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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 use of platinum complexes for the therapy of breast cancer is an emerging new treatment modality. To gain insight into the mechanisms underlying cisplatin resistance in breast cancer, we used estrogen receptor-positive MCF-7 cells as a model system. We generated cisplatin-resistant MCF-7 cells and determined the functional status of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), MAPK, and AKT signaling pathways by phosphoreceptor tyrosine kinase and phospho-MAPK arrays. The cisplatin-resistant MCF-7 cells are characterized by increased EGFR phosphorylation, high levels of AKT1 kinase activity, and ERK1 phosphorylation. In contrast, the JNK and p38 MAPK modules of the MAPK signaling pathway were inactive. These conditions were associated with inactivation of the p53 pathway and increased BCL-2 expression. We investigated the expression of genes encoding the ligands for the
ERBB
signaling cascade and found a selective up-regulation of
amphiregulin
expression, which occurred at later stages of cisplatin resistance development.
Amphiregulin
is a specific ligand of the EGFR (
ERBB1
) and a potent mitogen for epithelial cells. After exposure to cisplatin, the resistant MCF-7 cells secreted
amphiregulin
protein over extended periods of time, and knockdown of
amphiregulin
expression by specific short interfering RNA resulted in a nearly complete reversion of the resistant phenotype. To demonstrate the generality and importance of our findings, we examined
amphiregulin
expression and cisplatin resistance in a variety of human breast cancer cell lines and found a highly significant correlation. In contrast,
amphiregulin
levels did not significantly correlate with cisplatin resistance in a panel of lung cancer cell lines. We have thus identified a novel function of
amphiregulin
for cisplatin resistance in human breast cancer cells.
...
PMID:Epidermal growth factor receptor pathway analysis identifies amphiregulin as a key factor for cisplatin resistance of human breast cancer cells. 1794 95
Aberrant expression levels of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and its cognate ligands have been recognized as one of the causes of cancer progression. To investigate the validity of EGFR ligands as targets for cancer therapy, we examined the expression of EGFR ligands and in vitro anti-tumor effects of small interference RNA (siRNA) for EGFR ligands in various cancer cells. HB-EGF expression was dominantly elevated in ovarian, gastric, and breast cancer, melanoma and glioblastoma cells, whereas
amphiregulin
was primarily expressed in pancreatic, colon, and prostate cancer, renal cell carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma cells. Transfection of siRNAs for HB-EGF or
amphiregulin
into these cells significantly increased the numbers of apoptotic cells with attenuation of EGFR and
ERK
activation. In lung cancer cells, any EGFR ligand was not recognized as a validated target for cancer therapy. These results suggest that HB-EGF and
amphiregulin
are promising targets for cancer therapy.
...
PMID:Validation of HB-EGF and amphiregulin as targets for human cancer therapy. 1802 15
The epidermal growth factor (EGF) family comprises multiple mediators such as transforming growth factor-alpha,
amphiregulin
, heparin binding-EGF, and epiregulin, which are crucially involved in the tissue-specific proliferation/differentiation homeostasis. Typically, they act in an autocrine and paracrine manner on their specific cell membrane receptor and mount an effective reparative response to any attack to biophysical integrity. In addition, the
EGFR
can be activated by transactivation from a variety of G-protein-coupled receptors, integrins, and cytokine receptors, so that it acts as the major transducer of disparate cell functions, including changes in proliferation rate, cellular shape, attachment and motility, and regulation of proinflammatory activation. However, numerous experimental observations indicate that the different
EGFR
ligands are not redundant, but may rather provide distinct and specific contributions to keratinocyte functions. Importantly, increasing evidence now suggests that the
EGFR
pathway has a major impact on the inflammatory/immune reactions of the skin, in the apparent effort of enhancing innate immune defense while opposing overactivation of keratinocyte pro-inflammatory functions. This review covers the molecular mechanisms and functions activated by this major growth factor system in the regulation of keratinocyte biology and focuses on the complex contribution of
EGFR
signaling to the inflammatory processes in the skin.
...
PMID:The epidermal growth factor receptor system in skin repair and inflammation. 1804 51
Among the targeted therapies used in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC), cetuximab was registered in France in 2004. This chimeric antibody inhibiting the Epidermal Growth receptor (
EGFR
) has been demonstrated to be efficient in the treatment of irinotecan-resistant metastatic CRC expressing the
EGFR
. Panitumumab, a fully humanized anti-
EGFR
antibody should soon be registered after failure of conventional chemotherapies. However, these costly and potentially toxic treatments are efficient in a little proportion of patients. It is so necessary to identify some factors able to better define whose patients will benefit from these treatments. The major potential predictive factors of response to cetuximab and/or panitumumab that have been evaluated in the literature, which are summarized in this review, are molecular factors involved more or less directly in the EGF signaling pathway. Among them, KRAS mutations,
EGFR
gene copy number and, more recently, epiregulin and
amphiregulin
expression are those, along with skin toxicity, which appear to be the most relevant and which will have to be evaluated in future clinical trials to be validated before being incorporated in therapeutic strategy of CRC.
...
PMID:[Predictive factors of response to anti-EGFR treatments in colorectal cancer]. 1823 May 79
Exemestane-resistant breast cancer cell lines (i.e., ExeR), derived from MCF-7 cells expressing a high level of aromatase (MCF-7aro), were generated in our laboratory. The epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like protein
amphiregulin
(
AREG
) was highly expressed in ExeR cells based on cDNA microarray analysis. The high levels of
AREG
mRNA in ExeR cell lines were confirmed by real-time reverse transcription-PCR. The high levels of
AREG
protein in ExeR cell lysates and culture media were confirmed by Western blot analysis and ELISA, respectively. Furthermore, our Western blot analysis showed that whereas no
AREG
was detected in the DMSO control, overnight treatment of parental MCF-7aro cells with 1 micromol/L exemestane strongly induced the expression of
AREG
. This induction was totally blocked by 100 nmol/L of pure antiestrogen ICI 182,780, implying estrogen receptor (ER) dependence of exemestane-induced
AREG
expression. MCF-7aro cells were not able to proliferate in hormone-free medium, but were able to proliferate in conditioned medium from ExeR cells, similar to the treatment of recombinant human
AREG
. Small interference RNA targeting
AREG
inhibited ExeR proliferation, confirming that
AREG
is truly functioning as a growth factor of ExeR cells. The specific inhibitors to ER (ICI 182,780), EGF receptor (
EGFR
; AG1478), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK; U0126) all showed dose-dependent suppression of the proliferation of ExeR cells, indicating the involvement of the ER,
EGFR
, and MAPK pathways. Based on these findings, we propose a possible mechanism that underlies exemestane resistance: exemestane induces
AREG
in an ER-dependent manner.
AREG
then activates the
EGFR
pathway and leads to the activation of the MAPK pathway that drives cell proliferation.
...
PMID:The role of amphiregulin in exemestane-resistant breast cancer cells: evidence of an autocrine loop. 1838 32
Extensive epithelial cell proliferation underlies the ductal morphogenesis of puberty that generates the mammary tree that will eventually fill the fat pad. This estrogen-dependent process is believed to be essentially dependent on locally produced growth factors that act in a paracrine fashion. EGF-like growth factor ligands, acting through EGF receptors are some of the principal promoters of pubertal ductal morphogenesis.
Amphiregulin
is the most abundant EGF-like growth factor in the pubertal mammary gland. Its gene is transcriptionally regulated by ERalpha, and recent evidence identifies it as a key mediator of the estrogen-driven epithelial cell proliferation of puberty: The pubertal deficiency in mammary gland ductal morphogenesis in ERalpha,
amphiregulin
, and
EGFR
knockout mice phenocopy each other. As a prognostic indicator in human breast cancer,
amphiregulin
indicates an outcome identical to that predicted by ERalpha presence. Despite this, a range of studies both on preneoplastic human breast tissue and on cell culture based models of breast cancer, suggest a possibly significant role for
amphiregulin
in driving human breast cancer progression. Here we summarise our current understanding of
amphiregulin
's contribution to mammary gland development and breast cancer progression.
...
PMID:Amphiregulin: role in mammary gland development and breast cancer. 1839 73
Amphiregulin
, an EGF family growth factor, binds and activates the epidermal growth factor receptor (
EGFR
or ErbB1). Activation of the
EGFR
by
amphiregulin
can occur through autocrine, paracrine and juxtacrine mechanisms.
Amphiregulin
plays a role in several biological processes including nerve regeneration, blastocyst implantation, and bone formation.
Amphiregulin
also plays an important role in mammary duct formation as well as the outgrowth and branching of several other human tissues such as the lung, kidney and prostate. This effect is most likely due to the induction of genes involved in invasion and migration such as cytokines and matrix metalloproteases. Clinical studies have suggested that
amphiregulin
also plays a role in human breast cancer progression and its expression has been associated with aggressive disease. Therefore,
amphiregulin
may be a novel and effective target for the treatment of breast cancer and could represent an alternative to targeting the
EGFR
.
...
PMID:Amphiregulin as a novel target for breast cancer therapy. 1843 39
We examined the expression of epiregulin and
amphiregulin
mRNA in 39 oral SCCs, 2 epithelial dysplasias and 7 normal gingivae by real-time RT-PCR. The mean expression level of epiregulin mRNA was higher in oral SCCs (0.29+/-0.50) than normal gingivae (0.01+/-0.007) and epithelial dysplasias (0.01+/-0.001). The expression level of epiregulin mRNA was significantly higher in oral SCCs than normal gingivae (Mann-Whitney U test, P=0.023). Epiregulin mRNA was higher in stage III/IV than in stage I/II oral SCCs. However, a significant association was not found. The mean expression level of
amphiregulin
mRNA was higher in oral SCCs (0.18+/-0.24) than normal gingivae (0.002+/-0.003) and epithelial dysplasias (0.01+/-0.001).
Amphiregulin
mRNA was significantly higher in oral SCCs than normal gingivae (Mann-Whitney U test, P=0.001). We then examined the expression of four EGF receptor mRNA in oral SCCs. The expression levels of HER1,
HER2
,
HER3
and
HER4
mRNA in oral oral SCCs were increased compared to those in normal gingivae. A significant correlation was found between the mRNA expression levels of epiregulin and
HER2
,
HER3
and
HER4
(Spearman's correlation coefficient by rank test, P=0.031, P=0.004 and P=0.027, respectively). Patients with oral SCC that have a high expression of epiregulin had a significantly shorter survival than those with low a expression (log-rank test, P<0.05). These results indicate that human epiregulin is closely linked to the increased or abnormal cell proliferation in human oral SCC.
...
PMID:Expression of epiregulin, a novel epidermal growth factor ligand associated with prognosis in human oral squamous cell carcinomas. 1849 65
Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) and its receptors (HER1 and
HER4
) play a role in the human implantation process.
Amphiregulin
is a member of the EGF family but with unknown function in human fertility. It has been suggested that some women with unexplained infertility have defective endometrial development. The aim of this study is to determine the presence of
amphiregulin
and the receptors HER1 and
HER4
in normal human endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle. In addition, the present study aims to compare endometrium from women with unexplained infertility with endometrium from women with male factor infertility and healthy fertile controls. Immunohistochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to determine the expression of HB-EGF, HER1,
HER4
, and
amphiregulin
. The stromal staining of HER1 and the epithelial staining of
HER4
were most intense in the mid- and late-secretory-phase endometrium.
Amphiregulin
did not vary during the menstrual cycle. In the mid-secretory phase, the protein expression of HB-EGF was lower in endometrium from women with unexplained infertility versus normal endometrium and endometrium from women with male factor infertility. HB-EGF and
HER4
mRNA expression in mid-secretory endometrium of women with unexplained and male factor infertility were increased compared with normal controls. Impaired endometrial expression of certain members of the EGF family may contribute to infertility in some women with unexplained infertility.
...
PMID:HB-EGF but not amphiregulin or their receptors HER1 and HER4 is altered in endometrium of women with unexplained infertility. 1857 57
In
HER2
-overexpressing mammary epithelial cells, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) activated phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt and enhanced survival and migration. Treatment with TGF-beta or expression of an activated TGF-beta type I receptor (Alk5 with the mutation T204D [Alk5(T204D)]) induced phosphorylation of TACE/ADAM17 and its translocation to the cell surface, resulting in increased secretion of TGF-alpha,
amphiregulin
, and heregulin. In turn, these ligands enhanced the association of p85 with ErbB3 and activated PI3K/Akt. RNA interference of TACE or ErbB3 prevented TGF-beta-induced activation of Akt and cell invasiveness. Treatment with TGF-beta or expression of Alk5(T204D) in
HER2
-overexpressing cells reduced their sensitivity to the
HER2
antibody trastuzumab. Inhibition of Alk5, PI3K, TACE, or ErbB3 restored sensitivity to trastuzumab. A gene signature induced by Alk5(T204D) expression correlated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with invasive breast cancer. These results suggest that by acting on ErbB ligand shedding, an excess of TGF-beta may result in (i) conditioning of the tumor microenvironment with growth factors that can engage adjacent stromal and endothelial cells; (ii) potentiation of signaling downstream ErbB receptors, thus contributing to tumor progression and resistance to anti-
HER2
therapies; and (iii) poor clinical outcomes in women with breast cancer.
...
PMID:Transforming growth factor beta engages TACE and ErbB3 to activate phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/Akt in ErbB2-overexpressing breast cancer and desensitizes cells to trastuzumab. 1862 25
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