Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:2.7.11.22 (cdc2)
 8,319 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Leflunomide is an immunosuppressive drug capable of inhibiting cellular and humoral mediated responses in vivo. The mechanism responsible for suppression of B cell antibody responses in vivo has not been identified. In this study we demonstrate that leflunomide functions to inhibit murine B cell antibody production by directly acting on the B cell. Experiments performed in vivo showed that both T cell-dependent as well as T cell-independent antigen responses were suppressed by leflunomide. Initial in vitro experiments demonstrated that leflunomide inhibited B cell antibody production by decreasing B cell proliferation. The suppression of B cell proliferation induced by a variety of stimuli that use different signal cascade components suggested that leflunomide was acting on a common component required for B cell proliferation. Kinetic studies with LPS activated B cells revealed that leflunomide retained its inhibitory activity when added as late as 24 hr after stimulation in an 88-hr assay. By analyzing the cell cycle of LPS-stimulated B cells we observed that leflunomide targets two different stages in cell cycle transition: (1) from G1 to S phase and (2) from S phase to G2/M phase. Analysis of one of the cyclin-dependent kinases, Cdk2 protein, by Western blot revealed that Cdk2 levels were decreased, in the presence of leflunomide, 48 hr after stimulation. These data further confirmed that leflunomide inhibited B cell progression through the S phase. We also present evidence that the addition of exogenous uridine reversed the antiproliferative activity of leflunomide. This indicated that leflunomide acted as a pyrimidine synthesis inhibitor, thereby inhibiting B cell proliferation and cell cycle progression.
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PMID:Regulation of B cell function by the immunosuppressive agent leflunomide. 861 Mar 93

Mesangial cell (MC) proliferation is a central feature of many glomerular diseases. Various growth factors and cytokines are known to trigger MC proliferation both in vitro and in vivo. Regardless of the initial stimulus, proliferation is ultimately dependent upon the coordinated activation of cell cycle regulatory genes whose transcription is tightly controlled in mammalian cells. The transcription factor E2F plays an important role in the transactivation of the cell cycle regulatory genes proliferating-cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and cdk2 kinase. To test whether or not E2F inhibition would blunt glomerular cell cycling in vivo, we treated rats with anti-Thy 1 antibody to induce glomerular injury, and that infused hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ)-liposomes containing synthetic double stranded oligonucleotides (ODN) with high affinity for E2F (E2F decoy) directly into one kidney. First, we confirmed that with HVJ-liposome method fluorescence isothiocynate (FITC)-labeled ODN could be efficiently introduced into rat glomerular cells via renal artery. E2F decoy ODN treatment specifically inhibited mRNA expression of PCNA and cdk2 kinase in kidneys injured with anti-Thy 1 antibody as assessed by RT-PCR. This was associated with a significant decrease in number of glomerular cells in S phase as assessed by 5'-bromo-2'-deoxy-uridine labeling method, and attenuation of glomerular injury assessed histologically. The evidence suggests that intra-renal delivery of E2F decoy ODN by HVJ-liposome method prevents the induction of cell cycle regulatory gene expression and MC proliferation. These data also demonstrate the feasibility and the potential benefit of in vivo gene therapy as a novel strategy in the treatment of glomerular diseases.
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PMID:Gene therapy with an E2F transcription factor decoy inhibits cell cycle progression in rat anti-Thy 1 glomerulonephritis. 1506 61

Hoechst is developing flavopiridol, a synthetic flavonoid based on an extract from an Indian plant, for the potential treatment of cancer. Flavopiridol, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, arrests cell division and causes apoptosis in non-small lung cancer cells [283660]. A phase II trial, in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute, has commenced at the University of Chicago Medical Center, which involves patients with high or intermediate-grade lymphoma or multiple myeloma [272937], [277372]. In ex vivo experiments with tumor cells from refractory chronic lymphoblastic leukemia, dose-dependent CDK2 inhibition associated with apoptotic changes was seen at concentrations greater than 100 nM of flavopiridol. In vitro pharmacokinetic studies have shown that flavopiridol undergoes hepatic biotransformation to its corresponding glucoronide by uridine diphosphate glucoronosyltransferases [283791]. Flavopiridol inhibits CDK with an IC50 value of 0.4 mM [285707]. Preclinical toxicology studies in rats and dogs demonstrated dose-related leukopenia and drug-related lesions in the thymus, spleen and bone marrow. The gastrointestinal and bone marrow toxicity was dose-limiting [178579]. Hoechst Marion Roussel expects to launch flavopiridol in the year 2001, with potential sales in excess of DM 750 million [288651].
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PMID:Flavopiridol Hoechst AG. 1846 38