EC:2.7.11.24 - FACTA Search

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

Microglia, brain resident macrophages, are activated in brain injuries and several neurodegenerative diseases. However, microglial activators that are produced in the brain are not yet defined. In this study, we showed that gangliosides, sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipids, could be a microglial activator. Gangliosides induced production of nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). The effect of gangliosides on NO release increased dose-dependently in the range of 10-100 microgram/ml; however, the effect decreased at concentrations higher than 200 microgram/ml. Specific types of gangliosides showed differential effects on microglial activation. Similar to gangliosides, GT1b induced production of NO and TNF-alpha and expression of COX-2. However, GM1 and GD1a induced expression of COX-2 but had little effect on NO and TNF-alpha release. The effect of gangliosides and GT1b on NO release was reduced in the presence of neuraminidase, which removes sialic acid residues from gangliosides and GT1b. Gangliosides activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase significantly but activated c-jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase and p38 relatively weakly. The inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase by PD98059 reduced NO release from both gangliosides- and GT1b-treated microglia whereas inhibition of p38 by SB203580 increased it rather slightly. Gangliosides activated NF-kappaB, and N-acetyl cystein, an inhibitor of NF-kappaB, reduced NO release. These results suggest that gangliosides could be a microglial activator that functions via activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and NF-kappaB.
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PMID:Gangliosides activate cultured rat brain microglia. 1057 21

The arterial media is comprised of heterogeneous smooth muscle cell (SMC) subpopulations with markedly different growth responses to pathophysiological stimuli. Little information exists regarding the intracellular signaling pathways that contribute to these differences. Therefore, we investigated the growth-related signaling pathways in a unique subset of subendothelial SMCs (L1 cells) from normal, mature, bovine arteries and compared them with those in "traditional" SMCs derived from the middle media (L2 SMCs). Subendothelial L1 cells exhibited serum-independent autonomous growth, not observed in L2 SMCs. Autonomous growth of L1 cells was driven largely by the constitutively activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK-1/2) cascade. Inhibition of upstream activators of ERKs (MAP kinase kinase-1, p21(ras), receptor tyrosine kinases, and Gi protein-coupled receptors) led to suppression of autonomous growth in these cells. L1 cells also exhibited constitutive activation of important downstream targets of ERKs (cytosolic phospholipase A(2), cyclooxygenase-2) and secreted large amounts of prostaglandins. Importantly, L1 cells secreted potent mitogenic factor(s), which could potentially contribute in an autocrine fashion to the constitutive activation of these cells. Our data suggest that unique arterial cells with autonomous growth potential and constitutively activated signaling pathways exist in normal arteries and may contribute selectively to the pathogenesis of vascular diseases.
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PMID:Subendothelial cells from normal bovine arteries exhibit autonomous growth and constitutively activated intracellular signaling. 1059 65

Activator protein-1 (AP1) regulates the promoter activity of a large number of genes associated with developmental, proliferative, inflammatory, and homeostatic processes in human connective tissue cells. Some of these genes (e.g., cyclooxygenase-2) are regulated by the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, calphostin C (CalC). We examined whether CalC could indeed induce AP1 and AP1 gene transactivation (c-jun) in human chondrocytes. Exploratory studies confirmed the anti-PKC effects of CalC, as equal molar concentrations of CalC blocked the PMA-induced translocation of PKC-alpha from the cytosolic to the membrane fraction. CalC induction of AP1, as judged by gel-shift analysis, using a consensus AP1 oligonucleotide, was biphasic with an initial increase (maximum 4 h), followed by a decline, reaching its nadir after 16 h, and finally a major upregulation phase at 24 h. Maximum induction of AP-1 was reached at a concentration of 250 nmol/L of CalC. CalC did not block PMA-induced AP1 synthesis. Gel-shift analysis in the presence of specific antibodies to c-Jun, JunB, JunD, c-Fos, and CREB/ATF showed that the AP1 complexes were probably c-Jun/c-Jun, c-Fos/c-Jun, c-Fos/JunB, or c-Jun/JunB dimers. Northern blot analysis confirmed that c-jun, junB, and c-Fos were the principal proto-oncogenes induced by CalC. To confirm that c-jun induction occurs at the transcriptional level and to examine the role of the AP1 site present in the c-jun promoter in the induction of c-jun by CalC, we performed transient transfections of c-jun promoter-CAT constructs harboring either wild-type (WT) AP1 regulatory element sites or mutant AP1 sites. CalC (250 nmol/L) induced a marked increase in CAT activity (i.e., promoter activation) with WT AP1 c-jun promoter-CAT plasmids, but the response was completely abrogated when using constructs where the AP1 site was mutated. PMA produced similar results, but the induction of the WT AP1 c-jun promoter-CAT plasmid was smaller. CalC (250 nmol/L) inhibited MAPK (p42/44) activity while stimulating c-Jun N-terminal kinase activity in a time-frame coincident with the activation of AP1. We conclude that CalC induces signaling pathways that activate AP1 and transactivate genes harboring AP1 enhancer sites independent of PKC-alpha.
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PMID:Calphostin C induces AP1 synthesis and AP1-dependent c-jun transactivation in normal human chondrocytes independent of protein kinase C-alpha inhibition: possible role for c-jun N-terminal kinase. 1061 45

Angiotensin II (Ang II) stimulates the release of prostaglandins (PGs) in various cells and tissues. Recently, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) emerged as a new key regulator for PG synthesis. In the present study, we investigated whether Ang II regulates COX-2 expression in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Ang II markedly increased the expression of COX-2 mRNA in a time- and dose-dependent manner. This effect was completely blocked by the Ang II type 1 receptor antagonist losartan but not by the Ang II type 2 receptor antagonist PD123319. The p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase-1 inhibitor PD98059 and the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 significantly suppressed Ang II-induced COX-2 mRNA and protein expression. Ang II did not increase transcription of the COX-2 gene, as examined with a COX-2 promoter/luciferase chimeric plasmid construct. Instead, it suppressed the degradation of COX-2 mRNA. PD98059 and SB203580 markedly enhanced the decay of COX-2 mRNA induced by Ang II, implying that p42/44 and p38 MAPK activated by Ang II play a role in the regulation of COX-2 through stabilization of its mRNA. The COX-2-specific inhibitor NS-398 attenuated Ang II-stimulated DNA and protein synthesis, as well as PGE(2) production by VSMCs. These results suggest that Ang II regulates COX-2 expression and PG production and modulates cell proliferation through MAPK-mediated signaling pathways in rat VSMCs.
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PMID:Induction of cyclooxygenase-2 by angiotensin II in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells. 1064 77

Activation of mast cells by aggregation of their IgE receptors induces rapid and transient synthesis of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). In this study we investigated (i) the cis-acting response elements and transcription factors active at the COX-2 promoter and (ii) the signal transduction pathways mediating COX-2 induction following aggregation of mast cell IgE receptors. Transient transfection assays with COX-2 promoter/luciferase constructs suggest that a consensus cyclic AMP response element is essential for induced COX-2 expression. Cotransfection studies with plasmids expressing c-Jun, dominant negative Ras, dominant negative c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase, and dominant negative MEKK1 demonstrate that activation of the Ras/MEKK1/c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase/c-Jun pathway is required for COX-2 promoter-mediated luciferase expression. Attenuation of COX-2 promoter activity by dominant negative constructs for Raf-1, ERK1, and ERK2 suggests that the Ras/Raf-1/extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway is also necessary for COX-2 induction. Although mutating the two NF-IL6 sites individually did not affect COX-2 promoter activity, mutating both NF-IL6 sites substantially inhibits COX-2 promoter activity. Moreover, overexpression of wild type CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-beta (C/EBPbeta) augments COX-2 promoter activity in activated mast cells and cotransfection of a dominant negative C/EBPbeta construct completely blocks COX-2 promoter/luciferase expression. Our data suggest that in activated mast cells, a Ras/MEKK1/c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase signal transduction pathway activating c-Jun, a Ras/Raf-1/extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway, and activated C/EBPbeta facilitate COX-2 induction via the cyclic AMP response element and NF-IL6 sites of the COX-2 promoter.
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PMID:Transcriptional regulation of the cyclooxygenase-2 gene in activated mast cells. 1065 93

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, such as benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) present in tobacco smoke and tar, have been implicated in the development of atherosclerosis as well as cancer. Increased expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been detected both in atherosclerotic lesions and in epithelial cancers. To determine whether polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons might directly affect COX expression in vascular cells, we investigated the effects of B[a]P on COX-2 expression in human and rat arterial smooth muscle cells (SMC). Treatment with B[a]P increased levels of COX-2 protein and mRNA and enhanced prostaglandin synthesis. Nuclear runoff assays and transient transfections revealed increased COX-2 gene transcription after treatment with B[a]P. Experiments were done to define the signaling mechanism by which B[a]P induced COX-2. B[a]P caused a rapid increase in phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK); pharmacologic inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase blocked B[a]P-mediated induction of COX-2. Depletion of the intracellular antioxidant, glutathione, with buthionine sulfoximine significantly increased B[a]P-mediated induction of COX-2 while exposure to N-acetylcysteine, a precursor of glutathione, suppressed the induction of COX-2 by B[a]P. Several lines of evidence suggest that the induction of COX-2 by B[a]P is mediated, at least in part, by NF-kappaB. Treatment with B[a]P increased binding of NF-kappaB to DNA. Moreover, B[a]P-mediated stimulation of COX-2 promoter activity was blocked when a construct containing a mutagenized NF-kappaB site was used. Pharmacological inhibitors of NF-kappaB blocked the induction of COX-2 protein and the stimulation of COX-2 promoter activity by B[a]P. Taken together, these data are likely to be important for understanding the atherogenic effects of tobacco smoke.
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PMID:Benzo[a]pyrene induces the transcription of cyclooxygenase-2 in vascular smooth muscle cells. Evidence for the involvement of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and NF-kappaB. 1067 33

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), the enzyme primarily responsible for induced prostaglandin synthesis, is an immediate early gene induced by endotoxin in macrophages. We investigated the cis-acting elements of the COX-2 5'-flanking sequence, the transcription factors and signaling pathways responsible for transcriptional activation of the COX-2 gene in endotoxin-treated murine RAW 264.7 macrophages. Luciferase reporter constructs with alterations in presumptive cis-acting transcriptional regulatory elements demonstrate that the cyclic AMP-response element and two nuclear factor interleukin-6 (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP)) sites of the COX-2 promoter are required for optimal endotoxin-dependent induction. In contrast, the E-box and NF-kappaB sites are not required for endotoxin-dependent induction. Inhibition of endotoxin-induced NF-kappaB activation by expression of an inhibitor-kappaB alpha mutant does not block endotoxin-dependent COX-2 reporter activity. Overexpression of c-Jun, C/EBPbeta, and C/EBPdelta enhances induction of the COX-2 reporter, while overexpression of cyclic AMP-response element-binding protein or "dominant negative" C/EBPbeta represses COX-2 induction. In addition, endotoxin rapidly and transiently elicits c-Jun phosphorylation in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Cotransfection of the COX-2 reporter with dominant negative expression vectors shows that endotoxin-induced COX-2 gene expression requires signaling through a Ras-independent pathway involving the adapter protein ECSIT and the signaling kinases MEKK1 and JNK. In contrast, endotoxin-induced COX-2 reporter activity is not blocked by overexpression of dominant-negative forms of Raf-1, ERK1, or ERK2.
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PMID:Transcriptional activation of the cyclooxygenase-2 gene in endotoxin-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages. 1069 22

LPS stimulation of RAW264 macrophages triggered the activation of mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinases-1 and -2 (MSK1, MSK2) and their putative substrates, the transcription factors cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and activating transcription factor-1 (ATF1). The activation of MSK1/MSK2 was prevented by preincubating the cells with a combination of two drugs that suppress activation of the classical mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade and stress-activated protein kinase/p38, respectively, but inhibition was only partial in the presence of either inhibitor. The LPS-stimulated activation of CREB and ATF1, the transcription of the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and IL-1 beta genes (the promoters of which contain a cyclic AMP response element), and the induction of the COX-2 protein were prevented by the same drug combination, as well as by Ro 318220 or H89, potent inhibitors of MSK1/MSK2. Two other transcription factors, C/EBP beta and NF-kappa B, have been implicated in the transcription of the COX-2 gene. However, PD 98059 and/or SB 203580 did not prevent the LPS-induced increase in the level of the transcription factor C/EBP beta, and none of the four inhibitors used in this study prevented the activation of NF-kappa B. Our results demonstrate that two different mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades are rate limiting for the LPS-induced activation of CREB/ATF1 and the transcription of the COX-2 and IL-1 beta genes. They also suggest that MSK1 and MSK2 may play a role in these processes and hence are potential targets for the development of novel antiinflammatory drugs.
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PMID:Role of mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades in mediating lipopolysaccharide-stimulated induction of cyclooxygenase-2 and IL-1 beta in RAW264 macrophages. 1070 90

The possible participation of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase, p44/42 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases and protein kinase C (PKC) in staurosporine-induced prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) production was investigated pharmacologically in rat peritoneal macrophages. When the cells were incubated in the presence of staurosporine (63 nM), phosphorylation of p44/42 MAP kinases and cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)) was induced at 15 min and increased until 60 min, whereas PGE(2) production and expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein began to increase at 2 h and increased thereafter. Both PD98059 and U0126, MAP kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) kinase inhibitors, and LY294002, a PI 3-kinase inhibitor, inhibited staurosporine-induced phosphorylation of p44/42 MAP kinases and cPLA(2) and PGE(2) production. Moreover, U0126 inhibited staurosporine-induced arachidonic acid release at 1 h. Although PD98059 and U0126 at 30 microM partially inhibited staurosporine-induced COX-2 protein expression, they completely inhibited staurosporine-induced PGE(2) production. LY294002 at 100 microM did not inhibit staurosporine-induced expression of COX-2 protein. In contrast, Ro-31-8220, a PKC inhibitor, completely inhibited staurosporine-induced PGE(2) production and COX-2 protein expression at 8 h but did not inhibit staurosporine-induced phosphorylation of p44/42 MAP kinases and cPLA(2). These findings suggest that staurosporine induces PGE(2) production by two mechanisms. One is cPLA(2) phosphorylation through a signal transduction pathway from PI 3-kinase to p44/42 MAP kinases, by which arachidonic acid, a substrate for COX-1 and COX-2, is increased. The other is COX-2 protein expression, which is induced mainly by activation of PKC and partially by activation of p44/42 MAP kinases; thus, arachidonic acid is metabolized to PGE(2).
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PMID:Signal transduction cascade in staurosporine-induced prostaglandin E(2) production by rat peritoneal macrophages. 1073 71

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and angiotensin II (Ang II) induced a transient increase in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA accumulation, without affecting COX-1 mRNA levels. The kinetics of COX-2 mRNA accumulation were similar in VSMCs challenged with either TNF-alpha or Ang II; mRNA accumulation peaked at 2 hours and decreased to control levels by approximately 6 hours. Accumulation of COX-2 mRNA was associated with a time-dependent increase of COX-2 protein expression that displayed similar kinetics in response to either TNF-alpha or Ang II. Both the increase in COX-2 mRNA accumulation and protein expression in response to either TNF-alpha or Ang II were inhibited by the mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK) inhibitor PD098059. In addition, the AT(1)-selective receptor antagonist losartan attenuated the Ang II-mediated increase in COX-2 mRNA accumulation; the AT(2)-selective antagonist PD123319 had no effect. Prostacyclin I(2) synthesis was tightly coupled to expression of COX-2, whereas prostaglandin E(2) and thromboxane A(2) (TXA(2)) synthesis may be associated with differential usage of COX-1 and COX-2. The COX-2-selective inhibitors NS-398 and nimesulide and the TXA(2) receptor antagonist BMS 180,291 inhibited TNF-alpha- and Ang II-mediated increases in DNA content and cell number by approximately 95%. These findings suggest that a prostanoid derived from COX-2, possibly TXA(2), may contribute to VSMC hyperplasia in vessel injury or pathophysiological conditions associated with elevated levels of either TNF-alpha or Ang II.
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PMID:Cyclooxygenase-2 is required for tumor necrosis factor-alpha- and angiotensin II-mediated proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. 1078 14

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