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)

Phosphatidic acid (PA) was observed to stimulate protein synthesis in adult cardiomyocytes in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. The maximal stimulation in protein synthesis (142 +/- 12% vs 100% as the control) was achieved at 10 microM PA within 60 min and was inhibited by actinomycin D (107 +/- 4% of the control) or cycloheximide (105 +/- 6% of the control). The increase in protein synthesis due to PA was attenuated or abolished by preincubation of cardiomyocytes with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein (94 +/- 9% of the control), phospholipase C inhibitors 2-nitro-4-carboxyphenyl N,N-diphenyl carbamate or carbon-odithioic acid O-(octahydro-4,7-methanol-1H-inden-5-yl (101 +/- 6 and 95 +/- 5% of the control, respectively), protein kinase C inhibitors staurosporine or polymyxin B (109 +/- 3 and 93 +/- 3% of the control), and chelators of extracellular and intracellular free Ca2+ EGTA or BAPTA/AM (103 +/- 6 and 95 +/- 6% of the control, respectively). PA at different concentrations (0.1 to 100 microM) also caused phosphorylation of a cell surface protein of approximately 24 kDa. In addition, mitogen-activated protein kinase was stimulated by PA in a concentration-dependent manner; maximal stimulation (217 +/- 6% of the control) was seen at 10 microM PA. These data suggest that PA increases protein synthesis in adult rat cardiomyocytes and thus may play an important role in the development of cardiac hypertrophy.
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PMID:Stimulation of protein synthesis by phosphatidic acid in rat cardiomyocytes. 898 36

We found that natural (long-chain) ceramide 1-phosphate can be dispersed into aqueous solution when dissolved in an appropriate mixture of methanol/dodecane (49:1, v/v). This solvent mixture facilitates the interaction of this phosphosphingolipid with cells. Under these conditions, incubation of EGFR T17 fibroblasts with natural ceramide 1-phosphate caused a potent stimulation of DNA synthesis. This effect was accompanied by an increase in the levels of proliferating-cell nuclear antigen. Concentrations of natural ceramide 1-phosphate that stimulated the synthesis of DNA did not inhibit adenylate cyclase activity, nor did they stimulate phospholipase D. Natural ceramide 1-phosphate did not alter the cellular phosphorylation state of tyrosine residues or of mitogen-activated protein kinase. Furthermore, natural ceramide 1-phosphate failed to induce the expression of the proto-oncogenes c-myc and c-fos. Both the stimulation of DNA synthesis and the induction of proliferating-cell nuclear antigen by natural ceramide 1-phosphate were inhibited by natural ceramides. This work suggests that the use of methanol and dodecane to deliver natural ceramide 1-phosphate to cells may be useful for elucidation of the biological function(s) and mechanism(s) of action of ceramide 1-phosphate.
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PMID:Stimulation of DNA synthesis by natural ceramide 1-phosphate. 923 Jan 25

We recently demonstrated that the mitogenic effect of LDL (100 microg/mL) as well as its early intracellular signaling pathway are mediated by a pertussis-toxin (PTX)-sensitive G(i) protein-coupled receptor that is independent from its classical receptor and involves activation of extracellular response kinases (ERK1/2) (also known as p44(mapk)/p42(mapk)). In the present study we examined whether LDL-adherent factors may be responsible for some of the effects of LDL. The term "signaling activity" is used to characterize fractions that cause an increase in intracellular free Ca(2+) concentration or stimulate ERK1/2 and c-fos mRNA expression. LDL, HDL, and VLDL stimulate ERK1/2 with the following order of potency: LDL>HDL>VLDL. After delipidation of LDL with chloroform/methanol/water mixtures a PTX-sensitive signaling activity was found in one fraction arbitrarily called LDL-F. After further analysis of LDL-F compounds by high pressure liquid chromatography, a PTX-sensitive signaling activity was detected only in the fraction with a retention time of 33 minutes (arbitrarily called LDL-F33). Similarly, after separation of sphingosine-1-phosphate (SPP) and sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) by high pressure liquid chromatography, a PTX-sensitive signaling activity was found in the fractions 33 and 33 to 35, respectively. These findings demonstrate that the effects of LDL-F33 are mimicked by similar fractions collected from SPP/SPC, hence suggesting that these LDL-adherent molecules are possibly closely related to SPP/SPC. A PTX-sensitive signaling activity was also detected in HDL and HDL-F33. Therefore, LDL and other lipoproteins may function as carriers for bioactive phospholipids thereby contributing to the development of coronary artery disease. Our findings support a new research concept that may contribute in elucidating cellular mechanisms promoting coronary artery disease.
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PMID:Evidence that lipoproteins are carriers of bioactive factors. 1052 71

This study examined the effect of acute cadmium on stress-related gene expression and free radical production in wild-type and metallothionein-I/II-null (MT-null) mice. Atlas Toxicology arrays showed that acute cadmium (40 micromol/kg as CdCl(2), ip for 3 h) markedly increased the expression of genes encoding heat-shock proteins, heme oxygenase-1, and genes in response to DNA damage/repair. The expression of genes encoding cytochrome P450 enzymes, UDP-glucuronosyltransferases, Mn-superoxide dismutase, and catalase was suppressed by cadmium. MT-null mice were more sensitive than wild-type mice to cadmium-induced, stress-related gene expression, in accord with greater activation of transcription factor AP-1 and phosphorylated JNK and ERK. To evaluate free radical production, mice were simultaneously given the spin trap agent, N-tert-butyl-alpha-phenylnitrone (PBN, 250 mg in DMSO/kg, ip) with cadmium, and livers were removed 30 min later for PBN-trapped radical extraction with chloroform:methanol (2:1), and detected with electron spin resonance (ESR). Cadmium treatment caused detectable ESR signals for PBN adducts as well as lipid peroxidation in the liver similarly in both wild-type and MT-null mice. Thus, the mechanism of acute cadmium toxicity involves multiple facets including oxidative damage and aberrant gene expression, and absence of MT exacerbates Cd-induced aberrant gene expression.
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PMID:Acute cadmium exposure induces stress-related gene expression in wild-type and metallothionein-I/II-null mice. 1195 53

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of several inflammatory conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Current cell-based assays for MCP-1 use monocyte chemotaxis or calcium flux as a readout. Here, we describe an alternative bioassay based on MCP-1-induced phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) p44 (ERK1) and p42 (ERK2). Adherent cells expressing the MCP-1 receptor CCR2B are treated with MCP-1 in 96-well plates in the presence or absence of inhibitors, fixed and permeabilized with methanol, and then probed with a monoclonal antibody that selectively recognizes the doubly phosphorylated form of p44/42 MAPK. Bound antibody is detected with a secondary antibody-peroxidase conjugate and a chromogenic substrate. The phosphorylation of p44/42 MAPK as detected in this assay peaks after 3-5 min of MCP-1 treatment, and the concentration of MCP-1 required for half-maximal p44/42 MAPK phosphorylation is 1-3 nM. MCP-1-induced phosphorylation of p44/42 MAPK is dependent upon the expression of CCR2B. The assay can be used for screening and characterization of small molecule inhibitors and antibodies blocking the binding of MCP-1 to its receptor. Since the assay is rapid and simple, it may represent a useful alternative to chemotaxis or calcium mobilization assays for the analysis of MCP-1 inhibitors.
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PMID:Development of a microplate bioassay for monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 based on activation of p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase. 1503 19

Gastrodia elata (G. elata) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine for treating headaches, dizziness, tetanus, and epilepsy. In this study, differential methanol (MeOH) extracts of G. elata were found to prevent serum-deprived rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cell apoptosis by the MTT assay and Hoechst staining. A serine/threonine kinase inhibitor attenuated this protection. G. elata resulted in phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of ERK1/2 and JNK1/2-p38 MAPKs (members of the serine/threonine kinase family), respectively, as revealed by Western blot analysis. An upstream ERK inhibitor attenuated G. elata-induced ERK phosphorylation but not protective effect. Although JNK and p38 inhibitors attenuated their related enzyme activities during serum deprivation, only JNK inhibitor prevented serum-deprived apoptosis. Thus, G. elata prevents serum-deprived apoptosis through activation of the serine/threonine kinase-dependent pathway and suppression of JNK activity.
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PMID:Gastrodia elata prevents rat pheochromocytoma cells from serum-deprived apoptosis: the role of the MAPK family. 1526 68

Phenotyping and simple enumeration of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) is of limited value for the assessment of many clinical states. As a preferred alternative, cell surface phenotyping may be combined with functional assays for enhanced assessment of altered cells circulating in patients. One simple, yet informative and rapid approach is to examine signaling within individual cells following brief periods of stimulation via flow cytometry. Although monocytes and lymphoid cells can be distinguished based on size, current permeabilization strategies necessary for identifying intracellular phosphorylated signaling molecules largely compromise the labeling of cell surface proteins used to distinguish individual cellular subsets. We have successfully developed conditions that allow for simultaneous detection of cell surface proteins and intracellular phosphorylated proteins in human PBMC following rapid in vitro cytokine stimulation. We analyzed permeabilized CD4, CD8, CD14, CD19, and CD56 expressing cells together with intracellular pSTAT1, pSTAT3, pSTAT5, pSTAT6, pp38 MAPK, or pERK1/2 within total PBMC. Of the permeabilizing conditions tested, 75% methanol enabled superior simultaneous detection of both cell surface and intracellular epitopes. This method enables the rapid functional analysis of subsets within complex cell mixtures and provides an opportunity for assessing abnormalities arising in the setting of acute or chronic inflammatory states.
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PMID:Successful simultaneous measurement of cell membrane and cytokine induced phosphorylation pathways [CIPP] in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. 1671 44

Flavonoids have antioxidant and antitumor promoting effects. Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) is a flavonoid-rich herbal medicine that has long been used in Korea as both a food additive and antitumor agent. It was previous reported that a purified flavonoid fraction prepared from RVS, herein named RCMF (the RVS chloroform-methanol fraction), inhibited the proliferation and induced apoptosis in human osteosarcoma (HOS) cells. This study examined the mechanisms involved in the RCMF-mediated apoptosis in HOS cells. RCMF was shown to be capable of inducing apoptosis in HOS cells by inducing p53 in the cells resulting in the decrease in Bcl-2 level, activation of Bax, and cytoplasmic release of cytochrome c, which led to the translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) and endonuclease G (EndoG) into the nucleus. However, the RCMF-induced apoptosis was suppressed by transfecting the cells with antisense p53 oligonucleotides but not by treating them with a MAPK or caspase inhibitor. This suppression occurred through the regulation of Bcl-2 members as well as by preventing the nuclear translocation of the mitochondrial apoptogenic factors. Overall, it appears that p53-mediated mitochondrial stress and the nuclear translocation of AIF and EndoG are mainly required for the apoptosis induced by RCMF.
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PMID:Caspase-independent death of human osteosarcoma cells by flavonoids is driven by p53-mediated mitochondrial stress and nuclear translocation of AIF and endonuclease G. 1735 95

Inonotus obliquus (Pers.:Fr.) Pil. is a white rot fungus that belongs to the family Hymenochaetaceae of Basidiomycetes. Extracts and fractions of this fungus have been known to have biological activities, including antimutagenic, anticancer, antioxidative, and immunostimulating effects. Recently, there have been reports that the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties of the methanol extract of I. obliquus may be due to the inhibition of inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression via the down-regulation of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) binding activity. However, the effects of I. obliquus on Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation of inflammatory mediator production have not yet been elucidated. In the present study, a 70% ethanol extract of I. obliquus (IOE70) showed antioxidative effects. We also tested the ability of the I. obliquus extract to inhibit the inflammatory cascades in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. The NO inhibition of IOE70 was better than that of other ethanol extracts from I. obliquus. To investigate the mechanism by which IOE 70 inhibits NO production and iNOS and COX-2 expression, we examined the activations of IkappaBalpha, Akt, and c-Jun NH(2) -terminal kinase (JNK) in LPS-activated macrophages. IOE70 markedly inhibited the phosphorylation of IkappaBalpha, Akt, and MAPKs in dose-dependent manners in LPS-activated macrophages. Taken together, these experiments demonstrated that IOE70 inhibition of LPS-induced expression of iNOS and COX-2 protein is mediated by Akt and JNK. Based on our findings, the most likely mechanism that can account for this biological effect of IOE70 involves the inhibition of NF-kappaB through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt/IkappaB pathway and the inhibition of JNK activation. Thus, IOE70 might have useful clinical applications in the management of inflammatory diseases and may also be useful as a medicinal food.
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PMID:Ethanol extract of Inonotus obliquus inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. 1747 71

VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), a potent angiogenic molecule specific for vascular endothelial cells, is overexpressed in most tumours including MM (multiple myeloma) and closely associated with tumour growth and prognosis. It has been shown that a soluble fragment of the VEGF receptor Flt-1 (Fms-like tyrosine kinase-1) [sFlt-1 (soluble Flt-1)] has antiangiogenic properties by way of its antagonist activity against VEGF. VEGF and its receptors have been shown to be targets for treating tumours. In the present study, sFlt-1 gene was expressed in Pichia pastoris and the product was applied for studying the effect on KM3 MM cells. sFlt-1 gene was inserted into the pPICZalphaA vector and the expressed product was analysed by SDS/PAGE, immunoblot and ELISA. The sFlt-1 protein was expressed by 0.5% (v/v) methanol induction and it accumulated up to 23% of total proteins in the supernatant. The product was further purified with metal-chelating resin [Ni-NTA (Ni(2+)-nitrilotriacetate)]. The functional analysis of the sFlt-1 protein was performed with HUVEC (human umbilical-vein endothelial cells) proliferation assay. We next showed that the sFlt-1 protein acted directly on MM cells and inhibited the VEGF-induced proliferation of MM cells with MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide] and (3)H uptake assay. The sFlt-1 protein blocked VEGF-induced ERK (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase) phosphorylation and inhibited the MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) signalling cascades. The present study demonstrated that anti-MM activity of the sFlt-1 protein, coupled with its antiangiogenic effects, provides the basis for clinical trials of this agent to improve the outcome in MM.
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PMID:Expression of soluble Flt-1 gene in Pichia pastoris and the effect of the product on multiple-myeloma cells in vitro. 1761 89


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