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

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising treatment modality that has recently been accepted in clinics as a curative or palliative therapy for cancer and other nonmalignant conditions. Phthalocyanines (Pc) are attractive photosensitizers for PDT because of their enhanced photophysical and photochemical properties. The overall charge and solubility of Pc play a major role in their potential usefulness for PDT. A series of amphiphilic derivatives of tetrasulfonated aluminum Pc (AlPcS4) was prepared by substituting one of the four sulfonate groups with aliphatic side chains of 4, 8, 12 and 16 carbon atoms. The photodynamic properties of the derivatives were compared with those of AlPcS4 and the adjacent disulfonated aluminum Pc. Parameters studied included reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) retention times, capacity to generate singlet oxygen (1O2), in vitro cell uptake and phototoxicity, as well as PDT response of transplantable EMT-6 tumors in mice. The monomerized AlPcS4 derivatives showed similar or higher capacities to generate 1O2 as compared with the parent AlPcS4 as measured from relative L-tryptophan photooxidation yields. A549 cell uptake of the AlPcS4 derivatives decreased in the following order: AlPcS4(C16) > AlPcS4(C12) > AlPcS4(C8) > AlPcS4(C4). Human low-density lipoprotein at high concentrations (40 micrograms/mL) completely prevented uptake, whereas at 4 micrograms/mL uptake was decreased for the more lipophilic compounds and yet remained unaffected for the more hydrophilic dyes. Using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, A549 cell survival was assessed; it showed that photocytotoxic activity varied directly with the HPLC retention times, i.e. more hydrophilic compounds were less phototoxic. As 1O2 yields were similar for the four substituted AlPcS4 derivatives, it was postulated that the increased cytotoxic activity was caused by enhanced subcellular localization as a result of the long aliphatic side chains. These amphiphilic compounds proved to be photodynamically potent against the EMT-6 mouse mammary tumor model implanted in Balb/c mice. At dye doses of 0.2 mumol/kg and a fluence of 400 J/cm2 complete tumor regression was observed with no morbidity. The substitution of AlPcS4 with long aliphatic chains on the macrocycle greatly enhances its photodynamic efficacy both in vitro and in vivo.
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PMID:Photodynamic properties of amphiphilic derivatives of aluminum tetrasulfophthalocyanine. 1219 19

Different pH-sensitive, randomly- and terminally-alkylated N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) copolymers were synthesized and used to prepare pH-responsive polymeric micelles (PM). These copolymers were modified from previously-studied copolymers by incorporating an additional hydrophilic monomer, N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (VP) to decrease uptake by the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS) and improve localization in tumors. VP lowered the phase transition pH of the copolymers but did not affect the onset of micellization. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the copolymers was evaluated on EMT-6 mouse mammary tumor cells in comparison to Cremophor EL (CRM). The anticancer photosensitizer aluminum chloride phthalocyanine (AlClPc) was loaded into the PM with a standard dialysis procedure. Biodistribution and in vivo photodynamic activity were then evaluated in Balb/c mice bearing intradermal EMT-6 tumors. All NIPAM copolymers demonstrated substantially lower cell cytotoxicity than the control surfactant CRM. In vivo, similar AlClPc tumor uptake was observed for the PM and CRM formulations. However, the PM appeared to exhibit greater activity in vivo than CRM formulation at an AlClPc subtherapeutic dose. Therefore, NIPAM-based copolymers containing VP units represent promising alternatives for the formulation of poorly water-soluble phthalocyanines.
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PMID:Optimizing pH-responsive polymeric micelles for drug delivery in a cancer photodynamic therapy model. 1244 14

It is well established that steroid receptor function requires interaction with coactivators. However, the mechanisms through which steroid receptors elicit precise assembly of coactivator complexes and the way the steroid activation signal is transduced remain elusive. Using a T47D cell line stably integrated with a mouse mammary tumor virus-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (MMTV-CAT) reporter, we demonstrate that specific steroid receptors exhibit preferential recruitment of SRC-1 family coactivators, which determines the subsequent recruitment of specific downstream coregulator molecules. Upon ligand treatment, progesterone receptor (PR) interacted preferentially with SRC-1, which recruited CBP and significantly enhanced acetylation at K5 of histone H4. In contrast, activated glucocorticoid receptor (GR) preferentially associated with SRC-2 (TIF-2/GRIP-1), which subsequently recruited pCAF and led to specific modification of histone H3, suggesting that specific coactivators recruit distinct histone acetyltransferases to modulate the transcription of steroid-responsive genes. Loss-of-function experiments further support the predicted roles of SRC-1 and SRC-2 in, respectively, PR- and GR-mediated transcription on the MMTV promoter. This study indicates that differential recruitment of coactivators by nuclear receptors determines the assembly of coactivator complexes on target promoters to mediate specific transcription signals.
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PMID:Progesterone and glucocorticoid receptors recruit distinct coactivator complexes and promote distinct patterns of local chromatin modification. 1274 80

1,1-Bis(3'-indolyl)-1-(p-trifluoromethylphenyl)methane (DIM-C-pPhCF(3)) and several p-substituted phenyl analogues have been investigated as a new class of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) agonists. Structure-activity studies in PPARgamma-dependent transactivation assays in MCF-7 breast cancer cells show that 5-20 micro M concentrations of compounds containing p-trifluoromethyl, t-butyl, cyano, dimethylamino, and phenyl groups were active, whereas p-methyl, hydrogen, methoxy, hydroxyl, or halogen groups were inactive as PPARgamma agonists. Induction of PPARgamma-dependent transactivation by 15-deoxy-Delta12,14-prostaglandin J2 (PGJ2) and DIM-C-pPhCF(3) was inhibited in MCF-7 cells cotreated with the PPARgamma-specific antagonist N-(4'-aminopyridyl)-2-chloro-5-nitrobenzamide. In mammalian two-hybrid assays, DIM-C-pPhCF(3) and PGJ2 (5-20 micro M) induced interactions of PPARgamma with steroid receptor coactivator (SRC) 1, SRC2 (TIFII), and thyroid hormone receptor-associated protein 220 but not with SRC3 (AIB1). In contrast, DIM-C-pPhCF(3), but not PGJ2, induced interactions of PPARgamma with PPARgamma coactivator-1. C-substituted diindolylmethanes inhibit carcinogen-induced rat mammary tumor growth, induce differentiation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, inhibit MCF-7 cell growth and G(0)/G(1)-S phase progression, induce apoptosis, and down-regulate cyclin D1 protein and estrogen receptor alpha in breast cancer cells. These compounds are a novel class of synthetic PPARgamma agonists that induce responses in MCF-7 cells similar to those observed for PGJ2.
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PMID:A new class of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) agonists that inhibit growth of breast cancer cells: 1,1-Bis(3'-indolyl)-1-(p-substituted phenyl)methanes. 1502 45

To identify optimal features of metalated sulfophthalocyanine dyes for their use as photosensitizers in the photodynamic therapy of cancer, we synthesized a series of alkynyl-substituted trisulfonated phthalocyanines and compared their amphiphilic properties to a number of parameters related to their photodynamic potency. Varying the length of the substituted alkynyl side-chain modulates the hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties of the dyes providing a linear relationship between their n-octanol/water partition coefficients and retention times on reversed-phase HPLC. Aggregate formation of the dyes in aqueous solution increased with increasing hydrophobicity while monomer formation was favored by the addition of serum proteins or organic solvent. Trisulfonated zinc phthalocyanines bearing hexynyl and nonynyl substituents exhibited high cellular uptake with strong localization at the mitochondrial membranes, which coincided with effective photocytotoxicity toward EMT-6 murine mammary tumor cells. Further increase in the length of the alkynyl chains (dodecynyl, hexadecynyl) did not improve their phototoxicity, likely resulting from extensive aggregation of the dyes in aqueous medium and reduced cell uptake. Aggregation was evident from shifts in the electronic spectra and reduced capacity to generate singlet oxygen. When monomerized through the addition of Cremophor EL all sulfonated zinc phthalocyanines gave similar singlet oxygen yields. Accordingly, differences in the tendency of the dyes to aggregate do not appear to be a determining factor in their photodynamic potency. Our results confirm that the latter in particular relates to their amphiphilic properties, which facilitate cell uptake and intracellular localization at photosensitive sites such as the mitochondria. Combined, these factors play a significant role in the overall photodynamic potency of the dyes.
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PMID:Structure-photodynamic activity relationships of substituted zinc trisulfophthalocyanines. 1565 78

We previously reported that tumor necrosis factor alpha receptor- and Fas-associated FLASH interacts with one of the p160 nuclear receptor coactivators, glucocorticoid receptor-interacting protein (GRIP) 1, at its nuclear receptor-binding (NRB) domain, and that inhibits the transcriptional activity of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) by interfering with association of GR and GRIP1. Here, we further examined the specificity of FLASH suppressive effect and the physical/functional interactions between this protein and two other p160 family subtypes. The suppressive effect of FLASH on GR transactivation was observed in several cell lines and on the chromatin-integrated mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) promoter. FLASH strongly interacted with the NRB domain of the thyroid hormone receptor activator molecule (TRAM) 1, a member of the steroid hormone receptor coactivator (SRC) 3/nuclear receptor coactivator (N-CoA) 3 subtypes, as well as with SRC2/N-CoA2 p160 coactivator GRIP1, while its interaction with SRC1a, one of the SRC1/N-CoA1 proteins, was faint in yeast two-hybrid assays. Accordingly, FLASH strongly suppressed TRAM1- and GRIP1-induced enhancement of GR-stimulated transactivation of the MMTV promoter in HCT116 cells, while it did not affect SRC1a-induced potentiation of transcription. Furthermore, FLASH suppressed androgen- and progesterone receptor-induced transcriptional activity, but did not influence estrogen receptor-induced transactivation, possibly due to their preferential use of p160 coactivators in HCT116 and HeLa cells. Thus, FLASH differentially suppresses steroid hormone receptor-induced transcriptional activity by interfering with their association with SRC2/N-CoA2 and SRC3/N-CoA3 but not with SRC1/N-CoA1.
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PMID:FLASH interacts with p160 coactivator subtypes and differentially suppresses transcriptional activity of steroid hormone receptors. 1569 40

The main goal of this study was to develop a dispersed polymeric drug delivery system for verteporfin, suitable for intravenous administration and capable of improving its phototherapeutic index and minimizing the side effects. To achieve this objective, two types of verteporfin-loaded nanoparticles (167 and 370 nm in diameter) based on poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) were prepared using the salting-out technique and were first tested on EMT-6 mammary tumor cells in comparison with an aqueous solution (DMSO/PBS). It was observed that small nanoparticles exhibited greater photocytotoxicity compared to large nanoparticles or DMSO/PBS, and the photocytotoxic efficiency was graded as small nanoparticles>DMSO/PBS>large nanoparticles. Furthermore, verteporfin, entrapped into small nanoparticles transferred to serum proteins more rapidly than when dissolved in DMSO/PBS. Drug clearance, measured by skin phototoxicity investigated in mice exposed to simulated sunlight 15 to 150 min after the injection of small nanoparticles was modest at early light exposure times with the small nanoparticles and diminished rapidly with later exposure times. Tumor bioassay results indicated that verteporfin incorporated into small nanoparticles effectively controlled tumor growth for 20 days in mice with early light irradiation times following drug administration.
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PMID:In vitro and in vivo activities of verteporfin-loaded nanoparticles. 1571 May 2

A series of asymmetrically substituted dodecafluorinated phthalocyanines has been synthesized via the Kobayashi ring expansion reaction of the corresponding dodecafluorinated boron subphthalocyanine with differently substituted 1,3-diiminoisoindolines. The mild reaction conditions employed during this ring expansion reaction gave rise exclusively to 3:1 asymmetrically substituted dodecafluorinated phthalocyanines. Metal insertion into the metal-free phthalocyanines was accomplished by heating at 40 degrees C in N,N-dimethylformamide in the presence of zinc bromide. The resulting zinc dodecafluorophthalocyanines were formulated as Cremophor EL oil-water emulsions and evaluated as photosensitizers in vitro against EMT-6 mouse mammary tumor cells. As compared to the previously studied zinc hexadecafluorophthalocyanine, these new asymmetrical zinc dodecafluorophthalocyanines exhibited improved photodynamic activity.
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PMID:Synthesis and photodynamic activity of novel asymmetrically substituted fluorinated phthalocyanines. 1617 94

Antidepressant drugs are thought to counteract effects of hypercortisolemia, frequently associated with depression, by lowering cortisol level and by modifying the function of glucocorticoid receptors (GR). Indeed, classical antidepressants inhibit corticosteroid-induced gene transcription in cell cultures. The aim of the present study was to investigate effects of new generation antidepressant drugs on GR function in mouse fibroblast cells (L929), stably transfected with mouse mammary tumor virus-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (MMTV-CAT) plasmid (LMCAT cells). It has been found that reboxetine (at 10 and 30 microM), venlafaxine, citalopram and mirtazapine (at 30 microM), but not milnacipran, in statistically significant manner inhibited corticosterone-induced gene transcription. However, the effects of new generation antidepressant drugs were weaker than those evoked by imipramine, which was active already at 3 microM concentration. Further studies on the mechanism of antidepressant action on GR function revealed that protein kinase C, but not mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), glycogen synthase kinase (GSK-3) and protein kinase B (PKB, Akt) play a role in this phenomenon.
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PMID:Effects of some new antidepressant drugs on the glucocorticoid receptor-mediated gene transcription in fibroblast cells. 1638 95

To gain insight into the mechanism(s) by which leptin contributes to mammary tumor (MT) development we investigated the effects of leptin, kinase inhibitors, and/or leptin receptor antagonists (LPrA2) on 4T1 mouse mammary cancer cells in vitro and LPrA2 on 4T1-MT development in vivo. Leptin increases the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), its receptor (VEGF-R2), and cyclin D1 through phosphoinositide 3-kinase, Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, and/or extracellular signal-activated kinase 1/2 signaling pathways. In contrast to leptin-induced levels of cyclin D1 the changes in VEGF or VEGF-R2 were more dependent on specific signaling pathways. Incubation of 4T1 cells with anti-VEGF-R2 antibody increased leptin-mediated VEGF expression suggesting an autocrine/paracrine loop. Pretreatment of syngeneic mice with LPrA2 prior to inoculation with 4T1 cells delayed the development and slowed the growth of MT (up to 90%) compared with controls. Serum VEGF levels and VEGF/VEGF-R2 expression in MT were significantly lower in mice treated with LPrA2. Interestingly, LPrA2-induced effects were more pronounced in vivo than in vitro suggesting paracrine actions in stromal, endothelial, and/or inflammatory cells that may impact the growth of MT. Although all the mechanism(s) by which leptin contributes to tumor development are unknown, it appears leptin stimulates an increase in cell numbers, and the expression of VEGF/VEGF-R2. Together, these results provide further evidence suggesting leptin is a MT growth-promoting factor. The inhibition of leptin signaling could serve as a potential adjuvant therapy for treatment of breast cancer and/or provide a new target for the designing strategies to prevent MT development.
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PMID:Leptin signaling promotes the growth of mammary tumors and increases the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor type two (VEGF-R2). 1682 98


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