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)

Studies on the role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in bone metabolism have been accumulating. However, its effects on osteoblasts are still unclear because the results are conflicting depending on the study models employed. We reasoned that these conflicting data are due to variable expression levels of membrane-bound IL-6 receptors (IL-6Rs). In the present study, we found that IL-6 in combination with soluble IL-6R (sIL-6R) consistently caused a marked elevation of alkaline phosphatase and a decrease in proliferation in the human osteoblastic cell line MG-63, which expressed no detectable membrane-bound IL-6R and failed to respond to IL-6. These effects of IL-6/sIL-6R were blocked by neutralizing antibodies to the IL-6 signal transducer gp130, suggesting an involvement of IL-6 signaling in the elicitation of the effects of IL-6/sIL-6R. Upon stimulation with IL-6/sIL-6R, the gp130, cytoplasmic Janus kinases JAK1 and JAK2 were tyrosine phosphorylated. Moreover, signal transducers and activators of transcription STAT1 and STAT3 were also tyrosine phosphorylated, translocated to the nucleus, and bound to the putative STAT-binding DNA elements. In addition, mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase was also activated in response to IL-6/sIL-6R These data demonstrate that sIL-6R may enhance the responsiveness of MG-63 cells to IL-6. Thus, IL-6 in collaboration with sIL-6R may modulate differentiation and proliferation of osteoblastic cells, presumably by activating two distinct signaling pathways of JAK-STAT and MAP kinase.
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PMID:Combination of interleukin-6 and soluble interleukin-6 receptors induces differentiation and activation of JAK-STAT and MAP kinase pathways in MG-63 human osteoblastic cells. 961 Jul 41

We report on the cloning and sequence analysis of the mRNA coding for full-length human Janus kinase 2 (Jak2). The human form of Jak2 is 1132 amino acids in length with a M(r) of 131 KDa. It has 95% sequence similarity to pig and rat Jak2. The highest level of mRNA expression was found in the spleen, peripheral blood leukocytes, and testis. Also a significantly high level of Jak2 mRNA was found in heart and skeletal muscle. Northern blot analysis showed three mRNA species in all tissues tested, except heart and skeletal muscle, of 7.6, 5.9, and 4.8 Kb. In skeletal muscle and heart, three mRNA species of 7.6, 4.8, and 3.9 Kb were identified. The catalytic domain of the human Jak2 was expressed and its specificity for phosphorylating peptide substrates derived from the gp130, STAT, and Jak3 molecules was determined and compared to that for human Jak1 and Jak3.
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PMID:Cloning and characterization of human Jak-2 kinase: high mRNA expression in immune cells and muscle tissue. 961 63

ERYTHROPOIETIN (EPO): Erythropoietin (EPO) is a hormone that promotes the proliferation and differentiation of erythroid progenitor cells and regulates the number of erythrocytes in peripheral blood. EPO is produced mainly by the kidneys, and transcription of the EPO gene is promoted by a reduction in the oxygen concentration in the blood. The existence of EPO was suggested near the end of the 19th century by the discovery that hypoxia increases the production of red blood cells. EPO was identified as a serum factor in the 1950s, and in 1970 Miyake and coworkers succeeded in purifying it by using the urine of patients with aplastic anemia as a starting material. The human EPO gene was cloned in 1985 using a partial amino acid sequence from this purified EPO, and it is well known that recombinant EPO is currently used as a drug to treat anemia associated with chronic renal failure and other illnesses. ACTION OF EPO: When human bone marrow cells are cultured in a semisolid medium containing EPO, they form small erythroblast colonies in five to seven days, and by day 10 large erythroblast colonies appear that resemble fireworks ("burst" colonies). The original cells in the former colonies are called colony forming units-erythroid (CFU-E) or late-stage erythroblast progenitor cells and in the latter colonies they are called burst forming units-erythroid (BFU-E) or early-stage erythroblast progenitor cells. As shown in Figure 1, red blood cells are produced through differentiation from stem cells to BFU-E, CFU-E, and erythroblasts. Although EPO acts on both BFU-E and CFU-E cells, CFU-E cells show greater sensitivity to EPO, and other factors such as stem cell factor (SCF), interleukin (IL)-3, IL-4, and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) must be present together with EPO for BFU-E cell proliferation. In erythroblasts beyond the CFU-E stage, sensitivity to EPO decreases as the cells mature. THE EPO RECEPTOR AND THE CYTOKINE RECEPTOR FAMILY: The EPO receptor gene was cloned by D'Andrea and coworkers in 1989 from murine erythroleukemia cells [1]. It became clear that the EPO receptor belongs to the cytokine receptor family that comprises receptors for the various interleukins, GM-CSF, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), growth hormone and prolactin. The special characteristic of this family of receptors is that they are switched on (i.e., the receptor is activated) and transduce signals to the interior of the cell by the formation of homo- or hetero-oligomers (dimers or trimers). Moreover, hetero-oligomers of these receptors share a common receptor subunit. As shown in Figure 2, the IL-3, IL-5 and GM-CSF receptors have a common &bgr; subunit, and their ligand specificity is determined by the &agr; subunit. In the same manner, the IL-6, LIF and oncostatin M (OSM) receptors all share gp130, which is the &bgr; subunit of the IL-6 receptor. The IL-2, IL-4 and IL-7 receptors all share the &ggr; subunit of the IL-2 receptor. All the above receptors are activated by the formation of hetero-oligomers, but the G-CSF receptor, EPO receptor, and growth hormone receptor are activated by the formation of homodimers of the same types of molecules [2]. We can see that groups of cytokines such as the interleukins that affect a relatively wide range of cells and have redundant biological activity create this redundancy through the common use of a single receptor subunit. On the other hand, EPO and G-CSF act with high specificity on a relatively limited range of cells, so it was probably unnecessary for their receptors to share one of the subunits. EPO RECEPTOR AND JAK2 KINASE: The signal for cellular proliferation and differentiation into erythroblasts is thought to originate at the EPO receptor. The cytoplasmic domain of the EPO receptor can be divided into two major regions. Roughly half of the cytoplasmic domain, the part lying nearest the plasma membrane, is required for generating the signals for proliferation and differentiation such as the induction of globin synthesis [3, 4]. The remaining half is not required for this signaling, and, conversely, it acts to dampen the signals. It is known that a tyrosine kinase called JAK2 associates with the region near the plasma membrane, undergoes autophosphorylation, and phosphorylates the EPO receptor, and a transcription factor called a STAT [5]. It is thought that JAK2 plays an important role in promoting cellular proliferation. The STAT is activated by the phosphorylation, and it then translocates to the nucleus, recognizes a specific base sequence in the promoter region of its target gene, and initiates transcription. At present, we know that the STAT whose activation is mediated by the EPO receptor is STAT5, and the target genes are CIS [6], which has an SH2 domain (a molecular structure that recognizes a phosphorylated tyrosine) and OSM [7], which is a pleiotropic cytokine. However, activation of STAT5 and activation of the target genes are not unique to the EPO receptor, and they also occur with the IL-2 and IL-3 receptors. Moreover, the JAK2 substrate that is directly linked to cellular proliferation is still unknown. At present, studies are under way to determine the transcription factors specific to EPO and their target genes, as well as the substrates of JAK2. RECEPTOR PHOSPHORYLATION AND CESSATION OF THE SIGNAL: On the other hand, tyrosine phosphorylation of the receptor is necessary at the cytoplasmic tail region far from the plasma membrane, and the signal transduction pathway that originates with this phosphorylated tyrosine and is mediated by proteins with SH2 domains becomes activated. First, a GTP/GDP exchange factor called SOS, which is mediated by Shc and Grb2, migrates to the plasma membrane and converts a ras protein to its GTP form. The activated ras protein then activates the Raf-MAP kinase kinase-MAP kinase cascade, and ultimately initiates the transcription of oncogenes such as c-fos and c-jun. An enzyme called PI3 kinase binds to the tyrosine phosphorylation site of the receptor and a second messenger is born. It is known that this pathway is a requirement for DNA synthesis in certain types of fibroblasts. However, these signal transduction pathways are not unique to the EPO receptor, and they are also activated by most growth factor receptors, so they are not necessarily required for EPO-induced proliferation. Conversely, the tyrosine phosphatase SH-PTP1 (also called HCP) that has an SH2 domain and is specific to blood cells associates with the tyrosine phosphorylation site of the receptor and promotes the dephosphorylation of JAK2. In other words, the role of SH-PTP1 is to stop generation of the signal [8]. Therefore, in mutations lacking this cytoplasmic tail region of the receptor far from the plasma membrane, the receptors do not undergo tyrosine phosphorylation, JAK2 activation continues for a longer period of time, and thus the signal is generated more efficiently. In fact, in one patient with a mild case of familial erythrocytosis a mutation was discovered in which the C-terminus of the EPO receptor was missing 70 amino acids [9]. This was a dominant genetic trait, and the patient's erythroblasts showed an increased sensitivity to EPO. In this family the impairment was not severe enough to be called an illness, and in fact it is said that this patient was proficient enough athletically to compete for a gold medal at the Olympics. More specifically, the reason that athletes undergo training at high altitudes is to boost EPO production because of the lower oxygen partial pressure, and this brings about the desired effect of sustained athletic capability due to a resultant increase in red blood cells. However, the same effect has occurred naturally in this athlete thanks to accelerated receptor capability.
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PMID:Physician Education: The Erythropoietin Receptor and Signal Transduction. 1038 12

In vitro maintenance and proliferation of human hematopoietic stem cells is crucial for many clinical applications. Early hematopoietic cells express low levels of FLT-3 and c-kit receptors, as well as the interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor signal transducing element, gp130, but do not express IL-6 receptor itself. Therefore, we have attempted to maintain human cord blood or bone marrow CD34(+) cells ex vivo in serum-free cultures containing stem cell factor (SCF) and FLT-3 ligand (FL) alone or together with a new recombinant molecule of soluble IL-6 receptor fused to IL-6 (IL6RIL6 chimera). The effect of IL6RIL6 chimera on the proliferation and differentiation of CD34(+) cells was compared with that of each chimera component added separately. The engraftment potential of in vitro-cultured cells was determined using our recently established functional in vivo assay for primitive human severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)-repopulating cells (SRC). We report here that IL6RIL6 chimera induced significantly higher levels of progenitors and SRC compared with SCF + FL alone or together with IL-6 and soluble IL-6 receptor. IL6RIL6 chimera prolonged in vitro maintenance of SRC for up to 14 days. Stimulation of CD34(+)CD38(-/low) enriched cells with IL6RIL6 chimera maintained the early CD34(+)CD38(-/low) cell subpopulation, which could be detected in vitro for up to 14 days. Moreover, IL6RIL6 chimera preferentially stimulated the growth of early CD34(+)38(-/low) cells, resulting in significantly higher levels of progenitors compared with more mature CD34(+)38(+) cells. Taken together, these findings demonstrate the importance of IL6RIL6 chimera in stimulating the proliferation of early CD34(+). CD38(-)gp130(+)IL-6R(-) cells in vitro and extended maintenance of progenitors and SRC.
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PMID:The soluble interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor/IL-6 fusion protein enhances in vitro maintenance and proliferation of human CD34(+)CD38(-/low) cells capable of repopulating severe combined immunodeficiency mice. 1041 83

Previously, we showed that the JAK/STAT pathway was activated in pressure-overloaded rat heart, and that angiotensin II was partially involved in this activation. The present study was designed to investigate whether gp130-mediated signaling is involved in this activation, and if so, which interleukin (IL)-6 family cytokine is involved. Pressure overload was produced by ligation of the abdominal aorta of Wistar rats or ICR mice. IP-Western blot was performed to detect tyrosine phosphorylation of STATs, gp130, and the association of gp130 with JAK kinases. The serum concentration of IL-6 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Expression of IL-6, IL-11, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), oncostatin M (OSM), and cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) mRNA was quantitated. After pressure overload, rapid phosphorylation of STAT1 and STAT3 was observed at 5 min, STAT1 was rephosphorylated at 60 min, and intense phosphorylation of STAT3 was observed at 60 min. Both the phosphorylation of gp130 and the association of gp130 with JAK1 and JAK2 were increased after pressure overload. IL-6 was significantly increased by two-fold in the pressure-overloaded rats. Only CT-1 mRNA expression could be detected by Northern blot, and it increased after pressure overload. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction revealed that IL-6 mRNA expression was increased 9.5-fold. IL-11, LIF, CNTF, and OSM expression were unaffected by pressure overload. These results suggested that gp130-mediated signaling was involved in the pressure overload-induced activation of the JAK/STAT pathway, and that IL-6 and CT-1 might be involved in this activation.
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PMID:Involvement of gp130-mediated signaling in pressure overload-induced activation of the JAK/STAT pathway in rodent heart. 1044 2

The cytokine interleukin 6 (IL-6), a major mediator of immune and acute phase responses of the liver, has been implicated in the termination of pregnancy once expressed in the uterus. This study was undertaken to investigate the expression and regulation of genes encoding IL-6 and IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) in rat decidual tissue. Total RNA obtained from rat decidual tissue on different days of pseudopregnancy was analyzed by RT-PCR using specific primers for IL-6, IL-6R, and 130-kDa glycoprotein (gp130). Ribosomal L19 primers served as an internal control. IL-6R and gp130 were found to be expressed in the decidua throughout development, while no messenger RNA (mRNA) for IL-6 was detected. Interestingly, within several hours of culture, decidual explants acquired the ability to express IL-6. The apparent ability of decidual cells to express IL-6 and its lack of expression in vivo led us to examine whether the IL-6 gene is actively inhibited. Primary decidual cells were cultured in the presence of estradiol, progesterone, or PRL. Progesterone showed no effect, whereas estradiol and PRL reduced the level of IL-6 mRNA expression. To examine the mechanism by which these hormones inhibit IL-6 expression, we used a simian virus 40-transformed decidual cell line (GG-AD), which expresses only estrogen receptor-beta (ERbeta). Like primary decidual cells in culture, GG-AD cells express IL-6, IL-6R, and gp130 mRNA. When cultured in the presence of estradiol (0-100 ng/ml), mRNA for IL-6 and its receptor components were down-regulated in a dose-dependent manner. Estradiol also caused a dose-dependent decrease in IL-6 protein secretion into the culture medium. The inhibitory effect of estradiol on IL-6 mRNA expression was reversed by the antiestrogen ICI-164,384. Similar inhibition of IL-6 and gp130 mRNA expression was observed with PRL treatment. However, PRL had no effect on IL-6R mRNA levels. PRL inhibition of IL-6 expression was totally reversed by tyrphostin AG490, a JAK2 inhibitor. In summary, the results of this investigation indicate that IL-6 expression, which is detrimental to the maintenance of pregnancy, is inhibited in the rat decidual tissue. This inhibition is induced by PRL and estradiol, which down-regulate not only IL-6 expression, but also the expression of IL-6 receptor and signaling proteins. The results also suggest that PRL signaling to the IL-6 gene is mediated through the long form of PRL receptor and involves JAK2 activation, whereas that of estradiol can be transduced by estrogen receptor-beta.
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PMID:The expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-6 receptor, and gp130-kilodalton glycoprotein in the rat decidua and a decidual cell line: regulation by 17beta-estradiol and prolactin. 1049 97

This study was designed to investigate whether insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) transduces signaling through the Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) pathway in cardiomyocytes and to assess the upstream signals of serine and tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT family proteins. Primary cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were stimulated with IGF-1 (10(-8) mol/L). JAK1, but not JAK2 or Tyk2, was phosphorylated by IGF-1 as early as 2 minutes and peaked at 5 minutes. IGF-1 induced both tyrosine and serine phosphorylation of STAT1 and STAT3. Tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT1 peaked at 15 minutes and correlated with that of JAK1, whereas that of STAT3 was sustained up to 120 minutes and was dissociated from the activation of JAK1. Tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT3 was unaffected by the preincubation with CV11974 (AT(1) blocker), TAK044 (endothelin-1 receptor blocker), RX435 (anti-gp130 blocking antibody), PD98058, wortmannin, EDTA, or KN62 but was significantly attenuated by BAPTA-AM and chelerythrine. The time course of a gel mobility shift of SIE (sis-inducing element) coincided with the phosphorylation of STAT3. Serine phosphorylation of STAT1 peaked at 30 minutes and that of STAT3 was observed from 5 to 60 minutes. These results indicated that (1) IGF-1 activated JAK1 but not JAK2 or Tyk2 in rat cardiomyocytes; (2) IGF-1 induced both tyrosine and serine phosphorylation of STAT1 and STAT3; and (3) the tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT3 was not caused by JAK1 alone, and protein kinase C and intracellular Ca(2+) were required for phosphorylation.
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PMID:Characterization of insulin-like growth factor-1-induced activation of the JAK/STAT pathway in rat cardiomyocytes. 1055 34

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV or HHV8) encodes a structural and functional homologue of human IL-6 called viral IL-6 (vIL-6). Expression of vIL-6 in KSHV-related lymphoproliferative disorders has been implicated in their pathogenesis. vIL-6 has been shown to mimic a number of IL-6 activities including stimulating the growth of IL-6 dependent cell lines and activating the JAK1 and STAT1/3 pathway in HepG2 cells. However, IL-6 and vIL-6 display differences in receptor usage that may give rise to underlying qualitative and quantitative differences in the signaling pathways utilized. While IL-6 has an absolute requirement for both the IL-6 Ralpha and the gp130 subunits, vIL-6 appears to require only gp130. In addition to JAK1 and STAT1/3 pathways, IL-6 activates multiple other pathways including the direct activation of STAT 5 by JAK1, the Ras-MAP kinase cascade and a novel H7-sensitive pathway. In this study we examined whether vIL-6 is capable of signaling via distinct IL-6 response elements (IL-6 RE) under the control of these different pathways. We show that vIL-6 activates both STAT1/3- and STAT5-dependent Type II IL-6 REs. In addition, vIL-6 induces transcriptional activation via a Type I IL-6 RE that binds C/EBP, indicative of Ras-MAP kinase pathway induction. Furthermore, vIL-6 is capable of activating the IL-6 response element in the c-jun promoter (RE-IL-6). vIL-6 induced activation of JRE-IL-6 requires both the Ets- and Cre-like sites, suggesting that vIL-6 is capable of stimulating the same novel serine/threonine kinase mediated pathway as IL-6. These results demonstrate that vIL-6 can stimulate all of the known IL-6-induced signaling pathways. Therefore, vIL-6 could potentially contribute to KSHV-related disease progression by continued activation of IL-6-stimulated growth and anti-apoptotic pathways even when cells attempt to protect themselves from IL-6 over-stimulation by downmodulating their IL-6Ralpha subunits.
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PMID:KSHV-encoded viral IL-6 activates multiple human IL-6 signaling pathways. 1056 91

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpes virus (KSHV) is associated with Kaposi's sarcoma, multicentric Castleman's disease, and body cavity-based lymphomas, settings in which human interleukin-6 (hIL-6) acts as a growth factor. The KSHV open reading frame K2 encodes for viral IL-6 (vIL-6), a protein with 25% amino acid identity to hIL-6, which can promote the growth of hIL-6-dependent cell lines. In the present study, we characterized biological sequelae and signaling cascades triggered by hIL-6 versus vIL-6 in the hIL-6-dependent MH60 and B9 cell lines. Both hIL-6 and vIL-6 induced significant increases (P < 0.01) in DNA synthesis in these cell lines in a dose-dependent fashion. Neutralizing anti-hIL-6 antibody (Ab) inhibited DNA synthesis triggered by hIL-6, without similarly affecting proliferation in response to vIL-6. On the other hand, antimouse IL-6 receptor (mIL-6R) Ab blocked response to vIL-6, but not that to hIL-6. Both hIL-6 and vIL-6 activated gp130, Janus kinase 1, signal transducers and activators of transcription-3, and mitogen-activated protein kinase in both MH60 and B9 cells. Proliferation of these cell lines in response to both hIL-6 and vIL-6 was blocked by PD98059, an inhibitor of MEK1 activation. These data suggest that MEK1 activation mediates the proliferative response to both cytokines. Finally, both hIL-6 and vIL-6 also maintained viability of serum-starved MH60 and B9 cells and blocked dexamethasone-induced apoptosis of MM.1S human myeloma cells. Further characterization of the signaling cascades mediating the growth and antiapoptotic effects of vIL-6 versus hIL-6 may help identify their unique roles in disease pathogenesis in Kaposi's sarcoma and other KSHV-associated neoplasms.
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PMID:Characterization of signaling cascades triggered by human interleukin-6 versus Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpes virus-encoded viral interleukin 6. 1074 50

gp130 is the common signal-transducing receptor chain of interleukin (IL)-6-type cytokines. Here we describe, for the first time, a single amino acid substitution (Trp(666)-->Ala) in the membrane-proximal interbox1/2 region that abrogates activation of STAT (signal transducer and activator of transcription) transcription factors and the proliferative response of pro-B-cell transfectants. Moreover, association of the Janus kinase JAK1 is prevented. No signalling of heterodimeric IL-5 receptor (IL-5R)/gp130 chimaeras occurs in COS-7 cells, even when only a single cytoplasmic chain of a gp130 dimer contains the Trp(666)Ala mutation, indicating that it acts dominantly.
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PMID:A single amino acid substitution (Trp(666)-->Ala) in the interbox1/2 region of the interleukin-6 signal transducer gp130 abrogates binding of JAK1, and dominantly impairs signal transduction. 1086 Dec 37


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