Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:2.7.10.2 (focal adhesion kinase)
 44,029 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Elevations in matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1) and MMP-3 have been found in patients with Lyme arthritis and in in vitro models of Lyme arthritis using cartilage explants and chondrocytes. The pathways by which B. burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, induces the production of MMP-1 and MMP-3 have not been elucidated. We examined the role of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathways in MMP induction by B. burgdorferi. Infection with B. burgdorferi results in rapid phosphorylation of p38 and JNK within 15 to 30 min. Inhibition of JNK and p38 MAPK significantly reduced B. burgdorferi-induced MMP-1 and MMP-3 expression. Inhibition of ERK1/2 completely inhibited the expression of MMP-3 in human chondrocytes following B. burgdorferi infection but had little effect on the expression of MMP-1. B. burgdorferi infection also induced phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of STAT-3 and STAT-6 in primary human chondrocytes. Expression of MMP-1 and MMP-3 was significantly inhibited by inhibition of JAK3 activity. Induction of MMP-1 and -3 following MAPK and JAK/STAT activation was cycloheximide sensitive, suggesting synthesis of intermediary proteins is required. Inhibition of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) significantly reduced MMP-1 but not MMP-3 expression from B. burgdorferi-infected cells; inhibition of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) had no effect. Treatment of B. burgdorferi-infected cells with JAK and MAPK inhibitors significantly inhibited TNF-alpha induction, consistent with at least a partial role for TNF-alpha in B. burgdorferi-induced MMP-1 expression in chondrocytes.
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PMID:Borrelia burgdorferi-induced expression of matrix metalloproteinases from human chondrocytes requires mitogen-activated protein kinase and Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription signaling pathways. 1510 98

A rare episode of early neurosyphilis occurred in a 34-year-old, otherwise healthy, woman. Based on an isolated positive Borrelia burgdorferi serology (later interpreted as a cross-reaction), early ceftriaxone was initiated, in the suspect of Lyme borreliosis. Even after the diagnosis was corrected into that of a neurosyphilis, ceftriaxone administration was continued, until it achieved complete clinical and microbiological success after 24 days of treatment in a day-hospital setting, and three-weekly penicillin administrations. When considering the differential diagnosis, a luetic aetiology should not be underestimated when facing young patients with signs-symptoms of a meningoencephalitis. Our case report was characterized by an extremely low patient's age, compared with the occurrence of tertiary neurosyphilis, more than three years after the last sexual contacts. The diagnosis was confirmed by highly positive treponemal and non-treponemal serum and cerebrospinal fluid serology, and several suggestive clinical manifestations: seizures, altered mentation, cognitive impairment, lip drop, and anisochoria. These concomitant findings, together with a neuroradiological report indicating a diffuse meningoencephalitis, allowed us to confirm the diagnosis of neurosyphilis, together with a demonstrated cross-reaction of B. burgdorferi serology. Although ceftriaxone benefits from its once-daily administration (and can be easily delivered on outpatient basis), it is not the firstline treatment of neurosyphilis. However, our experience demonstrated a favourable and rapid response to ceftriaxone, in the absence of toxicity and disease sequelae.
Int J STD AIDS 2005 Dec
PMID:Neurosyphilis in a young adult: very early tertiary syphilis? 1633 71

The regulation of innate immune responses to pathogens occurs through the interaction of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) with pathogen-associated molecular patterns and the activation of several signaling pathways whose contribution to the overall innate immune response to pathogens is poorly understood. We demonstrate a mechanism of control of murine macrophage responses mediated by TLR1/2 heterodimers through c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1) activity. JNK controls tumor necrosis factor alpha production and TLR-mediated macrophage responses to Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, and the TLR1/TLR2-specific agonist PAM(3)CSK(4). JNK1, but not JNK2, activity regulates the expression of the tlr1 gene in the macrophage cell line RAW264.7, as well as in primary CD11b(+) cells. We also show that the proximal promoter region of the human tlr1 gene contains an AP-1 binding site that is subjected to regulation by the kinase and binds two complexes that involve the JNK substrates c-Jun, JunD, and ATF-2. These results demonstrate that JNK1 regulates the response to TLR1/2 ligands and suggest a positive feedback loop that may serve to increase the innate immune response to the spirochete.
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PMID:c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 is required for Toll-like receptor 1 gene expression in macrophages. 1766 70

In vector-borne diseases, the skin plays an essential role in the transmission of vector-borne pathogens between the vertebrate host and blood-feeding arthropods and in pathogen persistence. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato is a tick-borne bacterium that causes Lyme borreliosis (LB) in humans. This pathogen may establish a long-lasting infection in its natural vertebrate host where it can persist in the skin and some other organs. Using a mouse model, we demonstrate that Borrelia targets the skin regardless of the route of inoculation, and can persist there at low densities that are difficult to detect via qPCR, but that were infective for blood-feeding ticks. Application of immunosuppressive dermocorticoids at 40 days post-infection (PI) significantly enhanced the Borrelia population size in the mouse skin. We used non-targeted (Ge-LC-MS/MS) and targeted (SRM-MS) proteomics to detect several Borrelia-specific proteins in the mouse skin at 40 days PI. Detected Borrelia proteins included flagellin, VlsE and GAPDH. An important problem in LB is the lack of diagnosis methods capable of detecting active infection in humans suffering from disseminated LB. The identification of Borrelia proteins in skin biopsies may provide new approaches for assessing active infection in disseminated manifestations.
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PMID:Identification of Borrelia protein candidates in mouse skin for potential diagnosis of disseminated Lyme borreliosis. 2919 26