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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)
Protein Phosphatase-1 (PP-1) appears to be the key component of the insulin signalling pathway which is responsible for bridging the initial insulin-simulated phosphorylation cascade with the ultimate dephosphorylation of insulin sensitive substrates. Dephosphorylations catalyzed by PP-1 activate glycogen synthase (GS) and simultaneously inactivate phosphorylase a and phosphorylase kinase promoting glycogen synthesis. Our in vivo studies using L6 rat skeletal muscle cells and freshly isolated adipocytes indicate that insulin stimulates PP-1 by increasing the phosphorylation status of its regulatory subunit (PP-1G). PP-1 activation is accompanied by an inactivation of Protein Phosphatase-2A (PP-2A) activity. To gain insight into the upstream kinases that mediate insulin-stimulated PP-1G phosphorylation, we employed inhibitors of the ras/MAPK, PI3-kinase, and PKC signalling pathways. These inhibitor studies suggest that PP-1G phosphorylation is mediated via a complex, cell type specific mechanism involving PI3-kinase/PKC/
PKB
and/or the ras/MAP kinase/Rsk kinase cascade. cAMP agonists such as SpcAMP (via PKA) and
TNF-alpha
(recently identified as endogenous inhibitor of insulin action via ceramide) block insulin-stimulated PP-1G phosphorylation with a parallel decrease of PP-1 activity, presumably due to the dissociation of the PP-1 catalytic subunit from the regulatory G-subunit. It appears that any agent or condition which interferes with the insulin-induced phosphorylation and activation of PP-1, will decrease the magnitude of insulin's effect on downstream metabolic processes. Therefore, regulation of the PP-1G subunit by site-specific phosphorylation plays an important role in insulin signal transduction in target cells. Mechanistic and functional studies with cell lines expressing PP-1G subunit site-specific mutations will help clarify the exact role and regulation of PP-1G site-specific phosphorylations on PP-1 catalytic function.
...
PMID:Protein phosphatase-1 and insulin action. 960 13
Airway inflammation associated with asthma is characterized by massive infiltration of eosinophils, mediated in part by specific chemoattractant factors produced in the lung. Allergen-specific Th2 cells appear to play a central role in asthma; for example, adoptively transferred Th2 cells induced lung eosinophilia associated with induction of specific chemokines. Interestingly, Th2 supernatant alone administered intranasally to naive mice induced eotaxin, RANTES, monocyte-chemotactic protein-1, and KC expression along with lung eosinophilia. We tested the major cytokines individually and found that IL-4 and IL-5 induced higher levels of macrophage-inflammatory protein-1alpha and KC; IL-4 also increased the production of monocyte-chemotactic protein-1; IL-13 and IL-4 induced eotaxin. IL-13 was by far the most potent inducer of eotaxin; indeed, a neutralizing anti-IL-13 Ab removed most of the eotaxin-inducing activity from Th2 supernatants, although it did not entirely block the recruitment of eosinophils. While
TNF-alpha
did not stimulate eotaxin production by itself, it markedly augmented eotaxin induction by IL-13. IL-13 was able to induce eotaxin in the lung of
JAK3
-deficient mice, suggesting that
JAK3
is not required for IL-13 signaling in airway epithelial cells; however, eosinophilia was not induced in this situation, suggesting that
JAK3
transduces other IL-13-mediated mechanisms critical for eosinophil recruitment. Our study suggests that IL-13 is an important mediator in the pathogenesis of asthma and therefore a potential target for asthma therapy.
...
PMID:Effects of Th2 cytokines on chemokine expression in the lung: IL-13 potently induces eotaxin expression by airway epithelial cells. 1007 86
To study the role of tryptophan degradation by indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase (INDO) in the control of Trypanosoma cruzi or Toxoplasma gondii replication, we used human fibroblasts and a fibrosarcoma cell line (2C4). The cells were cultured in the presence or absence of recombinant gamma interferon (rIFN-gamma) and/or recombinant tumor necrosis factor alpha (rTNF-alpha) for 24 h and were then infected with either T. cruzi or T. gondii. Intracellular parasite replication was evaluated 24 or 48 h after infection. Treatment with rIFN-gamma and/or rTNF-alpha had no inhibitory effect on T. cruzi replication. In contrast, 54, 73, or 30% inhibition of T. gondii replication was observed in the cells treated with rIFN-gamma alone, rIFN-gamma plus rTNF-alpha, or
TNF-alpha
alone, respectively. The replication of T. gondii tachyzoites in cytokine-activated cells was restored by the addition of extra tryptophan to the culture medium. Similarly, T. gondii tachyzoites transfected with bacterial tryptophan synthase were not sensitive to the microbiostatic effect of rIFN-gamma. We also investigated the basis of the cytokine effect on parasite replication by using the three mutant cell lines B3, B9, and B10 derived from 2C4 and expressing defective STAT1alpha (signal transducer and activator of transcription),
JAK2
(Janus family of cytoplasmic tyrosine kinases), or
JAK1
, respectively, three important elements of a signaling pathway triggered by rIFN-gamma. We found that rTNF-alpha was able to induce low levels expression of INDO mRNA in the parental cell line, as well as the cell line lacking functional
JAK2
. In contrast to the parental cell line (2C4), rIFN-gamma was not able to induce the expression of INDO mRNA or microbiostatic activity in any of the mutant cell lines. These findings indicate the essential requirement of the JAK/STAT pathway for the induction of high levels of INDO mRNA, tryptophan degradation, and the anti-Toxoplasma activity inside human nonprofessional phagocytic cells.
...
PMID:Replication of Toxoplasma gondii, but not Trypanosoma cruzi, is regulated in human fibroblasts activated with gamma interferon: requirement of a functional JAK/STAT pathway. 1022 79
STAT1 is an essential transcription factor for macrophage activation by IFN-gamma and requires phosphorylation of the C-terminal Ser727 for transcriptional activity. In macrophages, Ser727 phosphorylation in response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), UV irradiation, or
TNF-alpha
occurred through a signaling path sensitive to the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) inhibitor SB203580 whereas IFN-gamma-mediated Ser727 phosphorylation was not inhibited by the drug. Consistently, SB203580 did not affect IFN-gamma-mediated, Stat1-dependent transcription but inhibited its enhancement by LPS. Furthermore, LPS, UV irradiation, and
TNF-alpha
caused activation of p38 MAPK whereas IFN-gamma did not. An essential role for p38 MAPK activity in STAT1 Ser727 phosphorylation was confirmed by using cells expressing an SB203580-resistant p38 MAPK. In such cells, STAT1 Ser727 phosphorylation in response to UV irradiation was found to be SB203580 insensitive. Targeted disruption of the mapkap-k2 gene, encoding a kinase downstream of p38 MAPK with a key role in LPS-stimulated
TNF-alpha
production and stress-induced heat shock protein 25 phosphorylation, was without a significant effect on UV-mediated Ser727 phosphorylation. The recombinant Stat1 C terminus was phosphorylated in vitro by p38MAPKalpha and beta but not by MAPK-activated protein kinase 2.
Janus kinase 2
activity, previously reported to be required for IFN-gamma-mediated Ser727 phosphorylation, was not needed for LPS-mediated Ser727 phosphorylation, and activation of
Janus kinase 2
did not cause the appearance of STAT1 Ser727 kinase activity. Our data suggest that STAT1 is phosphorylated at Ser727 by a stress-activated signaling pathway either through p38 MAPK directly or through an unidentified kinase downstream of p38MAPK.
...
PMID:Stress-induced phosphorylation of STAT1 at Ser727 requires p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase whereas IFN-gamma uses a different signaling pathway. 1057 Jan 80
We analyzed the expression of IL-12Rbeta1 and IL-12Rbeta2 and the role of IL-12 in the activation of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) via IL-12Rbeta1-mediated signaling events. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that IL-12Rbeta1 was expressed in T cells, Con A blasts, and monocyte-derived DCs, but not in monocytes, while its transcript was detected in all of these cell types. Transcriptional expression of IL-12Rbeta2 was observed in T cells, Con A blasts, and monocyte-derived DCs, but not monocytes. The ligation of DCs as well as Con A blasts by IL-12 induced the production of GM-CSF, IL-1beta, IL-6,
TNF-alpha
, and IFN-gamma at the transcription levels. Furthermore, stimulation of DCs with IL-12 induced IL-12p40 transcript, but not IL-12p35 transcript, whereas this stimulation caused the expressions of both transcripts in Con A blasts. Stimulation of DCs with IL-12 caused a tyrosine phosphorylation of several intracellular proteins, and the pattern of these events were distinct from those of IL-12-stimulated Con A blasts. IL-12 also induced tyrosine phosphorylation of IL-12Rbeta1 as well as recruitment of several tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins to IL-12Rbeta1 in DCs and Con A blasts. Receptor engagement of DCs as well as Con A blasts by IL-12 resulted in activation of
Janus kinase 2
and Tyk2 kinases and Stat3 and Stat4 transcription factors and the association of these proteins to IL-12Rbeta1. Stimulation with IL-12 caused a tyrosine phosphorylation and enzymatic activity of a family of mitogen-activated protein kinases, p38mapk. These results suggest that IL-12 acts directly on DCs to induce their functional activation via IL-12Rbeta1-mediated signaling events.
...
PMID:IL-12 responsiveness and expression of IL-12 receptor in human peripheral blood monocyte-derived dendritic cells. 1086 Oct 35
The transcription factor NF-kappaB is the central regulator for the expression of various genes involved in inflammation, infection and immune response including the genes for IL-1beta,
TNF-alpha
, IL-6 and leukocyte adhesion molecules. Here, we show that the anti-allergic drug histaglobin down-regulates the release of IL-1beta,
TNF-alpha
, IL-6 and IL-10 in human peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures. This down-regulatory effect becomes even more pronounced when the cultures are simultaneously activated with the T-lymphocyte mitogen phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or with the B-lymphocyte and macrophage activator lipopeptide (P(3)
CSK
(4)). We also demonstrate that histaglobin inhibits the nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB in response to
TNF-alpha
or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in bone marrow-derived macrophages of Balb/c mice. The inhibitory effect of histaglobin on NF-kappaB activation and cytokine release might be responsible for its anti-allergic effect as demonstrated in clinical studies.
...
PMID:The anti-allergic drug histaglobin inhibits NF-kappaB nuclear translocation and down-regulates proinflammatory cytokines. 1096 48
Cross-linking of FcepsilonRI induces the activation of three protein tyrosine kinases, Lyn, Syk, and
Bruton's tyrosine kinase
(
Btk
), leading to the secretion of a panel of proinflammatory mediators from mast cells. This study showed phosphorylation at Ser-473 and enzymatic activation of Akt/protein kinase B, the crucial survival kinase, upon FcepsilonRI stimulation in mouse mast cells. Phosphorylation of Akt is regulated positively by
Btk
and Syk and negatively by Lyn. Akt in turn can regulate positively the transcriptional activity of interleukin (IL)-2 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha promoters. Transcription from the nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB), nuclear factor of activated T cells (NF-AT), and activator protein 1 (AP-1) sites within these promoters is under the control of Akt activity. Accordingly, the signaling pathway involving IkappaB-alpha, a cytoplasmic protein that binds NF-kappaB and inhibits its nuclear translocation, appears to be regulated by Akt in mast cells. Catalytic activity of glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3beta, a serine/threonine kinase that phosphorylates NF-AT and promotes its nuclear export, seems to be inhibited by Akt. Importantly, Akt regulates the production and secretion of IL-2 and
TNF-alpha
in FcepsilonRI-stimulated mast cells. Altogether, these results revealed a novel function of Akt in transcriptional activation of cytokine genes via NF-kappaB, NF-AT, and AP-1 that contributes to the production of cytokines.
...
PMID:Akt-dependent cytokine production in mast cells. 1097 38
MCP-1 is expressed in a variety of cell types including vascular endothelial cells following induction by different stimuli such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. Although
TNF-alpha
stimulates MCP-1 expression and secretion, the mechanism by which
TNF-alpha
stimulates expression of the MCP-1 gene is not known. In this study, we examine the involvement of the phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase (PI3-kinase)-Akt/
PKB
pathway. Exposure of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to
TNF-alpha
elicited the rapid phosphorylation of Akt/
PKB
. In HUVECs, wortmannin, a PI3-kinase inhibitor, inhibits
TNF-alpha
-mediated MCP-1 secretion at a dose-dependent manner. Constitutively active form of Akt/
PKB
induces transcription of the MCP-1 gene, and cotransfection of dominant negative Akt/
PKB
suppressed the activation of the MCP-1 promoter induced by
TNF-alpha
. These findings show that Akt/
PKB
participates in the
TNF-alpha
induction of MCP-1 gene transcription in endothelial cells.
...
PMID:TNF-alpha stimulation of MCP-1 expression is mediated by the Akt/PKB signal transduction pathway in vascular endothelial cells. 1102 49
To establish new tools for studying human thymic stromal cells, we transfected adherent cells from a human postnatal thymus using a plasmid encoding SV40 large T antigen. Among the cell lines obtained, we characterized four epithelial cell lines (LT-TEC1 to LT-TEC4) and one thymic myoid cell line (MITC). Several morphological, functional and phenotypic differences were observed between these 2 cell types. Epithelial cells were heterogeneous and larger than myoid cells. Untreated LT-
TEC
lines expressed MHC class I, ICAM-1 and LFA-3 antigens and not MHC class II antigens, similarly to primary thymic epithelial cells (PTEC), while MITC line expressed only class I and LFA-3 antigens. After IFN-gamma treatment, MHC class II and ICAM-1 antigens were markedly upregulated in LT-
TEC
lines but not in MITC, indicating the absence or a dysfunction of regulatory factors in MITC line. Myoid cells expressed mRNA for all the subunits of the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) while epithelial cells expressed only the alpha, beta and epsilon subunits. Strikingly, LT-
TEC
produced much more C-C chemokines and IL-6 than MITC cells, while these latter produced higher levels of IL-8 and
TNF-alpha
. Altogether, these results reveal phenotypic and functional differences between these two stromal cell types, suggesting a potential involvement of myoid cells in the thymic function.
...
PMID:Phenotypic and functional characterization of human thymic stromal cell lines. 1129 52
Macrophages from X-linked immunodeficient (xid) mice lacking functional
Bruton's tyrosine kinase
(
Btk
) show poor NO induction and enhanced IL-12 induction, and contribute to delayed clearance of injected microfilaria (mf) in vivo. We now show that
Btk
is involved in other macrophage effector functions, such as bactericidal activity and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines (
TNF-alpha
, IL-1beta), but not the T cell-directed cytokine IL-12. Induction of some transcriptional regulators of the NF-kappaB family, crucial for the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, is also poor in
Btk
-deficient macrophages. Thus,
Btk
appears to be involved in signaling for inducible effector functions, but not APC functions, in macrophages. Furthermore, adoptive transfer of T cells from mf-infected xid or wild-type mice did not alter the course of mf clearance in recipients, mf clearance was unaltered in IFN-gamma-deficient mice, and improved mf clearance was seen only if greater inducibility of IL-12 was accompanied by greater NO secretion from macrophages, as seen in Ity(r) C.D2 mice as compared with congenic Ity(s) BALB/c mice. Thus, delayed mf clearance in xid mice was correlated not with the high IL-12/Th1 phenotype but with low NO induction levels. Also, xid macrophages showed poor toxicity to mf in vitro as compared with wild-type macrophages. Inhibition of NO production blocked this mf cytotoxicity, and an NF-kappaB inhibitor blocked both NO induction and mf cytotoxicity. Thus,
Btk
is involved in inducing many macrophage effector functions, and delayed mf clearance seen in
Btk
-deficient xid mice is due to poor NO induction in macrophages, resulting in compromised microfilarial toxicity.
...
PMID:Macrophage effector functions controlled by Bruton's tyrosine kinase are more crucial than the cytokine balance of T cell responses for microfilarial clearance. 1188 62
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