Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:2.7.10.1 (ERK)
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The synthesis of a series of polymeric Eu(III) complexes with polyester ligands, along with supporting emission spectra, luminescence lifetimes, and, for a Eu block copolymer film, atomic force microscopy (AFM) data, is presented. Dibenzoylmethane was derivatized with a hydroxyl initiator site (dbmOH, 1) for tin octoate catalyzed ring opening polymerization of dl-lactide. The resulting poly(lactic acid) macroligand, dbmPLA (2), was combined with EuCl3 to generate Eu(dbmPLA)3 (3). Chelation of both dbmPLA and a polycaprolactone-functionalized bipyridine ligand (bpyPCL2) led to the Eu(III)-centered heteroarm star Eu(dbmPLA)3(bpyPCL2) (4). Unpolarized emission spectra and luminescence lifetimes were recorded for the Eu polymers in CH2Cl2 and for Eu(dbmPLA)3, as a film. Solution data for Eu(dbm)3 and Eu(dbm)3(bpy) were collected for comparison. For Eu tris(dbm) complexes, data were fit to a double exponential decay, indicating the presence of multiple species. Relative amounts of the longer lifetime component increase in the series Eu(dbm)3 solutions to Eu(dbmPLA)3 solutions to Eu(dbmPLA)3 films, perhaps suggesting benefits of the "polymer shell effect" and the diminishment of aquo adducts known to shorten lifetimes. As with the nonpolymeric analogue, data for Eu(dbmPLA)3(bpyPCL2) fit to a single-exponential decay. The sharpness of the feature at 579.7 nm, attributable to the 5D0 --> 7F0 transition in the emission spectrum of 4, lends further support for a homogeneous sample. AFM studies of "as cast" thin films of 4 reveal a lamellar structure with a 17.5 nm repeat. These microstructures, inferred to contain Eu luminophores at the glassy PLA-crystalline PCL domain interfaces, are modified by thermal treatment.
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PMID:Site-isolated luminescent europium complexes with polyester macroligands: metal-centered heteroarm stars and nanoscale assemblies with labile block junctions. 1212 Oct 83

The expression and activity of epithelial proteinases is under stringent control to prevent aberrant hydrolysis of structural proteins and disruption of tissue architecture. E-cadherin-dependent cell-cell adhesion is also important for maintenance of epithelial structural integrity, and loss of E-cadherin expression has been correlated with enhanced invasive potential in multiple tumor models. To address the hypothesis that there is a functional link between E-cadherin and proteinase expression, we have examined the role of E-cadherin in proteinase regulation. By using a calcium switch protocol to manipulate junction assembly, our data demonstrate that initiation of de novo E-cadherin-mediated adhesive contacts suppresses expression of both relative matrix metalloproteinase-9 levels and net urinary-type plasminogen activator activity. E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion increases both phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3-kinase)-dependent AKT phosphorylation and epidermal growth factor receptor-dependent MAPK/ERK activation. Pharmacologic inhibition of the PI3-kinase pathway, but not the epidermal growth factor receptor/MAPK pathway, prevents E-cadherin-mediated suppression of proteinases and delays junction assembly. Moreover, inhibition of junction assembly with a function-blocking anti-E-cadherin antibody stimulates proteinase-dependent Matrigel invasion. As matrix metalloproteinase-9 and urinary-type plasminogen activator potentiate the invasive activity of oral squamous cell carcinoma, these data suggest E-cadherin-mediated signaling through PI3-kinase can regulate the invasive behavior of cells by modulating proteinase secretion.
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PMID:Proteinase suppression by E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell attachment in premalignant oral keratinocytes. 1213 62

From collagenase digests of human thyroid, endothelial cells were separated from follicular cells by their greater adherence to gelatin-coated plates. Endothelial cells were further purified using fluorescence-activated cell sorting, selecting for cells expressing factor VIII-related antigen. Isolated cells were negative for thyroglobulin and calcitonin when examined by immunostaining. The receptor for the angiopoietins, Tie-2, was expressed by the cells, and expression was increased by agents that elevate cAMP. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) 3, the endothelial form of NOS, was expressed by the cells and similarly regulated. Cells responded strongly to the mitogen fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 in growth assays but only weakly to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). VEGF was, however, able to stimulate nitric oxide release from the cells consistent with their endothelial origin. The FGF receptor (FGFR1) was full length (120 kDa) and immunolocalized to the cytosol and nucleus. Thyrotropin (TSH) did not regulate FGFR1, but its expression was increased by VEGF. Thrombospondin, a product of follicular cells, was a growth inhibitor, but neither TSH nor 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine had direct mitogenic effects. Thyroid follicular cell conditioned medium contained plasminogen activator activity and stimulated the growth of the endothelial cells, but when treated with plasminogen to produce the endothelial-specific inhibitor, angiostatin, growth was inhibited. Human thyroid endothelial cell cultures will be invaluable in determining the cross talk between endothelial and follicular cells during goitrogenesis.
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PMID:Isolation and characterization of human thyroid endothelial cells. 1962 78

The miscibility and phase behavior of two stereoisomer forms of poly(lactide) (PLA: poly (L-lactide) (PLLA) and poly(DL-lactide) (PDLLA)) blends with poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) (PCL-b-PEG) and PCL-b-monomethoxy-PEG (PCL-b-MPEG) block copolymers have been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The DSC thermal behavior of both the blend systems revealed that PLA is miscible with the PEG segment phase of PCL-b-(M)PEG but is still immiscible with its PCL segment phase although PCL was block-copolymerized with PEG. On the basis of these results, PCL-b-PEG was added as a compatibilizer to PLA/PCL binary blends. The improvement in mechanical properties of PLA/PCL blends was achieved as anticipated upon the addition of PCL-b-PEG. In addition, atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements have been performed in order to study the compositional synergism to be observed in mechanical tests. AFM observations of the morphological dependency on blend composition indicate that PLA/PCL blends are immiscible but compatible to some extent and that synergism of compatibilizing may be maximized in the compositional blend ratio before apparent phase separation and coarsening.
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PMID:Compatibilization effect of poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) block copolymers and phase morphology analysis in immiscible poly(lactide)/poly(epsilon-caprolactone) blends. 1242 54

Commercial lipases were examined for their degradation efficiency of aliphatic polyester films. In 100 days immersion of polyester films in lipase solutions at 37 degrees C at pH 7.0, Lipase Asahi derived from Chromobacterium viscosum degraded polybutylene succinate-co-adipate (PBSA), poly (e-caprolactone) (PCL) and polybutylene succinate (PBS), and Lipase F derived from Rhizopus niveus degraded PBSA and PCL during 4-17 days. Lipase F-AP15 derived from Rhizopus orizae could degrade PBSA in 22 days. In these cases, PBS and PBSA were mainly degraded to dimers, whereas PCL was mainly degraded to monomers. Only poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHB/V) and poly (L-lactide) (PLA) were not degraded in the experiments. However, PLA degraded completely at 55 degrees C, pH 8.5 with Lipase PL during 20 days. This result could be explained with the sequential reactions of the chemical hydrolysis of the polymer to oligomers at higher pH and temperature, and the succeeding enzymatic hydrolysis of oligomers to the monomers.
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PMID:Degradation of aliphatic polyester films by commercially available lipases with special reference to rapid and complete degradation of poly(L-lactide) film by lipase PL derived from Alcaligenes sp. 1244 16

Various ABA-type tri-block copolymers composed of poly(L-lactide) (PLA) or poly (lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) as the side A block and poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) as the middle B block were synthesized to produce rapidly degrading elastic matrices useful for tissue engineering scaffolds. The terminal di-hydroxyl groups in PCL-diol (MW 2000) were used as the initiator for the ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide or D,L-lactide and glycolide, employing stannous octoate as a catalyst. A series of copolymers were synthesized by varying the chain length and monomer composition of the PLA (PLGA) block, while the chain length of the PCL block was fixed. It was found that PLGA/PCL/PLGA copolymers with a MW of 10000 and lactide/glycolide ratios of 50/50 and 75/25 demonstrated desirable mechanical properties of elasticity (Young's modulus 26.0 and 19.8 MPa) and showed controllable degradability over a 2-month period depending on the monomer composition.
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PMID:Synthesis and characterization of elastic PLGA/PCL/PLGA tri-block copolymers. 1248 91

Bikunin is a Kunitz-type protease inhibitor, acting at the level of tumor invasion and metastasis. The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of bikunin-dependent signal transduction involved in the expression of a plasminogen activator (PA) system and invasion. We report here the following. 1) The human ovarian cancer cell line HRA produced secreted and cell-associated urokinase-type PA (uPA) and PA inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1). The plasma membrane of the cells showed enzymatically active uPA even in the presence of high level of PAI-1, as measured by zymography, Western blot, chromogenic assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Northern blot. 2) HRA cells leading to invasion are induced through up-regulation of uPA expression. 3) HRA cells specifically released transforming growth factor-beta type 1 (TGF-beta1) participating in an autocrine/paracrine regulation of cell invasion. 4) Elimination of endogenous TGF-beta1 could induce change in uPA/PAI-1 expression, which could in turn modify the invasive behavior of the cells. 5) The constitutive expression of TGF-beta1 as well as up-regulation of the PA system observed in HRA cells was inhibited by preinoculation of the cells with bikunin or calcium channel blocker SK&F 96365 but not with nifedipine or verapamil, with an IC(50) of approximately 100 nm for bikunin or approximately 30 microm for SK&F 96365, respectively, as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Bikunin showed no additive effect on SK&F 96365-mediated suppression of TGF-beta1 expression. 6) The ability of TGF-beta1 to elevate free intracellular Ca(2+), followed by activation of Src and ERK, was reduced by preincubation of the cells with bikunin. In conclusion, bikunin could inhibit the constitutive expression of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta1-mediated, Src- and ERK-dependent, PA system signaling cascade, at least in part, through inhibition of a non-voltage-sensitive calcium channel.
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PMID:A Kunitz-type protease inhibitor, bikunin, inhibits ovarian cancer cell invasion by blocking the calcium-dependent transforming growth factor-beta 1 signaling cascade. 1249 70

Extracellular ATP is a pro-inflammatory mediator involved in the release of prostaglandin from articular chondrocytes, but little is known about its effects on intracellular signaling. ATP triggered the rapid release of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) by acting on P2Y(2) receptors in rabbit articular chondrocytes. We have explored the signaling events involved in this synthesis. ATP significantly increased arachidonic acid production, which involved the activation of the 85-kDa cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)) but not a secreted form of PLA(2), as demonstrated by various PLA(2) inhibitors and translocation experiments. We also showed that ATP induced the phosphorylation of p38 and ERK1/2 mitogen-activated-protein kinases (MAPKs). Both PD98059, an inhibitor of the ERK pathway, and SB203580, an inhibitor of p38 MAPK, completely inhibited the ATP-induced release of PGE(2). Finally, dominant-negative plasmids encoding p38 and ERK transfected alone into the cells impaired the ATP-induced release of PGE(2) to about the same extent as both plasmids transfected together. These results suggest that PGE(2) production induced by ATP requires the activation of both ERK1/2 and p38 MAPKs. Thus, ATP acts via P2Y(2)-purine receptors to recruit cPLA(2) by activating both ERK1/2 and p38 MAPKs and stimulates the release of PGE(2) from articular chondrocytes.
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PMID:Concomitant recruitment of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK signalling pathway is required for activation of cytoplasmic phospholipase A2 via ATP in articular chondrocytes. 1259 27

Atherosclerosis preferentially occurs in areas of turbulent flow and low fluid shear stress, while laminar flow and high shear stress are atheroprotective. Well characterized atheroprotective mechanisms include inhibition of thrombosis (increased tissue-type plasminogen activator and decreased plasminogen activator inhibitor-1), inhibition of endothelial cell apoptosis, limitation of permeability (uptake of low-density lipoprotein), prevention of white blood cell binding and transmigration (no expression of adhesion molecules such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [ICAM-1] and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 [VCAM-1] and no release of monocyte chemotactic protein-1) and increased bioavailability of nitric oxide (because of increased expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and manganese superoxide dismutase). Our lab has investigated flow-mediated inhibition of inflammatory cytokine action. In particular, we have shown that flow prevents tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) mediated signal transduction. TNF regulates inflammatory gene expression (e.g., ICAM-1 and VCAM-1) in endothelial cells, in part, by stimulating mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinases that phosphorylate transcription factors. We hypothesized that fluid shear stress inhibits TNF inflammatory effects on endothelial cells by inhibiting TNF mediated activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase. To test this hypothesis, we determined the effects of steady laminar flow on TNF-stimulated activity of c-Jun N-terminal kinase. The results show that flow inhibits c-Jun N-terminal kinase activation through multiple mechanisms, including stimulation of counter-regulatory MAP kinases (extracellular signal regulated kinases [ERK]1/2 and ERK5) and inhibition of apoptosis signal-regulated kinase. In summary, the atheroprotective effects of steady laminar flow on the endothelium involve multiple synergistic mechanisms. These multiple mechanisms offer attractive targets for new drug therapies aimed at limiting atherosclerosis development and progression. (c) 2002 Prous Science. All rights reserved.
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PMID:Atheroprotective Mechanisms Activated by Fluid Shear Stress in Endothelial Cells. 1267 55

The design of surface-engineered nanoparticles for targeting to specific sites is a major challenge. To our knowledge, no study in the literature deals with ligand functionalization of biodegradable nanoparticles through biotin-avidin interactions. With the aim of conceiving small-sized nanoparticles which can be easily functionalized with a variety of ligands or mixtures thereof, biotinylated and PEGylated biotin-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (B-PEG-PCL) copolymers were synthesized and used to prepare nanoparticles of around 100 nm. Avidin, followed by biotinylated wheat germ agglutinin as a model lectin, were coupled to their surface by taking advantage of the strong biotin-avidin complex formation. The cytotoxicity of the nanospheres towards Caco-2 cells in culture was negligible (more than 82% cell survival for nanoparticle concentrations up to 300 microg/well). The amount of radiolabeled poly(lactic acid) (PLA) or PEG-PLA nanoparticles associated with Caco-2 cells was only 0.7% and 1.5% of the amount added, respectively. This value was increased to 8.5% when a sufficient amount of lectin was bound to the PEG-PLA copolymer. After further studies, the biotin-PEG-coated nanoparticles could be helpful tools for studying the interaction between cells and functionalized nanoparticles with various surface characteristics (PEG layer density and thickness, ligand type and density).
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PMID:Surface-engineered nanoparticles for multiple ligand coupling. 1292 62


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