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)

Type 2 diabetes is a heterogeneous disease characterized by hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in peripheral tissues such as adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. This review focuses on obesity as one of the major environmental factors contributing to the development of diabetes. It has become evident that adipose tissue represents an active secretory organ capable of releasing a variety of cytokines such as TNFalpha, IL-6, adiponectin and other still unknown factors that might constitute the missing link between adipose tissue and insulin resistance. In fact, adipocyte-derived factors are significantly increased in obesity and represent good predictors of the development of type 2 diabetes. The negative crosstalk between adipocytes and skeletal muscle cells leads to disturbances in muscle cell insulin signalling and insulin resistance involving major pathways in inflammation, cellular stress and mitogenesis. Positive regulators of insulin sensitivity include the adipocyte hormone adiponectin and inhibitors of inflammatory pathways such as JNK-, IKK- and ERK-inhibitors. In summary, a better knowledge of intracellular and intercellular mechanisms by which adipose tissue affects skeletal muscle cell physiology may help to develop new strategies for diabetes treatment.
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PMID:Pathways leading to muscle insulin resistance--the muscle--fat connection. 1693 52

TNF-alpha influences morbidity and mortality during the course of endotoxemia. However, the complex pleiotropic functions of TNF-alpha remain poorly understood. We evaluated how hepatic induction of NF-kappaB and TNF-alpha influence survival and hepatocellular death in a lethal murine model of endotoxic shock. Using dominant-negative viral vectors to inhibit the IKK complex, we demonstrate through this study that the liver is a major source of TNF-alpha during the course of lethal endotoxemia and that IKKbeta (but not IKKalpha) is predominantly responsible for activating NF-kappaB and TNF-alpha in the liver after LPS administration. Using TNF-alpha knockout mice and hepatic-specific inhibition of IKKbeta, we demonstrate that the status of TNF-alpha and NF-kappaB balances necrotic and apoptotic fates of hepatocytes in the setting of endotoxemia. In the presence of TNF-alpha, inhibiting hepatic IKKbeta resulted in increased survival, reduced serum proinflammatory cytokines, and reduced hepatocyte necrosis in response to a lethal dose of endotoxin. In contrast, inhibiting hepatic IKKbeta in TNF-alpha knockout mice resulted in decreased survival and increased caspase 3-mediated hepatocyte apoptosis after endotoxin challenge, despite a reduced proinflammatory cytokine response. In the presence of TNF-alpha, NF-kappaB-dependent hepatocellular necrosis predominated, while in the absence of TNF-alpha, NF-kappaB primarily influenced apoptotic fate of hepatocytes. Changes in JNK phosphorylation after LPS challenge were also dynamically affected by both IKKbeta and TNF-alpha; however, this pathway could not solely explain the differential outcomes in hepatocellular fates. In conclusion, our studies demonstrate that induction of NF-kappaB and TNF-alpha balances protective (antiapoptotic) and detrimental (proinflammatory) pathways to determine hepatocellular fates during endotoxemia.
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PMID:Pleiotropic functions of TNF-alpha determine distinct IKKbeta-dependent hepatocellular fates in response to LPS. 1693 50

Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), a redox-sensitive transcription factor, plays an important role in the aging process. Thus, developing and identifying specific components that modulate NF-kappaB without adverse side-effects would be of major importance. Hesperetin, a flavanone abundant in citrus fruits, has a variety of pharmacological properties being antioxidant, cholesterol-lowering, and anti-inflammatory. In this study, we investigated how hesperetin fed to 6- and 24-month-old rats modulates NF-kappaB in their kidneys. Results showed that hesperetin suppressed NF-kappaB activation and related gene expressions. An even more interesting finding is that hesperetin suppressed NF-kappaB through four signal transduction pathways, NIK/IKK, ERK, p38, and JNK. Further evidence showed the remarkable efficacy of hesperetin to suppress the translocation of Trx/Ref-1, indicating its beneficial effect on the redox status. The most significant findings of the current study report new information on the use of hesperetin as a potential anti-aging agent.
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PMID:Modulation of the age-related nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) pathway by hesperetin. 1693 86

Acacetin (5,7-dihydroxy-4'-methoxyflavone), a flavonoid compound, has anti-peroxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of acacetin and a related compound, wogonin, on the induction of NO synthase (NOS) and COX-2 in RAW 264.7 cells activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Acacetin markedly and actively inhibited the transcriptional activation of iNOS and COX-2. Western blotting, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and real-time PCR analyses demonstrated that acacetin significantly blocked protein and mRNA expression of iNOS and COX-2 in LPS-inducted macrophages. Treatment with acacetin reduced translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF kappa B) subunit and the dependent transcriptional activity of NF kappa B. The activation of NF kappa B was inhibited by prevention of the degradation of inhibitor kappa B (I kappa B). Furthermore, acacetin inhibited LPS-induced phosphorylation as well as degradation of I kappa B alpha. We further investigated the roles of tyrosine kinase, phosphatidylinositiol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in LPS-induced macrophages. We found that acacetin also inhibited LPS-induced activation of PI3K/Akt and p44/42, but not p38 MAPK. After initiation of 7,12-dimethlybene[a]anthracene (DMBA), applying acacentin topically before each 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetat (TPA) treatment was found to reduce the number of papillomas at 20 weeks. Taken together, these results show that acacetin down regulates inflammatory iNOS and COX-2 gene expression in macrophages by inhibiting the activation of NF kappa B by interfering with the activation PI3K/Akt/IKK and MAPK, suggesting that acacetin is a functionally novel agent capable of preventing inflammation-associated tumorigenesis.
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PMID:Acacetin suppressed LPS-induced up-expression of iNOS and COX-2 in murine macrophages and TPA-induced tumor promotion in mice. 1694 56

Legionella pneumophila causes community- and hospital-acquired pneumonia. Lung airway and alveolar epithelial cells comprise an important barrier against airborne pathogens. Cyclooxygenase (COX) and microsomal PGE(2) synthase-1 (mPGES-1)-derived prostaglandins like prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) are considered as important regulators of lung function. Herein we tested the hypothesis that L. pneumophila induced COX-2 and mPGES-1-dependent PGE(2) production in pulmonary epithelial cells. Legionella induced the release of PGE(2) in primary human small airway epithelial cells and A549 cells. This was accompanied by an increased expression of COX-2 and mPGES-1 as well as an increased PLA(2) activity in infected cells. Deletion of the type IV secretion system Dot/Icm did not impair Legionella-related COX-2 expression or PGE(2) release in A549 cells. L. pneumophila induced the degradation of IkappaBalpha and activated NF-kappaB. Inhibition of IKK blocked L. pneumophila-induced PGE(2) release and COX-2 expression. We noted activation of p38 and p42/44 MAP kinase in Legionella-infected A549 cells. Moreover, membrane translocation and activation of PKCalpha was observed in infected cells. PKCalpha and p38 and p42/44 MAP kinase inhibitors reduced PGE(2) release and COX-2 expression. In summary, PKCalpha and p38 and p42/44 MAP kinase controlled COX-2 expression and subsequent PGE(2) release by Legionella-infected lung epithelial cells. These pathways may significantly contribute to the host response in Legionnaires' disease.
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PMID:Legionella pneumophila-induced PKCalpha-, MAPK-, and NF-kappaB-dependent COX-2 expression in human lung epithelium. 1701 71

AP-1/cJun, NF-kappaB and STAT3 transcription factors control expression of numerous genes, which regulate critical cell functions including proliferation, survival and apoptosis. Sodium arsenite is known to suppress both the IKK-NF-kappaB and JAK2-STAT3 signaling pathways and to activate the MAPK/JNK-cJun pathways, thereby committing some cancers to undergo apoptosis. Indeed, sodium arsenite is an effective drug for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia with little nonspecific toxicity. Malignant melanoma is highly refractory to conventional radio- and chemotherapy. In the present study, we observed strong effects of sodium arsenite treatment on upregulation of TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in human and mouse melanomas. Arsenite treatment upregulated surface levels of death receptors, TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2, through increased translocation of these proteins from cytoplasm to the cell surface. Furthermore, activation of cJun and suppression of NF-kappaB by sodium arsenite resulted in upregulation of the endogenous TRAIL and downregulation of the cFLIP gene expression (which encodes one of the main anti-apoptotic proteins in melanomas) followed by cFLIP protein degradation and, finally, by acceleration of TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Direct suppression of cFLIP expression by cFLIP RNAi also accelerated TRAIL-induced apoptosis in these melanomas, while COX-2 suppression substantially increased levels of both TRAIL-induced and arsenite-induced apoptosis. In contrast, overexpression of permanently active AKTmyr inhibited TRAIL-mediated apoptosis via downregulation of TRAIL-R1 levels. Finally, AKT overactivation increased melanoma survival in cell culture and dramatically accelerated growth of melanoma transplant in vivo, highlighting a role of AKT suppression for effective anticancer treatment.
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PMID:Sodium arsenite accelerates TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in melanoma cells through upregulation of TRAIL-R1/R2 surface levels and downregulation of cFLIP expression. 1707 May 20

IkappaB kinase beta (IKKbeta) subunit of IKK complex is essential for the activation of NF-kappaB in response to various proinflammatory signals. Cys-179 in the activation loop of IKKbeta is known to be the target site for IKK inhibitors such as cyclopentenone prostaglandins, arsenite, and antirheumatic gold compounds. Here we show that a mutant IKKbeta in which Cys-179 is substituted with alanine had decreased activity when it was expressed in HEK-293 cells, and TNF stimulation did not restore the activity. Phosphorylation of activation loop serines (Ser-177 and Ser-181) which is required for IKKbeta activation was reduced in the IKKbeta (C179A) mutant. The activity of IKKbeta (C179A) was partially recovered when its phosphorylation was enforced by coexpression with mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinases (MAPKKK) such as NF-kappaB inducing kinase (NIK) and MAPK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase kinase 1(MEKK1) or when the serine residues were replaced with phospho-mimetic glutamate. The IKKbeta (C179A) mutant was normal in dimer formation, while its activity abnormally responded to the change in the concentration of substrate ATP in reaction mixture. Our results suggest that Cys-179 of IKKbeta plays a critical role in enzyme activation by promoting phosphorylation of activation-loop serines and interaction with ATP.
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PMID:Cysteine-179 of IkappaB kinase beta plays a critical role in enzyme activation by promoting phosphorylation of activation loop serines. 1707 71

To overcome host defenses, bacterial pathogens of the genus Yersinia inject specific effector proteins into colonized mammalian cells. One such virulence factor, YopJ, inhibits the host inflammatory response and induces apoptosis of immune cells by blocking multiple signaling pathways, including the MAPK and NF-kappaB pathways. In this study, we show that YopJ exerts its deleterious effects by catalyzing the acetylation of two serine residues in the activation loop of the MAP kinase kinase, MEK2. This covalent modification prevents the phosphorylation of these serine residues that is required for activation of MEK2 and downstream signal propagation. We also show that YopJ causes acetylation of a threonine residue in the activation loop of both the alpha and beta subunits of the NF-kappaB pathway kinase, IKK. These results establish a hitherto uncharacterized mode of action for bacterial toxins and suggest the possibility that serine/threonine acetylation may occur even under nonpathogenic conditions and may be a widespread protein modification regulating protein function in eukaryotic cells.
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PMID:Acetylation of MEK2 and I kappa B kinase (IKK) activation loop residues by YopJ inhibits signaling. 1711 58

Transforming growth factor beta-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), a member of the MAPKKK family, was initially described to play an essential role in the transforming growth factor beta-signaling pathway, but recent evidence has emerged implicating TAK1 in the interleukin (IL)-1 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) pathways. Notably, two homologous proteins, TAB2 and TAB3, have been identified as adaptors linking TAK1 to the upstream adaptors TRAFs. However, it remains unclear whether the interaction between TAB2/TAB3 and TAK1 is necessary for its kinase activation and subsequent activation of the IKK and MAPK pathways. Here, we characterized the TAB2/TAB3-binding domain in TAK1 and further examined the requirement of this interaction for IL-1, TNF, and RANKL signaling. Through deletion mapping experiments, we demonstrated that the binding motif for TAB2/TAB3 is a non-contiguous region located within the last C-terminal 100 residues of TAK1. However, residues 479-553 of TAK1 appear to be necessary and sufficient for TAB2/TAB3 interaction. Conversely, residues 574-693 of TAB2 were shown to interact with TAK1. A green fluorescent protein fusion protein containing the last 100 residues of TAK1 (TAK1-C100) abolished the interaction of endogenous TAB2/TAB3 with TAK1, the phosphorylation of TAK1, and prevented the activation of IKK and MAPK induced by IL-1, TNF, and RANKL. Furthermore, TAK1-C100 blocked RANKL-induced nuclear accumulation of NFATc1 and consequently osteoclast differentiation consistent with the ability of a catalytically inactive TAK1 to block RANKL-mediated signaling. Significantly, our study provides evidence that the TAB2/TAB3 interaction with TAK1 is crucial for the activation of signaling cascades mediated by IL-1, TNF, and RANKL.
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PMID:TAK1-dependent signaling requires functional interaction with TAB2/TAB3. 1715 49

Toll-like receptor (TLR) family members recognize specific molecular patterns within pathogens. Signaling through TLRs results in a proximal event that involves direct binding of adaptor proteins to the receptors. We observed that TIRAP/Mal, an adaptor protein for TLR2 and TLR4, binds protein kinase Cdelta (PKCdelta). TIRAP/Mal GST-fusion protein and a TIRAP/Mal antibody were able to precipitate PKCdelta from rat peritoneal macrophage and THP1 cell lysates. Truncation mutants of TIRAP/Mal showed that the TIR domain of TIRAP/Mal is responsible for binding. TLR2- and TLR4-mediated phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, IKK, and IkappaB in RAW264.7 cells were abolished by depletion of PKCdelta. These results suggest that PKCdelta binding to TIRAP/Mal promotes TLR signaling events.
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PMID:Protein kinase Cdelta binds TIRAP/Mal to participate in TLR signaling. 1716 67


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