Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:2.7.11.13 (protein kinase C)
 49,245 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Flavopiridol inhibits phosphokinases. Its activity is strongest on cyclin dependent kinases (cdk-1, -2, -4, -6, -7) and less on receptor tyrosine kinases (EGFR), receptor associates tyrosine kinases (pp60 Src) and on signal transducing kinases (PKC and Erk-1). Although the inhibiting activity of flavopiridol is strongest for cdk, the cytotoxic activity of flavopiridol is not limited to cycling cells. Resting cells are also killed. This fact suggests that inhibition of cdks involved in the control of cell cycle is not the only mechanism of action. Inhibition of cdk's with additional functions (i.e. involved in the control of transcription or function of proteins that do not control cell cycle) may contribute to the antitumoral effect. Moreover, direct and indirect inhibition of receptor activation (EGFR) and/or a direct inhibition of kinases (pp60 Src, PKC, Erk-1) involved in the signal transduction pathway could play a role in the antiproliferative activity of flavopiridol. From pharmacokinetic data in patients it can be concluded that the inhibitory activity (IC50) of flavopiridol on these kinases is in the range of concentrations that might be achieved intracellularly after systemic application of non-toxic doses of flavopiridol. However, no in situ data from flavopiridol treated cells have been published yet that prove that by inhibition of EGFR, pp60 Src, PKC and/or Erk-1 (in addition to inhibition of cdk's) flavopiridol is able to induce apoptosis. Thus many questions regarding the detailed mechanism of antitumoral action of flavopiridol are still open. For the design of protocols for future clinical studies this review covers the essential information available on the mechanism of antitumoral activity of flavopiridol. The characteristics of this antitumoral activity include: High rate of apoptosis, especially in leukemic cells; synergy with the antitumoral activity of many cytostatics; independence of its efficacy on pRb, p53 and Bcl-2 expression; lack of interference with the most frequent multidrug resistance proteins (P-glycoprotein and MRP-190); and a strong antiangiogenic activity. Based on these pharmacological data it can be concluded that flavopiridol could be therapeutically active in tumor patients: independent on the genetic status of their tumors or leukemias (i.e. mutations of the pRb and/or p53, amplification of bcl-2); in spite of drug resistance of their tumors induced by first line treatment (and caused by enhanced expression of multidrug resistance proteins); in combination with conventional chemotherapeutics preferentially given prior to flavopiridol; and due to a complex mechanism involving cytotoxicity on cycling and on resting tumor cells, apoptosis and antiangiogenic activity. In consequence, flavopiridol is a highly attractive, new antitumoral compound and deserves further elucidation of its clinical potency.
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PMID:Mechanisms of action of flavopiridol. 1131 60

Interactions between the histone deacetylase inhibitor SAHA (suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid) and the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor flavopiridol (FP) were examined in human leukemia cells. Simultaneous exposure (24 h) of myelomonocytic leukemia cells (U937) to SAHA (1 microM) and FP (100 nM), which were minimally toxic alone (1.5 +/- 0.5% and 16.3 +/- 0.5% apoptosis respectively), produced a dramatic increase in cell death (ie 63.2 +/- 1.9% apoptotic), reflected by morphology, procaspase-3 and -8 cleavage, Bid activation, diminished DeltaPsi(m), and enhanced cytochrome c release. FP blocked SAHA-mediated up-regulation of p21(CIP1) and CD11b expression, while inducing caspase-dependent Bcl-2 and pRb cleavage. Similar interactions were observed in HL-60 and Jurkat leukemic cells. Enhanced apoptosis in SAHA/FP-treated cells was accompanied by a marked reduction in clonogenic surivival. Ectopic expression of either dominant-negative caspase-8 (C8-DN) or CrmA partially attenuated SAHA/FP-mediated apoptosis (eg 45 +/- 1.5% and 38.2 +/- 2.0% apoptotic vs 78 +/- 1.5% in controls) and Bid cleavage. SAHA/FP induced-apoptosis was unaffected by the free radical scavenger L-N-acetyl cysteine or the PKC inhibitor GFX. Finally, ectopic Bcl-2 expression marginally attenuated SAHA/FP-related apoptosis/cytochrome c release, and failed to restore clonogenicity in cells exposed to these agents. Together, these findings indicate that SAHA and FP interact synergistically to induce mitochondrial damage and apoptosis in human leukemia cells, and suggest that this process may also involve engagement of the caspase-8-dependent apoptotic cascade.
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PMID:Synergistic induction of mitochondrial damage and apoptosis in human leukemia cells by flavopiridol and the histone deacetylase inhibitor suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA). 1209 58

A clinically relevant dose (2.0 Gy) of ionizing radiation (IR) was employed to determine if subsequent exposure to the protein kinase C (PKC) and Chk 1 inhibitor UCN-01 for 24 h could abrogate IR-induced G2/M arrest and promote apoptosis in U937 leukemic cells ectopically expressing Bcl-2 (U937/Bcl-2). To this end, empty-vector control (U937/pCEP4) and U937/Bcl-2 cells were exposed to two UCN-01 concentrations following IR: i) a 50 nM concentration, which by itself was minimally toxic to both cell lines, and ii) a 150 nM concentration, which modestly induced apoptosis (e.g., ~19%) in control cells after 24 h. The effects of UCN-01 on IR responses were examined in relation to apoptosis induction, suspension culture growth inhibition, loss of clonogenic survival, and cell cycle perturbations. IR (2 Gy) alone minimally induced apoptosis in both U937 transfectant cell lines (e.g., <5% at 24 h in each case). Although UCN-01 failed to potentiate IR-mediated apoptosis at either early (e.g., 24 h) or late (e.g., 72 h) intervals, exposure to 50 or 150 nM UCN-01 resulted in a significant, albeit modest, reduction in proliferation and colony formation in irradiated U937/pCEP4 and U937/Bcl-2 cells. Despite failing to enhance apoptosis, UCN-01 treatment abrogated IR-induced G2/M arrest in both cell lines, an event associated with enhanced activation of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (cdk1), promotion of G0/G1 arrest, and dephosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein (pRb). Together, these findings indicate that exposure of U937 cells ectopically-expressing Bcl-2 to the combination of UCN-01 + IR leads to a further reduction in cell proliferation, and that this phenomenon appears to involve a non-apoptotic mechanism.
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PMID:7-hydroxystaurosporine (UCN-01) and ionizing radiation combine to inhibit the growth of Bcl-2-overexpressing U937 leukemia cells through a non-apoptotic mechanism. 1211 31

Altered and deregulated cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) activity is now believed to play a major role in the pathogenesis of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), thus providing a suitable cellular target for therapeutic intervention. UCN-01 (7-hydroxy-staurosporine), a known protein kinase C and cdk modulator, demonstrates antiproliferative and antitumor properties in many experimental tumor models and may represent a potential candidate to test in HNSCC. In this study, UCN-01 displayed potent antiproliferative properties (IC50 of approximately 17-80 nM) in HNSCC cells. Cell cycle analysis revealed that UCN-01 treatment of HNSCC cells for 24 h leads to a G1 block with a concomitant loss of cells in S and G2-M and the emerging sub-G1 cell population, confirmed to be apoptotic by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling analysis. Additional in vitro studies demonstrated a G1 arrest that was preceded by depletion in cyclin D3, elevation of p21(WAF1) and p27(KIP1) leading to a loss in activity of G1 cdks (cdk2, cdk4), and reduction in pRb phosphorylation. Antitumor properties of UCN-01 were also assessed in vivo by treating HN12 xenografts (7.5 mg/kg/i.p./daily) with UCN-01 for 5 consecutive days. Total sustained abolition of tumor growth (P < 0.00001) was obtained with only one cycle of UCN-01 treatment. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling staining of xenograft samples revealed a higher incidence of apoptosis in treated tissues when compared with control. Additional tissue analysis demonstrated that elevated p27(KIP1) with minimal increase in p21(WAF1) and reduced cyclin D3 levels were readily detected in those animals treated with UCN-01, similar to those observed in HNSCC cells. Thus, UCN-01 exhibits both in vitro and in vivo antitumor properties in HNSCC models, and these effects are associated with a decrease in cyclin D3 and an increase in p27(KIP1) protein levels, thus providing appropriate surrogate markers to follow treatment efficacy in vivo and, therefore, a suitable drug candidate for treating HNSCC patients.
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PMID:Antitumor activity of UCN-01 in carcinomas of the head and neck is associated with altered expression of cyclin D3 and p27(KIP1). 1242 46

Interactions between the protein kinase inhibitor UCN-01 and the PKC activator phorbol ester (PMA) have been examined in relation to differentiation and apoptosis in human myelomonocytic leukemia cells (U937). Coadministratation of 100 nM UCN-01 with a low concentration of PMA e.g., 2 nM, inhibited rather than promoted differentiation, reflected by reduced surface expression of the monocytic maturation marker CD11b and diminished cell adherence. Instead, administration of UCN-01 with PMA led to a marked increase in mitochondrial injury (e.g, cytochrome c release), activation of caspases-3 and -8, Bid cleavage, PARP degradation, and apoptosis, accompanied by a substantial reduction in viability and clonogenic survival. These phenomena were associated with multiple perturbations in cell cycle regulatory events, including abrogation of p21(CIP1) induction, p27(KIP1) cleavage, down-regulation of cyclin D1, dephosphorylation (activation) of p34cdc2, and degradation of underphosphorylated pRb. Potentiation of PMA-mediated apoptosis was partially mimicked by caffeine suggesting the involvement of Chk1 in the potentiation of apoptosis. Induction of cell death by UCN-01 and PMA was increased in cells stably expressing a p21(CIP1) mRNA antisense construct, suggesting that p21(CIP1) expression may protect cells from the lethal effects of this drug combination. Finally, ectopic expression of a Bcl-2 but not dominant-negative caspase-8 protected cells from UCN-01/PMA-mediated apoptosis, suggesting the lethal effects of this combination primarily involves the mitochondrial rather than the TNF-related extrinsic apoptotic pathway. Taken together, these findings suggest that UCN-01 disrupts a variety of cell cycle events in leukemic cells exposed to the maturation-inducing agent PMA, causing cells to engage an apoptotic rather than a differentiation-related program.
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PMID:UCN-01 (7-hydroxystauorsporine) blocks PMA-induced maturation and reciprocally promotes apoptosis in human myelomonocytic leukemia cells (U937). 1242 43

Irreversible cell cycle withdrawal occurs as normal keratinocytes detach from the basement membrane and initiate their terminal differentiation program. To investigate which signaling pathways regulate this permanent cell cycle withdrawal, we added inhibitors of kinases implicated in integrin signaling and keratinocyte differentiation to normal human keratinocytes induced to differentiate in suspension culture, and assayed the growth capacity of the recovered cells. Keratinocytes suspended in methylcellulose for 24 h underwent approximately 1000-fold loss of proliferative capacity. Of the kinase inhibitors tested, only the protein kinase C inhibitor Bisindolylmaleimide I (GF109203X) caused dramatic protection from loss of growth potential. Direct activation of protein kinase C by 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate was also sufficient to trigger irreversible growth arrest. Protein kinase C inhibitors selective for protein kinase Calpha, the only Ca2+-dependent protein kinase C isoform in keratinocytes, protected keratinocytes from suspension-induced cell cycle withdrawal. Consistent with this finding, we measured a specific induction of Ca2+-dependent protein kinase C activity 2-3 h after keratinocytes were placed into suspension culture. Furthermore, protein kinase Calpha was strongly localized to cell membranes in the suprabasal keratinocytes of human epidermis, suggesting translocation and activation in vivo. Coordinated changes in cell cycle regulators (p21, p27, pRb, p107, p130) consistent with cells exiting the cell cycle were observed in suspended keratinocytes, and these changes were blocked by protein kinase C inhibition. These results indicate that the loss of cell matrix adhesion triggers protein kinase C activation, which is an early event required for cell cycle withdrawal of terminally differentiating normal human keratinocytes.
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PMID:Activation of protein kinase C triggers irreversible cell cycle withdrawal in human keratinocytes. 1248 29

The impact of disruption of the PI3K (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase) pathway on the response of human leukemia cells to pharmacological cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors has been examined. Exposure of U937 monocytic leukemia cells to minimally toxic concentrations of flavopiridol (FP), roscovitine, or CGP74514A for 3 h in conjunction with the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 (abbreviated LY in the article) resulted in a marked decrease in Akt phosphorylation. Coexposure of cells to LY and CDK inhibitors also resulted in an early (i.e., within 3 h) and striking increase in mitochondrial damage [e.g., cytochrome c, second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases/direct inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP)-binding protein with low isoelectric point (Smac/DIABLO), and apoptosis-initiating factor (AIF) release], caspase activation, and apoptosis. Similar interactions were observed in a variety of other leukemia cell types (e.g., HL-60, Jurkat, Raji, and NB4). Apoptosis, induced by FP/LY, was substantially blocked by ectopic expression of Bcl-2, but to a considerably lesser extent by dominant-negative caspase-8. FP-induced apoptosis was not enhanced by agents that inhibited protein kinase (PK) A (H89), PKC (GFX), mitogen-activated protein (MAP)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) kinase (MEK1/2; U0126), p38 MAP kinase (MAPK; SB202190), m-target of rapamycin (TOR; rapamycin), or ataxia-telangiectasia mutation (ATM; caffeine), whereas the PI3K inhibitor wortmannin exerted effects similar to those of LY. The dramatic potentiation of CDK inhibitor-induced apoptosis by LY was accompanied by diminished Bad phosphorylation, induction of Bcl-2 cleavage, and down-regulation of X-linked IAP (XIAP) and Mcl-1. Cells exposed to CDK inhibitors + LY also exhibited reduced phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3, forkhead transcription factor (FKHR), p70(S6K), and ERK, but increased activation of p34(cdc2) and p38 MAPK. LY/CDK inhibitor-treated cells also displayed diminished pRb dephosphorylation on CDK2- and CDK4-specific sites, retinoblastoma protein cleavage, and down-regulation of cyclin D(1). Inducible expression of constitutively active (myristolated) Akt significantly, albeit partially, attenuated apoptosis in Jurkat leukemia cells treated with either FP alone or the combination of FP and LY. Finally, cotreatment with LY and FP resulted in a dramatic increase in apoptosis in primary leukemic blasts obtained from a patient with acute myeloblastic leukemia. Together, these findings suggest that the PI3K/Akt pathway plays a major role in regulating the apoptotic response of human leukemia cells to pharmacological CDK inhibitors and raise the possibility that combined interruption of CDK- and PI3K-related pathways may represent a novel therapeutic strategy in hematological malignancies.
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PMID:The lethal effects of pharmacological cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors in human leukemia cells proceed through a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt-dependent process. 1270 69

Apoptosis and proliferation are intimately coupled. Some cell cycle regulators can influence both cell division and programmed cell death. The linkage of cell cycle and apoptosis has been recognized for c-Myc, p53, pRb, Ras, PKA, PKC, Bcl-2, NF-kappa B, CDK, cyclins and CKI. This review summarizes the different functions of the proteins presently known to control both apoptosis and cell cycle progression. These proteins can influence apoptosis or proliferation but different variables, including cell type, cellular environment and genetic background, make it difficult to predict the outcome of cell proliferation, cell cycle arrest or cell death. These important decisions of cell proliferation or cell death are likely to be controlled by more than one signal and are necessary to ensure a proper cellular response.
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PMID:Cell cycle and apoptosis. 1281 32

Cisplatin is one of the most potent anticancer agents, displaying significant clinical activity against a variety of solid tumors. For more than two decades, the most effective systemic chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality among men and women in the western world, was cisplatin-based combination treatment. Unfortunately, the outcome of cisplatin therapy on NSCLC seems to have reached a plateau. Therefore, the biological mechanisms of cisplatin action need to be understood in order to overcome the treatment plateau on NSCLC. Moreover, the development of resistance is a hurdle in the use of this drug. The molecular mechanisms that underlie this chemoresistance are largely unknown. Possible mechanisms of acquired resistance to cisplatin include reduced intracellular accumulation of cisplatin, enhanced drug inactivation by metallothionine and glutathione, increased repair activity of DNA damage, and altered expression of oncogenes and regulatory proteins. In addition, it is generally accepted that cytotoxicity of cisplatin is mediated through induction of apoptosis and arrest of cell cycle resulting from its interaction with DNA, such as the formation of cisplatin-DNA adducts, which activates multiple signaling pathways, including those involving p53, Bcl-2 family, caspases, cyclins, CDKs, pRb, PKC, MAPK and PI3K/Akt. Increased expression of anti-apoptotic genes and mutations in the intrinsic apoptotic pathway may contribute to the inability of cells to detect DNA damage or to induce apoptosis. Towards an understanding of the molecular basis of the cellular response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy in NSCLC, in this review we provide some insights into the pathways involved in cisplatin damage from entering the cells to execution of apoptosis or survival of NSCLC cells. We believe that as more and more molecular mechanisms of response to cisplatin-based therapy are unraveled, this knowledge should provide a basis for further studies to improve our understanding of molecular events associated with lung NSCLC as well as to devise novel and effective therapeutic approaches to overcome the treatment plateau or reverse drug resistance in this disease.
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PMID:Molecular basis of cellular response to cisplatin chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (Review). 1549 78

Inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) is a naturally occurring polyphosphorylated carbohydrate with demonstrated anti-proliferative and anti-cancer activity in mammary cells. We hypothesized that IP6 modulates cell cycle proteins by action on cytoplasmic signaling molecules. The effects of both pharmacological (2 mM) and physiological (100 microM) doses of IP6 on major PKC isoforms (PKCalpha, delta, epsilon, beta and zeta), PI3-K/Akt and ras/Erk1/2 were evaluated. Treatment of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells with 2 mM IP6 for 24 h caused a 3.1-fold increase in the expression of anti-proliferative PKCdelta. Similar results were observed with 100 microM IP6 at only 30-60 min post-treatment. IP6 also caused an increase in PKCdelta activity, shown by its translocation from cytosol to membrane. No changes in expression of PKC alpha, delta, epsilon, beta and zeta were detected. Additionally, IP6 caused a decrease of Erk1/2 and Akt activity. Among cell cycle control proteins, IP6 resulted in increased p27Kip1 protein levels and marked reduction of pRb phosphorylation. Specificity of the IP6 effects on p27Kip1 and pRb in MCF-7 cells (hormone-dependent) were additionally confirmed in highly invasive hormone-independent MDA-MB 231 breast cancer cells. Use of specific pharmaclogical inhibitors of PKC delta, MEK/Erk, and PI3K/Akt pathways indicated that the IP6-mediated effects on PKC delta were responsible for up-regulation of p27Kip, and pRb hypo-phosphorylation. In addition, IP6-induced apoptosis detected in MCF-7 cells appeared also to be PKC delta-dependent. Our data suggest potential usefulness of IP6 as a novel therapeutic modulator of PKC delta and p27Kip1, an important prognostic factor in human breast cancers.
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PMID:Inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) blocks proliferation of human breast cancer cells through a PKCdelta-dependent increase in p27Kip1 and decrease in retinoblastoma protein (pRb) phosphorylation. 1633 28


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