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)

Endothelial injury is a major manifestation of septic shock induced by LPS. Recently, LPS was shown to induce apoptosis in different types of endothelial cells. In this study, we observed that pretreatment with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a known cell survival factor, blocked LPS-induced apoptosis in endothelial cells. We then further defined this LPS-induced apoptotic pathway and its inhibition by VEGF. We found that LPS treatment increased caspase-3 and caspase-1 activities and induced the cleavage of focal adhesion kinase. LPS also augmented expression of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax and the tumor suppressor gene p53. The pro-apoptotic Bax was found to translocate to the mitochondria from the cytosol following stimulation with LPS. Pretreatment of endothelial cells with VEGF inhibited the induction of both Bax and p53 as well as the activation of caspase-3. These data suggest that VEGF inhibits LPS-induced endothelial apoptosis by blocking pathways that lead to caspase activation.
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PMID:Lipopolysaccharide-induced apoptosis of endothelial cells and its inhibition by vascular endothelial growth factor. 1202 90

The chimaeric BCR-ABL oncoprotein is the molecular hallmark of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). Expression of Bcr-Abl has been associated with arrested differentiation as well as resistance to apoptosis. The downstream pathway involved in apoptosis resistance has been extensively studied, whereas the role of Bcr-Abl in cell differentiation is largely unclear. A recent report has shown that Bcr-Abl expression alone is sufficient to increase the number of multipotent and myeloid lineage-committed progenitors in a dose-dependent manner while suppressing the development of committed erythroid progenitors. In accordance with this model, downregulation of c-Abl and Bcr-Abl has been observed during differentiation in different systems, although the mechanism is still largely unknown. To investigate the relationship between erythroid differentiation and c-Abl and Bcr-Abl levels, we induced differentiation in K562 cells using a temperature-inducible p53 mutant (p53Val1335). It was found that p53-induced erythroid differentiation in K562 cells required caspase activity. During this process, caspase-dependent cleavage of c-Abl and Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinases was observed, suggesting a new mechanism for the downregulation of the kinases during erythroid differentiation.
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PMID:p53 expression in K562 cells is associated with caspase-mediated cleavage of c-ABL and BCR-ABL protein kinases. 1202 26

Genetic instability is a characteristic feature of the malignant Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells in classical Hodgkin's lymphoma and the lymphocytic and histiocytic (L&H) cells in lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's lymphoma. Genetic instability can be classified into four major categories: distinct DNA mutations (microsatellite instability); numerical aberrations (chromosomal instability); structural aberrations (translocation instability); and gains and losses of chromosomal regions. In Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL), HRS cells and L&H cells show somatically mutated clonally rearranged immunoglobulin genes, thus characterizing these cells genetically as germinal center B cells. These cells furthermore show mutations of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in some cases (p53, IkappaBalpha, CD95/Fas). They do not, however, display microsatellite instability, as they have a proficient mismatch repair machinery. In contrast, HRS and L&H cells frequently harbor recurrent but not specific numerical and structural aberrations as detected by classical cytogenetics and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis. Results from molecular genetic studies using comparative genomic hybridization and allelotyping (LOH) indicate typical genetic patterns in HL with gains and losses of distinct chromosomal regions. In some instances, candidate genes possibly involved in the malignant transformation of HRS cells and L&H cells have been characterized (JAK2, c-REL, MDM2). In summary, using molecular genetics it might be possible in the near future to elucidate some of the complex genetic instabilities observed in HL.
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PMID:Genetic instability in Hodgkin's lymphoma. 1207 97

Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare tumor that carries a very poor prognosis. Despite efforts to develop new therapeutic regimens to treat this disease, surgery remains the mainstay of treatment. Laboratory studies of adrenocortical cancers have revealed a wide variety of signaling pathways that can be altered in these neoplasms. Although ACTH signaling through adenylyl cyclase and protein kinase A is important for normal adrenal cellular physiology, there is evidence to suggest that this pathway may inhibit the growth of adrenocortical tumors, and that inactivation of the ACTH receptor may promote tumor formation. Although multiple signal transduction pathways are essential for normal adrenal growth and hormone secretion, efforts to identify events required for neoplastic transformation have met with limited success. Alterations that have frequently been observed in adrenocortical carcinoma include up-regulation of the IGF-II system, as well as mutations in TP53 and RAS. Current studies aim to elucidate the mechanisms of tumor growth by studying proproliferative signaling pathways, such as those involving Akt/PKB and the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). Although studies of single pathways have been helpful in guiding investigations, new tools to study the integration and multiplicity of signaling pathways hold the hope of improved understanding of the signaling pathway alterations in adrenocortical cancer.
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PMID:Signaling pathways in adrenocortical cancer. 1211 79

Recent progress made in molecular biology, biotechnology, and genetics, especially in identifying, cloning, sequencing and characterization of normal and pathogenic genes, has led to the development of genetic therapy. Major efforts in the field can be summarized in two general approaches: gene therapy and antisense therapy. The second is to deliver to the target cells antisense molecules that target to mRNA with which they can hybridize and specifically inhibit the expression of pathogenic genes. Antisense oligonucleotides offer the possibility of specific, rational, genetic-based therapeutics. With encouraging results from preclinical and clinical studies of antisense oligonucleotides in the past decade, significant progress has been made in developing antisense therapy, with the first antisense drug now being approved for clinical use. In this article, we will discuss approaches to developing these drugs from preclinical to clinical settings. Of particular interest for the area of human cancer therapy, several cancer targets, including bcl-2, BCR-ABL, C-raf-1, Ha-ras, c-myc, PKC, PKA, p53 and MDM2, are reviewed as examples to illustrate the progress in this field and emphasize the importance of target selection and advanced antisense chemistry in the development of antisense therapy.
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PMID:Antisense anticancer oligonucleotide therapeutics. 1218 78

Bacteria-derived synthetic lipoproteins constitute potent macrophage activators in vivo and are effective stimuli, enhancing the immune response especially with respect to low or non-immunogenic compounds. N-palmitoyl-S-[2,3-bis(palmitoyloxy)-(2R,S)-propyl]-(R)-cysteinyl-seryl-(lysyl)3-lysine (P3CSK4), exhibiting one of the most effective lipopeptide derivatives, represents a highly efficient immunoadjuvant in parenteral, oral, nasal and genetic immunization either in combination with or after covalent linkage to antigen. In order to further elucidate its molecular mode of action with respect to the transcriptional level, we focused our investigations on the P3CSK4-induced modulation of gene transcription. We could show that P3CSK4 activates/represses an array of at least 140 genes partly involved in signal transduction and regulation of the immune response. P3CSK4 activates the expression of tumor suppressor protein p53 (p53), c-rel, inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B (NFkappaB) alpha (IkappaB alpha), type 2 (inducible) nitric oxide (NO) synthase (iNOS), CD40-LR, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and interleukin 1/6/15 (IL-1/6/15). We detected no activation of heat shock protein (HSP) 27, 60, 84 and 86, osmotic stress protein 94 (Osp 94), IL-12, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1 (ERK1), p38 mitogen activated protein (MAP)-kinase (p38), c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), CD14 and caspase genes. Furthermore, we monitored inhibition of STAT6, Janus kinase 3 (Jak3) and cyclin D1/D3 gene transcription after stimulating bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) with lipopeptide. In addition, we monitored significant differences after lipopeptide and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation of bone marrow-derived murine macrophages. Our findings are of importance for further optimizing both conventional and genetic immunization, and for the development of novel synthetic vaccines.
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PMID:Lipopeptide adjuvants: monitoring and comparison of P3CSK4- and LPS-induced gene transcription. 1234 44

Death-associated protein kinase (DAP-kinase) is a calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine/threonine kinase, and participates in various apoptosis systems. However, its apoptosis-promoting mechanism is poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that DAP-kinase suppresses integrin-mediated cell adhesion and signal transduction, whereas dominant-negative interference of this kinase promotes adhesion. This effect of DAP-kinase is neither a consequence of apoptosis nor a result of decreased expression of integrins. Rather, DAP-kinase downregulates integrin activity through an inside-out mechanism. We present evidence indicating that this adhesion-inhibitory effect accounts for a major mechanism of the apoptosis induced by DAP-kinase. First, in growth-arrested fibroblasts, DAP-kinase triggers apoptosis in cells plated on fibronectin, but does not affect the death of cells on poly-l-lysine. Second, in epithelial cells, DAP-kinase induces apoptosis in the anoikis-sensitive MCF10A cells, but not in the anoikis-resistant BT474 cells. Most importantly, the apoptosis-promoting effect of DAP-kinase is completely abolished by enforced activation of integrin-mediated signaling pathways from either integrin itself or its downstream effector, FAK. Finally, we show that integrin or FAK activation blocks the ability of DAP-kinase to upregulate p53. Our results indicate that DAP-kinase exerts apoptotic effects by suppressing integrin functions and integrin-mediated survival signals, thereby activating a p53-dependent apoptotic pathway.
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PMID:DAP-kinase induces apoptosis by suppressing integrin activity and disrupting matrix survival signals. 1237 Feb 43

Understanding the molecular and genetic events affecting breast cancer development not only helps oncologists address important questions commonly asked by their patients but also helps clinicians gain insights into the biology of the disease. Although the molecular and genetic determinants of most sporadic breast cancer remain unknown, significant advances in the understanding of events that contribute to breast cancer formation have been made. It is now recognized that mutations in some tumor suppressor genes, such as p53, BRCA1, BRCA2, PTEN, or ATM, or epigenetic functional inactivation of other tumor suppressor genes, such as SYK and NES1, appear to play important early roles in the formation of some breast cancers. In addition, alterations in proto-oncogenes, such as HER2/neu, may contribute to the development of some breast cancer. The goal of this article is to further introduce clinicians to molecular and genetic pathways that contribute to breast cancer formation. By participating in the study of breast cancer development at the molecular as well as the histopathological level, oncologists can help develop novel prevention, diagnostic, and therapeutic approaches for the future.
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PMID:Molecular biology and genetics of breast cancer development: a clinical perspective. 1238 87

Various cytokines have been shown to protect cells from p53-dependent apoptosis. To investigate the mechanism underlying cytokine-mediated survival, we used a Friend virus-transformed erythroleukemia cell line that expresses a temperature-sensitive p53 allele. These cells express the spleen focus-forming virus-encoded envelope glycoprotein gp55 that allows the cells to proliferate in the absence of erythropoietin (EPO). These cells respond to p53 activation at 32 degrees C by undergoing G(1) cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. In the presence of EPO, p53 activation leads only to prolonged but viable G(1) arrest. These findings indicate that EPO functions as a survival factor and that gp55/EPO receptor signaling is distinct from EPO/EPO receptor signaling. We demonstrate that p53-dependent apoptosis results in mitochondrial damage as shown by loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, increase in intracellular calcium, and release of mitochondrial cytochrome c into the cytosol. EPO prevented all of these changes including the subsequent activation of caspases. We identify an intrinsic phosphatidylinositol-3'-OH kinase/protein kinase B (PI3'K/PKB)-dependent survival pathway that is constitutively active in these cells. This survival pathway limits p53-dependent apoptosis. We propose that EPO promotes survival through a distinct pathway that is dependent on JAK2 but independent of STAT5 and PI3'K.
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PMID:The death-promoting activity of p53 can be inhibited by distinct signaling pathways. 1239 87

The p53 tumor suppressor protein provides a major anti-cancer defense mechanism, as underscored by the fact that the p53 gene is the most frequent target for genetic alterations in human cancer. Recent work has led to the realization that p53 lies at the hub of a very complex network of signaling pathways that integrate a variety of intracellular and extracellular inputs. Part of this network consists of an array of autoregulatory feedback loops, where p53 exhibits very intricate interactions with other proteins known to play important roles in the determination of cell fate. We discuss two such loops, one involving the beta-catenin protein and the other centering on the Akt/PKB protein kinase. In both cases, the central module is the interplay between p53 and the Mdm2 protein, which inactivates p53 and targets it for rapid proteolysis. Whereas deregulated beta-catenin can lead to Mdm2 inactivation and p53 accumulation, active p53 can promote the degradation and down-regulation of beta-catenin. Similarly, Akt can block p53 activation by potentiating Mdm2, whereas activated p53 can tune down Akt in several different ways. In each case, the actual output of the loop is determined by the delicate balance between the opposing effects of its different components. Often, this balance is dictated by additional signaling processes that occur simultaneously within the same cell. Genetic alterations characteristic of cancer are capable of severely distorting this balance, thereby overriding the tumor suppressor effects of p53 in a manner that facilitates neoplastic conversion.
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PMID:Regulation of p53: intricate loops and delicate balances. 1248 97


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