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)

The inflammatory cytokine interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) induces both cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) and the inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS) with increases in the release of prostaglandins (PGs) and nitric oxide (NO) from glomerular mesangial cells. However, the intracellular signaling mechanisms by which IL-1beta induces iNOS and Cox-2 expression is obscure. Our current studies demonstrate that IL-1beta produces a rapid increase in p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation and activation. Serum starvation and SC68376, a drug which selectively inhibits p38 MAPK in mesangial cells, were used to investigate whether p38 MAPK contributes to the signaling mechanism of IL-1beta induction of NO and PG synthesis. Serum starvation and SC68376 selectively inhibited IL-1beta-induced activation of p38 MAPK. Both SC68376 and serum starvation enhanced NO biosynthesis by increasing iNOS mRNA expression, protein expression, and nitrite production. In contrast, both SC68376 and serum starvation suppressed PG release by inhibiting Cox-2 mRNA, protein expression, and PGE2 synthesis. These data demonstrate that IL-1beta phosphorylates and activates p38 MAPK in mesangial cells. The activation of p38 MAPK may provide a crucial signaling mechanism, which mediates the up-regulation of PG synthesis and the down-regulation of NO biosynthesis induced by IL-1beta.
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PMID:p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase down-regulates nitric oxide and up-regulates prostaglandin E2 biosynthesis stimulated by interleukin-1beta. 906 83

Cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2), the inducible form of cyclooxygenase, is up-regulated in tumors and transformed cells. Because this enzyme catalyzes the formation of prostaglandins from arachidonic acid, chemopreventive strategies that suppress its expression could be useful for preventing cancer. We investigated whether retinoids suppressed basal expression of Cox-2 or EGF-mediated induction of Cox-2 in human oral squamous carcinoma cells. Treatment with retinoids [all-trans-retinoic acid (all-trans-RA), 9-cis-RA, 13-cis-RA, and retinyl acetate] suppressed both basal levels of Cox-2 and EGF-mediated induction of Cox-2 protein and synthesis of prostaglandin E2. Retinoids also suppressed the induction of Cox-2 mRNA by EGF. Transient transfection experiments showed that EGF caused about a 100% increase in Cox-2 promoter activity, an effect that was suppressed by retinoids. Levels of epidermal growth factor receptor were unaffected by retinoids. Epidermal growth factor caused a nearly 10-fold increase in mitogen-activated protein kinase activity; this effect was not blocked by retinoids.
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PMID:Retinoids suppress epidermal growth factor-induced transcription of cyclooxygenase-2 in human oral squamous carcinoma cells. 923 Jan 97

Signaling pathways responsible for serotonin (5-HT)-mediated induction of early response genes prostaglandin G/H synthase-2 (PGHS-2, cyclooxygenase-2) and egr-1 were investigated in rat mesangial cells. Gene induction by 5-HT was dependent on 5-HT2A receptors that were pertussis toxin insensitive indicating coupling to a G-protein of the Gq family. Binding of 5-HT to this receptor activates phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PLC) and release of Ca2+ from internal stores, but this activation was not related to PGHS-2 mRNA expression. Similarly, PI-3 kinase was not involved in 5-HT signaling. Instead, inhibition of phosphatidylcholine-specific PLC interfered with PGHS-2 and egr-1 mRNA induction, suggesting this enzyme as a link between 5-HT2A receptors and protein kinase C, an essential part of 5-HT-mediated signaling. The MAP kinase pathway was identified as common signaling pathway of 5-HT or phorbol ester-induced gene expression. Increase of intracellular cAMP by forskolin or dibutyryl cAMP did not induce PGHS-2 or egr-1 mRNA expression by itself, but strongly inhibited 5-HT-mediated mRNA induction. PGHS-2 mRNA and protein induction by 5-HT was also abolished by chelation of Ca2+ ions by EGTA, suggesting involvement of Ca2+-dependent enzymes. In contrast, egr-1 mRNA expression was superinduced in the presence of EGTA. Induction of Egr-1 protein was not changed by EGTA hinting to Ca2+-sensitive posttranscriptional steps. Activation of the Gq-coupled 5-HT2A receptor thus leads to the expression of the early response genes PGHS-2 and egr-1, using common as well as differing signaling elements that allow differential regulation of the expression of these genes that are functionally related to renal hemodynamics and proliferation of mesangial cells, respectively.
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PMID:Signaling pathways mediating induction of the early response genes prostaglandin G/H synthase-2 and egr-1 by serotonin via 5-HT2A receptors. 957 79

The inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) induces both cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) and the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) with concomitant release of PGs and nitric oxide (NO) by glomerular mesangial cells. In our current studies, we determine whether insulin and IGF-I are involved in the signal transduction mechanisms resulting in IL-1 beta-induced NO and PGE2 biosynthesis in renal mesangial cells. We demonstrate that both insulin and IGF-I increase IL-1 beta-induced Cox-2 and iNOS protein expression, which in turn enhance PGE2 and NO production. Our data also indicate that both insulin and IGF-I enhance IL-1 beta-induced p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation and SAPK activation. These findings implicate the possible role of the MAPK pathway in mediating the effects of insulin and IGF-I on the upregulation of cytokine-stimulated NO and PG biosynthesis. Together, our results indicate that IGF-I and insulin may function to modulate the renal inflammatory process.
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PMID:IGF-I and insulin amplify IL-1 beta-induced nitric oxide and prostaglandin biosynthesis. 957 90

The involvement of serine/threonine protein phosphatases in signaling pathways that control the expression of the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene in human chondrocytes was examined. Okadaic acid (OKA), an inhibitor of protein phosphatases 1 (PP-1) and 2A (PP-2A), induced a delayed, time-dependent increase in the rate of COX-2 gene transcription (runoff assay) resulting in increased steady-state mRNA levels and enzyme synthesis. The latter response was dose dependent over a narrow range of 1-30 nmol/L with declining expression and synthesis of COX-2 at higher concentrations due to cell toxicity. The delayed increase in COX-2 mRNA expression was accompanied by the induction of the proto-oncogenes c-jun, junB, junD, and c-fos (but not FosB or Fra-1). Increased phosphorylation of CREB-1/ATF-1 transcription factors was observed beginning at 4 h and reached a zenith at 8 h. Gel-shift analysis confirmed the up-regulation of AP-1 and CRE nuclear binding proteins, though there was little or no OKA-induced nuclear protein binding to SP-1, AP-2, NF-kappaB or NF-IL-6 regulatory elements. OKA-induced nuclear protein binding to 32P-CRE oligonucleotides was abrogated by a pharmacological inhibitor of protein kinase A (PKA), KT-5720; the latter compound also inhibited OKA-induced COX-2 enzyme synthesis. Calphostin C (CalC), an inhibitor of PKC isoenzymes, had little effect in this regard. Inhibition of 12P-CRE binding was also observed in the presence of an antibody to CREB-binding protein (265-kDa CBP), an integrator and coactivator of cAMP-responsive genes. The binding to 32P-CRE was unaffected in the presence of excess radioinert AP-1 and COX-2 NF-IL-6 oligonucleotides, although a COX-2 CRE-oligo competed very efficiently. 32P-AP-1 consensus sequence binding was unaffected by incubation of chondrocytes with KT-5720 or CalC, but was dramatically diminished by excess radioinert AP-1 and CRE-COX-2 oligos. Supershift analysis in the presence of antibodies to c-Jun, c-Fos, JunD, and JunB suggested that AP-1 complexes were composed of c-Fos, JunB, and possibly c-Jun. OKA has no effect on total cellular PKC activity but caused a delayed time-dependent increase in total PKA activity and synthesis. OKA suppressed the activity of the MAP kinases, ERK1/2 in a time-dependent fashion, suggesting that the Raf-1/MEKK1/MEK1/ERK1,2 cascade was compromised by OKA treatment. By contrast, OKA caused a dramatic increase in SAPK/JNK expression and activity, indicative of an activation of MEKK1/JNKK/SAPK/JNK pathway. OKA stimulated a dose-dependent activation of CAT activity using transfected promoter-CAT constructs harboring the regulatory elements AP-1 (c-jun promoter) and CRE (CRE-tkCAT). We conclude that in primary phenotypically stable human chondrocytes, COX-2 gene expression may be controlled by critical phosphatases that interact with phosphorylation dependent (e.g., MAP kinases:AP-1, PKA:CREB/ATF) signaling pathways. AP-1 and CREB/ATF families of transcription factors may be important substrates for PP-1/PP-2A in human chondrocytes.
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PMID:Transcriptional induction of cyclooxygenase-2 gene by okadaic acid inhibition of phosphatase activity in human chondrocytes: co-stimulation of AP-1 and CRE nuclear binding proteins. 962 Jan 67

Elevated cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and activity have been observed in several different transformed cell types that express mutated ras genes. To investigate the mechanism of increased COX-2 expression following Ras-mediated transformation, Rat-1:iRas cell line was transfected with an Ha-RasVal-12 cDNA expression vector that is under the transcriptional control of the lac operon and is inducible with isopropyl-1-thio-beta-D-galactopyranoside (IPTG). IPTG treatment caused parallel increases in the levels of Ha-Ras and COX-2 proteins in Rat-1:iRas cells. The increased expression of COX-2 was accompanied by increased prostaglandin E2 production. Selective inhibition of COX-2 activity suppressed the production of prostaglandin E2 by >90% but did not alter the progress of the morphological transformation. The level of COX-2 mRNA was up-regulated by activated Ha-Ras. Induction of Ras increased the transcription of COX-2 by 44.3 +/- 10.1% and increased the half-life of COX-2 mRNA by approximately 3.5-fold. A specific mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitor (PD 98059) caused a delay in both the activation of ERK1/2 and the induction of COX-2 in IPTG-induced Rat-1:iRas cells. Inhibition of ERK activity by PD 98059 also suppressed the induction of COX-2 by epidermal growth factor in intestinal epithelial cells and significantly reduced the expression of COX-2 in Ha-Ras-transformed rat intestinal epithelial cells. ERK activity appears to be required for induction of COX-2 by Ras.
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PMID:Induction of cyclooxygenase-2 by activated Ha-ras oncogene in Rat-1 fibroblasts and the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. 970 57

This study examines intracellular signaling events associated with the activation of chondrocytes by the cytokine interleukin-17 (IL-17). Stimulation of normal human articular chondrocytes with IL-17 induced nitric oxide (NO) production, concomitant with an increase in transcripts and de novo translation products of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) genes. Several other genes associated with inflammation and cartilage degradation, such as IL-1beta, IL-6, and stromelysin, were also up-regulated in IL-17-treated chondrocytes. Among signaling events displaying early response to IL-17 in chondrocytes were the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases ERK1, ERK2, JNK, and p38. DNA binding activity of NF-kappaB was also significantly induced. IL-17 effects on NO release, as well as iNOS, COX-2, and IL-6 protein expression, were inhibited by the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone. Importantly, dexamethasone blunted IL-17-dependent activation of MAP kinases, suggesting a mechanistic relationship between these activities and the aforementioned gene expression responses. Similar effects of a lesser extent were observed with the p38-specific inhibitor SB203580. These results suggest that IL-17 activation of chondrocytes is associated with and depends at least in part on the activation of MAP kinases and NF-kappaB.
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PMID:Interleukin-17-induced gene expression in articular chondrocytes is associated with activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and NF-kappaB. 976 76

The inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) induces cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) expression with a concomitant release of prostaglandins from glomerular mesangial cells. We reported previously that IL-1beta rapidly activates the c-Jun NH2-terminal/stress-activated protein kinases (JNK/SAPK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and also induces Cox-2 expression and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production. The current study demonstrates that overexpression of the dominant negative form of JNK1 or p54 JNK2/SAPKbeta reduces Cox-2 expression and PGE2 production stimulated by IL-1beta. Similarly, overexpression of the kinase-dead form of p38 MAPK also inhibits IL-1beta-induced Cox-2 expression and PGE2 production. These results suggest that activation of both JNK/SAPK and p38 MAPK is required for Cox-2 expression after IL-1beta activation. Furthermore, our experiments confirm that IL-1beta activates MAP kinase kinase-4 (MKK4)/SEK1, MKK3, and MKK6 in renal mesangial cells. Overexpression of the dominant negative form of MKK4/SEK1 decreases IL-1beta- induced Cox-2 expression with inhibition of both JNK/SAPK and p38 MAPK phosphorylation. Overexpression of the kinase-dead form of MKK3 or MKK6 demonstrated that either of these two mutant kinases inhibited IL-1beta-induced p38 MAPK phosphorylation and Cox-2 expression but not JNK/SAPK phosphorylation and activation. This study suggests that the activation of both JNK/SAPK and p38 MAPK signaling cascades is required for IL-1beta-induced Cox-2 expression and PGE2 synthesis.
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PMID:Interleukin-1beta-induced cyclooxygenase-2 expression requires activation of both c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase and p38 MAPK signal pathways in rat renal mesangial cells. 978 61

The ceramide signaling pathway is activated by the sphingomyelinase (SMase)-mediated hydrolysis of cell membrane sphingomyelin to ceramide. We determined whether ceramide, a lipid second messenger, induced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in human mammary epithelial cells. Treatment of cells with neutral SMase or C2- or C6-ceramide enhanced prostaglandin E2 synthesis and increased levels of COX-2 protein and mRNA. Nuclear runoff assays revealed increased rates of COX-2 transcription after treatment with SMase and C2- and C6-ceramide. Transient transfections utilizing COX-2 promoter deletion constructs and COX-2 promoter constructs in which specific enhancer elements were mutagenized indicated that the effects of ceramide were mediated via a cAMP response element. The induction of COX-2 by ceramide was inhibited by calphostin C, an inhibitor of protein kinase C. Induction of COX-2 promoter activity by SMase was blocked by overexpressing kinase-deficient Raf-1. Triggering of the ceramide pathway also led to increases in extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activities; pharmacological inhibitors of MAPK kinase (MEK) and p38 MAPK blocked the induction of COX-2 by SMase. Overexpressing ERK1, JNK, or p38 led to severalfold increases in COX-2 promoter activity. By comparison, overexpression of dominant negatives for ERK1/2, JNK, or p38 blocked the activation of COX-2 promoter activity by SMase. A dominant negative for c-Jun inhibited the activation of COX-2 promoter activity by ceramide. Thus, in response to ceramide, increased MAPK signaling activates c-Jun, which, in turn, induces COX-2 gene expression via the cAMP response element in the COX-2 promoter.
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PMID:Ceramide regulates the transcription of cyclooxygenase-2. Evidence for involvement of extracellular signal-regulated kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. 983 45

p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is activated by inflammatory stimuli such as bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), interleukin-1, and tumor necrosis factor. We have previously shown that the pyridinyl imidazole SB 203580, which inhibits it, blocks the interleukin-1 induction of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and matrix metalloproteinase 1 and 3 mRNAs in fibroblasts. Here we explore the role of p38 MAPK in the response of human monocytes to LPS. 0.1 microM SB 203580 significantly inhibited the LPS induction of COX-2 and tumor necrosis factor protein and mRNAs. The activity of MAPK-activated protein kinase-2 (a substrate of p38 MAPK) in the cells was commensurately reduced. Some isoforms of c-jun N-terminal kinase (which is also activated by LPS) are sensitive to SB 203580; the inhibitor had little effect on monocyte c-jun N-terminal kinases up to 2 microM. We investigated the mechanism of inhibition of COX-2 induction. Transcription (measured by a nuclear run-on assay) was 60% inhibited by SB 203580 (2 microM). Importantly, we found that p38 MAPK was essential for stabilizing COX-2 mRNA: when cells stimulated for 4 h with LPS were treated with actinomycin D, COX-2 mRNA decayed slowly. Treatment of stimulated cells with 2 microM SB 203580 caused a rapid disappearance of COX-2 mRNA, even with actinomycin D present. We conclude p38 MAPK plays a role in the transcription and stabilization of COX-2 mRNA.
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PMID:p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase regulates cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA stability and transcription in lipopolysaccharide-treated human monocytes. 986 39


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