Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:2.7.11.24 (mitogen-activated protein kinase)
95,810 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) may play important roles in the placental vasculature, not only by controlling cell growth and differentiation, but also by mediating production of local vasodilators such as nitric oxide. As the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal cascade has been widely associated with cell growth in response to growth factors, herein we investigate whether bFGF, EGF, and VEGF also stimulate expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) via activation of the MAPK cascade in ovine fetoplacental artery endothelial cells. The presence of the receptors for all three growth factors was confirmed by both immunocytochemistry and a functional cell proliferation assay. All three growth factors at 10 ng/ml rapidly (<10 min) activated MAPK. This activation was inhibited by PD 98059, a specific MAPK kinase inhibitor. bFGF and EGF, but not VEGF, dose- and time-dependently increased eNOS protein levels. Maximal stimulatory effects of bFGF and EGF on eNOS protein expression were observed at 10 ng/ml for 24 h of treatment and were associated with elevated eNOS messenger RNA. PD 98059 also significantly inhibited bFGF- and EGF-induced increases in eNOS protein expression. Because treatment with all three growth factors resulted in activation of the MAPK cascade, while bFGF and EGF, but not VEGF, increased eNOS expression, we conclude that activation of the MAPK cascade is necessary, but not sufficient, for bFGF- and EGF-induced increases in eNOS protein expression in ovine fetoplacental artery endothelial cells. Thus, additional signaling pathways are implicated in the different controls of eNOS expression and mitogenesis by growth factors.
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PMID:Activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade is necessary but not sufficient for basic fibroblast growth factor- and epidermal growth factor-stimulated expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase in ovine fetoplacental artery endothelial cells. 1006 68

Nitric oxide (NO) induces apoptotic cell death in murine RAW 264.7 macrophages. To elucidate the inhibitory effects of protein kinase C (PKC) on NO-induced apoptosis, we generated clones of RAW 264.7 cells that overexpress one of the PKC isoforms and explored the possible interactions between PKC and three structurally related mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases in NO actions. Treatment of RAW 264.7 cells with sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO-generating agent, activated both c-Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK) and p38 kinase, but did not activate extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-1 and ERK-2. In addition, SNP-induced apoptosis was slightly blocked by the selective p38 kinase inhibitor (SB203580) but not by the MAP/ERK1 kinase inhibitor (PD098059). PKC transfectants (PKC-beta II, -delta, and -eta) showed substantial protection from cell death induced by the exposure to NO donors such as SNP and S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO). In contrast, in RAW 264.7 parent or in empty vector-transformed cells, these NO donors induced internucleosomal DNA cleavage. Moreover, overexpression of PKC isoforms significantly suppressed SNP-induced JNK/SAPK and p38 kinase activation, but did not affect ERK-1 and -2. We also explored the involvement of CPP32-like protease in the NO-induced apoptosis. Inhibition of CPP32-like protease prevented apoptosis in RAW 264.7 parent cells. In addition, SNP dramatically activated CPP32 in the parent or in empty vector-transformed cells, while slightly activated CPP32 in PKC transfectants. Therefore, we conclude that PKC protects NO-induced apoptotic cell death, presumably nullifying the NO-mediated activation of JNK/SAPK, p38 kinase, and CPP32-like protease in RAW 264.7 macrophages.
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PMID:Overexpression of protein kinase C isoforms protects RAW 264.7 macrophages from nitric oxide-induced apoptosis: involvement of c-Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase, p38 kinase, and CPP-32 protease pathways. 1009 94

Nitric oxide (NO) is a signaling molecule that mediates several physiological processes in a range of cell and tissue types. Here we investigated the effect of serum deprivation in the absence or presence of phorbol 12-myristate 1 3-acetate (PMA) or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) on cell viability, NO formation, inducible NO synthase (iNOS) induction, and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase in neuronal PC12 cells. Within 24 h of serum deprivation, apoptosis occurred in up to 65-70% of the cells, and significant levels of NO were generated. When PMA was added in serum-free medium, NO formation and cell death were decreased. In contrast, addition of TNFalpha in serum-free medium increased the levels of NO formation and apoptosis compared with those in serum-deprived cells. We have demonstrated that differential generation of NO levels by PMA or TNFalpha under conditions of serum deprivation is mediated by the same pattern of iNOS induction. NO formation via iNOS induction resulted in the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) but not extracellular signal-regulated kinase. From this study it is suggested that the differential formation of cytotoxic NO by serum deprivation plus PMA or TNFalpha is primarily mediated by the induction of iNOS enzymes in neuronal PC12 cells and that its action is mediated by the activation of JNK.
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PMID:Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate differentially modulate cytotoxic effect of nitric oxide generated by serum deprivation in neuronal PC12 cells. 1009 52

We have investigated the role of mitochondrial calcium buffering in excitotoxic cell death. Glutamate acts at NMDA receptors in cultured rat forebrain neurons to increase the intracellular free calcium concentration. Although concurrent inhibition of mitochondrial calcium uptake substantially enhanced this cytoplasmic calcium increase, it significantly reduced glutamate-stimulated neuronal cell death. Mitochondrial inhibition did not affect nitric oxide production or MAP kinase phosphorylation, which have been proposed to mediate excitotoxicity. These results indicate that very high levels of cytoplasmic calcium are not necessarily toxic to forebrain neurons, and that potential-driven uptake of calcium into mitochondria is required to trigger NMDA-receptor-stimulated neuronal death.
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PMID:Glutamate-induced neuron death requires mitochondrial calcium uptake. 1019 25

Recently, we have reported that 6R-tetrahydrobiopterin activates Ca2+ channels in neuronal cells independently of its cofactor activities. Several reports indicate that depolarization-induced activation of Ca2+ channels enhances neuronal survival. Here, we investigated the effects of 6R-tetrahydrobiopterin on survival of differentiated PC12 cells. Depletion of serum and nerve growth factor caused cell death, which was prevented by high potassium. 6R-Tetrahydrobiopterin also prevented death of PC12 cells cultured without serum and nerve growth factor in a dose-related manner at physiological concentrations (1-100 microM). However, surviving cells cultured with 6R-tetrahydrobiopterin showed undifferentiated form. 6S-Tetrahydrobiopterin, a diastereoisomer of 6R-tetrahydrobiopterin, also had a cell-surviving effect, but it was less potent as compared with that of 6R-tetrahydrobiopterin. The cell-surviving effect of 6R-tetrahydrobiopterin was eliminated by a Ca2+ channel blocker, but persisted in the presence of an inhibitor for tyrosine hydroxylase, dopamine, L-DOPA, an inhibitor for nitric oxide synthase and a nitric oxide generator. The effect of 6R-tetrahydrobiopterin was mimicked by a cyclic-AMP analogue and inhibited by an inhibitor for protein kinase A. Ca2+ channel activity was preserved but dopamine-releasing activity was disturbed in surviving cells cultured with 6R-tetrahydrobiopterin. 6R-Tetrahydrobiopterin had no effect on mitogen-activated protein kinase. These findings suggest that, independently of its cofactor activities and mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade, 6R-tetrahydrobiopterin enhances survival of PC12 cells by activating Ca2+ channels via the cyclic-AMP-protein kinase A pathway, but that 6R-tetrahydrobiopterin does not preserve neuronal character induced by nerve growth factor.
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PMID:Enhancement of neuronal survival by 6R-tetrahydrobiopterin. 1019 75

The shear-induced intracellular signal transduction pathway in vascular endothelial cells involves tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, which may be responsible for the sustained release of nitric oxide. MAP kinase is known to be activated by reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as H2O2, in several cell types. ROS production in ligand-stimulated nonphagocytic cells appears to require the participation of a Ras-related small GTP-binding protein, Rac1. We hypothesized that Rac1 might serve as a mediator for the effect of shear stress on MAP kinase activation. Exposure of bovine aortic endothelial cells to laminar shear stress of 20 dyn/cm2 for 5-30 min stimulated total cellular and cytosolic tyrosine phosphorylation as well as tyrosine phosphorylation of MAP kinase. Treating endothelial cells with the antioxidants N-acetylcysteine and pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate inhibited in a dose-dependent manner the shear-stimulated increase in total cytosolic and, specifically, MAP kinase tyrosine phosphorylation. Hence, the onset of shear stress caused an enhanced generation of intracellular ROS, as evidenced by an oxidized protein detection kit, which were required for the shear-induced total cellular and MAP kinase tyrosine phosphorylation. Total cellular and MAP kinase tyrosine phosphorylation was completely blocked in sheared bovine aortic endothelial cells expressing a dominant negative Rac1 gene product (N17rac1). We concluded that the GTPase Rac1 mediates the shear-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of MAP kinase via regulation of the flow-dependent redox changes in endothelial cells in physiological and pathological circumstances.
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PMID:Shear-induced tyrosine phosphorylation in endothelial cells requires Rac1-dependent production of ROS. 1019 14

The transcription factor nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB is activated by oxidative stress or cytokines and is critical to the activation of inflammatory genes. Here, we report that hydrogen peroxide or 3-morpholinosydnonimine, which simultaneously releases nitric oxide and superoxide, synergize with the cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha to activate NF-kappaB in rat lung epithelial cells, suggesting that signaling pathways elicited by reactive oxygen species (ROS)/reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are different from TNF-induced signaling. These findings were substantiated by observations that levels of IkappaB-alpha did not change after exposure to ROS/RNS, whereas a rapid depletion of IkappaB-alpha was observed in cells exposed to TNF. In addition, the proteosome inhibitor MG132 did not affect activation of NF-kappaB by ROS/RNS, whereas it abolished the TNF response. Transfection of a dominant negative Ras construct prevented the activation of NF-kappaB by ROS/RNS, demonstrating the requirement for Ras in the activation of NF-kappaB by oxidants. In contrast, TNF activated NF-kappaB in a Ras-independent fashion. Evaluation of members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family as downstream effectors of Ras revealed the requirement of MAPK/ extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK) kinase kinase (MEKK)1 and c-Jun N-terminal kinases in the induction of NF-kappaB by both oxidants and TNF, whereas the MEK-ERK pathway negatively regulates NF-kappaB. Our findings demonstrate that cytokines and oxidants cooperate in the activation of transcription factors through distinct pathways, and suggest that anti-inflammatory and antioxidant therapies may be required in concert to prevent the activation of NF-kappaB-regulated genes important in the development of inflammatory diseases.
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PMID:Cooperativity between oxidants and tumor necrosis factor in the activation of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB: requirement of Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinases in the activation of NF-kappaB by oxidants. 1022 64

Recently, erythropoietin (EPO) receptors and synthesis of EPO have been identified in the brain. To clarify the effects of EPO on neuronal cells, we investigated the effects of EPO on Ca2+ uptake, intracellular Ca2+ concentration, membrane potential, cell survival, release and biosynthesis of dopamine, and nitric oxide (NO) production in differentiated PC12 cells, which possess EPO receptors. EPO (10(-12)-10(-10) M) increased 45Ca2+ uptake and intracellular Ca2+ concentration in PC12 cells in a dose-related manner; these increases were inhibited by nicardipine (1 microM) or anti-EPO antibody (1:100 dilution). EPO induced membrane depolarization in PC12 cells. After a 5-day culture without serum and nerve growth factor (NGF), viable cell number decreased to 50% of that of the control cells cultured with serum and NGF. EPO (10(-13)-10(-10) M) increased the number of viable cells cultured without serum and NGF; this increase was blunted by nicardipine or anti-EPO antibody. Incubation with EPO (10(-13)-10(-10) M) stimulated mitogen-activated protein kinase activity in PC12 cells. EPO (10(-13)-10(-10) M) increased dopamine release from PC12 cells and tyrosine hydroxylase activity; these increases were sensitive to nicardipine or anti-EPO antibody. Following a 4-h incubation with EPO (10(-14)-10(-10) M), NO production was increased, which was blunted by nicardipine and anti-EPO antibody. In contrast, maximal NO synthase activity was not changed by EPO. These results suggest that EPO stimulates neuronal function and viability via activation of Ca2+ channels.
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PMID:Effects of erythropoietin on neuronal activity. 1034 68

The proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L) prevent apoptosis, but their mechanism of action is unclear. We examined the role of Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L) in the regulation of cytosolic Ca(2+), nitric oxide production (NO), c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) activation, and apoptosis in Jurkat T cells. Thapsigargin (TG), an inhibitor of the endoplasmic reticulum-associated Ca(2+) ATPase, was used to disrupt Ca(2+) homeostasis. TG acutely elevated intracellular free Ca(2+) and mitochondrial Ca(2+) levels and induced NO production and apoptosis in Jurkat cells transfected with vector (JT/Neo). Buffering of this Ca(2+) response with 1, 2-bis(o-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid tetra(acetoxymethyl) ester (BAPTA-AM) or inhibiting NO synthase activity with N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME) blocked TG-induced NO production and apoptosis in JT/Neo cells. By contrast, while TG produced comparable early changes in the Ca(2+) level (i.e., within 3 h) in Jurkat cells overexpressing Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L) (JT/Bcl-2 or JT/Bcl-X(L)), NO production, late (36-h) Ca(2+) accumulation, and apoptosis were dramatically reduced compared to those in JT/Neo cells. Exposure of JT/Bcl-2 and JT/Bcl-X(L) cells to the NO donor, S-nitroso-N-acetylpenacillamine (SNAP) resulted in apoptosis comparable to that seen in JT/Neo cells. TG also activated the JNK pathway, which was blocked by L-NAME. Transient expression of a dominant negative mutant SEK1 (Lys-->Arg), an upstream kinase of JNK, prevented both TG-induced JNK activation and apoptosis. A dominant negative c-Jun mutant also reduced TG-induced apoptosis. Overexpression of Bcl-2 or Bcl-X(L) inhibited TG-induced loss in mitochondrial membrane potential, release of cytochrome c, and activation of caspase-3 and JNK. Inhibition of caspase-3 activation blocked TG-induced JNK activation, suggesting that JNK activation occurred downstream of caspase-3. Thus, TG-induced Ca(2+) release leads to NO generation followed by mitochondrial changes including cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activation. Caspase-3 activation leads to activation of the JNK pathway and apoptosis. In summary, Ca(2+)-dependent activation of NO production mediates apoptosis after TG exposure in JT/Neo cells. JT/Bcl-2 and JT/Bcl-X(L) cells are susceptible to NO-mediated apoptosis, but Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L) protect the cells against TG-induced apoptosis by negatively regulating Ca(2+)-sensitive NO synthase activity or expression.
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PMID:Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L) block thapsigargin-induced nitric oxide generation, c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase activity, and apoptosis. 1040 55

Insulin has several direct vascular actions that contribute to either vascular protection or injury, depending on the cell type. Vascular protective effects of insulin include stimulation of endothelial cell production of the vasodilator nitric oxide (NO). This, in turn, inhibits formation of lesions dependent on migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), attenuates binding of inflammatory cells to the vascular wall, and inhibits thrombosis by reducing platelet adhesion and aggregation. However, insulin also promotes a host of deleterious vascular effects by stimulating the actions of various growth factors acting through the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. MAPK may mediate the effects of insulin and angiotensin II on VSMC production of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, which attenuates fibrinolysis. Thus, 1 of the 2 major pathways of insulin action is the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway, which is important for glucose transport in skeletal muscle, as well as endothelial NO production and insulin-induced vasodilation. The second insulin-activated pathway is the MAPK pathway, which promotes VSMC growth factors and migration induced by insulin, thrombin, angiotensin II, and platelet-derived growth factor. The thiazolidinediones, which act as ligands for peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor gamma, may inhibit VSMC growth and migration through inhibition of a variety of transcription factors involved in the MAPK pathway.
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PMID:Insulin signaling in the arterial wall. 1041 54


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