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)

This study attempted to elucidate the signaling mechanism underlying dopaminergic cell death in the MPP+ model for Parkinson's disease. In neuronal-differentiated PC12 cells, through the regulation by activated JNK and c-jun, BimEL expression was markedly increased in response to MPP+ treatment, which led to the cell degeneration. In lieu of Smac translocation as seen in other paradigms, up-regulation of BimEL effected an increase in calpain I activity that, in turn, mediated AIF release from the mitochondria. In support, we found that knocking down BimEL expression resulted in a decrease in calpain I activity, as well as AIF release from the mitochondria and cell death. Finally, inhibition of calpain activity mitigated AIF release from the mitochondria and cell death. Under cell-free conditions, activated purified calpain I could induce the release of AIF from isolated mitochondria without the participation of BimEL or activated JNK, suggesting that AIF release is a direct consequence of calpain I activity. In concert, the results suggest a novel signaling pathway for dopaminergic cell degeneration, in which MPP+ induces the up-regulation of BimEL, which in turn potentiates an elevation in calpain I activity that mediates AIF release and cell death in a caspase-independent manner.
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PMID:BimEL up-regulation potentiates AIF translocation and cell death in response to MPTP. 1594 67

Optic nerve transection results in retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death in adult mammals, after the alteration of gene expression of RGCs. To elucidate the molecular mechanism by which axotomy induces RGC death, we isolated the molecules up-regulated after optic nerve transection. One of these, axotomy-related [corrected] gene (ARG)357, an 898-amino-acid [corrected] protein containing a complete serine-threonine kinase domain, was isolated from a subtraction library of the rat retina. The sequence showed that this gene was a rat homolog of human c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitory kinase and so belonged to the germinal center kinase-VIII subfamily of Sterile20s protein kinase. We designated ARG357 as rat JNK inhibitory kinase (JIK). Rat JIK was expressed ubiquitously in various tissues and was highly expressed in the retina, with selective expression in RGCs. After axotomy, BimEL and Hrk, which are BH3-only proteins, and rat JIK were up-regulated in RGCs. Overexpression of rat JIK in neuronal cells up-regulated the expression of BimEL, but not that of Hrk. These results indicate that JIK may contribute to axotomy-induced RGC death by up-regulating the expression of BH3-only protein.
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PMID:JNK inhibitory kinase is up-regulated in retinal ganglion cells after axotomy and enhances BimEL expression level in neuronal cells. 1609 29

EBV infects a large proportion of the human population worldwide and is one of the major viruses with human B lymphocyte tropism. It can immortalize human B lymphocytes and controls their resistance to apoptosis. EBV infection is associated with several lymphomas, including Burkitt's lymphoma. In this report we show that EBV infection leads to the post-transcriptional down-regulation of expression of the proapoptotic protein Bim. This process involves the phosphorylation of BimEL by the constitutive EBV-activated kinase ERK1/2, followed by its degradation through the proteasome pathway. We also show that ectopic expression of BimEL in EBV-positive Burkitt's lymphoma cells can enhance the sensitivity of these cells to serum deprivation-dependent apoptosis. Thus, EBV-mediated resistance to growth factor deprivation in human B lymphocytes is dependent on BimEL expression. Our data suggest that this regulatory pathway is an important contributor to the oncogenic potential of EBV.
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PMID:EBV infection of human B lymphocytes leads to down-regulation of Bim expression: relationship to resistance to apoptosis. 1611 83

The effects of IGF-1, 17 beta oestradiol and its functional interaction on lactotrophs cell proliferation were evaluated. In addition we investigated the involvement of PKC alpha, epsilon and phosphorilated ERK, in the mitogenic process. Primary cell cultures of adenohypophysis from female Wistar rats were studied in serum free conditions. The proliferation of lactotrophs was determined by double immunostaining for BrdU and PRL. The incubation with IGF-1 5, 30 or 100 ng/ml during 48 or 72 h increased lactotrophs proliferation two-threefold depending on IGF-1 concentration. Co-incubation of IGF-1 (30 ng/ml) with genistein (25 microM) or BIM (0.5 or 2 microM), lowered of tyrosine kinase receptor or of PKC respectively, inhibited the induced IGF-1 lactotrophs proliferation. 17 beta oestradiol (1, 10 or 100 nM) had not mitogenic effect, whereas in the presence of serum PRL cells proliferation was stimulated. Co-incubation with 1 nM oestradiol and IGF-1 significantly decreased the lactotroph BrdU-labelling achieved with IGF-1. PKC alpha, epsilon and ERK1/2 levels measured by western blot augmented in the presence of IGF-1 and were inhibited with the addition of genistein, supporting a participation of these enzymes in the proliferate process. Co-incubation of IGF-1 with 1 nM oestradiol decreased both PKC isoforms and activated ERK1/2 levels, suggesting that oestradiol would exert its antiproliferative effect by acting on the signalling pathway of IGF-1. The results revealed antagonic effects of oestradiol on lactotroph proliferation depending on its concentration and the presence of IGF-1.
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PMID:Antagonic effects of oestradiol in interaction with IGF-1 on proliferation of lactotroph cells in vitro. 1613 20

The proteasome inhibitor bortezomib is an efficacious apoptotic agent in many tumor cells. This paper shows that bortezomib induced apoptosis in human hepatoma HepG2 cells associated with many modifications in the expression of survival or death factors. Although bortezomib increased the level of the protective factors HSP70 and HSP27, the effects of the drug that favour cell death were predominant. These events include accumulation of c-Jun, phospho-c-Jun and p53; increase in FasL level with activation of caspase-8; changes related to members of Bcl-2 family with increase in the level of pro-apoptotic members and decrease in that of anti-apoptotic ones; dissipation of mitochondrial potential with cytochrome c release and activation of caspase-3. In contrast, Chang liver cells exhibited a very low susceptibility to bortezomib-induced apoptosis, which was accompanied by modest modifications in the expression of apoptotic factors. In HepG2 cells bortezomib markedly increased AP-1 activity and the expression of its transcriptional targets such as c-Jun, FasL, BimEL, which are involved in apoptosis. Moreover, AP-1 induced its own production by increasing c-Jun content in the composition of the same AP-1 complex. In addition, bortezomib caused activation of JNK1, which in turn increased the level of phospho-c-Jun as well as stimulated the activation of caspase-3 and t-Bid, two fundamental apoptotic factors. Interestingly, siRNA silencing of c-Jun or JNK1 reduced HepG2 cell susceptibility to apoptosis and prevented the increase in AP-1 activity. Both JNK-1 and AP-1 thus exerted a crucial role in bortezomib-induced apoptosis. Differently, in Chang liver cells the different composition of AP-1 complex as well as the failure of JNK activation seemed to be responsible for the low susceptibility to apoptosis. Given the high susceptibility of hepatoma cells to bortezomib, our results suggest the potential application of this compound in clinical trials for liver cancers.
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PMID:JNK and AP-1 mediate apoptosis induced by bortezomib in HepG2 cells via FasL/caspase-8 and mitochondria-dependent pathways. 1652 74

Glucocorticoids (GC) are common components in chemotherapeutic protocols for lymphoid malignancies. GC-induced apoptosis requires the intrinsic, BCL-2 family-regulated pathway. Treatment of CCRF-CEM (T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia) cells with the GC, dexamethasone (Dex), activates p38-mitogen activated protein kinase (p38-MAPK) and then induces mRNA transcription and synthesis levels of BIM, a BH3-only pro-apoptotic BCL-2 family member. Dex-induced apoptosis is dramatically inhibited by downregulation of BIM by shRNA or by pretreatment with a p38-MAPK inhibitor, SB203580, which also reduces BIM induction. These findings indicate that BIM induction through p38-MAPK activation is a critical pathway in GC-induced cell death.
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PMID:p38-MAP kinase activation followed by BIM induction is essential for glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis in lymphoblastic leukemia cells. 1673 Jul 15

The molecular mechanisms of hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) damage are incompletely understood. We investigated the role of ceramide in a murine model of warm hepatic I/R injury. This sphingolipid induces cell death and participates in tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling. Hepatic ceramide levels transiently increased after the reperfusion phase of the ischemic liver in mice, because of an early activation of acidic sphingomyelinase (ASMase) followed by acid ceramidase stimulation. In vivo administration of an ASMase inhibitor, imipramine, or ASMase knockdown by siRNA decreased ceramide generation during I/R, and attenuated serum ALT levels, hepatocellular necrosis, cytochrome c release, and caspase-3 activation. ASMase-induced ceramide generation activated JNK resulting in BimL phosphorylation and translocation to mitochondria, as the inhibition of ASMase by imipramine prevented these events. In contrast, blockade of ceramide catabolism by N-oleyolethanolamine (NOE), a ceramidase inhibitor, enhanced ceramide levels and potentiated I/R injury compared with vehicle-treated mice. Pentoxifylline treatment prevented TNF upregulation and ASMase activation. Furthermore, 9 of 11 mice treated with imipramine survived 7 days after total liver ischemia, compared with 4 of 12 vehicle-treated mice, whereas 8 of 8 NOE-treated mice died within 2 days of total liver ischemia. In conclusion, ceramide generated from ASMase plays a key role in I/R-induced liver damage, and its modulation may be of therapeutic relevance.
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PMID:Critical role of acidic sphingomyelinase in murine hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury. 1694 86

The cross-linking of B cell receptor (BCR) undergoes growth arrest, accompanied by apoptosis, in the CH31 and WEHI-231 B lymphoma cells, a model representing primary immature B cells. We have previously demonstrated that sustained activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) is required for BCR-mediated apoptosis. In the present study, we examined how the anti-IgM-induced prolonged activation of JNK results in apoptosis. Anti-IgM upregulated the expression levels of three isoforms of Bim protein, especially BimL, which appeared to be dependent on JNK activation. In contrast to protein expression, BimL mRNA levels were down-regulated upon anti-IgM stimulation, suggesting that anti-IgM-induced upregulation of BimL is regulated through post-transcriptional control. Upon JNK activation, phosphorylated form of JNK, together with Bax migrated from cytosol to mitochondria. In unstimulated cells, BimL protein was complexed with Bcl-x(L) and changed the partner to associate with Bax on the mitochondrial membrane after ligation of BCR, leading to initiation of apoptotic processes. Retroviral transduction of BimL into WEHI-231 cells overexpressing dominant-negative form of JNK1 (dnJNK1) resulted in a comparable level of apoptotic cells to control cells, whereas the BimL-mediated apoptosis was partially prevented by Bcl-x(L). Taken together, engagement of BCR with anti-IgM results in association of Bax-alpha with BimL in the mitochondria, at least in part, through a sustained activation of JNK.
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PMID:Requirement for JNK-dependent upregulation of BimL in anti-IgM-induced apoptosis in murine B lymphoma cell lines WEHI-231 and CH31. 1700 35

Erythropoietin (EPO) regulates the production of red blood cells primarily by preventing apoptosis of erythroid progenitors. More recently, however, EPO has emerged as a major cytoprotective cytokine in several nonhemopoietic tissues in the setting of stress or injury. The underlying mechanisms of the protective responses of EPO have not been fully defined. Here we show that EPO triggers a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-(PI3K)-dependent survival pathway that counteracts endothelial cell death. The protection conferred by PI3K relies on the subsequent induction of Bcl-x(L), a prosurvival member of the Bcl-2 protein family. In addition, EPO counteracts the upregulation of the pro-apoptotic BH3-only protein BIM, which is induced by serum withdrawal. EPO also activates extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), which are involved in a Bcl-x(L)-independent cytoprotective pathway. EPO caused a prolonged activation of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB, which was blocked by inhibition of PI3K, but not by inhibition of mitogen-activated protein (MAP)/ERK kinase (MEK), suggesting that EPO-activated NF-kappaB requires PI3K activity. However, the activation of the NF-kappaB pathway was not required for the ability of EPO to counteract endothelial apoptosis. Thus EPO promotes survival of endothelial cells through PI3K-dependent Bcl-x(L)-induction and BIM regulation, as well as through a separate mechanism involving the ERK pathway.
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PMID:Erythropoietin promotes survival of primary human endothelial cells through PI3K-dependent, NF-kappaB-independent upregulation of Bcl-xL. 1723 49

We have previously shown that lovastatin, an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, induces apoptosis in rat brain neuroblasts. c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) are implicated in regulation of neuronal apoptosis. In this work, we investigated the role of JNK and p38 MAPK in neuroblast apoptosis induced by lovastatin. We found that lovastatin induced the activation of JNK, but not p38 MAPK. It also induced c-Jun phosphorylation with a subsequent increase in activator protein-1 (AP-1) binding, AP-1-mediated gene expression and BimEL protein levels. The effects of lovastatin were prevented by mevalonate. Pre-treatment with iJNK-I (a selective JNK inhibitor) prevented the effect of lovastatin on both neuroblast apoptosis and the activation of the JNK cascade. Furthermore, we found that the activation of the JNK signalling pathway triggered by lovastatin is accompanied by caspase-3 activation which is also inhibited by iJNK-I pre-treatment. Finally, a specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK, SB203580, had no effect on lovastatin-induced neuroblast apoptosis. Taken together, our data suggest that the activation of the JNK/c-Jun/BimEL signalling pathway plays a crucial role in lovastatin-induced neuroblast apoptosis. Our findings may also contribute to elucidate the intracellular mechanisms involved in the central nervous system side effects associated with statin therapy.
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PMID:c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase signalling pathway mediates lovastatin-induced rat brain neuroblast apoptosis. 1725 Oct 57


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