Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound   Target Concepts: 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)

We recently demonstrated that ischemic preconditioning (IPC) induced by cyclic episodes of short durations of ischemia and reperfusion potentiates a signal transduction cascade involving protein tyrosine kinases and MAP kinases. A rapid activation of janus kinase (JAK) and several signal transducers and activators of the transcription (STATs) including STAT3, STAT5A and STAT6 has been shown to occur during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. This study sought to examine if JAK/STAT signaling pathway play any role in classical early phase of IPC. Isolated working rat hearts were perfused for 15 min with KHB buffer in the absence or presence of a JAK kinase inhibitor tyrphostin AG490 (5 microm) followed by IPC, 30 min global ischemia and 2 h of reperfusion. The results demonstrated extensive phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT3 in the IPC hearts which was almost completely abolished by an inhibitor of JAK2, AG490. IPC displayed cardioprotection as evidenced by improved post-ischemic contractile recovery, decreased myocardial infarct size and reduced number of apoptotic cardiomyocytes. AG490 blocked IPC-mediated cardioprotection by altering the IPC-mediated survival signal into death signal. Thus, IPC-induced upregulation of antiapoptotic gene bcl-2 and downregulation of pro-apoptotic gene bax are decreased and increased, respectively, in the AG490 treated hearts. The results suggest that early phase of IPC potentiates JAK/STAT signaling by activating STAT3 which transmits a survival signal to the myocardium.
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PMID:Role of STAT3 in ischemic preconditioning. 1170 38

This Special Report is a summary of the background for an evidence-based analysis of the phase I/II clinical trial data supporting currently open or recently closed phase III trials of melanoma vaccine therapy. It does not attempt to address the question as to whether the TEC criteria are met. Note, however, that since no melanoma vaccine as yet has FDA approval, the first criterion would not be met.
Tecnologica MAP Suppl 2001 Apr 13
PMID:Special report: vaccines for the treatment of malignant melanoma. 1171 43

Overexpression of the growth factor receptors EGFR and erbB2 occurs frequently in several human cancers and is associated with aggressive tumour behaviour and poor patient prognosis. We have investigated the effects of ZD1839 (Iressa), a novel EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, on the growth, in vitro and in vivo, of human cancer cell lines expressing various levels of EGFR and erbB2. Proliferation of EGFR-overexpressing A431 and MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro was potently inhibited (50%-70%) by ZD1839 with half-maximally effective doses in the low nanomolar range. In parallel, ZD1839 blocked autophosphorylation of EGFR and prevented activation of PLC-gamma 1, ERK MAP kinases and PKB/Akt by EGF. It also inhibited proliferation in EGFR(+) cancer cell lines overexpressing erbB2 (SKBr3, SKOV3, BT474) by between 20% and 80%, effects which correlated with inhibition of EGF-dependent erbB2 phosphorylation and activation of ERK MAP kinase and PKB/Akt in SKOV3 cells. Oral administration of ZD1839 inhibited the growth of MDA-MB-231 and SKOV3 tumours, established as xenografts in athymic mice, by 71% and 32%, respectively. Growth inhibition coincided with reduced proliferation but no change in apoptotic index. Collectively, these results show that ZD1839, at the doses studied, is a potent inhibitor of proliferation not only in cells overexpressing EGFR but also in EGFR(+) cells that overexpress erbB2.
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PMID:ZD1839 (Iressa), a novel epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor, potently inhibits the growth of EGFR-positive cancer cell lines with or without erbB2 overexpression. 1174 77

Tyrosine phosphorylation is thought to be critical in the regulation of neutrophil functioning, and members of the Src family of tyrosine kinases have recently been shown to be regulated in activated granulocytes. We have used a specific pharmacological inhibitor of Src kinases, pyrazolpyrimidine 1 (PP1), to evaluate the role of Src kinases in cytokine/chemoattractant-induced regulation of neutrophil function. PP1 inhibits PKB phosphorylation but not STAT5 phosphorylation or the activation of MAP kinases by fMLP or GM-CSF. Pretreatment of neutrophils with PP1 and with the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 resulted in a strong inhibition of fMLP-induced superoxide production and cytokine-mediated survival but not fMLP-induced migration. It is interesting that the kinetics of inhibition of actin polymerization and the respiratory burst are very similar. Although initiation of both processes was not affected, sustained activation was inhibited by PP1. Taken together, our results demonstrate a critical role for Src kinases in regulating neutrophil cytotoxic-effector functioning through PI3K-PKB.
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PMID:Src kinases regulate PKB activation and modulate cytokine and chemoattractant-controlled neutrophil functioning. 1178 87

The role of Rho proteins in lysophosphatidic acid (LPA)-mediated induction of cyclo-oxygenase-2 (Cox-2) was investigated in renal mesangial cells. Previous studies had shown that toxin B, an inhibitor of Rho, Rac and Cdc42, suppressed Cox-2 induction. A role for RhoA in pertussis toxin-sensitive LPA signalling was excluded with C3 transferase from Clostridium limosum, used as the fusion toxin C2IN-C3 (where C2IN is part of the C2I toxin of C. botulinum). Incubation of the cells with C2IN-C3 disrupted cytosolic actin stress fibres, but had no effect on Cox-2 induction. Similarly, activation of p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase), an upstream step in Cox-2 induction, was inhibited by toxin B, but not affected by C2IN-C3. Upon treatment with toxin B, focal adhesion kinase and paxillin were dephosphorylated at tyrosine residues and the actin cytoskeleton was completely destroyed. An intact cytoskeleton, however, was not required for p42/44 MAP-kinase activation or Cox-2 induction, as shown by the actin-depolymerizing agent cytochalasin D. Toxin B did not influence functionality of LPA receptors, because G(i)-mediated Ca(2+) release from intracellular stores remained unchanged. Within 1 h, toxin B inactivated and translocated RhoA and Cdc42 to the cellular membranes. Within the same time frame, monoglucosylated Rac1 was degraded. Direct stimulation of Rho proteins by cytotoxic necrotizing factor type 1 (CNF1) induced Cox-2 expression, which was sensitive to inhibition of the MAP-kinase pathway by PD98059, but not to an inhibitor of RhoA kinase. By exclusion of RhoA and non-specific cytoskeletal effects, the results in the present study indicate an important role for Rac and/or Cdc42 in pertussis toxin-sensitive LPA-mediated Cox-2 induction.
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PMID:Role of Rac and Cdc42 in lysophosphatidic acid-mediated cyclo-oxygenase-2 gene expression. 1182 37

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) regulates various physiological and developmental processes in concert with other growth factors, cytokines and hormones. We examined interactions between cell signaling events elicited by HGF and the cytokine interleukin (IL)-4, in the IL-3-dependent murine myeloid cell line 32D transfected with the human HGF receptor, c-Met. HGF was a potent mitogen in these cells, and prevented apoptosis in response to IL-3 withdrawal. IL-4 showed modest anti-apoptotic activity, but no significant mitogenic activity. IL-4 synergistically enhanced HGF-stimulated DNA synthesis, whereas only additive prevention of apoptosis was observed. IL-4 did not enhance HGF-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of c-Met or Shc. In contrast, HGF-stimulated activation of MAP kinases was enhanced by IL-4, suggesting that the IL-4 and HGF signaling pathways converge upstream of these events. Although phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors diminished HGF-induced mitogenesis, anti-apoptosis, and MAP kinase activation, IL-4 enhanced HGF signaling persisted even in the presence of these inhibitors. IL-4 enhancement of HGF signaling was partially blocked in 32D/c-Met cells treated with inhibitors of MEK1 or c-Src kinases, completely blocked by expression of a catalytically inactive mutant of Janus kinase 3 (Jak3), and increased in 32D/c-Met cells overexpressing STAT6. Our results suggest that the IL-4 and HGF pathways converge at multiple levels, and that IL-4-dependent Jak3 and STAT6 activities modulate signaling events independent of PI3K to enhance HGF-dependent mitogenesis in myeloid cells, and possibly other common cellular targets.
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PMID:Mitogenic synergy through multilevel convergence of hepatocyte growth factor and interleukin-4 signaling pathways. 1194 3

Hyperinsulinemia has been shown to be associated with diabetic angiopathy. Migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) are the processes required for the development of atherosclerosis. In this study, we attempted to determine whether insulin affects mitogenic signaling induced by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in a rat VSMC cell line (A10 cells). PDGF stimulated DNA synthesis which was totally dependent on Ras, because transfection of dominant negative Ras resulted in complete loss of PDGF-stimulated DNA synthesis. Initiation of DNA synthesis was preceded by activation of Raf-1, MEK and MAP kinases (Erk 1 and Erk2). Treatment of the cells with PD98059, an inhibitor of MAPK kinase (MEK) attenuated but did not abolish PDGF-stimulated DNA synthesis, suggesting that MAPK is required but not essential for DNA synthesis. PDGF also stimulated phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt/PKB) and p70 S6Kinase (p70S6K) in a wortmannin-sensitive manner. Rapamycin, an inhibitor of p70S6K, markedly suppressed DNA synthesis. Low concentrations of insulin (1-10 nmol/l) alone showed little mitogenic activity and no significant effect on MAPK activity. However, the presence of insulin enhanced both DNA synthesis and MAPK activation by PDGF. The enhancing effect of insulin was not seen in cells treated with PD98059. Insulin was without effect on PDGF-stimulated activations of protein kinase B (Akt/PKB) and p70S6K. We conclude that insulin, at pathophysiologically relevant concentrations, potentiates the PDGF-stimulated DNA synthesis, at least in part, by potentiating activation of the MAPK cascade. These results are consistent with the notion that hyperinsulinemia is a risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis.
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PMID:Potentiation of mitogenic activity of platelet-derived growth factor by physiological concentrations of insulin via the MAP kinase cascade in rat A10 vascular smooth muscle cells. 1199 Nov 99

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important mediator in the cavernosal smooth muscle relaxation that causes erections. The purpose of this study was to examine the existence, distribution and phosphorylation stage of two recently discovered key enzymes for NO regulation in human cavernosal tissue, the MAP Kinase 1/2 (Erk 1/2) and the serine/threonine specific protein kinase Akt/PKB. The expression of the enzymes was examined in corpus cavernosum specimens taken from both potent men and from patients with long-term impotence. There was a distinct difference in the activation stage of the MAP Kinase 1/2 (Erk 1/2) between endothelium and smooth muscle cells in potent patients. This finding gives evidence for a cell-type-specific regulation of the eNOS-dependent NO release. Furthermore, we found a higher basal level of active MAP Kinase 1/2 (Erk 1/2) in impotent patients. This finding gives the first evidence for an inhibitory influence of MAP Kinase 1/2 (Erk 1/2) on cavernosal eNOS activity.
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PMID:MAP kinase 1/2 (Erk 1/2) and serine/threonine specific protein kinase Akt/PKB expression and activity in the human corpus cavernosum. 1215 10

Angiotensin II (Ang II) is a multifunctional hormone that influences the function of cardiovascular cells through a complex series of intracellular signaling events initiated by the interaction of Ang II with AT1 and AT2 receptors. AT1 receptor activation leads to cell growth, vascular contraction, inflammatory responses and salt and water retention, whereas AT2 receptors induce apoptosis, vasodilation and natriuresis. These effects are mediated via complex, interacting signaling pathways involving stimulation of PLC and Ca2+ mobilization; activation of PLD, PLA2, PKC, MAP kinases and NAD(P)H oxidase, and stimulation of gene transcription. In addition, Ang II activates many intracellular tyrosine kinases that play a role in growth signaling and inflammation, such as Src, Pyk2, p130Cas, FAK and JAK/STAT. These events may be direct or indirect via transactivation of tyrosine kinase receptors, including PDGFR, EGFR and IGFR. Ang II induces a multitude of actions in various tissues, and the signaling events following occupancy and activation of Ang receptors are tightly controlled and extremely complex. Alterations of these highly regulated signaling pathways may be pivotal in structural and functional abnormalities that underlie pathological processes in cardiovascular diseases such as cardiac hypertrophy, hypertension and atherosclerosis.
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PMID:Recent advances in angiotensin II signaling. 1221 72

In 1994, the nongovernmental organization MAP International began a two-year program of "Integrated Action Against AIDS with Kenyan Churches." The program promotes the development of effective, culturally appropriate, and locally sustainable community programs among church leaders and grassroots clergy and teachers. MAP helps church leaders reframe AIDS health messages in terms consistent with their theological views and with an emphasis on behavior change (promoting premarital abstinence and marital fidelity). During a recent MAP-sponsored workshop, church-leaders called upon all churches to develop policies covering family life and sex education; to investigate biblical links to traditions which increase risk of infection; to support the rights and needs of women; to determine appropriate and acceptable methods of protection; to find a balance of confidentiality, trust, and responsible communication; and to revitalize moral values. Pastoral counseling workshops examine such issues as how discordant couples can relate sexually and whether AIDS is a judgement from God. Workshop participants take what they have learned into their communities in the form of counseling, training, and public speaking. Culturally appropriate and age sensitive materials are developed with the help of church leaders, parents, teachers, and youth and are extensively field-tested before distribution. Materials include manuals, guides, sermon outlines, radio spots, videos, newspaper advertisements, and films. Newsletters keep program participants informed about the latest developments in research and prevention.
AIDS STD Health Promot Exch 1996
PMID:Country watch: Kenya. 1229 37


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