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)

Urotensin-II (UII), a cyclic dodecapeptide with potent cardiovascular effects, has recently been shown to be abundantly expressed in the human kidney and excreted in human urine. To investigate whether UII acts as an autocrine/paracrine growth factor for renal epithelial cells, we have studied the effects of human UII (hUII) on DNA synthesis, cytosolic free Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)), ERK activation, and protooncogene (c-myc) expression in a porcine renal epithelial cell line (LLCPK1). hUII stimulated [(3)H]thymidine uptake into quiescent cells in a dose-dependent manner (10(-9) to 10(-7) M); this effect was inhibited by a protein kinase C inhibitor (GF109203X), a MAPK kinase inhibitor (PD98059), and a calcium channel blocker (nicardipine). Neither phosphatidyl inositol-3 kinase inhibitors (LY294002, wortmannin) nor p38 kinase inhibitor (SB203580) affected the hUII-induced DNA syntheses. hUII rapidly (within 5 min) and dose-dependently (10(-9) to 10(-7) M) increased [Ca(2+)](i) in fura-2-loaded cells. hUII also caused a rapid and transient activation of ERK1/2 and induction of c-myc. LLCPK1 cells expressed UII mRNA and its receptor GPR14 mRNA, as determined by RT-PCR, and released UII-like immunoreactivity into media. Neutralization of endogenous UII by anti-hUII antibody, but not nonimmune serum, significantly suppressed DNA synthesis. These data suggest that hUII is an autocrine/paracrine growth factor for renal epithelial cells via activation of both protein kinase C and ERK1/2 pathways as well as Ca(2+) influx via voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels.
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PMID:Urotensin II is an autocrine/paracrine growth factor for the porcine renal epithelial cell line, LLCPK1. 1269 88

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)/FGF receptor (FGFR) signaling plays a crucial role in mesoderm formation and patterning. Heartless mutant studies in Drosophila suggest that FGFR1, among the different FGFRs, may play a role in cardiogenesis. However, fgfr1-/- mice die during gastrulation before heart formation. To establish the contribution of FGFR1 in cardiac development, we investigated the capacity of murine fgfr1+/- and fgfr1-/- embryonic stem (ES) cells to differentiate to cardiomyocytes in vitro. Clusters of pulsating cardiomyocytes were observed in >90% of 3-dimensional embryoid bodies (EBs) originated from fgfr1+/- ES cells at day 9 to 10 of differentiation. In contrast, 10% or less of fgfr1-/- EBs showed beating foci at day 16. Accordingly, fgfr1-/- EBs were characterized by impaired expression of early cardiac transcription factors Nkx2.5 and d-Hand and of late structural cardiac genes myosin heavy chain (MHC)-alpha, MHC-beta, and ventricular myosin light chain. Homozygous fgfr1 mutation resulted also in alterations of the expression of mesoderm-related early genes, including nodal, BMP2, BMP4, T(bra), and sonic hedgehog. Nevertheless, fgfr1+/- and fgfr1-/- EBs similarly express cardiogenic precursor, endothelial, hematopoietic, and skeletal muscle markers, indicating that fgfr1-null mutation exerts a selective effect on cardiomyocyte development in differentiating ES cells. Accordingly, inhibitors of FGFR signaling, including the FGFR1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor SU 5402, the MEK1/2 inhibitor U0126, and the protein kinase C inhibitor GF109 all prevented cardiomyocyte differentiation in fgfr1+/- EBs without affecting the expression of the hematopoietic/endothelial marker flk-1. In conclusion, the data point to a nonredundant role for FGFR1-mediated signaling in cardiomyocyte development.
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PMID:Fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 is essential for in vitro cardiomyocyte development. 1289 44

In the present work, the effects of aliphatic ( n-nonane and n-decane), alicyclic (1,2,4-trimethylcyclohexane and tert-butylcyclohexane, t-BCH) and aromatic (trimethylbenzene and tert-butylbenzene) hydrocarbon solvents on formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha in rat alveolar macrophages (AM) have been investigated. Formation of ROS was assessed by monitoring oxidation of 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin to 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein (DCF), and the proinflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) was detected using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. DCF fluorescence was elevated in a concentration-dependent manner by the alicyclic hydrocarbons. The involvement of transcellular signalling pathways in the production of ROS by t-BCH, the most active compound, was elucidated by use of specific inhibitors. Preincubation of the AM with the mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK 1/2) inhibitor U0126, the protein kinase C inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide, the superoxide dismutase inhibitor diethyldithiocarbamate, and the iron ion chelating agent deferoxamine reduced the DCF fluorescence significantly. t-BCH gave an increase in TNF-alpha release. Further, nitric oxide production measured by a modified Griess method, and intracellular calcium concentration measured by fura-2, were increased in the rat AM after exposure to t-BCH.
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PMID:Transcellular signalling pathways and TNF-alpha release involved in formation of reactive oxygen species in rat alveolar macrophages exposed to tert-butylcyclohexane. 1368 96

Exogenous cannabinoids are effective in attenuating neuropathic pain behaviors induced by peripheral nerve injury, but the mechanisms of their effectiveness remain unclear. Here we examined the expression of spinal cannabinoid-1-receptors (CB1Rs) following chronic constriction sciatic nerve injury (CCI) and its relation to the effects of a CBR agonist (Win 55,212-2) on neuropathic pain in rats. CCI induced a time-dependent upregulation of spinal CB1Rs primarily within the ipsilateral superficial spinal cord dorsal horn as revealed by both Western blot and immunohistochemistry. This CCI-induced CB1R upregulation was at least in part mediated through tyrosine kinase receptors (Trk), because intrathecal treatment with the Trk inhibitor K252a (1 microg) for postoperative days 1-6 significantly reduced the CB1R upregulation in CCI rats. At the intracellular level, the mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK-MAPK) inhibitor PD98059 (1 microg) prevented, while the protein kinase C inhibitor chelerythrine (10 microg) partially reduced, the CCI-induced CB1R upregulation when each agent was administered intrathecally for postoperative days 1-6. Importantly, the CCI-induced upregulation of spinal CB1Rs enhanced the effects of Win 55,212-2 on both thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia, since inhibition of the CB1R upregulation by PD98059 resulted in a significant reduction of the effects of Win 55,212-2 in CCI rats. These results indicate that upregulation of spinal CB1Rs following peripheral nerve injury may contribute to the therapeutic effects of exogenous cannabinoids on neuropathic pain.
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PMID:Upregulation of spinal cannabinoid-1-receptors following nerve injury enhances the effects of Win 55,212-2 on neuropathic pain behaviors in rats. 1449 45

Most tumors have constitutively active tissue factor on their surface, capable of generating thrombin in the surrounding environment, and thrombosis is associated with cancer. Thrombin is known to induce a malignant phenotype by enhancing tissue adhesion and cell growth in vitro and in vivo in mice. Because tumors require angiogenesis for growth, we examined whether thrombin induces neoangiogenesis in a physiologically intact in vivo model. Thrombin (0.1 U mL-1) induced neoangiogenesis in the chick chorioallantoic membrane over a 24-72-h period by approximately 2-3-fold. This was inhibited by the potent thrombin inhibitor, hirudin and shown to have its mode of action by ligation of the thrombin protease-activated receptor, PAR-1. The thrombin receptor activation peptide, SFLLRNPNDKYEPF (200 microm) also enhanced neoangiogenesis c. 2-3-fold. Thrombin-induced neoangiogenesis was accompanied by the induction of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) mRNA at 24-48 h (approximately 2-fold) as determined by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Thrombin-induced neoangiogenesis was inhibited to baseline level by the specific angiogenesis receptor inhibitors KDR-Fc (vs. VEGF) and Tie-2-Fc (vs. Ang-1 and Ang-2), as well as the non-specific angiogenesis inhibitor thrombospondin-1. Thrombin-induced neoangiogenesis was also inhibited to baseline level by agents known to inhibit thrombin receptor signaling in other cells: G-coupled protein receptor inhibitor, pertussis toxin (40 pg per egg), protein kinase C inhibitor, bisindolylmaleimide (1 microm per egg), MAP kinase inhibitor, PD980598 (10 microm per egg) and PI3 kinase inhibitor, LY294002 (0.25 microm per egg). Thus angiogenesis is stimulated by thrombosis, which could help explain the enhancement of experimental tumorigenesis by thrombin.
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PMID:Thrombin induces neoangiogenesis in the chick chorioallantoic membrane. 1452 87

Although para-nonylphenol (NP) is known as an endocrine disruptor, the immunologic effect of NP has been poorly analyzed. We found that NP from 5 to 50 microM caused a dose-dependent stimulatory effect on the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in human blood neutrophils, which was measured by using a chemiluminescence reagent, luminol. Furthermore, ROS-scavenging enzymes such as catalase and superoxide dismutase and antioxidative agents alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene showed strong preventive effects on NP-induced ROS generation. To analyze the biochemical mechanism of NP-induced ROS generation in human neutrophils, we investigated the effects of different types of metabolic inhibitor for the activation pathways of ROS generation in the cells. Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-dependent oxidase inhibitor, diphenyl iodonium chloride and the myeloperoxidase inhibitor sodium azide (NaN3) showed remarkable inhibitory effects on ROS generation induced by NP, but an inhibitor against mitochondrial respiratory function, potassium cyanide (KCN), did not exhibit significant effect. Furthermore, the phosphatidylinositol-3 (PI3) kinase inhibitor wortmannin and the tyrosine kinase inhibitor protein phosphorylation inhibitor 1 (PP1) caused strong suppression against NP-induced ROS generation. The selective protein kinase C inhibitor Ro-32-0432, p38 MAP kinase inhibitor SB 203580, and ERK MAP kinase inhibitor PD 98059 also showed significant suppressive effects on NP-induced ROS generation. These results suggest that NP causes an enhancing effect on ROS generation in human blood neutrophils through the activation of signal transduction pathways associated with the respiratory burst function in these cells. Additionally, to examine in vivo effects of NP, we also analyzed the effects of NP itself and the synergistic effects of NP and a typical inflammatory agent, opsonized zymosan, on human whole blood including neutrophils.
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PMID:Enhancing effect of the endocrine disruptor para-nonylphenol on the generation of reactive oxygen species in human blood neutrophils. 1506 60

Epidermal hyperproliferation and neutrophil infiltration are major histopathological changes observed in psoriasis. Neutrophils contain human leukocyte elastase (HLE), which is released at sites of inflammation. HLE is present in psoriatic lesions and induces keratinocyte hyperproliferation in vitro and in vivo. To determine the molecular mechanisms linking a proteolytic effect of HLE and epidermal hyperproliferation, we examined the effects of HLE-induced signaling in human keratinocytes. Application of 100 nM HLE resulted in a transient calcium influx in FURA2-loaded human HaCaT keratinocytes observed by single-cell fluorescence imaging. The calcium signal was concentration dependent and was inhibited by addition of the HLE inhibitors elafin and secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor. The calcium signal was neither inhibited by pertussis toxin, cholera, or by pre-stimulation with trypsin. Incubation with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein, a protein kinase C inhibitor, as well as incubation with neutralizing EGFR antibodies abolished the HLE-induced calcium influx. The supernatants of HLE-treated keratinocytes induced a calcium signal in separately cultured keratinocytes. This could be inhibited by the addition of anti-TGF-alpha antibodies. Application of HLE-induced keratinocyte proliferation, which could be inhibited by neutralizing of anti-EGFR and anti-TGF-alpha antibodies. Herein we demonstrate that HLE induces keratinocyte proliferation by proteolytic activation of an EGFR signaling cascade involving TGF-alpha.
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PMID:Human leukocyte elastase induces keratinocyte proliferation by epidermal growth factor receptor activation. 1524 34

Binding of beta-arrestins to seven-membrane-spanning receptors (7MSRs) not only leads to receptor desensitization and endocytosis but also elicits additional signaling processes. We recently proposed that stimulation of the angiotensin type 1A (AT(1A)) receptor results in independent beta-arrestin 2- and G protein-mediated extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) activation. Here we utilize two AT(1A) mutant receptors to study these independent pathways, one truncated at residue 324, thus removing all potential carboxyl-terminal phosphorylation sites, and the other bearing four mutations in the serine/threonine-rich clusters in the carboxyl terminus. As assessed by confocal microscopy, the two mutant receptors interacted with beta-arrestin 2-green fluorescent protein with much lower affinity than did the wild-type receptor. In addition, the mutant receptors more robustly stimulated G protein-mediated inositol phosphate production. Approximately one-half of the wild-type AT(1A) receptor-stimulated ERK1/2 activation was via a beta-arrestin 2-dependent pathway (suppressed by beta-arrestin 2 small interfering RNA), whereas the rest was mediated by a G protein-dependent pathway (suppressed by protein kinase C inhibitor). ERK1/2 activation by the mutant receptors was insensitive to beta-arrestin 2 small interfering RNA but was reduced more than 80% by a protein kinase C inhibitor. The biochemical consequences of ERK activation by the G protein and beta-arrestin 2-dependent pathways were also distinct. G-protein-mediated ERK activation enhanced the transcription of early growth response 1, whereas beta-arrestin 2-dependent ERK activation did not. In addition, stimulation of the truncated AT(1A) mutant receptor caused significantly greater early growth response 1 transcription than did the wild-type receptor. These findings demonstrate how the ability of receptors to interact with beta-arrestins determines both the mechanism of ERK activation as well as the physiological consequences of this activation.
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PMID:Stable interaction between beta-arrestin 2 and angiotensin type 1A receptor is required for beta-arrestin 2-mediated activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2. 1535 86

Previous studies show that binding of nuclear proteins to GAGA repeats (GAGA box) in the vasopressin type 1b receptor (V1bR) promoter is essential for transcriptional initiation of the gene. To determine whether increased vasopressin (VP) during stress activates V1bR expression through the GAGA box, we examined the effects of VP on GAGA binding activity and on the ability of the V1bR promoter to recruit RNA polymerase in the hypothalamic cell line, H32. In chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, VP induced RNA polymerase II recruitment by the wild type V1bR promoter but not by a construct with the major GAGA box deletion. VP (10 min) also increased binding of nuclear proteins to radiolabeled GAGA oligonucleotides in electromobility shift assays. VP-induced GAGA binding activity was potentiated by the protein kinase C inhibitor, calphostin C, and was prevented by the MEK inhibitor, UO126, and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor, AG1478, suggesting that VP activates GAGA binding through transactivation of the EGFR. This was confirmed by western blot experiments showing rapid increases in phospho ERK after incubation with VP, an effect that was potentiated by calphostin C and inhibited by UO12 and AG1478, as well as by the ability of VP to phosphorylate the EGFR. Using receptor selective VP analogs we showed that both V1aR and V1bR subtypes can mediate GAGA binding activation in H32 cells. This study demonstrates that VP stimulates GAGA binding to the V1bR promoter through transactivation of the EGFR and MAP kinase. The data support the hypothesis that VP contributes to pituitary V1bR upregulation during stress through GAGA binding-mediated transcriptional activation.
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PMID:Vasopressin increases GAGA binding activity to the V1b receptor promoter through transactivation of the MAP kinase pathway. 1672 Jul 25

Effects of prokineticins (PKs), a novel family of bioactive peptides with a mitogenic action to endothelial cells of the endocrine gland and testis, on astrocytic functions were examined. Mouse cultured astrocytes expressed PK-R1 type PK receptors, while there was little expression of the PK-R2 type. PKs caused increases in astrocytic cytosolic Ca2+ levels and BrdU incorporation. Increases in Ca2+ levels by PK-2 were diminished by U73122 (a phospholipase C inhibitor). PK-induced BrdU incorporation was inhibited by U73122, GF109203 (a protein kinase C inhibitor) and PD98059 (a MEK/ERK inhibitor). These results indicate that PK receptors are expressed in astrocytes and regulate astrocytic proliferation.
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PMID:Expression of prokineticin receptors in mouse cultured astrocytes and involvement in cell proliferation. 1690 73


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