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)

Integrin-basement membrane interactions provide essential signals that promote survival and growth of epithelial cells, whereas loss of such adhesions triggers programmed cell death. We found that HSC-3 human squamous carcinoma cells survived and grew readily as monolayers, but when they were suspended as single cells, they ceased proliferating and entered into the apoptotic death pathway, characterized by DNA fragmentation. In contrast, if the suspended carcinoma cells were permitted to form E-cadherin-mediated multicellular aggregates, they not only survived but proliferated. However, aggregated normal keratinocytes were unable to survive in suspension culture and rapidly became apoptotic. Anchorage independence and resistance to apoptosis of HSC-3 cell aggregates required high levels of extracellular Ca2+ and was inhibited with function-perturbing anti-E-cadherin antibody. Resistance to suspension-induced apoptosis in cell aggregates paralleled the up-regulation of Bcl-2 but occurred in the absence of focal adhesion kinase activation. Analysis of suspension-induced death in a set of cloned squamous epithelial cell lines with different levels of E-cadherin expression revealed that receptor-positive cell clones evaded apoptosis and proliferated in three-dimensional aggregate culture, whereas cadherin-negative clones failed to survive. Collectively, these observations indicate that cadherin-mediated intercellular adhesions generate a compensatory mechanism that promotes anchorage-independent growth and suppresses apoptosis.
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PMID:E-cadherin regulates anchorage-independent growth and survival in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells. 964 58

Multiple mechanisms are involved in the resistance of cancer cells to cisplatin, including the expression of multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) and enhanced DNA repair. Here, we report findings to show that oligosaccharide changes in alpha5beta1 integrin are associated with cisplatin resistance in a head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell line, HSC-2. Cisplatin-resistant HSC-2 (HSC-2/CR) cells were established by stepwise treatment with various concentrations of cisplatin. The oligosaccharides containing beta1, 6-N-acetylglucosamine (beta1-6GlcNAc) branching, detected by leukoagglutinating phytohemagglutinin (L(4)-PHA) lectin blot, were found to be dramatically decreased in alpha5beta1 integrin immunoprecipitated from HSC-2/CR cells. To better understand the mechanisms underlying cisplatin resistance and oligosaccharide alteration, we analyzed the downstream signaling of alpha5beta1 integrin, one of the target glycoproteins of beta1-6GlcNAc transferase [UDP-GlcNAc:alpha-D-mannoside beta1, 6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (GnT-V)]. Cell adhesion to fibronectin and phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), which are associated with alpha5beta1 integrin and involved in a cell survival signaling, were found to be increased in the cisplatin-resistant cells. Enhancement of the inhibition of cell adhesion and FAK phosphorylation also support the above data in GnT-V transfectants of HSC-2 cells. Interestingly, the differences in sensitivity to cisplatin and FAK phosphorylation between cisplatin-sensitive and -resistant cells were completely abolished by treatment with a neutral antibody of alpha5beta1 integrin. These results suggest that modification of oligosaccharides of alpha5beta1 integrin represents one of the possible mechanisms of drug resistance in head and neck cancer cells.
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PMID:Involvement of oligosaccharide changes in alpha5beta1 integrin in a cisplatin-resistant human squamous cell carcinoma cell line. 1461 94

The outcome for adult patients with BCR-ABL-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) remains dismal and long-term survival can hardly be achieved except by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The Japan Adult Leukemia Study Group (JALSG) has recently started a phase 2 trial with intensive chemotherapy and imatinib for newly diagnosed BCR-AB-positive ALL patients, and we present here the interim results for the first 24 patients. All patients except one case of early death (96%) attained complete remission (CR) after a single course of remission induction therapy. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) negativity was achieved in 28% of the patients on day 28, in 50% on day 63, and in up to 78% during the follow-up period. The toxicity profile was almost similar to that with chemotherapy alone. As a result, 15 patients (63%) could receive an allogeneic HSC transplant during their first CR. Although the number of patients is small and the observation period is too short, the combination therapy is very promising and produces high-quality CR for most newly diagnosed patients with BCR-ABL-positive ALL. This is especially useful because it provides the patients with a better chance to receive an allogeneic HSC transplant.
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PMID:Combination of intensive chemotherapy and imatinib can rapidly induce high-quality complete remission for a majority of patients with newly diagnosed BCR-ABL-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia. 1531 63

Resistance to anoikis, or apoptosis triggered by detachment from the extracellular matrix (ECM), lengthens the survival of malignant cells, facilitating reattachment and colonization of secondary sites. To examine the molecular mechanisms underlying resistance to anoikis in human oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cells, we cultured human squamous carcinoma (HSC-3) cells in suspension on plates coated with poly-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, which blocks access to the ECM. Cells in suspension that formed multicellular aggregates had significantly lower levels of apoptosis than single cells. Aggregates, but not single cells, had high levels of fibronectin. Preincubation with a cyclic arginine-glycine-aspartic acid peptide or fibronectin-blocking antibody significantly increased anoikis. Single cells had markedly lower expression of the integrin alpha(v) receptor than aggregates. Blocking alpha(v) function with a blocking antibody or by transfection with an antisense oligonucleotide increased apoptosis and inhibited aggregation. In single cells but not aggregates, phosphorylation of the integrin-associated focal adhesion kinase (FAK) at tyrosine 397 was reduced, and p53 levels were increased. Apoptosis was increased by blocking FAK with an antisense oligonucleotide and reduced by blocking p53. These findings show that SCC cells escape suspension-induced anoikis by forming multicellular aggregates that avail themselves of fibronectin survival signals mediated by integrin alpha(v). Single cells in suspension that do not form aggregates undergo anoikis because of decreased FAK phosphorylation and increased p53 levels. Thus, SCC cells appear to use neighboring cells and the ECM molecule FN to promote the metastatic phenotype.
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PMID:Squamous cell carcinoma cell aggregates escape suspension-induced, p53-mediated anoikis: fibronectin and integrin alphav mediate survival signals through focal adhesion kinase. 1533 8

Imatinib mesylate (IM) is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, which inhibits phosphorylation of downstream proteins involved in BCR-ABL signal transduction. It has proved beneficial in treating patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). In addition, IM demonstrates activity against malignant cells expressing c-kit and platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGF-R). The activity of IM in the blastic crisis of CML and against various myeloma cell lines suggests that this drug may also target other cellular components. In the light of the important role of telomerase in malignant transformation, we evaluated the effect of IM on telomerase activity (TA) and regulation in various malignant cell lines. Imatinib mesylate caused a dose-dependent inhibition of TA (up to 90% at a concentration of 15 microM IM) in c-kit-expressing SK-N-MC (Ewing sarcoma), SK-MEL-28 (melanoma), RPMI 8226 (myeloma), MCF-7 (breast cancer) and HSC 536/N (Fanconi anaemia) cells as well as in ba/F3 (murine pro-B cells), which do not express c-kit, BCR-ABL or PDGF-R. Imatinib mesylate did not affect the activity of other DNA polymerases. Inhibition of TA was associated with 50% inhibition of proliferation. The inhibition of proliferation was associated with a decrease in the S-phase of the cell cycle and an accumulation of cells in the G2/M phase. No apoptosis was observed. Inhibition of TA was caused mainly by post-translational modifications: dephosphorylation of AKT and, to a smaller extent, by early downregulation of hTERT (the catalytic subunit of the enzyme) transcription. Other steps of telomerase regulation were not affected by IM. This study demonstrates an additional cellular target of IM, not necessarily mediated via known tyrosine kinases, that causes inhibition of TA and cell proliferation.
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PMID:Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) downregulates telomerase activity and inhibits proliferation in telomerase-expressing cell lines. 1587 Jul 11

Myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs) are heterogeneous diseases that occur at the level of a multipotent hematopoietic stem cell. They are characterized by increased blood cell production related to cytokine hypersensitivity and virtually normal cell maturation. The molecular pathogenesis of the MPDs has been poorly understood, except for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), where the Bcr-Abl fusion protein exhibits constitutive kinase activity. Since some rare MPDs are also related to a dysregulated kinase activity, a similar mechanism was thought to be likely responsible for the more frequent MPDs. We investigated the mechanisms of endogenous erythroid colony formation (EEC) by polycythemia vera (PV) erythroid progenitor cells and found that EEC formation was abolished by a pharmacological inhibitor of JAK2 as well as an siRNA against JAK2. JAK2 sequencing revealed a unique mutation in the JH2 domain leading to a V617F substitution in more than 80% of the PV samples. This mutation in the pseudokinase autoinhibitory domain results in constitutive kinase activity and induces cytokine hypersensitivity or independence of factor-dependent cell lines. Retroviral transduction of the mutant JAK2 into murine HSC leads to the development of an MPD with polycythemia. The same mutation was found in about 50% of patients with idiopathic myelofibrosis (IMF) and 30% of patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET). Using different approaches, four other teams have obtained similar results. The identification of the JAK2 mutation represents a major advance in our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of MPDs that will likely permit a new classification of these diseases and the development of novel therapeutic approaches.
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PMID:A unique activating mutation in JAK2 (V617F) is at the origin of polycythemia vera and allows a new classification of myeloproliferative diseases. 1630 80

Hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSC/P) reside in the bone marrow in distinct anatomic locations (niches) to receive growth, survival and differentiation signals. HSC/P localization and migration between niches depend on cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, which result from the cooperation of cytokines, chemokines and adhesion molecules. The CXCL12-CXCR4 pathway, in particular, is essential for myelopoiesis and B lymphopoiesis but the molecular mechanisms of CXCL12 action remain unclear. We previously noted a strong correlation between prolonged CXCL12-mediated focal adhesion kinase (FAK) phosphorylation and sustained pro-adhesive responses in progenitor B cells, but not in mature B cells. Although FAK has been well studied in adherent fibroblasts, its function in hematopoietic cells is not defined. We used two independent approaches to reduce FAK expression in (human and mouse) progenitor cells. RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated FAK silencing abolished CXCL12-induced responses in human pro-B leukemia, REH cells. FAK-deficient REH cells also demonstrated reduced CXCL12-induced activation of the GTPase Rap1, suggesting the importance of FAK in CXCL12-mediated integrin activation. Moreover, in FAK(flox/flox) hematopoietic precursor cells, Cre-mediated FAK deletion resulted in impaired CXCL12-induced chemotaxis. These studies suggest that FAK may function as a key intermediary in signaling pathways controlling hematopoietic cell lodgment and lineage development.
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PMID:Focal adhesion kinase is required for CXCL12-induced chemotactic and pro-adhesive responses in hematopoietic precursor cells. 1756 20

In addition to its role in megakaryocyte production, signaling initiated by thrombopoietin (TPO) activation of its receptor, myeloproliferative leukemia virus protooncogene (c-Mpl, or Mpl), controls HSC homeostasis and self-renewal. Under steady-state conditions, mice lacking the inhibitory adaptor protein Lnk harbor an expanded HSC pool with enhanced self-renewal. We found that HSCs from Lnk-/- mice have an increased quiescent fraction, decelerated cell cycle kinetics, and enhanced resistance to repeat treatments with cytoablative 5-fluorouracil in vivo compared with WT HSCs. We further provide genetic evidence demonstrating that Lnk controls HSC quiescence and self-renewal, predominantly through Mpl. Consistent with this observation, Lnk-/- HSCs displayed potentiated activation of JAK2 specifically in response to TPO. Biochemical experiments revealed that Lnk directly binds to phosphorylated tyrosine residues in JAK2 following TPO stimulation. Of note, the JAK2 V617F mutant, found at high frequencies in myeloproliferative diseases, retains the ability to bind Lnk. Therefore, we identified Lnk as a physiological negative regulator of JAK2 in stem cells and TPO/Mpl/JAK2/Lnk as a major regulatory pathway in controlling stem cell self-renewal and quiescence.
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PMID:Lnk controls mouse hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal and quiescence through direct interactions with JAK2. 1861 18

SRPX2 (Sushi repeat containing protein, X-linked 2) was first identified as a downstream molecule of the E2A-HLF fusion gene in t(17;19)-positive leukemia cells and the biological function of this gene remains unknown. We found that SRPX2 is overexpressed in gastric cancer and the expression and clinical features showed that high mRNA expression levels were observed in patients with unfavorable outcomes using real-time RT-PCR. The cellular distribution of SRPX2 protein showed the secretion of SRPX2 into extracellular regions and its localization in the cytoplasm. The introduction of the SRPX2 gene into HEK293 cells did not modulate the cellular proliferative activity but did enhance the cellular migration activity, as shown using migration and scratch assays. The conditioned-medium obtained from SRPX2-overexpressing cells increased the cellular migration activity of a gastric cancer cell line, SNU-16. In addition, SRPX2 protein remarkably enhanced the cellular adhesion of SNU-16 and HSC-39 and increased the phosphorylation levels of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), as shown using western blotting, suggesting that SRPX2 enhances cellular migration and adhesion through FAK signaling. In conclusion, the overexpression of SRPX2 enhances cellular migration and adhesion in gastric cancer cells. Here, we report that the biological functions of SRPX2 include cellular migration and adhesion to cancer cells.
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PMID:SRPX2 is overexpressed in gastric cancer and promotes cellular migration and adhesion. 1906 54

In a previously developed inducible transgenic mouse model of chronic myeloid leukemia, we now demonstrate that the disease is transplantable using BCR-ABL(+) Lin(-)Sca-1(+)c-kit(+) (LSK) cells. Interestingly, the phenotype is more severe when unfractionated bone marrow cells are transplanted, yet neither progenitor cells (Lin(-)Sca-1(-)c-kit(+)), nor mature granulocytes (CD11b(+)Gr-1(+)), nor potential stem cell niche cells (CD45(-)Ter119(-)) are able to transmit the disease or alter the phenotype. The phenotype is largely independent of BCR-ABL priming before transplantation. However, prolonged BCR-ABL expression abrogates the potential of LSK cells to induce full-blown disease in secondary recipients and increases the fraction of multipotent progenitor cells at the expense of long-term hematopoietic stem cells (LT-HSCs) in the bone marrow. BCR-ABL alters the expression of genes involved in proliferation, survival, and hematopoietic development, probably contributing to the reduced LT-HSC frequency within BCR-ABL(+) LSK cells. Reversion of BCR-ABL, or treatment with imatinib, eradicates mature cells, whereas leukemic stem cells persist, giving rise to relapsed chronic myeloid leukemia on reinduction of BCR-ABL, or imatinib withdrawal. Our results suggest that BCR-ABL induces differentiation of LT-HSCs and decreases their self-renewal capacity.
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PMID:BCR-ABL enhances differentiation of long-term repopulating hematopoietic stem cells. 2041 60


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