Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:2.7.11.1 (protein kinase)
 81,284 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We have studied the role of protein kinase A (PKA) and its type I isoform (PKAI) in the transduction of mitogenic signaling, apoptosis, and angiogenesis. We have contributed to the development of selective inhibitors of PKAI, including a hybrid DNA/RNA mixed backbone oligonucleotide (AS-PKAI). We, and others, have demonstrated that AS-PKAI has a cooperative antitumor effect with a selected class of cytotoxic drugs and with radiotherapy in vitro and in vivo and that these effects can also be obtained following oral adinistration. Previously, we developed a series of therapeutic models based on the pleiotropic role played by PKAI in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis. On the basis of our former demonstration of functional and structural interactions of PKAI and the activated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), we have shown that the combined blockade of both signaling molecules by AS-PKAI and either the monoclonal antibody C225 (erbitux) or the small molecule ZD1839 (gefitinib), results in a marked cooperative antitumor effect in a variety of human tumor models. A further cooperative antitumor effect can be obtained when AS-PKAI is used in combination with both EGFR inhibitors and either cytotoxic drugs or radiotherapy. The antitumor activity is associated with inhibition of growth factors and angiogenic factors production and to induction of apoptosis. In light of the recently demonstrated role of PKAI on the bcl-2-dependent apoptotic pathway, we have recently shown a synergistic antitumor, antiangiogenic, and proapoptotic effect of AS-PKAI in combination with antisense bcl-2 (oblimersen) or with a bispecific bcl-2/bcl-xL second generation antisense. A connection between COX-2, EGFR and PKAI was established, and we demonstrated that the combination of AS-PKAI with gefitinib and a COX-2 inhibitor, all adminstered orally, can result in a potent antitumor and antiangiogenic activity. These studies support the development of AS-PKAI as a novel anticancer agent and suggest its potentially relevant role when integrated with conventional treatments and/or other signaling inhibitors in novel therapeutic strategies.
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PMID:Antisense targeting protein kinase A type I as a drug for integrated strategies of cancer therapy. 1475 38

Accumulating data support the idea that apoptosis in cardiac myocytes, in part, contributes to the development of heart failure. Since a number of neurohormonal factors are activated in this state, these factors may be involved in the positive and negative regulation of apoptosis in cardiac myocytes. Norepinephrine is one such factor and induces apoptosis in cardiac myocytes via a beta-adrenergic receptor pathway. beta-adrenergic agonist-induced apoptosis in cardiac myocytes is dependent on the activation of the cAMP/protein kinase A pathway. Interestingly, the activation of this pathway protects PC12 cells from apoptosis, suggesting that cAMP/protein kinase A regulates apoptosis in a cell type-specific manner. Another neurohormonal factor activated in heart failure is endothelin-1, which acts as a potent survival factor against myocardial cell apoptosis. Intracellular signaling pathways for endothelin-1-mediated protection include activation of MEK-1 /ERK1/2 and PI3 kinase. In addition to these protective pathways common among cell types, endothelin- activates the calcium-activated phosphatase calcineurin, which is necessary for the nuclear import of NFAT transcription factors. These factors interact with the cardiac-restricted zinc finger protein GATA-4 and induce transcription and expression of anti-apoptotic molecule bcl-2. Thus, myocardial cell apoptosis is regulated by pathways unique to cardiac myocytes as well as by those common among cell types. It should be further determined whether agents that specifically block myocardial cell apoptosis will attenuate the progression of heart failure.
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PMID:Intracellular signaling pathways for norepinephrine- and endothelin-1-mediated regulation of myocardial cell apoptosis. 1512 20

Apoptosis following loss of cell anchorage ('anoikis') is of relevance for development, tissue homeostasis and disease. Integrins regulate cell viability through their interaction with the extracellular matrix and they can sense mechanical forces arising from the matrix and convert these stimuli to chemical signals capable of modulating intracellular signal transduction. Recently it has been shown that protein kinase signalling pathways and apoptosis-related molecular control anoikis both positively and negatively. Focal adhesion kinase, when activated by integrins, can suppress anoikis. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinase may mediate the anoikis-suppressing effects of cells. Conversely, the stress-activated protein kinase/Jun amino-terminal kinase pathway promotes anoikis. In addition, certain bcl-2 and bcl-2-related proteins may also participate in the regulating of anoikis. In this review, molecular mechanisms of signal pathway inducing and perpetuating detachment-induced apoptosis will be discussed with special emphasis on the role of integrins, focal adhesion kinase, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt, mitogen-activated protein kinase and bcl-2 family members.
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PMID:Signalling mechanisms of anoikis. 1516 59

Penta-acetyl geniposide, (Ac)5-GP, the acetylated compound of geniposide, is able to inhibit the growth of rat C6 glioma cells in culture and in the bearing rats. Our recent data indicated that the induction of cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at G0/gap phase 1 (G1) by (Ac)5-GP might be associated with the induction of p53 and c-Myc, and mediated via the apoptosis-related bcl-2 family proteins. In this report, we further investigated the mechanism involved in the cell cycle arrest induced by (Ac)5-GP in C6 glioma cells. The inhibitory effect of (Ac)5-GP on the cell cycle progression of C6 glioma cells which arrested cells at the G0/G1 phase was associated with a marked decrease in the protein expression of cyclin D1, and an induction in the content of cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) inhibitor p21 protein. This effect was correlated with the elevation in p53 levels. Further immunoprecipitation studies found that, in response to the treatment, the formation of cyclin D1/cdk 4 complex declined, preventing the phosphorylation of retinoblastoma (Rb) and the subsequent dissociation of Rb/E2F complex. These results illustrated that the apoptotic effect of (Ac)5-GP, arresting cells at the G0/G1 phase, was exerted by inducing the expression of p21 that, in turn, repressed the activity of cyclin D1/cdk 4 and the phosphorylation of Rb.
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PMID:Inhibition of cell cycle progression by penta-acetyl geniposide in rat C6 glioma cells. 1520 44

Styrene is one of the most important monomers produced worldwide, and it finds major use in the production of polystyrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resins and unsaturated polystyrene resins. Epidemiological studies on styrene showed that the malignancies observed most frequently in humans after exposure are related to the lymphatic and haemopoietic system. IARC classified styrene a possible carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B). In this study, we evaluated the effect of styrene on gene expression profiles of human cord blood cells, as well as its activity on the apoptosis and bcl-2 related protein expression. Data demonstrated that, after 24 and 48 h of exposure, styrene (800 microM) induced an increase in the necrosis of mononuclear cord blood cells, whereas it did not cause any increase in the apoptotic process. Western blot analysis revealed a modified expression of Bax, BCl-2, c-Jun, c-Fos and Raf-1 proteins in the human cord blood cells after direct exposure to styrene, whereas p53 expression did not change. Furthermore, Macroarray analysis showed that styrene changed cord blood gene expression, inducing up-regulation of monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), and down-regulation of CC chemokine receptor type 1 (CCR-1) and SLP-76 tyrosine-phosphoprotein.
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PMID:Response of human cord blood cells to styrene exposure: evaluation of its effects on apoptosis and gene expression by genomic technology. 1521 11

Manic-depressive illness has been conceptualized as a neurochemical illness. However, brain imaging and postmortem studies reveal gray-matter reductions, as well as neuronal and glial atrophy and loss in discrete brain regions of manic-depressive patients. The roles of such cerebral morphological deficits in the neuropathophysiology and therapeutic mechanisms of manic-depressive illness are unknown. Valproate (2-propylpentanoate) is a commonly used mood stabilizer. The ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) pathway is used by neurotrophic factors to regulate neurogenesis, neurite outgrowth, and neuronal survival. We found that chronic treatment of rats with valproate increased levels of activated phospho-ERK44/42 in neurons of the anterior cingulate, a region in which we found valproate-induced increases in expression of an ERK pathway-regulated gene, bcl-2. Valproate time and concentration dependently increased activated phospho-ERK44/42 and phospho-RSK1 (ribosomal S6 kinase 1) levels in cultured cortical cells. These increases were attenuated by Raf and MEK (mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK kinase) inhibitors. Although valproate affects the functions of GSK-3 (glycogen synthase kinase-3) and histone deacetylase (HDAC), its effects on the ERK pathway were not fully mimicked by selective inhibitors of GSK-3 or HDAC. Similar to neurotrophic factors, valproate enhanced ERK pathway-dependent cortical neuronal growth. Valproate also promoted neural stem cell proliferation-maturation (neurogenesis), demonstrated by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation and double staining of BrdU with nestin, Tuj1, or the neuronal nuclei marker NeuN (neuronal-specific nuclear protein). Chronic treatment with valproate enhanced neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. Together, these data demonstrate that valproate activates the ERK pathway and induces ERK pathway-mediated neurotrophic actions. This cascade of events provides a potential mechanism whereby mood stabilizers alleviate cerebral morphometric deficits associated with manic-depressive illness.
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PMID:Mood stabilizer valproate promotes ERK pathway-dependent cortical neuronal growth and neurogenesis. 1526 71

The aberrant behavior of cancer reflects upregulation of certain oncogenic signaling pathways that promote proliferation, inhibit apoptosis, and enable the cancer to spread and evoke angiogenesis. Theoretically, it should be feasible to decrease the activity of these pathways-or increase the activity of pathways that oppose them-with noncytotoxic agents. Since multiple pathways are dysfunctional in most cancers, and cancers accumulate new oncogenic mutations as they progress, the greatest and most durable therapeutic benefit will likely be achieved with combination regimens that address several targets. Thus, a multifocal signal modulation therapy (MSMT) of cancer is proposed. This concept has already been documented by researchers who have shown that certain combinations of signal modulators-of limited utility when administered individually-can achieve dramatic suppression of tumor growth in rodent xenograft models. The present essay attempts to guide development of MSMTs for prostate cancer. Androgen ablation is a signal-modulating measure already in standard use in the management of delocalized prostate cancer. The additional molecular targets considered here include the type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor, the epidermal growth factor receptor, mammalian target of rapamycin, NF-kappaB, hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha, hsp90, cyclooxygenase-2, protein kinase A type I, vascular endothelial growth factor, 5-lipoxygenase, 12-lipoxygenase, angiotensin II receptor type 1, bradykinin receptor type 1, c-Src, interleukin-6, ras, MDM2, bcl-2/bclxL, vitamin D receptor, estrogen receptor-beta, and PPAR-. Various nutrients and phytochemicals suspected to have potential utility in prostate cancer prevention and therapy, but whose key molecular targets are still unknown, might reasonably be incorporated into MSMTs for prostate cancer; these include lycopene, selenium, green tea polyphenols, genistein, and silibinin. MSMTs can be developed systematically by testing various combinations of signal-modulating agents, in concentrations that can feasibly be achieved and maintained clinically, on human prostate cancer cell lines; combinations that appear promising can then be tested in xenograft models and, ultimately, in the clinic. Some signal modulators can increase response to cytotoxic drugs by upregulating effectors of apoptosis. When MSMTs fail to raise the spontaneous apoptosis rate sufficiently to achieve tumor stasis or regression, incorporation of appropriate cytotoxic agents into the regimen may improve the clinical outcome.
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PMID:Targeting multiple signaling pathways as a strategy for managing prostate cancer: multifocal signal modulation therapy. 1552 6

Bcl-2 plays a pivotal role in the control of cell death and is upregulated by ischemic tolerance. Because Bcl-2 expression is regulated by the transcription factor cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB), we investigated the role of CREB activation in two models of ischemic preconditioning: focal ischemic tolerance after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and in vitro ischemic tolerance modeled by oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). After preconditioning ischemia (30 minutes MCAO or 30 minutes OGD), phosphorylation of CREB was increased, and there was an increased interaction between the bcl-2 cyclic AMP-responsive element (CRE) promoter and nuclear proteins after preconditioning ischemia in vivo and in vitro. Chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed an increased interaction between CREB-binding protein and the bcl-2 CRE rather than CREB, after preconditioning ischemia. Ischemic tolerance was blocked by a CRE decoy oligonucleotide, which also blocked Bcl-2 expression. The protein kinase A inhibitor H89, the calcium/calmodulin kinase inhibitor KN62, and the MEK inhibitor U0126 blocked ischemic tolerance, but not the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor LY294002. H89, KN62, and U0126 reduced CREB activation and Bcl-2 expression. Taken together, these data suggest that after ischemic preconditioning CREB activation regulates the expression of the prosurvival protein Bcl-2.
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PMID:CREB-mediated Bcl-2 protein expression after ischemic preconditioning. 1564 42

Neuroendocrine (NE) cells are found in prostate tumors, and their incidence is considered a promising prognostic indicator for the development of androgen-independent disease. NE cells are derived from non-NE prostate cancer cells and secrete factors that can act in a paracrine manner to stimulate the survival, growth, motility, and metastatic potential of prostatic carcinoma cells. Factors such as IL-6, epinephrine, and forskolin induce NE differentiation in prostate cancer cells; the mechanisms involve increases in intracellular cAMP, protein kinase A (PKA) activation and reduced intracellular calcium levels. Transcription factors implicated in the acquisition of NE characteristics by prostate cancer cells include STAT3, CREB, EGR1, c-fos, and NF-kappaB. Expression of Chromogranin A, neuron-specific enolase, bcl-2, and the androgen receptor are modulated during NE differentiation and serve as molecular markers for NE cells. Most importantly, NE cells secrete neuropeptides, such as bombesin, neurotensin, PTHrP, serotonin, and calcitonin, which trigger growth and survival responses in androgen-independent prostate cancer cells. Prostate cancer cell receptors that play a role in these processes include the gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) receptor, neurotensin receptors, and the epidermal growth-factor receptor (EGFR). Signal-transduction molecules activated by these neuropeptides include Src, focal adhesion kinase (FAK), ERK, and PI3K/Akt, with subsequent activation of Elk-1, NF-kappaB, and c-myc transcription factors. A multitude of genes are then expressed by prostate cancer cells, which are involved in proliferation, anti-apoptosis, migration, metastasis, and angiogenesis. Targeting of these pathways at multiple levels can be exploited to inhibit the process by which NE cells contribute to the progression of androgen-independent, treatment-refractory prostate cancer.
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PMID:Neuroendocrine cells in prostate cancer. 1566 58

The interferon (IF) and cell-apoptosis (CA) systems are interrelated and regulate the protective reactions in body by means of a complex of biologically active proteins. The transcription levels of mRNA were determined by the RT-PCR semi-quantitative method in order to compare the constitutive expression levels of IF (alpha, beta, gamma) genes, IF-dependent enzymes of 2'5'-oligoadenylatesynthetyase (OAS), RNAase L, dsRNA-protein kinase (dsPK) and CA effectors (Fas-Ag, bcl-2 and gamma-actin) in human blood microsamples. cDNA dilutions, different numbers of amplification cycles (PCR with specific pairs of primers) as well as PCR-products' dilutions for dot-hybridization with specific probes were made use of to detect and evaluate levels of 9 mRNAs. The constitutive levels of gene expression of the IF and CA systems were found to differ essentially from others (1000-fold). The studied mRNA types were shared between 5 groups according to their transcription levels: very high--alpha-IF, high--RNAase L, medium--gamma-actin and bcl-2, low--beta-IF and very low (detectable after induction only)--gamma-IF, OAS, dsPK and Fas-Ag. The used detection method has a sufficiently high sensitivity and can be recommended for studies of IF inductors with unknown action mechanisms.
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PMID:[Gene expression of the interferon and cell-immunity systems in human blood samples]. 1574 66


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