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)

ATP in the 100 muM-1 mM concentration range provoked a calcium-independent increase of the oxidation of dichlorodihydrofluorescein (DCFH) to dichlorofluorescein (DCF) by mouse submandibular cells. 3'-O-(4-benzoyl)benzoyl adenosine 5'-triphosphate (BzATP), a P2X(7) agonist, but not a muscarinic or an adrenergic agonist, reproduced the effect of ATP. The inhibition of phospholipase C by U73122 or the potentiation of P2X(4) receptor activation with ivermectin did not modify the response to ATP. ATP did not increase the oxidation of DCFH in cells isolated from submandibular glands of P2X(7) knockout mice or in cells pretreated with a P2X(7) antagonist. The inhibition of protein kinase C or of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) or of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase blocked the oxidation of DCFH without affecting the increase of the intracellular concentration of calcium or the uptake of ethidium bromide in response to extracellular ATP. From these results it is concluded that the activation of the P2X(7) receptors from submandibular glands triggers an intracellular signalling cascade involving protein kinase C and MAP kinase leading to the stimulation of NADPH oxidase and the subsequent generation of reactive oxygen species.
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PMID:Pharmacological evidence for the stimulation of NADPH oxidase by P2X(7) receptors in mouse submandibular glands. 1858 Dec 62

Modification of catalytic residue His-47 with p-bromophenacyl bromide (BPB) abolished the enzymatic activity of Naja naja atra phospholipase A2 (PLA2). Additionally, alterations in the global structure and the spatial positions of Trp residues were noted in His-modified PLA2. The cell viability of human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells was decreased by approximately 40% and 20% after treatment with 10 microM PLA2 and BPB-PLA2, respectively. Native and His-modified PLA2 induced a necrotic cell death accompanied with an activation of p38 MAPK, the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsim) and cytochrome c release. Pretreatment with SB202190 (p38 MAPK inhibitor) and cyclosporine A (inhibitor of mitochondria permeability transition pore) rescued cell viability, DeltaPsim and cytochrome c release of PLA2-treated cells. Taken together, our data indicate that PLA2 activity does not play an indispensable role on the cytotoxicity of N. naja atra PLA2, and suggest a novel function of secretory PLA2 in inducing cell death of neuroblastoma. Moreover, the reduced cytotoxicity noted with BPB-PLA2 may be partly attributed to conformational distortion after modification of His-47.
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PMID:p38 MAPK activation and mitochondrial depolarization mediate the cytotoxicity of Taiwan cobra phospholipase A2 on human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells. 1858 42

In the present study, the toxicity of arsenic trioxide and lead acetate was assessed in adult hepatic stem cells induced in the 2-acetyl-aminofluorene/partial hepatectomy rat model. Isolated oval cells were incubated separately for 6 h with 40 muM each of arsenic trioxide and lead acetate. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay denoted significant time-dependent cell death in arsenic and lead treated oval cells. The degree of stress imposed by these metals was evidenced by induction of heat shock protein (HSP) 70 and HSP 90. Arsenic and lead were found to trigger apoptosis as revealed by DNA ladder formation, Western blots of apoptotic factors, and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analyses of bax and bcl-2. Results clearly indicate that both arsenic and lead induced apoptosis is caspase-mediated and accompanied by extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) dephosphorylation. Full-length BH3-interacting-domain death agonist expression in presence of caspase 3 inhibitor unravels a direct involvement of caspase in As and Pb induced apoptosis. Expression patterns of apoptosis inducing factor, B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) antagonist of cell death, Bcl-2-associated X protein, and Bcl2 also signify mitochondrial regulation of apoptosis effected by lead and arsenic. It is concluded that stimulation of caspase cascade and simultaneous ERK dephosphorylation are the most significant operative pathways directly associated with apoptotic signals triggered by arsenic and lead in the oval cells.
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PMID:Arsenic trioxide and lead acetate induce apoptosis in adult rat hepatic stem cells. 1861 74

Baicalein (5,6,7-trioxyflavone-7-O-beta-D-glucuronide) derived from the Chinese herb Scutellaria baicalensis is well known as a lipoxygenase inhibitor. We investigated baicalein-mediated inhibitory effects on vascular smooth-muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and intimal hyperplasia by balloon angioplasty in the rat. In vascular injury studies, baicalein significantly suppressed intimal hyperplasia by balloon angioplasty. Baicalein significantly inhibited cell proliferation via a lipoxygenase-independent pathway using [(3)H]thymidine incorporation, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), and flow cytometry assays. At the concentrations used, no cytotoxic effect on cell culture was found. Baicalein blocks cell-cycle progression in S/G2/M phase, consistent with the cell-cycle effects, baicalein significant inhibited cyclin D1, p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and Akt phosphorylation without change in the other cell-cycle regulatory proteins. Furthermore, baicalein attenuated serum-induced deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) binding activity of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB). These results show that baicalein blocks cell proliferation via blocking cell-cycle progression and proliferating events, including p42/44 MAPK and Akt activations as well as NF-kappaB activation. It also inhibits intimal hyperplasia after balloon vascular injury in the rat, indicating the therapeutic potential for treating restenosis after arterial injury.
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PMID:Baicalein attenuates intimal hyperplasia after rat carotid balloon injury through arresting cell-cycle progression and inhibiting ERK, Akt, and NF-kappaB activity in vascular smooth-muscle cells. 1866 31

This study is to examine the effects of equol on the H(2)O(2)-induced death of bovine aortic endothelial cells (bAECs) and the mechanism of its protective effects. MTT[3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide] assay showed that in the control group, cell survival rate decreased significantly, each in proportion to the duration of the H(2)O(2) stimulation (P<0.05), but, in the equol-pretreated group, such decrease was not statistically significant. After Hoechst 33342 staining, in the equol-pretreated group the number of cells with apoptotic morphology decreased significantly. Equol pretreatment effectively inhibited the H(2)O(2)-induced cell death by the reduction of intracellular ROS production (P<0.05). Incubation of bAECs with equol increased the expression of phospho-p38 MAPK and Bcl-2 after the H(2)O(2) exposure compared with their expression without the equol pretreatment. Furthermore, SB203580 inhibited phospho-p38 MAPK expression and increased apoptotic cell death. This study proves equol has a significant antioxidant effect on the bAECs that were exposed to H(2)O(2).
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PMID:Antioxidant effects of equol on bovine aortic endothelial cells. 1870 29

Cyr61 has been reported to participate in the development and progression of various cancers; however, its role in prostate cancer (PCa) still remains poorly understood. In this study, we explored the function of Cyr61 in a series of malignant PCa cell lines, including LnCap, Du145, and PC3. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and crystal violet assays demonstrated that Cyr61 was essential for the proliferation of PCa cells. Soft agar assay and xenograft analysis showed that downregulation of Cyr61 suppressed the tumorigenicity of Du145 cells both in vitro and in vivo. Either silencing the cellular Cyr61 by RNA interference or neutralising the endogenous Cyr61 by antibody inhibited the migration of Du145 cells. In contrast, purified protein of Cyr61 promoted the migration of LnCap cells in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggested that Cyr61 was involved in the migration of PCa cells. We also observed the accumulation of mature focal adhesion complexes associated with the impaired migration through Cyr61 downregulation. Also, further studies showed that Cyr61 regulated the level of activated Rac1 as well as its downstream targets, including phosphorylated JNK, E-cadherin, and p27(kip1), which are key molecules involved in cell growth, migration, and invasion. The in vivo mouse tail vein injection experiment revealed that Cyr61 affected the metastatic capacity of Du145 cells, suggesting that Cyr61 was required for prostate tumour metastasis. Altogether, our results demonstrated that Cyr61 played an important role in the tumorigenicity and metastasis of PCa cells, which will benefit the development of therapeutic strategy for PCas.
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PMID:Involvement of Cyr61 in growth, migration, and metastasis of prostate cancer cells. 1894 64

The Ras/Raf/MEK pathway represents an important oncogenic signaling pathway in gastrointestinal malignancies, including pancreatic cancer. Although activating B-Raf mutations are infrequent in pancreatic cancer, we hypothesized that targeting Raf could be valuable for therapy of this cancer entity. Moreover, as vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) is involved in tumor angiogenesis, we sought to investigate the effects of dual inhibition of Raf and VEGFR2 on pancreatic tumor growth, vascularization, and metastasis. Effects of a Raf/VEGFR2 inhibitor (NVP-AAL881) on pancreatic cancer cells, endothelial cells, and vascular smooth muscle cells were determined by Western blotting, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide analysis, and migration assays, respectively. Changes in the expression of VEGF-A or survivin were investigated by ELISA and/or real-time PCR. The growth-inhibitory effects of Raf/VEGFR2 inhibition were additionally evaluated in orthotopic tumor models. Results showed that various Raf isoforms were activated in pancreatic cancer cells and NVP-AAL881 diminished the activation of MEK, Akt, Erk, and also STAT3. Moreover, dual inhibition of Raf/VEGFR2 significantly reduced VEGF expression and impaired cancer cell migration. Importantly, besides blocking VEGF-induced Erk and SAPK phosphorylation in endothelial cells, the Raf inhibitor diminished STAT3 phosphorylation, independent of a VEGFR2 blockade, and reduced the expression of survivin. In addition, cell proliferation and migration of both endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells were significantly reduced. In vivo, blocking Raf/VEGFR2 significantly inhibited orthotopic tumor growth and vascularization and reduced cancer metastasis. In conclusion, blocking Raf exerts growth-inhibitory effects on pancreatic tumor cells, endothelial cells, and pericytes and elicits antiangiogenic properties. Dual targeting of Raf and VEGFR2 appears to be a valid strategy for therapy of pancreatic cancer.
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PMID:Dual targeting of Raf and VEGF receptor 2 reduces growth and metastasis of pancreatic cancer through direct effects on tumor cells, endothelial cells, and pericytes. 1900 34

Estrogen affects proliferation and migration of different skin components, thus influencing wound healing processes. The human keratinocyte cell line NCTC 2544 has been used to examine the effects of estrogen, dissect its mechanism of action and characterize receptor subtypes involved. Western blot and immunocytochemical analyses confirmed the expression of estrogen receptors (ERs) alpha and beta, with prevalence in the nuclear and extranuclear compartment, for ER alpha and ER beta respectively. Treatment with 10 nM 17beta-estradiol (17beta-E(2)) and the ER alpha and ER beta selective agonists, 1,3,5-tris(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-propyl-1H-pyrazole (PPT; 100 nM), and diarylpropionitrile (DPN; 1 nM) produced a slight but significant increase in cell proliferation, as by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and bromodeoxyuridine incorporation assays, only after a long-term treatment (96 h). Analysis of cell migration by a scratch wound assay showed that 17beta-E(2) (10 nM) accelerated migration between 5 and 24 h after scratching, an effect confirmed by the transwell migration assay. PPT and DPN elicited similar effects. Pre-treatment with the mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor, U0126 (1 microM), abolished the ability of 17beta-E(2) and DPN, but not of PPT, to accelerate wound closure. TGF-beta1 (10 ng/ml) produced a similar positive effect on wound closure and the TGF-beta1 receptor antagonist, SB431542 (10 microM), reduced the ability of 17beta-E(2) and PPT to accelerate cell migration, but did not modify DPN effect. It is suggested that estrogen positively affects in vitro wound healing by stimulating cell proliferation after long-term exposure but mainly by accelerating cell migration within a few hours from treatment. Selective activation of ER beta may result in favorable stimulation of wound healing without any increase of transforming growth factor-beta1 production.
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PMID:Differential involvement of estrogen receptor alpha and estrogen receptor beta in the healing promoting effect of estrogen in human keratinocytes. 1900 31

The present study is designed to investigate the effect of pre-conditioning with 35% O2 on PC12 cell death induced by hypoxia. This study investigated whether 35% O2 pre-conditioning for 3 h, followed by 12 h recovery, can protect PC12 cells against death induced by subsequent exposure to hypoxia for 72 h. The result showed that pre-conditioning with 35% O2 partly blocked the decrease in 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction induced by hypoxia in PC12 cells. PC12 cells pre-conditioned with 35% O2 could generate a small quantity of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which activated the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signalling pathway, then the over-expression of the B-cell lymphoma/leukaemia-2 (Bcl-2) was induced, which subsequently protected PC12 cell against death resulting from hypoxia exposure. In conclusion, 35% O2 pre-conditioning could protect PC12 cells against hypoxic insult.
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PMID:Thirty-five percent oxygen pre-conditioning protects PC12 cells against death induced by hypoxia. 1906 Oct 57

In view of the controversial role of catalytic activity on the cytotoxicity of phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)), the present study is conducted to explore whether PLA(2) induces apoptotic process of human leukemia U937 cells through catalytic activity-independent pathway. Modification of His-48 (according to the sequence alignment with porcine pancreatic PLA(2)) with p-bromophenacyl bromide (BPB) caused over 99.9% drop in enzymatic activity Naja naja atra PLA(2). It was found that BPB-PLA(2)-induced apoptotic death of U937 cells was associated with mitochondrial depolarization, modulation of Bcl-2 family members, cytochrome c release and activation of caspases 9 and 3. Upon exposure to BPB-PLA(2), elevation of intracellular Ca(2+) levels and p38 MAPK activation were observed in U937 cells. Pretreatment with BAPTA-AM (Ca(2+) chelator) and nifedipine (L-type Ca(2+) channel blocker) abrogated Ca(2+) increase and p38 MAPK activation, and rescued viability of BPB-PLA(2)-treated U937 cells. BPB-PLA(2)-induced dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential and down-regulation of Bcl-2 were suppressed by SB202190 (p38MAPK inhibitor). Although PLA(2) mutants in which His-48 and Asp-49 were substituted by Ala and Lys, respectively, did not display detectable PLA(2) activity, they induced death of U937 cells. The signaling pathway of PLA(2) mutants in inducing cell death was indistinguishable from that of BPB-PLA(2). Taken together, our data indicate that catalytic activity-independent pathway is involved in PLA(2)-induced apoptotic death of human leukemia U937 cells via mitochondria-mediated death pathway triggering by Ca(2+)-mediated p38 MAPK activation.
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PMID:Catalytic activity-independent pathway is involved in phospholipase A(2)-induced apoptotic death of human leukemia U937 cells via Ca(2+)-mediated p38 MAPK activation and mitochondrial depolarization. 1911 7


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