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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)
Rat C6 glioma cells have been used to characterize molecular events involved in the regulation of
inducible nitric oxide synthase
(
iNOS
) gene expression stimulated by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) plus lipopolysaccharide (LPS). IFNs induce a signaling event which involves activation of Stat1 transcription factor. Previous studies have shown that IFNs also induce extracellular signal-regulated kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase (
ERK
/MAPK) activation. However, the mechanisms by which IFNs stimulate MAPK activation remain elusive. Here we show that in C6 glioma cells, transiently expressing the dominant-negative form of c-Ha-Ras (Asn-17) abrogated IFN-gamma-induced ERK1 and ERK2 activation. Furthermore, PD98059, a specific MEK1 inhibitor, also blocked this activation. These results indicate that p21ras and MEK1 are required for IFN-gamma-induced ERK1 and ERK2 activation. Recent studies have reported that MAPK is responsible for serine phosphorylation of Stat1 which is required for Stat1's DNA binding and maximal transcriptional activity. Thus, we examined the role of the Ras-MAPK pathway in Stat1 activation and subsequent
iNOS
induction in C6 glioma cells. Further experiments showed that neither Asn-17 Ras expression nor concentrations of PD98059, which completely abrogated IFN-gamma-induced ERK1 and ERK2 activation, affected Stat1 DNA binding activity or
iNOS
induction, indicating that the Ras-MAPK pathway does not appear to be involved in the activation of Stat1 and subsequent
iNOS
induction in C6 glioma cells.
...
PMID:Activation of Stat1 and subsequent transcription of inducible nitric oxide synthase gene in C6 glioma cells is independent of interferon-gamma-induced MAPK activation that is mediated by p21ras. 918 Feb 63
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) stimulates nitric oxide (NO) production by endothelial cells in vitro and in vivo. However, the impact of VEGF on
inducible nitric oxide synthase
(
iNOS
) activity and NO synthesis in cultured mesangial cells is not known. Therefore, we measured nitrite accumulation in cytokine-stimulated, rat mesangial cells (RMC) in response to graded concentrations of VEGF. Addition of VEGF (10-50 ng/ml) did not alter RMC viability or NO production in either normal (5.6 mM) or high (33.3 mM) glucose conditions. Exposure of RMC to VEGF did not modify the effects of L-arginine (20 mM) or L-NAME (1 mM) on nitrite accumulation in normal or high glucose media. The steady state abundance of
iNOS
mRNA and the cytosolic content of
iNOS
protein were unaffected by addition of VEGF. Cultured RMC expressed the high-affinity tyrosine kinase VEGF receptors, flt and flk/
KDR
, and the levels were not modulated by incubation in normal or high glucose media. We conclude that VEGF does not regulate proliferation or NO production in cultured RMC. These findings suggest that disturbances in the normal interaction between VEGF and NO are not involved in the pathogenesis of abnormal mesangial cell structure or function in diabetic nephropathy.
...
PMID:Effect of vascular endothelial growth factor on nitric oxide production by cultured rat mesangial cells. 957 Nov 72
RON
(recepteur d'origine nantais) is a receptor tyrosine kinase expressed in murine peritoneal resident macrophages and activated by macrophage-stimulating protein (MSP). The objectives of this investigation were to study the
RON
expression in exudate macrophages and the mechanisms by which
RON
inhibits
inducible nitric oxide synthase
(
iNOS
) expression induced by LPS and IFN-gamma. We found that mouse peritoneal resident and Con A-elicited macrophages collected on day 3 or day 5 express
RON
. Acute exudate macrophages collected on day 1 did not express
RON
. Activation of
RON
inhibited LPS- and IFN-gamma-induced macrophage nitric oxide production and
iNOS
mRNA accumulation. Similar inhibition was observed also in Raw264.7 macrophage cell lines transfected with human
RON
cDNA. In these cells, MSP induced
RON
phosphorylation concomitant with reduced
iNOS
mRNA expression and protein synthesis. Further, we show that activated
RON
inhibited the
iNOS
gene transcription activity as assessed by chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity in Raw264.7 cells expressing
RON
. Wortmannin, a specific inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol-3 (PI-3) kinase, prevented the inhibitory effect of
RON
on the
iNOS
gene promoter activity and on the nitric oxide production induced by LPS and IFN-gamma. These effects were confirmed further by introducing a dominant-inhibitory PI-3 kinase p85 subunit in
RON
-expressing Raw264.7 cells. Taken together, our results suggest that
RON
is expressed in peritoneal macrophages at later stages of inflammation. Activation of
RON
by MSP in mature exudate macrophages inhibits LPS- and IFN-gamma-induced
iNOS
synthesis. PI-3 kinase is an important effector molecule required for
RON
-mediated inhibition of
iNOS
expression in macrophages.
...
PMID:Activation of the RON receptor tyrosine kinase inhibits inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression by murine peritoneal exudate macrophages: phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase is required for RON-mediated inhibition of iNOS expression. 979 31
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A (VEGF-A) is an endothelial-specific growth factor that induces angiogenesis, i.e., sprouting of capillaries from preexisting vessels in vivo. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is an essential molecule in mediating VEGF-A-induced angiogenesis and endothelial function via production of nitric oxide (NO). Moreover, the protein level of eNOS is upregulated in response to VEGF-A. While VEGF-A-induced NO release in human trophoblast cells appears to be initiated via VEGF receptor-1, it is not clear which of the VEGF-receptors is mediating the signal for induction of eNOS protein expression. In addition, it is unclear whether other NOS isoforms are upregulated in response to VEGF-A stimulation. To address these questions, we stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) with VEGF-A for 24 hours and evaluated expression of eNOS and
iNOS
protein. VEGF-A induces expression of both members of the NOS family. Using porcine aortic endothelial cells overexpressing either VEGF receptor-2 (PAE/
KDR
cells) or VEGF receptor-1 (PAE/Flt-1 cells), we have studied the regulation of
iNOS
and eNOS expression in response to VEGF-A stimulation. The activation of VEGF receptor-2 leads to an upregulation of both eNOS and
iNOS
protein, while stimulation of VEGF receptor-1 did not generate such a signal. Therefore, only VEGF receptor-2 mediates stimulation of eNOS and
iNOS
expression. We conclude that the two VEGF receptors have different and distinct functions regarding NO formation and NO release during VEGF-A-induced angiogenesis.
...
PMID:VEGF-A induces expression of eNOS and iNOS in endothelial cells via VEGF receptor-2 (KDR). 983 77
Nitric oxide production by macrophages is principally regulated by the calcium-independent enzyme,
inducible nitric oxide synthase
(
iNOS
). Both lipopolysaccharide and TNF-alpha synergize with IFN-gamma in the expression of
iNOS
with subsequent production of nitric oxide. Previous work has shown that IL-4 downregulates
iNOS
and nitric oxide expression by macrophages stimulated with LPS and IFN-gamma. In this study, we found that IL-4 also downregulated
iNOS
and nitric oxide expression induced by IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha and in mouse macrophages. Because various members of the mitogen-activated protein kinases and their upstream kinases have been shown to directly or indirectly activate a number of transcription factors including AP-1 and NFkappaB, we examined the effects of IL-4 on TNF-alpha activation of the MAPKs. Our results show that IL-4 modestly inhibited JNK/SAPK and
ERK
activation by TNF-alpha. Previously, we showed that selective pharmacologic inhibition of the
ERK
and/or p38mapk pathway did not affect NO2- expression. Treatment of cells with the chloride channel blocker 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino) benzoic acid (NPPB) showed a dose-response inhibition of NO2- expression. NPPB was also found to inhibit
ERK
and JNK/SAPK activation but not p38mapk with TNF-alpha stimulation. The discordance between the marked degree of inhibition of
iNOS
transcript by IL-4 and the modest inhibition of JNK/SAPK and
ERK
suggests that the mechanism by which IL-4 inhibits
iNOS
transcription appears more complex than a mere inhibition of these MAPKs.
...
PMID:Potential role of the JNK/SAPK signal transduction pathway in the induction of iNOS by TNF-alpha. 991 6
Intracellular protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania antagonize host defense mechanisms by interfering with cell signaling in macrophages. In this report, the impact of Leishmania donovani on mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression in the macrophage cell line RAW 264 was investigated. Overnight infection of cells with leishmania led to a significant decrease in phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-stimulated MAP kinase activity and inhibited PMA-induced phosphorylation of the MAP kinase substrate and transcription factor
Elk
-1. Simultaneously, leishmania infection markedly attenuated the induction of c-FOS and
inducible nitric oxide synthase
(
iNOS
) expression in response to PMA and gamma interferon (IFN-gamma), respectively. These effects correlated with decreased phosphorylation of p44 and p42 MAP kinases on tyrosine residues. Consistent with the latter finding, lysates prepared from leishmania-infected cells contained an activity that dephosphorylated MAP kinase in vitro, suggesting the possibility of a phosphatase acting in vivo. Attenuation of both MAP kinase activity and c-FOS and
iNOS
expression was reversed by treatment of macrophages with sodium orthovanadate prior to infection. It was also found that the specific activity of the Src homology 2 domain containing tyrosine phosphatase (SHP-1) toward MAP kinase was markedly increased in leishmania-infected cells. These findings indicate that infection with L. donovani attenuates MAP kinase signaling and c-FOS and
iNOS
expression in macrophages by activating cellular phosphotyrosine phosphatases. This may represent a novel mechanism of macrophage deactivation during intracellular infection.
...
PMID:Activation of phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity attenuates mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling and inhibits c-FOS and nitric oxide synthase expression in macrophages infected with Leishmania donovani. 1041 74
We explored to determine if
iNOS
could be induced by insulin in osteoblast-like UMR-106 cells. Insulin (100 nM) stimulated nitric oxide production by twofold and significantly increased
iNOS
mRNA and protein levels. Insulin also increased collagen synthesis, but had little effect on alkaline phosphatase activity. In contrast, IGF-1 had little effect on NO production below 10 nM and it stimulated NO production by only 57% at 100 nM. IGF-1 had little effect on collagen levels, whereas it inhibited alkaline phosphatase activities in a dose-dependent manner. When an MEK inhibitor was preincubated, insulin failed to stimulate NO production, whereas insulin dramatically increased NO production in the ERK1 overexpressed cells. Taken together, it is proposed that insulin increases
iNOS
mRNA,
iNOS
protein, and NO production, possibly via activation of
ERK
. These may play an important role in osteoblast functions such as collagen synthesis.
...
PMID:Insulin stimulates production of nitric oxide via ERK in osteoblast cells. 1109 73
The cytokine interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) is cytotoxic to rat pancreatic beta-cells and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. IL-1 beta causes expression of
inducible nitric oxide synthase
(
iNOS
) and production of nitric oxide (NO). NO may be the mediator of the cytotoxic effect of IL-1 beta in rat islets and beta-cell lines. Glucose has been shown to modulate the effects of IL-1 beta on accumulated insulin release and potentiate NO production in rat islets, but the biochemical mechanism is unknown. IL-1 beta activates the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), p38 and c-jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) in rat islets and beta-cells. Glucose may modulate MAPK activity although contrasting data have been published. The aim of this study was to investigate whether glucose potentiated IL-1 beta-induced p38 and ERK1/2 activity in rat islets. It was shown that glucose alone increased the phosphorylation of the MAPK substrates
Elk
-1 and activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2). D-glucose potentiated the p38 activity induced by a low concentration of IL-1 beta, whereas no effect was seen at high concentrations of IL-1 beta. Inhibition of p38 activity prevented IL-1 beta-induced nitrite production in the presence of D-glucose. We conclude that IL-1 beta-induced NO production in the presence of glucose is signalled by the p38 pathway.
...
PMID:Glucose potentiates interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta)-induced p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activity in rat pancreatic islets of Langerhans. 1139 23
The mammalian group IIA secretory phospholipase A(2) (sPLA(2)) is believed to play an important role in inflammation and cell injury. The present study underlines the importance of group IIA sPLA(2) in the regulation of
iNOS
. Treatment of cells with sPLA(2) induced protein expression and mRNA accumulation of
iNOS
in a dose-dependent manner. The pretreatment of cells with rho-BPB or SCA, selective sPLA(2) inhibitors, inhibited sPLA(2)-induced
iNOS
expression. sPLA(2) stimulated the simultaneous activation of two classes of mitogen-activated protein kinases
ERK
and JNK, but did not stimulate p38 MAPK. PD98059, a selective MEK inhibitor, inhibited sPLA(2)-induced nitrite production and
iNOS
expression as well as
ERK
phosphorylation. In addition, pretreatment of rho-BPB or SCA also resulted in inhibition of sPLA(2)-induced
ERK
phosphorylation. The sPLA(2) signaling mechanisms involving the activation of transcription factor NF-kappaB were studied in the same cells. That stimulation of cells with sPLA(2) caused NF-kappaB activation in a time-dependent manner was shown by the detection of NF-kappaB-specific DNA-protein binding and by IkappaBalpha degradation. sPLA(2)-induced NF-kappaB activation was prevented in the presence of rho-BPB. Furthermore, the NF-kappaB inhibitor PDTC suppressed sPLA(2)-induced nitrite production and
iNOS
expression as well as IkappaBalpha degradation. The results strongly suggest that group IIA sPLA(2) induces
iNOS
in macrophages and that this induction occurs through
ERK
and NF-kappaB.
...
PMID:Group IIA secretory phospholipase A(2) stimulates inducible nitric oxide synthase expression via ERK and NF-kappaB in macrophages. 1153 69
Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is an important angiogenic factor produced by hearts subjected to ischemia. However, the direct effects of bFGF on myocardial cells are unknown. Primary cultured cardiac myocytes from neonatal rats were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a potent inducer of
inducible nitric oxide synthase
(
iNOS
), in the presence or the absence of bFGF. LPS induced the expression of
iNOS
in cardiac myocytes, demonstrated at both mRNA and protein levels. We showed that LPS activated the apoptotic pathway, evidenced by TUNEL staining, DNA ladder formation, and morphologic features. LPS-induced apoptosis was blocked by the administration of L-NAME, an inhibitor of NOS. This indicates that LPS induces apoptosis via an
iNOS
-dependent pathway. Administration of bFGF completely inhibited myocardial cell apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide or acidic medium as well as LPS. To determine signaling pathways for this inhibitory effect, we utilized PD098059, an MEK-1-specific inhibitor. PD098059 blocked bFGF-induced activation of
ERK
(extracellularly responsive kinase)-1/2 and neutralized the apoptotic inhibitory effect of bFGF. These findings demonstrate that LPS induces myocardial cell apoptosis in an
iNOS
-dependent manner. The results also suggest that bFGF is a protective factor against myocardial cell apoptosis and that this protection requires the MEK-1-
ERK
pathway.
...
PMID:Basic fibroblast growth factor protects cardiac myocytes from iNOS-mediated apoptosis. 1180 11
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