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)

Oncostatin M (OSM), an interleukin-6 type cytokine, acts via the gp130 signaling receptor to inhibit proliferation and induce differentiation of breast cancer cells. EGF, a mitogen for breast cells, signals via EGFR/ErbB tyrosine kinase receptors which are implicated in breast cancer pathogenesis. Here we show paradoxically that EGF enhanced the OSM-induced inhibition of proliferation and induction of cellular differentiation in both estrogen receptor positive and negative breast cancer cells. This functional synergism was also seen with heregulin but not SCF, PDGF or IGF-1, indicating that it was specific to EGF-related growth factors. Immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that gp130 was constitutively associated with ErbB-2 and ErbB-3. There was a similar association between the OSMRbeta and ErbB-2. Furthermore, EGF unexpectedly induced tyrosine phosphorylation of gp130. We show that OSM induced phosphorylation of STAT3. Both OSM and EGF activated the p42/44 MAP kinases, but while the MEK inhibitor, PD98059, ablated the OSM-induced inhibition, it only partially ablated the inhibitory effects of OSM plus EGF. Thus, we have demonstrated that the receptors and signalling pathways of two apparently unrelated growth factors were intimately linked, resulting in an unexpected biological effect. This provides a new mechanism for generating signalling diversity and has potential clinical implications in breast cancer.
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PMID:An unexpected biochemical and functional interaction between gp130 and the EGF receptor family in breast cancer cells. 1182 58

Until now, hepatocytes have been the only known cell source of macrophage-stimulating protein (MSP), and tissue macrophages have been the cells on which the biologic effects of MSP have been proved. To extend the understanding of the biologic meaning of MSP, it was investigated whether MSP operates in the kidney. MSP protein was evaluated by Western blot in supernatant of cultured human tubular cells (HK2) and human mesangial cells (HMC). MSP mRNA was investigated in HK2 by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression of the MSP receptor, RON, was evaluated in HMC and HK2 by Western blot. RON mRNA was investigated in HMC by RT-PCR. The expression of MSP and RON in normal human renal tissue was studied by immunohistochemistry. HMC were stimulated with recombinant MSP (rMSP) and HK2 supernatant to study cell growth, migration, and the capacity to invade an artificial collagen matrix and synthesize interleukin-6 (IL-6). HK2 produced MSP and expressed RON in a form that was phosphorylated by rMSP. HMC expressed RON but did not produce MSP. MSP in HK2 supernatant and rMSP induced in HMC phosphorylation of RON, growth, migration, invasion, and IL-6 synthesis. In normal human kidney, tubules expressed MSP and RON. These results indicate a novel field of operation for MSP and suggest a pathogenic role of the MSP/RON system in renal disease. In fact, MSP released by tubular cells may recruit monocytes/macrophages in inflammatory tubulointerstitial disorders. In addition, MSP either circulating or as paracrine product may sustain glomerular mesangioproliferative disease.
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PMID:Macrophage-stimulating protein is produced by tubular cells and activates mesangial cells. 1185 68

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a prominent tumor growth factor for malignant multiple myeloma cells. In addition to its known activation of the Janus tyrosine kinase-STAT and RAS-MEK-ERK pathways, recent work suggests that IL-6 can also activate the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K)/AKT kinase pathway in myeloma cells. Because activation of the PI3-K/AKT as well as RAS-MEK-ERK pathways may result in downstream stimulation of the p70(S6K) (p70) and phosphorylation of the 4E-BP1 translational repressor, we assessed these potential molecular targets in IL-6-treated myeloma cells. IL-6 rapidly activated p70 kinase activity and p70 phosphorylation. Activation was inhibited by wortmannin, rapamycin, and the ERK inhibitors PD98059 and UO126, as well as by a dominant negative mutant of AKT. The concurrent requirements for both ERK and PI3-K/AKT appeared to be a result of their ability to phosphorylate p70 on different residues. In contrast, IL-6-induced phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 was inhibited by rapamycin, wortmannin, and dominant negative AKT but ERK inhibitors had no effect, indicating ERK function was dispensable. In keeping with these data, a dominant active AKT mutant was sufficient to induce 4E-BP1 phosphorylation but could not by itself activate p70 kinase activity. Prevention of IL-6-induced p70 activation and 4E-BP1 phosphorylation by the mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors rapamycin and CCI-779 resulted in inhibition of IL-6-induced myeloma cell growth. These results indicate that both ERK and PI3-K/AKT pathways are required for optimal IL-6-induced p70 activity, but PI3-K/AKT is sufficient for 4E-BP1 phosphorylation. Both effects are mediated via mammalian target of rapamycin function, and, furthermore, these effects are critical for IL-6-induced tumor cell growth.
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PMID:Signal pathways involved in activation of p70S6K and phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 following exposure of multiple myeloma tumor cells to interleukin-6. 1187 47

We hypothesized that glutathione transferases could be induced and may participate to cellular defenses against the oxidative stress occurring during liver regeneration. Here, we evidenced that murine GSTA1 (mGSTA1), A4, Pi, and Mu are up-regulated during mouse liver regeneration, exhibiting a biphasic pattern of induction correlating early G(1) phase and G(1)/S transition of the cell cycle. Using confocal microscopy immunolocalization and subcellular fractionation, mGSTA4 was demonstrated in both mitochondria and cytosol and found preferentially increased in cytosol during liver regeneration. In addition, mGSTA4 was induced in vivo and in cultured hepatocytes by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and epidermal growth factor (EGF), factors that play crucial roles in hepatocyte survival and proliferation during liver regeneration. However, the mitogenic effect of EGF was not responsible for the induction of mGSTA4. In transient transfections, IL-6 and EGF, but not TNFalpha, transactivated the human GSTA4 (hGSTA4) promoter cloned upstream of the luciferase reporter gene suggesting that IL-6 and EGF up-regulated hGSTA4 at a transcriptional level, whereas TNFalpha could rather act at a post-transcriptional level. The inhibition of phosphoinositide 3-kinase, p38 MAPK, and MEK/ERK signaling pathways, using specific inhibitors, prevented EGF-dependent induction of mGSTA4 and transactivation of hGSTA4 promoter. Altogether, these data favor the conclusion that, in regenerating hepatocytes, several GST isoforms are induced and that cytokines TNFalpha and IL-6 and survival factor EGF positively regulate mGSTA4 via survival signaling pathways.
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PMID:Pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6 and survival factor epidermal growth factor positively regulate the murine GSTA4 enzyme in hepatocytes. 1188 96

Growth-related oncogene protein-alpha (GRO-alpha) is a member of the C-X-C chemokine family with a wide variety of biological activities. We studied the production of GRO-alpha by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in response to the stimulation with soluble form of interleukin-6 receptor alpha (sIL-6R). sIL-6R stimulated HUVEC to express GRO-alpha mRNA and secrete GRO-alpha protein in concentration-and time-dependent manners. The sIL-6R-induced GRO-alpha expression was inhibited by the pretreatment of the cells with AG490, a janus kinase 2 (JAK2) inhibitor, or with U0126, a MAP kinase-ERK kinase (MEK) inhibitor. sIL-6R also induced the phosphorylation of both Src homology 2-protein tyrosine phosphatase-2 (SHP-2), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and MEK. AG490 pretreatment inhibited the MEK phosphorylation but did not affect the STAT3 phosphorylation. We conclude that sIL-6R induces GRO-alpha expression in HUVEC through the activation of JAK2 and MEK.
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PMID:Production of growth related oncogene protein-alpha in human umbilical vein endothelial cells stimulated with soluble interleukin-6 receptor-alpha: role of signal transducers, janus kinase 2 and mitogen-activated kinase kinase. 1200

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine that plays an important role in inflammatory reactions. We have addressed the possible regulation of IL-6 expression by the ubiquitin-protease system in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Cultured endothelial cells were treated with MG-132, a protease inhibitor, and the levels of IL-6 mRNA and protein were measured by reverse transcription-PCR and ELISA. MG-132 increased the expression of IL-6 mRNA and protein;and this effect was abolished by the pretreatment of the cells with U0126, an inhibitor of MAP or ERK kinases (MEK 1/2). MG-132 treatment was also found to enhance the level of phosphorylated MEK 1/2. Treatment of the cells with actinomycin D inhibited IL-6 expression in response to MG-132, suggesting the transcriptional upregulation of IL-6 under proteasomal inhibition. We conclude that a protease inhibitor MG-132 upregulates IL-6 expression in vascular endothelial cells, at least in part, through the activation of MEK 1/2.
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PMID:Proteasome inhibitor MG-132 enhances the expression of interleukin-6 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells: Involvement of MAP/ERK kinase. 1206 9

The intracellular signaling mechanisms that specify tissue-specific responses to the interleukin-6 (IL-6) family of cytokines are not well understood. Here, we evaluated the functions of the two major signaling pathways, the signal transducers and activators of transcription 1 and 3 (STAT1/3) and the Src-homology tyrosine phosphatase 2 (SHP2)-Ras-ERK, emanating from the common signal transducer, gp130, in the gastrointestinal tract. Gp130(757F) mice, with a 'knock-in' mutation abrogating SHP2-Ras-ERK signaling, developed gastric adenomas by three months of age. In contrast, mice harboring the reciprocal mutation ablating STAT1/3 signaling (gp130(Delta STAT)), or deficient in IL-6-mediated gp130 signaling (IL-6(-/-) mice), showed impaired colonic mucosal wound healing. These gastrointestinal phenotypes are highly similar to the phenotypes exhibited by mice deficient in trefoil factor 1 (pS2/TFF1) and intestinal trefoil factor (ITF)/TFF3, respectively, and corresponded closely with the capacity of the two pathways to stimulate transcription of the genes encoding pS2/TFF1 and ITF/TFF3. We propose a model whereby mucosal wound healing depends solely on activation of STAT1/3, whereas gastric hyperplasia ensues when the coordinated activation of the STAT1/3 and SHP2-Ras-ERK pathways is disrupted.
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PMID:Reciprocal regulation of gastrointestinal homeostasis by SHP2 and STAT-mediated trefoil gene activation in gp130 mutant mice. 1235 40

The androgen receptor (AR), a transcription factor that mediates the action of androgens in target tissues, is expressed in nearly all prostate cancers. Carcinoma of the prostate is the most frequently diagnosed neoplasm in men in industrialized countries. Palliative treatment for non-organ-confined prostate cancer aims to down-regulate the concentration of circulating androgen or to block the transcription activation function of the AR. AR function during endocrine therapy was studied in tumor cells LNCaP subjected to long-term steroid depletion; newly generated sublines could be stimulated by lower concentrations of androgen than parental cells and showed up-regulation of AR expression and activity as well as resistance to apoptosis. Androgenic hormones regulate the expression of key cell cycle regulators, cyclin-dependent kinase 2 and 4, and that of the cell cycle inhibitor p27. Inhibition of AR expression could be achieved by potential chemopreventive agents flufenamic acid, resveratrol, quercetin, polyunsaturated fatty acids and interleukin-1beta, and by the application of AR antisense oligonucleotides. In the clinical situation, AR gene amplification and point mutations were reported in patients with metastatic disease. These mutations generate receptors which could be activated by other steroid hormones and non-steroidal antiandrogens. In the absence of androgen, the AR could be activated by various growth-promoting (growth factors, epidermal growth factor receptor-related oncogene HER-2/neu) and pleiotropic (protein kinase A activators, interleukin-6) compounds as well as by inducers of differentiation (phenylbutyrate). AR function is modulated by a number of coactivators and corepressors. The three coactivators, TIF-2, SRC-1 and RAC3, are up-regulated in relapsed prostate cancer. New experimental therapies for prostate cancer are aimed to down-regulate AR expression and to overcome difficulties which occur because of the acquisition of agonistic properties of commonly used antiandrogens.
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PMID:Androgen receptors in prostate cancer. 1223 44

Signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) factors are cytoplasmic proteins that can be activated by Janus kinases (JAK) and that modulate gene expression in response to cytokine receptor stimulation. STAT proteins dimerize, translocate into the nucleus, and activate specific target genes. In the present study, we show for the first time that interleukin-6 (IL), in the presence of its soluble receptor (sIL-6R), induces activation of JAK1, JAK2, and STAT1/STAT3 proteins in bovine articular chondrocytes. Western blotting and mobility shift assays demonstrated that this effect is accompanied by the DNA binding of the STAT proteins. The mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway was also activated in response to IL-6/sIL-6R association, as reflected by phosphorylation of ERK1 and ERK2 proteins. In these conditions, the expression of cartilage-specific matrix genes, type II collagen, aggrecan core, and link proteins was found to be markedly down-regulated. This negative effect was abolished by addition of parthenolide, an inhibitor of the STAT activation, whereas blockade of the MAP kinases with PD098059 was without significant effect. Thus, activation of the STAT signaling pathways, but not ERK-dependent pathways, is essential for down-regulation of the major cartilage-specific matrix genes by IL-6. In addition, a parallel reduction of Sox9 expression, a key factor of chondrocyte phenotype, was found in these experimental conditions. These IL-6 effects might contribute to the phenotype loss of chondrocytes in joint diseases and the alteration of articular cartilage associated with this pathology.
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PMID:JAK/STAT but not ERK1/ERK2 pathway mediates interleukin (IL)-6/soluble IL-6R down-regulation of Type II collagen, aggrecan core, and link protein transcription in articular chondrocytes. Association with a down-regulation of SOX9 expression. 1241 23

Protein I/II, a pathogen-associated molecular pattern from oral streptococci, is a potent inducer of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8 synthesis and release from fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs), cells that are critically involved in joint inflammation. This synthesis implicates ERK 1/2 and JNKs as well as AP-1-binding activity and nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB. The mechanisms by which protein I/II activates MAPKs remain, however, elusive. Because focal adhesion kinase (FAK) was proposed to play a role in signaling to MAPKs, we examined its ability to contribute to the MAPKs-dependent synthesis of IL-6 and IL-8 in response to protein I/II. We used FAK-/- fibroblasts as well as FAK+/+ fibroblasts and FLSs transfected with FRNK, a dominant negative form of FAK. The results demonstrate that IL-6 and IL-8 release in response to protein I/II was strongly inhibited in both protein I/II-stimulated FAK-/- and FRNK-transfected cells. Cytochalasin D, which inhibits protein I/II-induced phosphorylation of FAK (Tyr-397), had no effect either on activation of ERK 1/2 and JNKs or on IL-6 and IL-8 release. Taken together, these results indicate that IL-6 and IL-8 release by protein I/II-activated FLSs is regulated by FAK independently of Tyr-397 phosphorylation.
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PMID:ERK 1/2- and JNKs-dependent synthesis of interleukins 6 and 8 by fibroblast-like synoviocytes stimulated with protein I/II, a modulin from oral streptococci, requires focal adhesion kinase. 1276 Dec 29


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