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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 function of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family member
HER4
remains unclear because its activating ligand, heregulin, results in either proliferation or differentiation. This variable response may stem from the range of signals generated by
HER4
homodimers versus heterodimeric complexes with other EGFR family members. The ratio of homo- and heterodimeric complexes may be influenced both by a cell's EGFR family member expression profile and by the ligand or even ligand isoform used. To define the role of
HER4
in mediating antiproliferative and differentiation responses, human breast cancer cell lines were screened for responses to heregulin. Only cells that expressed
HER4
exhibited heregulin-dependent antiproliferative responses. In-depth studies of one line, SUM44, demonstrated that the antiproliferative and differentiation responses correlated with
HER4
activation and were abolished by stable expression of a kinase-inactive
HER4
.
HB-EGF
, a
HER4
-specific ligand in this EGFR-negative cell line, also induced an antiproliferative response. Moreover, introduction and stable expression of
HER4
in
HER4
-negative SUM102 cells resulted in the acquisition of a heregulin-dependent antiproliferative response, associated with increases in markers of differentiation. The role of
HER2
in these heregulin-dependent responses was examined through elimination of cell surface
HER2
signaling by stable expression of a single-chain anti-
HER2
antibody that sequestered
HER2
in the endoplasmic reticulum. In the cell lines with either endogenously (SUM44) or exogenously (SUM102) expressed
HER4
, elimination of
HER2
did not alter
HER4
-dependent decreases in cell growth. These results suggest that
HER4
is both necessary and sufficient to trigger an antiproliferative response in human breast cancer cells.
...
PMID:Her4 mediates ligand-dependent antiproliferative and differentiation responses in human breast cancer cells. 1139 Jun 55
Members of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family have been suggested as prognostic markers in patients with bladder cancer. Thus far, there has been no consensus on their usefulness. We report an analysis of six ligands and two receptors of which a subset correlate to tumor stage and survival. Biopsies from bladder cancer tumors were obtained from 73 patients followed for a median of 28 months. The mRNA content for six ligands [EGF, transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha), amphiregulin (AR), betacellulin (betaCL),
heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor
(
HB-EGF
), epiregulin (EPI)] and two receptors [EGF receptor I Human EGF Receptor (HER1) and 2 (
HER2
)] was examined by a newly developed quantitative reverse transcription-PCR method. Five ligands and two receptors (HER1 and
HER2
) were present in median concentrations of (10(-21) mol/microg RNA) 0.39 (AR), 11 (betaCL), 2.4 (EPI), 40 (
HB-EGF
), 1.4 (TGF-alpha), 75 (HER1), and 39,000 (
HER2
). EGF was barely detectable. A significantly higher expression of EPI (P < 0.001),
HB-EGF
(P < 0.001), and TGF-alpha (P < 0.05) were observed in T2-T4 tumors as compared with Ta tumors. Especially the expression of EPI mRNA correlated strongly to survival (P < 0.0005), but increased expression of TGF-alpha (P < 0.005), AR, and
HB-EGF
(P < 0.02) was also associated with a reduced life span. For the first time, mRNA expression of six ligands and two receptors of the EGF family have been examined in bladder cancer tumors. Our data emphasize that members of the EGF family, especially EPI, may be potential bladder tumor markers.
...
PMID:A subclass of HER1 ligands are prognostic markers for survival in bladder cancer patients. 1150 76
In the present study, the role of a member of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family,
heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor
(
HB-EGF
), in organ development was investigated by using developing mouse submandibular gland (SMG), in which the EGF receptor signaling and heparan sulfate chains have been implicated.
HB-EGF
mRNA was detected in developing SMG by RT-PCR analysis and was expressed mainly in epithelium and weakly in mesenchyme of the embryonic SMG. Epithelial morphogenesis was inhibited by a synthetic peptide corresponding to the heparin-binding domain of
HB-EGF
and by anti-
HB-EGF
neutralizing antibody. An in vitro assay using an EGF receptor ligand-dependent cell line, EP170.7 cells, allowed us to detect the growth factor activity in SMG-conditioned media, which was significantly reduced by anti-
HB-EGF
antibody. Furthermore, treatment of SMG rudiments with the hydroxamate-based metalloproteinase inhibitor OSU8-1, which inhibits processing of
EGFR
ligands including
HB-EGF
, markedly diminished the growth factor activity in conditioned media and resulted in almost complete inhibition of SMG morphogenesis. The inhibitory effects on morphogenesis were reversed, though partially, by adding the soluble form of
HB-EGF
. Our results provide the first evidence that
HB-EGF
is a crucial regulator of epithelial morphogenesis during organ development, highlighting the importance of its processing by metalloproteinases.
...
PMID:Involvement of heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor and its processing by metalloproteinases in early epithelial morphogenesis of the submandibular gland. 1151 16
To investigate the role of
ERK
signaling in human skin responses to wounding, organ cultures of human skin were maintained for 0.5-24 h in the presence of various inhibitors, followed by measurement of
ERK
phosphorylation or mRNA levels. The MEK inhibitor PD98059 produced near-complete (97-98%) inhibition of
ERK
phosphorylation, whereas inhibition of c-Fos, c-Jun,
HB-EGF
, AR, and VEGF mRNA by this compound was incomplete (41-65%). PD98059 was significantly more effective than either PD158780 or BB2516 as an inhibitor of
ERK
phosphorylation and of the rapid rise in c-Fos and c-Jun mRNA expression. In contrast, all three compounds inhibited the more delayed rise in
HB-EGF
mRNA to the same extent. Exogenous epidermal growth factor abrogated the inhibition of
ERK
phosphorylation caused by BB2516. These data indicate that one or more metalloproteinases activate ErbB signaling in skin organ culture, that ErbB signaling plays an important but not exclusive role in the activation of
ERK
, and that non-
ERK
pathways contribute to gene expression in this system. Because metalloproteinase-mediated cleavage of the
HB-EGF
transmembrane precursor is known to be
ERK
-dependent, our data suggest that
ERK
activation resulting from initial trauma leads to metalloproteinase-mediated cleavage of
HB-EGF
, thereby triggering the ErbB signaling cascade.
...
PMID:Metalloproteinases stimulate ErbB-dependent ERK signaling in human skin organ culture. 1201 9
Helicobacter pylori has a major aetiological role in human gastric carcinogenesis but the cellular and molecular pathways by which infection promotes transformation remain to be resolved. This study demonstrates that H. pylori exposure to MKN-1, ST42, and MKN-28 gastric epithelial tumour cells results in the activation of
HB-EGF
gene expression and
EGFR
tyrosine phosphorylation. These cell responses are induced by both cagPAI positive and cagPAI negative H. pylori strains and are dependent on cell surface expression of the
HB-EGF
precursor. The induction of
HB-EGF
gene transcription by H. pylori requires metalloprotease-,
EGFR
-, and Mek1-activities, indicating the involvement of the "triple membrane passing signal" (TMPS) for
EGFR
transactivation. Moreover, the release of the inflammatory cytokine IL-8 by cells exposed to H. pylori is significantly impaired by inhibitors of TMPS pathway elements. Our findings support a model in which H. pylori triggers constitutive
EGFR
signal activation, which enhances IL-8 production, and initiates neoplastic transformation of gastric epithelial cells.
...
PMID:Helicobacter pylori-stimulated EGF receptor transactivation requires metalloprotease cleavage of HB-EGF. 1209 96
Dimerization and phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (
EGFR
) are the initial and essential events of EGF-induced signal transduction. However, the mechanism by which
EGFR
ligands induce dimerization and phosphorylation is not fully understood. Here, we demonstrate that EGFRs can form dimers on the cell surface independent of ligand binding. However, a chimeric receptor, comprising the extracellular and transmembrane domains of
EGFR
and the cytoplasmic domain of the erythropoietin receptor (EpoR), did not form a dimer in the absence of ligands, suggesting that the cytoplasmic domain of
EGFR
is important for predimer formation. Analysis of deletion mutants of
EGFR
showed that the region between (835)Ala and (918)Asp of the
EGFR
cytoplasmic domain is required for
EGFR
predimer formation. In contrast to wild-type
EGFR
ligands, a mutant form of
heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor
(HB2) did not induce dimerization of the
EGFR
-EpoR chimeric receptor and therefore failed to activate the chimeric receptor. However, when the dimerization was induced by a monoclonal antibody to
EGFR
, HB2 could activate the chimeric receptor. These results indicate that
EGFR
can form a ligand-independent inactive dimer and that receptor dimerization and activation are mechanistically distinct and separable events.
...
PMID:Ligand-independent dimer formation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a step separable from ligand-induced EGFR signaling. 1213 89
In order to identify metastasis-associated and promoting genes of pancreatic carcinoma we investigated the transcriptional profile of rat pancreatic carcinoma cell lines BSp73-AS (non-metastatic) and BSp73-ASML (highly metastatic) with Affymetrix GeneChip Array technology. We analyzed the expression profile of 7000 genes. Two hundred and ten genes (3%) were up-regulated and 247 genes (3.5%) were down-regulated in the metastatic cell line based on a fold change of expression of at least 3 and a change factor quality of > or = 2. In order to classify the de-regulated genes we defined the following categories: proteases and protease-related genes, cytokines, receptor tyrosine kinases, other transmembrane proteins/receptors, transcription, cell cycle/apoptosis, signaling, adhesion/extracellular matrix, metabolism, detoxification, protein modification, trafficking, immune response and other genes. We identified de-regulated AP1, FRA-1 and c-myc-mediated transcription in cell line BSp73-ASML. Up-regulation of transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptors c-met, IGFR1, IGFR2 and
EGFR
family-related ligands such as
HB-EGF
, TGFa, amphiregulin and neuregulin as well as c-met ligand HGF point to a possible role of this system in metastasis. We identified 56 non-tyrosine kinase transmembrane receptors as new target candidates for inhibition of metastasis, four of them representing already validated targets. In addition, we identified MMP9, uPA, uPAR, cyclin D1 and S100A4 (mts1) as possible contributors of the metastatic phenotype.
...
PMID:Identification of rat pancreatic carcinoma genes associated with lymphogenous metastasis. 1217 79
The identification of transcriptional targets of the tumor suppressor p53 is crucial in understanding mechanisms by which it affects cellular outcomes. Through expression array analysis, we identified cyclooxygenase 2 (Cox-2), whose expression was inducible by wild-type p53 and DNA damage. We also found that p53-induced Cox-2 expression results from p53-mediated activation of the Ras/Raf/MAPK cascade, as demonstrated by suppression of Cox-2 induction in response to p53 by dominant-negative Ras or Raf1 mutants. Furthermore, heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB- EGF), a p53 downstream target gene, induced Cox-2 expression, implying that Cox-2 is an ultimate effector in the p53-->
HB-EGF
-->Ras/Raf/MAPK-->Cox-2 pathway. p53-induced apoptosis was enhanced greatly in Cox-2 knock-out cells as compared with wild-type cells, suggesting that Cox-2 has an abrogating effect on p53-induced apoptosis. Also, a selective Cox-2 inhibitor, NS-398, significantly enhanced genotoxic stress-induced apoptosis in several types of p53+/+ normal human cells, through a caspase-dependent pathway. Together, these results demonstrate that Cox-2 is induced by p53-mediated activation of the Ras/Raf/
ERK
cascade, counteracting p53-mediated apoptosis. This anti-apoptosis effect may be a mechanism to abate cellular stresses associated with p53 induction.
...
PMID:P53-mediated induction of Cox-2 counteracts p53- or genotoxic stress-induced apoptosis. 1241 81
Exposure of cells to a variety of stresses induces compensatory activations of multiple intracellular signaling pathways. These activations can play critical roles in controlling cell survival and repopulation effects in a stress-specific and cell type-dependent manner. Some stress-induced signaling pathways are those normally activated by mitogens such as the
EGFR
/RAS/PI3K-MAPK pathway. Other pathways activated by stresses such as ionizing radiation include those downstream of death receptors, including pro-caspases and the transcription factor NFKB. This review will attempt to describe some of the complex network of signals induced by ionizing radiation and other cellular stresses in animal cells, with particular attention to signaling by growth factor and death receptors. This includes radiation-induced signaling via the
EGFR
and IGFI-R to the PI3K, MAPK, JNK, and p38 pathways as well as FAS-R and TNF-R signaling to pro-caspases and NFKB. The roles of autocrine ligands in the responses of cells and bystander cells to radiation and cellular stresses will also be discussed. Based on the data currently available, it appears that radiation can simultaneously activate multiple signaling pathways in cells. Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species may play an important role in this process by inhibiting protein tyrosine phosphatase activity. The ability of radiation to activate signaling pathways may depend on the expression of growth factor receptors, autocrine factors, RAS mutation, and PTEN expression. In other words, just because pathway X is activated by radiation in one cell type does not mean that pathway X will be activated in a different cell type. Radiation-induced signaling through growth factor receptors such as the
EGFR
may provide radioprotective signals through multiple downstream pathways. In some cell types, enhanced basal signaling by proto-oncogenes such as RAS may provide a radioprotective signal. In many cell types, this may be through PI3K, in others potentially by NFKB or MAPK. Receptor signaling is often dependent on autocrine factors, and synthesis of autocrine factors will have an impact on the amount of radiation-induced pathway activity. For example, cells expressing TGFalpha and
HB-EGF
will generate protection primarily through
EGFR
. Heregulin and neuregulins will generate protective signals through
ERBB4
/
ERBB3
. The impact on radiation-induced signaling of other autocrine and paracrine ligands such as TGFbeta and interleukin 6 is likely to be as complicated as described above for the
ERBB
receptors.
...
PMID:Stress and radiation-induced activation of multiple intracellular signaling pathways. 1260 Feb 31
The epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor and its various ligands (EGF, TGF-alpha, amphiregulin, heparin-binding (HB)-EGF, heregulin, betacellulin) seem to be involved in the growth regulation of intestinal mucosa and might be related to the development and progression of gastrointestinal tumors. However, few quantitative data investigating the impact of tumor-EGF receptor levels in gastrointestinal carcinomas on tumor stage and prognosis are available. Therefore, EGF receptors were quantitatively determined in colorectal carcinomas in comparison to adjacent normal mucosa by 125I[EGF]-binding studies.
EGFR
capacity was increased in advanced invasive colorectal carcinomas (T1/2 vs. T3/4 tumors, p<0.001) and advanced UICC stages (UICC I vs. UICC II/III, p<0.001). These findings were confirmed with quantitative 125[I]EGF autoradiography performed on frozen tissue slides and analyzed by laser densitometry (p=0.020). EGF receptor analysis with immunohistochemistry with
EGFR
antibodies directed against the extracellular domain of the receptor was not correlated with tumor invasion or prognosis. mRNA-expression of
EGFR
ligands was investigated using semiquantitative RT-PCR amplification using specific primers. RT-PCR transcripts of
EGFR
ligands (EGF, TGF-alpha,
HB-EGF
, and amphiregulin) were detected in both carcinomas and normal mucosa, indicating that autocrine growth stimulation of colorectal carcinomas is mediated by coexpression of EGF receptor ligands and upregulation of EGF receptors. Survival of colorectal cancer patients with increased tumor EGF receptor levels was significantly reduced in comparison to patients with low/unchanged tumor EGF receptor levels (mean survival+/-SD, 36.2+/-4.0 vs. 46.8+/-4.3 months; p=0.017). Further studies investigating EGF receptor levels in gastric cancer patients have shown that increased tumor EGF receptor levels were associated with poor prognosis in gastric cancer patients with tumors localized distal from the cardia. Several specific EGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors have recently entered clinical phase I-III studies, with promising antitumor effects in several tumors, including gastrointestinal cancer. Therefore, patients with invasive gastric or colorectal carcinomas might benefit from therapies specifically blocking
EGFR
-mediated signal transduction.
...
PMID:Clinical implications of the EGF receptor/ligand system for tumor progression and survival in gastrointestinal carcinomas: evidence for new therapeutic options. 1279 Mar 26
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