. Most ductal carcinoma in situ cases are diffusely positive for luminal cell markers (CK8, CK18, CK19), but negative for basal cell markers (CK5/6 and CK14). However, usual ductal hyperplasia may show the mosaic staining patterns for any of these markers, which may indicate a heterogeneous cell population in benign lesions. Myoepithelial markers (alpha-SMA, myosin, calponin, p63, CD10) are almost consistently positive for benign papillomas but they do not completely distinguish intraductal papillary carcinomas. Preservation of myoepithelial layer is the diagnostic key when looking at benign sclerosing lesions, including carcinoma with pseudoinvasive structures. E-cadherin is mostly positive for ductal carcinomas but negative for lobular carcinomas. Some of the lobular carcinomas are positive for 34betaE12, but they are consistently negative for CK5/6. Comparison with histopathological findings of hematoxylin and eosin is essential to make proper diagnosis in the individual case.
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PMID:New trends of immunohistochemistry for making differential diagnosis of breast lesions. 1657 8

We present an extensive immunohistochemical analysis of 7 mammary sarcomas that did not fit into any specific soft tissue sarcoma category. Histologically, they were composed of spindle cells with highly pleomorphic nuclei and abundant mitoses. Our immunohistochemical antibody panel included pan-cytokeratin (CK), basal cell type CKs (34betaE12, CK5/6, CK14, CK17) and vimentin antibodies, antibodies to established (SMA, CD10, p63, S-100, maspin, calponin, GFAP, SM-myosin), and novel (CD29, 14-3-3sigma) myoepithelial markers, as well as antibodies to CD34, desmin, h-caldesmon, steroid receptors (estrogen, progesterone, androgen), and EGFR (Her-1). Whereas CKs, CD34, desmin, and h-caldesmon were not expressed, all tumors were positive for CD10 and vimentin. CD29 and SMA were observed in 3 cases each (43%), and p63 and calponin in 2 cases each (29%). Other myoepithelial markers and steroid receptors were absent, except androgen receptors, which were expressed in one sarcoma. Five sarcomas showed positivity for EGFR. The distinction of specific, histogenetically defined sarcoma entities (such as leiomyosarcoma, angiosarcoma, liposarcoma) from NOS-type sarcoma with CD10 expression is usually clear-cut because the former exhibit a characteristic histomorphology and immunoprofile. Phyllodes tumors with stromal overgrowth or recurrent phyllodes tumors lacking epithelial structures as well as periductal stromal sarcomas can be ruled out by their frequent expression of CD34 and negativity for myoepithelial markers. The most important differential diagnosis is sarcomatoid metaplastic carcinoma because its treatment includes axillary lymphadenectomy. Since some NOS-type sarcomas with CD10 expression and most metaplastic carcinomas show positivity for CD29, SMA, and p63, differential diagnosis can be extremely difficult and requires extensive immunohistochemical evaluation for CKs and additional myoepithelial markers such as S-100, 14-3-3sigma, and maspin. The immunophenotype of NOS-type sarcomas with CD10 expression suggests that these neoplasms represent a mammary sarcoma variant with myoepithelial features.
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PMID:Mammary NOS-type sarcoma with CD10 expression: a rare entity with features of myoepithelial differentiation. 1662 90

The 92-kDa gelatinase (MMP-9) expression is prerequisite for tissue remodeling in physiology and cancer. However, there are few known regulators of MMP-9 expression. Using an expression cloning strategy, we identified transgelin (SM22), a 22-25-kDa actin-binding protein localized to the cell membrane and cytoplasm, as a novel regulator of MMP-9 expression. Overexpression of a SM22 cDNA in HT1080 cells decreased MMP-9 mRNA/protein levels and diminished in vitro invasion of the latter rescued with exogenous MMP-9. Conversely, small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of SM22 elevated MMP-9 synthesis, and uterus from SM22-null mice showed strong MMP-9 immunoreactivity compared with wild type animals. The ability of SM22 to repress MMP-9 expression required an intact amino terminus calponin homology domain. MMP-9 expression is driven by ERK signaling and SM22 targeted this pathway as evidenced by (a) the transience in MAPK activation and (b) blunted stimulation of the MMP-9 promoter by a constitutively active MEK expression vector. Progressive deletion analysis located the SM22 responsive region of the MMP-9 promoter to the proximal 90-bp region harboring an AP-1 motif subsequently implicated by site-directed mutagenesis. Furthermore, nuclear extract from the SM22 transfectants showed diminished c-Fos binding to this motif and SM22 expression reduced the activity of an AP-1-driven reporter by 75%. Thus, SM22 adds to a short list of repressors of MMP-9 expression, achieving this by reducing AP-1-dependent trans-activation of the gene by way of compromised ERK activation. Diminished transgelin expression in several cancers may thus partly account for the elevated MMP-9 expression evident in these tumors.
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PMID:Expression cloning identifies transgelin (SM22) as a novel repressor of 92-kDa type IV collagenase (MMP-9) expression. 1683 21


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