Gene/Protein
Disease
Symptom
Drug
Enzyme
Compound
Pivot Concepts:
Gene/Protein
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Target Concepts:
Gene/Protein
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Enzyme
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Query: EC:2.7.11.13 (
protein kinase C
)
49,245
document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)
Endometriosis, a common gynecological disorder that causes infertility and pelvic pain, is defined as the presence of endometrial glands and stroma within extra-uterine sites. However, despite extensive studies its etiology and pathogenesis are not completely understood. Differentially expressed genes were investigated in epithelial and stromal cells from deep endometriosis and matched eutopic endometrium using cDNA microarrays and laser capture microdissection. Validation of results of several up- and down-regulated genes was performed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Our data showed that platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA),
protein kinase C
beta1 (
PKC
beta1) and janus kinase 1 (JAK1) were upregulated, and Sprouty2 and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 7 (MKK7) were downregulated in endometriosis stromal cells, suggesting the involvement of the RAS/RAF/MAPK signaling pathway through PDGFRA in endometriosis pathophysiology. In addition, two potential negative regulators of
aromatase
expression, chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor 2 (COUP-TF2) and prostaglandin E2 receptor subtype EP3 (PGE2EP3), were downregulated in endometriosis epithelial cells, which might result in increased local production of estrogen in endometriosis epithelial cells. Furthermore, three potential candidate genes that might be involved in endometriosis related pain were identified: tyrosine kinase receptor B (TRkB) in endometriosis epithelial cells, and serotonin transporter (5HTT) and mu opioid receptor (MOR) in endometriosis stromal cells were all upregulated. One of the candidate genes, MOR, may be involved in a defective immune system in endometriosis. This study has provided new insights into endometriosis pathophysiology.
...
PMID:DNA microarray analysis of gene expression profiles in deep endometriosis using laser capture microdissection. 1529 92
It is now well documented that a large proportion of breast tumors express their own
aromatase
. This intratumoral
aromatase
produces estrogen in situ and therefore may contribute significantly to the amount of estrogen to which the cell is exposed. Thus it is not only important that
aromatase
inhibitors potently inhibit the peripheral production of estrogen and eliminate the external supply of estrogen to the tumor cell, but that they in addition potently inhibit intratumoral
aromatase
and prevent the tumor cell from making its own estrogen within the cell. To study the inhibition of intracellular
aromatase
, we have examined the
aromatase
-inhibiting potency of the Scutellaria barbata D. Don. (SB) and Euonymus alatus Sieb. (EA) in myometrial and leiomyomal cells which contain
aromatase
. We have also used human placental tissues. Although SB and EA are approximately equipotent in a cell-free
aromatase
system (human placental microsomes), EA is consistently 10-30 times more potent than SB in inhibiting intracellular
aromatase
in myometrial and leiomyomal cells. To provide insights into the effect of SB and EA on
aromatase
activity in leiomyomal cells, we examined the cell lines, which is induced to differentiate toward the more transformed cell phenotype by 12-tetradecanoylphorbal-13-acetate (TPA) as a
protein kinase C
activator and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1). Enzyme activity was inhibited in a time-and dose-dependent fashion by SB and EA and by either 1-50 nM TPA or 0.01-0.5 ng/ml TGF-beta1, with maximal responses after 2-3 h exposure.
...
PMID:Inhibitory effects of Scutellaria barbata D. Don. and Euonymus alatus Sieb. on aromatase activity of human leiomyomal cells. 1551 67
Aromatization of testosterone into oestradiol plays a key role in the activation of male sexual behaviour in many vertebrate species. Rapid changes in brain
aromatase
activity have recently been identified and the resulting changes in local oestrogen bioavailability could modulate fast behavioural responses to oestrogens. In quail hypothalamic homogenates,
aromatase
activity is down-regulated within minutes by calcium-dependent phosphorylations in the presence of ATP, MgCl2 and CaCl2 (ATP/Mg/Ca). Three kinases (protein kinases A and C and calmodulin kinase; PKA,
PKC
and CAMK) are potentially implicated in this process. If kinases decrease
aromatase
activity in a reversible manner, then it would be expected that the enzymatic activity would increase and/or return to baseline levels in the presence of phosphatases. We showed previously that 0.1 mM vanadate (a general inhibitor of protein phosphatases) significantly decreases
aromatase
activity but specific protein phosphatases that could up-regulate
aromatase
activity have not been identified to date. The reversibility of
aromatase
activity inhibition by phosphorylations was investigated in the present study using alkaline and acid phosphatase (Alk and Ac PPase). Unexpectedly, Alk PPase inhibited
aromatase
activity in a dose-dependent manner in the presence, as well as in the absence, of ATP/Mg/Ca. By contrast, Ac PPase completely blocked the inhibitory effects of ATP/Mg/Ca on
aromatase
activity, even if it moderately inhibited
aromatase
activity in the absence of ATP/Mg/Ca. However, the addition of Ac PPase was unable to restore
aromatase
activity after it had been inhibited by exposure to ATP/Mg/Ca. Taken together, these data suggest that, amongst the 15 potential consensus phosphorylation sites identified on the quail
aromatase
sequence, some must be constitutively phosphorylated for the enzyme to be active whereas phosphorylation of the others is involved in the rapid inhibition of
aromatase
activity by the competitive effects of protein kinases and phosphatases. Two out of these 15 putative phosphorylation sites occur in an environment corresponding to the consensus sites for
PKC
, PKA (and possibly a CAMK) and, in all probability, represent the sites whose phosphorylation rapidly blocks enzyme activity.
...
PMID:Interactions between kinases and phosphatases in the rapid control of brain aromatase. 1610 93
Oestrogens derived from the neural aromatisation of testosterone play a key role in the activation of male sexual behaviour in many vertebrates. Besides their slow action on gene transcription mediated by the binding to nuclear receptors, oestrogens have now been recognised to have more rapid membrane-based effects on brain function. Rapid changes in
aromatase
activity, and hence in local oestrogen concentrations, could thus rapidly modulate behavioural responses. We previously demonstrated that calcium-dependent kinases are able to down-regulate
aromatase
activity after incubations of 10-15 min in phosphorylating conditions. In the present study, in quail hypothalamic homogenates, we show that Ca2+ or calmodulin alone can very rapidly change
aromatase
activity. Preincubation with 1 mM EGTA or with a monoclonal antibody raised against calmodulin immediately increased
aromatase
activity. The presence of calmodulin on
aromatase
purified by immunoprecipitation and electrophoresis was previously identified by western blot and two consensus binding sites for Ca2+-calmodulin are identified here on the deduced amino acid sequence of the quail brain
aromatase
. The rapid control of brain
aromatase
activity thus appears to include two mechanisms: (i) an immediate regulatory process that involves the Ca2+-calmodulin binding site and (ii) a somewhat slower phosphorylation by several protein kinases (
PKC
, PKA but also possibly Ca2+-calmodulin kinases) of the
aromatase
molecule.
...
PMID:Effects of calmodulin on aromatase activity in the preoptic area. 1615 79
Human chorionic gonadotropin and human FSH (hFSH) elicit a transient increase in ERK1/2 phosphorylation lasting less than 60 min in immature granulosa cells expressing a low density of gonadotropin receptors. In cells expressing a high density of receptors, human chorionic gonadotropin and human FSH elicit this fast transient increase in ERK1/2 phosphorylation and also a delayed and more sustained increase that is detectable after 6-9 h. Both the early and delayed increases in ERK1/2 phosphorylation can be blocked with inhibitors of protein kinase A, the epidermal growth factor receptor kinase, metalloproteases, and MAPK kinase. The delayed effect, but not the early effect, can also be blocked with an inhibitor of
protein kinase C
. Because the delayed increase in ERK1/2 phosphorylation correlates with low
aromatase
expression in response to gonadotropins, we tested the effects of these inhibitors on
aromatase
expression. These inhibitors had little or no effect on gonadotropin-induced
aromatase
expression in cells expressing a low density of receptors, but they enhanced gonadotropin-induced
aromatase
expression in cells expressing a high density of receptors. Phorbol esters also induced a prolonged increase in ERK1/2 phosphorylation and, when added together with hFSH, blocked the induction of
aromatase
expression by hFSH in cells expressing a low density of hFSH receptor. A MAPK kinase inhibitor reversed the inhibitory effect of the phorbol ester on
aromatase
induction. We conclude that the effects of gonadotropins on ERK1/2 phosphorylation are mediated by epidermal growth factor-like growth factors and that the delayed effect is partially mediated by
protein kinase C
and acts as a negative regulator of
aromatase
expression.
...
PMID:A delayed gonadotropin-dependent and growth factor-mediated activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 cascade negatively regulates aromatase expression in granulosa cells. 1697 59
Pathogenesis and growth of three common women's cancers (breast, endometrium and ovary) are linked to estrogen. A single gene encodes the key enzyme for estrogen biosynthesis named
aromatase
, inhibition of which effectively eliminates estrogen production in the entire body. Aromatase inhibitors successfully treat breast cancer, whereas their roles in endometrial and ovarian cancers are less clear. Ovary, testis, adipose tissue, skin, hypothalamus and placenta express
aromatase
normally, whereas breast, endometrial and ovarian cancers overexpress
aromatase
and produce local estrogen exerting paracrine and intracrine effects. Tissue-specific promoters distributed over a 93-kb regulatory region upstream of a common coding region alternatively control
aromatase
expression. A distinct set of transcription factors regulates each promoter in a signaling pathway- and tissue-specific manner. In cancers of breast, endometrium and ovary,
aromatase
expression is primarly regulated by increased activity of the proximally located promoter I.3/II region. Promoters I.3 and II lie 215 bp from each other and are coordinately stimulated by PGE(2) via a cAMP-PKA-dependent pathway. In breast adipose fibroblasts exposed to PGE(2) secreted by malignant epithelial cells,
PKC
is also activated, and this potentiates cAMP-PKA-dependent induction of
aromatase
. Thus, inflammatory substances such as PGE(2) may play important roles in inducing local production of estrogen that promotes tumor growth.
...
PMID:Aromatase excess in cancers of breast, endometrium and ovary. 1759 Mar 27
The aim of this study was to investigate the role of estrogens in Leydig cell tumor proliferation. We used R2C rat Leydig tumor cells and testicular samples from Fischer rats with a developed Leydig tumor. Both experimental models express high levels of
aromatase
and estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha). Treatment with exogenous 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) induced proliferation of R2C cells and up-regulation of cell cycle regulators cyclin D1 and cyclin E, the expression of which was blocked by addition of antiestrogens. These observations led us to hypothesize an E(2)/ERalpha-dependent mechanism for Leydig cell tumor proliferation. In determining the molecular mechanism responsible for
aromatase
overexpression, we found that total and phosphorylated levels of transcription factors cyclic AMP-responsive element binding protein and steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) were higher in tumor samples. Moreover, we found that tumor Leydig cells produce high levels of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), which increased aromatase mRNA, protein, and activity as a consequence of increased total and phosphorylated SF-1 levels. Specific inhibitors of IGF-I receptor,
protein kinase C
, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase determined a reduction in SF-1 expression and in IGF-I-dependent SF-1 recruitment to the
aromatase
PII promoter. The same inhibitors also inhibited
aromatase
expression and activity and, consequently, R2C cell proliferation. We can conclude that one of the molecular mechanisms determining Leydig cell tumorigenesis is an excessive estrogen production that stimulates a short autocrine loop determining cell proliferation. In addition, cell-produced IGF-I amplifies estrogen signaling through an SF-1-dependent up-regulation of
aromatase
expression. The identification of this molecular mechanism will be helpful in defining new therapeutic approaches for Leydig cell tumors.
...
PMID:Insulin-like growth factor-I, regulating aromatase expression through steroidogenic factor 1, supports estrogen-dependent tumor Leydig cell proliferation. 1780 53
Aromatase is the key enzyme for estrogen biosynthesis. A distal promoter, PI.4, maintains baseline levels of
aromatase
in normal breast adipose tissue. In contrast, malignant breast epithelial cells secrete prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), which stimulates
aromatase
expression via proximal promoters PI.3/PII in a cyclic AMP (cAMP)- and
protein kinase C
(
PKC
)-dependent manner in adjacent breast adipose fibroblasts (BAF), leading to increased local concentrations of estrogen. Although an effective treatment for breast cancer,
aromatase
inhibitors indiscriminately abolish estrogen synthesis in all tissues, causing major side effects. To identify drug targets to selectively block
aromatase
and estrogen production in breast cancer, we investigated PGE(2)-stimulated signaling pathways essential for
aromatase
induction downstream of cAMP and
PKC
in human BAFs. Here, we show that PGE(2) or its surrogate hormonal mixture dibutyryl cAMP (Bt(2)cAMP) + phorbol diacetate (PDA) stimulated the p38, c-jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK)-1, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. Inhibition or small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of p38 or JNK1, but not ERK, inhibited PGE(2)- or Bt(2)cAMP + PDA-induced
aromatase
activity and expression via PI.3/PII. Conversely, overexpression of wild-type p38alpha or JNK1 enhanced PGE(2)-stimulated
aromatase
expression via PII. PGE(2) or Bt(2)cAMP + PDA stimulated c-Jun and activating transcription factor-2 (ATF2) phosphorylation and binding to the PI.3/PII region. Specific activation of protein kinase A (PKA) or EPAC with cAMP analogues stimulated p38 and JNK1; however, only PKA-activating cAMP analogues induced
aromatase
expression. The
PKC
activator PDA effectively stimulated p38 and JNK1 phosphorylation but not
aromatase
expression. Taken together, PGE(2) activation of p38 and JNK1 via PKA and
PKC
is necessary for
aromatase
induction in BAFs, and p38 and JNK1 are potential new drug targets for tissue-specific ablation of
aromatase
expression in breast cancer.
...
PMID:Prostaglandin E(2) induces breast cancer related aromatase promoters via activation of p38 and c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase in adipose fibroblasts. 1787 34
The effects of salmon calcitonin (sCT) on the secretion of 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) were examined in female common carp, Cyprinus carpio. Vitellogenic stage fish adapted to high-Ca water were i.p. injected with vehicle, sCT, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), or hCG plus sCT. To determine whether ovarian follicles are equipped with CT receptors, a CT binding assay was conducted. In the in vitro experiments, vitellogenic follicles were incubated with stimulators and inhibitors. Administration of sCT increased the basal and hCG-stimulated E(2) release in vivo and in vitro. Binding characteristics of [(125)I]sCT to plasma membrane preparation of carp ovarian follicles showed saturability with high-affinity (K(d)=48.48 pmol/l and B(max)=1.2 pmol/mg protein). To clarify the mechanism of E(2) production by sCT, in vitro effect of sCT and hCG on
aromatase
activity (conversion of testosterone to E(2)) and cytochrome P450 aromatase (P450arom) gene expression in carp ovarian follicles were investigated. Salmon CT-stimulated both
aromatase
activity and P450arom gene expression in ovarian follicles of carp. sCT-stimulated E(2) release by the ovarian follicles in vitro was augmented in the presence of dibutyryl cAMP. Inhibitor of protein kinase A (PKA), SQ 22536 inhibited sCT-stimulated steroid production in a dose-dependent manner. Specific inhibitor of
protein kinase C
(
PKC
), NPC-15437 dihydrochloride had no inhibitory effects on sCT-induced E(2) release. The present study indicates that sCT binds specifically to carp ovary and stimulates E(2) production by increasing the activity of cytochrome P450 aromatase and P450arom gene expression. The results further suggest that stimulatory action of sCT on E(2) production is mediated through cAMP pathway.
...
PMID:Stimulation of salmon calcitonin on secretion of 17beta-estradiol by the ovarian follicles of common carp, Cyprinus carpio. 1825 64
Breast cancer is a common cause of tumors in women. The development of effective adjuvant therapies using drugs such as anthracyclines, taxanes, and
aromatase
inhibitors has improved the survival of breast cancer patients. Molecular cancer therapeutics are also attracting attention, and targeted molecular therapies, such as trastuzumab, have already contributed to effective new treatments for breast cancer. Other candidate targeted molecular therapies for breast cancer, including erlotinib, gefitinib, lapatinib, bevacizumab, and celecoxib, are currently undergoing clinical evaluation, and promising results are expected. The current review provides an up-to-date summary of the preclinical and clinical development of these drugs for breast cancer. In particular, we focus on therapies targeting
protein kinase C
(
PKC
) signaling, the putative metastasis-suppressor gene Cap43/N-myc downstream-regulated gene 1 (NDRG1)/differentiation-related gene-1 (Drg-1), and the Y-box binding protein-1 (YB-1). The
PKC
signaling pathway is widely considered to be a promising target for the development of novel therapeutics. Cap43 expression is significantly modulated by estrogen and/or anti-estrogens in breast cancer cells that are positive for estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-alpha). Cap43 is therefore of particular interest as a molecular indicator of the therapeutic efficacy of anti-estrogenic agents in breast cancer. The nuclear expression of YB-1 plays an essential role in the acquisition of malignant characteristics by breast cancer cells, through epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-Akt-dependent pathways. Basic research investigating the key selective molecular changes that sustain breast cancer growth and progression, as demonstrated for
PKC
, Cap43, and YB-1, is allowing the development of specific targeted molecular diagnostics and therapeutics.
...
PMID:Preclinical and clinical studies of novel breast cancer drugs targeting molecules involved in protein kinase C signaling, the putative metastasis-suppressor gene Cap43 and the Y-box binding protein-1. 1833 67
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