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)

Treatment with 1-4 microM As(2)O(3) slightly induced apoptosis in U-937 human promonocitic leukemia cells. This effect was potentiated by co-treatment with MEK/ERK (PD98059, U0126) and JNK (SP600125, AS601245) inhibitors, but not with p38 (SB203580, SB220025) inhibitors. However, no potentiation was obtained using lonidamine, doxorubicin, or cisplatin instead of As(2)O(3). Apoptosis potentiation by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors involved both the intrinsic and extrinsic executionary pathways, as demonstrated by Bax activation and cytochrome c release from mitochondria, and by caspase-8 activation and Bid cleavage, respectively; and the activation of both pathways was prevented by Bcl-2 over-expression. Treatment with MEK/ERK and JNK inhibitors, but not with p38 inhibitors, caused intracellular glutathione (GSH) depletion, which was differentially regulated. Thus, while it was prevented by N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) in the case of U0126, it behaved as a NAC-insensitive process, regulated at the level of DL-buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine (BSO)-sensitive enzyme activity, in the case of SP600125. The MEK/ERK inhibitor also potentiated apoptosis and decreased GSH content in As(2)O(3)-treated NB4 human acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cells, but none of these effects were produced by the JNK inhibitor. MEK/ERK and JNK inhibitors did not apparently affect As(2)O(3) transport activity, as measured by intracellular arsenic accumulation. SP600126 greatly induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, while BSO and U0126 had little or null effects. These results, which indicate that glutathione is a target of MAP kinases in myeloid leukemia cells, might be exploited to improve the antitumor properties of As(2)O(3), and provide a rationale for the use of kinase inhibitors as therapeutic agents.
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PMID:Pharmacologic inhibitors of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERKs) and c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) decrease glutathione content and sensitize human promonocytic leukemia cells to arsenic trioxide-induced apoptosis. 1697 61

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been associated with many human diseases, and glutathione (GSH)-dependent processes are pivotal in limiting tissue damage. To test the hypothesis that Gr1(a1Neu) (Neu) mice, which do not express glutathione reductase (GR), would be more susceptible than are wild-type mice to ROS-mediated injury, we studied the effects of diquat, a redox cycling toxicant. Neu mice exhibited modest, dose- and time-dependent elevations in plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities, 126+/-36 U/l at 2 h after 5 micromol/kg of diquat, but no ALT elevations were observed in diquat-treated C3H/HeN mice for up to 6 h after 50 micromol/kg of diquat. Histology indicated little or no hepatic necrosis in diquat-treated mice of either strain, but substantial renal injury was observed in diquat-treated Neu mice, characterized by brush border sloughing in the proximal tubules by 1 h and tubular necrosis by 2 h after doses of 7.5 micromol/kg. Decreases in renal GSH levels were observed in the Neu mice by 2 h post dose (3.4+/-0.4 vs 0.2+/-0.0 micromol/g tissue at 0 and 50 micromol/kg, respectively), and increases in renal GSSG levels were observed in the Neu mice as early as 0.5 h after 7.5 micromol/kg (105.5+/-44.1 vs 27.9+/-4.8 nmol/g tissue). Blood urea nitrogen levels were elevated by 2 h in Neu mice after doses of 7.5 micromol/kg (Neu vs C3H, 32.8+/-4.1 vs 17.9+/-0.3 mg/dl). Diquat-induced renal injury in the GR-deficient Neu mice offers a useful model for studies of ROS-induced renal necrosis and of the contributions of GR in defense against oxidant-mediated injuries in vivo.
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PMID:Diquat induces renal proximal tubule injury in glutathione reductase-deficient mice. 1707 87

Tanshinone IIA is the major antioxidant component in the traditional Chinese medicine Salvia miltiorrhiza. Transcription factor nuclear-factor-E2-related factor (Nrf2) regulates a battery of antioxidant response element (ARE)-regulated genes. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of tanshinone IIA on Nrf2 activation and intracellular redox status in human aortic smooth muscle cells. Tanshinone IIA potentiated tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha)-mediated nuclear accumulation of Nrf2 and expression of ARE-related genes, while it reversed TNF-alpha-induced down-regulation of intracellular glutathione (GSH), NADPH and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) levels. Specific silence of Nrf2 by siRNA down-regulated tanshinone IIA-induced Nrf2 activation and increased of intracellular GSH, NADPH and G6PDH levels. Tanshinone IIA-induced Nrf2 activation was association with activation of ERK and PKB, which was prevented by treatment with PD098059 or wortmannin. Tanshinone IIA attenuated TNF-alpha, angiotensin II, H(2)O(2)-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. These results demonstrated that tanshinone IIA-induced Nrf2 activation is the major regulatory pathway of cytoprotective gene expression against oxidative stress via ERK and PKB signaling pathways.
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PMID:Nrf2 is involved in the effect of tanshinone IIA on intracellular redox status in human aortic smooth muscle cells. 1730 87

Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) are a class of emerging environmental pollutants with the potential of affecting various aquatic organisms through unexpected modes of action. Triclosan (2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxydiphenyl ether) (TCS), is a common antibacterial agent that is found in significant amounts in the aquatic environment. In this work, the possible effects and modes of action of TCS were investigated in the marine bivalve Mytilus galloprovincialis Lam. In mussel immune cells, the hemocytes, in vitro short-term exposure to TCS in the low microM range reduced lysosomal membrane stability (LMS) and induced extracellular release of lysosomal hydrolytic enzymes. The effects on LMS were mediated by activation of ERK MAPKs (Extracellularly Regulated Mitogen Activated Protein Kinases) and PKC (protein kinase C) alpha and betaII isoforms, as demonstrated by both specific kinase inhibitors and Western blotting with specific anti-phospho-antibodies. The effects of TCS were confirmed in vivo, in the hemocytes of mussels injected with different concentrations of TCS (corresponding to 0.29, 2.9 and 29 ng/g dry weight) and sampled at 24 h post-injection. The possible in vivo effects of TCS were also evaluated on the activity of different enzymes in the digestive gland, the tissue mainly involved in accumulation and metabolism of organic contaminants in mussels. Significant increases were observed in the activity of the glycolytic enzymes PFK (phosphofructokinase) and PK (pyruvate kinase), as well as of GST (GSH transferase) and GSR (GSSG reductase), whereas a decrease in catalase activity was observed. The results demonstrate that in mussels TCS can act on kinase-mediated cell signalling, lysosomal membranes and redox balance in different systems/organs. Although further studies are needed in order to evaluate possible consequences of environmental exposure to TCS on mussel health, the results represent the first data on the possible modes of action of this widespread antibacterial in aquatic invertebrates.
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PMID:Effects of Triclosan on Mytilus galloprovincialis hemocyte function and digestive gland enzyme activities: possible modes of action on non target organisms. 1734 55

Oxidative modifications of proteins are fundamental biochemical events that regulate cellular signaling, protein expression, and function. The redox status is balanced by reductants in which GSH plays a major role. This study investigated whether or not p21Waf1 expression and TNFalpha biosynthesis in macrophage differentiation/activation were regulated by GSH modulators and whether or not the JNK and ERK pathway were involved. We observed an increase of p21Waf1 expression and TNFalpha biosynthesis in the THP1 monocyte/macrophage cell line treated with PMA. Treatment of THP1 cultures with NAC prior to adding PMA abrogates the expression of p21Waf1 mRNA and decreases the level of TNFalpha whereas GSH depletion by BSO enhances the levels of TNFalpha with minor effects on p21Waf1 expression. To assess whether or not ERK and JNK were involved in the redox mechanism of p21Waf1 and TNFalpha, we used pharmacological inhibitors for JNK and ERK. Both PD98095 and dicoumarol were capable of blocking TNFalpha production but had only a small effect on p21Waf1 expression. We next observed that activation of JNK was significantly inhibited in cells pretreated with NAC with no effect on ERK. Taken together, our findings suggest that the modulation of GSH regulate the magnitude the cell response to PMA in which JNK and ERK have a particular role in redox signaling.
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PMID:Regulation of p21Waf1 expression and TNFalpha biosynthesis by glutathione modulators in PMA induced-THP1 differentiation: involvement of JNK and ERK pathways. 1792 36

Mycotoxin fumonisin B(1) (FB(1)) is a frequent contaminant of grain, particularly maize, but the mechanism of its toxicity in the kidney and liver is not fully understood. FB(1)-stimulated oxidative stress might disturb cellular redox state and signal transduction pathways of the target cells. In this study we measured total intracellular glutathione (GSH), and assessed mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) activation and the expression of heat shock proteins (Hsps) Hsp25 and Hsp70 in the liver and kidney of male Wistar rats given 0.5 mg FB(1)/kg b.w. intraperitoneally for 2 or 7 days. The effect of FB(1) on GSH levels, MAPK activation and Hsp expression was found to be related to the type of tissue affected and the length of treatment. In rat liver, cellular GSH content increased, Hsp expression was up-regulated, and ERK and p38 were activated after the 7-day treatment, while even the 2-day treatment sufficed to produce phospho-JNK signal. In rat kidney, GSH levels decreased after the 2- and 7-day treatment with FB(1), while after the 7-day treatment all three MAPKs were activated, Hsp25 expression increased and Hsp70 expression decreased. In conclusion, FB(1) alters cellular redox balance, which leads to tissue-specific activation and expression of redox-sensitive signalling molecules. It seems that kidney cells are more sensitive to adverse effects of FB(1).
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PMID:Mycotoxin fumonisin B1 alters cellular redox balance and signalling pathways in rat liver and kidney. 1794 82

We investigated the antidepressant-like effect of zinc chloride (zinc) administered acutely during 7 days (i.p. route), or chronically during 30 days (oral route) in the forced swimming test (FST) in rats. It was also investigated whether the antidepressant-like effect of zinc is associated with changes in the glutathione antioxidant system in the Wistar rat brain. Animals receiving a single zinc dose (5, 15 and 30 mg/kg, i.p.) 24 h prior to analysis showed no changes in the FST, but glutathione reductase and glutathione S-transferase activity were reduced in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. This treatment did not, however, affect the glutathione status (GSH and GSSG) in both brain structures. The 7-day zinc treatment (1, 5 and 15 mg/kg, i.p.) caused a mild though significant antidepressant-like effect in the FST at the highest dosing, without affecting the glutathione antioxidant system. Finally, a consistent antidepressant-like effect was achieved in the FST after chronic (30 days) zinc treatment (300 mg/L, p.o.). This was accompanied by a significant increase in total glutathione levels in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. The good response to oral treatment in the FST led us to investigate other variables, such as ERK phosphorylation and BDNF expression. Similar to therapeutic antidepressants, zinc in chronic oral treatment produced an increase in ERK phosphorylation and BDNF expression in the cerebral cortex. It is our hypothesis that up-regulation of neuroprotective effectors (GSH, ERK and BDNF) may be related to the antidepressant properties of zinc, but this will require additional work to be confirmed.
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PMID:Involvement of glutathione, ERK1/2 phosphorylation and BDNF expression in the antidepressant-like effect of zinc in rats. 1819 Dec 37

Cigarette smoke is a major environmental air pollutant that injures airway epithelium and incites subsequent diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The lesion that smoke induces in airway epithelium is still incompletely understood. Using a LIVE/DEAD cytotoxicity assay, we observed that subconfluent cultures of bronchial epithelial cells derived from both human and monkey airway tissues and an immortalized normal human bronchial epithelial cell line (HBE1) were more susceptible to injury by cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and by direct cigarette smoke exposure than cells in confluent cultures. Scraping confluent cultures also caused an enhanced cell injury predominately in the leading edge of the scraped confluent cultures by CSE. Cellular ATP levels in both subconfluent and confluent cultures were drastically reduced after CSE exposure. In contrast, GSH levels were significantly reduced only in subconfluent cultures exposed to smoke and not in confluent cultures. Western blot analysis demonstrated ERK activation in both confluent and subconfluent cultures after CSE. However, activation of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1), JNK, and p38 were demonstrated only in subconfluent cultures and not in confluent cultures after CSE. Using short interfering RNA (siRNA) to JNK1 and JNK2 and a JNK inhibitor, we attenuated CSE-mediated cell death in subconfluent cultures but not with an inhibitor of the p38 pathway. Using the tetracycline (Tet)-on inducible approach, overexpression of thioredoxin (TRX) attenuated CSE-mediated cell death and JNK activation in subconfluent cultures. These results suggest that the TRX-ASK1-JNK pathway may play a critical role in mediating cell density-dependent CSE cytotoxicity.
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PMID:TRX-ASK1-JNK signaling regulation of cell density-dependent cytotoxicity in cigarette smoke-exposed human bronchial epithelial cells. 1828 6

The recognition of peptide antigens by T cells through their antigen receptors (T cell receptors, or TCR), together with the ligation of additional surface molecules called costimulatory receptors, rapidly induces interactive signaling pathways that lead to transcriptional initiation at genes such as that of the autocrine growth factor interleukin 2 (IL-2). Activation of the ERK and JNK subfamilies of MAPK mediates some of these signals. This unit presents procedures for a solid-phase kinase assay and immune-complex kinase assay to measure JNK and ERK activities, respectively, in T cells that have been appropriately stimulated. Also described is a procedure for preparing GSThyphen;cJun/GSH-Sepharose beads needed in the solid-phase JNK protein kinase activity assay.
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PMID:Analyzing mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activities in T cells. 1843 22

As the applications of industrial nanoparticles are being developed, the concerns on the environmental health are increasing. Cytotoxicities of titanium dioxide nanoparticles of different concentrations (5, 10, 20 and 40 microg/ml) were evaluated in this study using a cultured human bronchial epithelial cell line, BEAS-2B. Exposure of the cultured cells to nanoparticles led to cell death, reactive oxygen species (ROS) increase, reduced glutathione (GSH) decrease, and the induction of oxidative stress-related genes such as heme oxygenase-1, thioredoxin reductase, glutathione-S-transferase, catalase, and a hypoxia inducible gene. The ROS increase by titanium dioxide nanoparticles triggered the activation of cytosolic caspase-3 and chromatin condensation, which means that titanium dioxide nanoparticles exert cytotoxicity by an apoptotic process. Furthermore, the expressions of inflammation-related genes such as interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), TNF-a, and C-X-C motif ligand 2 (CXCL2) were also elevated. The induction of IL-8 by titanium dioxide nanoparticles was inhibited by the pre-treatment with SB203580 and PD98059, which means that the IL-8 was induced through p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and/or extracellular signal (ERK) pathway. Uptake of the nanoparticles into the cultured cells was observed and titanium dioxide nanoparticles seemed to penetrate into the cytoplasm and locate in the peri-region of the nucleus as aggregated particles, which may induce direct interactions between the particles and cellular molecules, to cause adverse biological responses.
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PMID:Oxidative stress and apoptosis induced by titanium dioxide nanoparticles in cultured BEAS-2B cells. 1866 54


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