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)

Tumors escape from immune surveillance by, among other mechanisms, the down- regulation of endothelial adhesion molecules, such as ICAM-1, and by unresponsiveness to inflammatory signals, a process mediated by angiogenic factors that is called endothelial cell anergy. Here we present the cell biological regulation of these processes. The angiogenic basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF/FGF-2) was found to inhibit tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)- induced elevation of ICAM-1, at transcriptional level. Furthermore, we found that bFGF inhibits the TNF-mediated activation of NF-kappaB by blocking phosphorylation and degradation of IkappaBalpha. We also found that bFGF induces hyperphosphorylation of p38 MAPK on endothelial cells, whereas inhibition of such kinase abrogates the effect of bFGF on the TNF-mediated activation of NF-kappaB. Thus, we suggest that bFGF acts as an inhibitor of leukocyte adhesion in tumor vessels by decreasing the ICAM-1 expression through the sustained activation of p38-MAPK and via inhibition of NF-kappaB.
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PMID:Endothelial cell anergy is mediated by bFGF through the sustained activation of p38-MAPK and NF-kappaB inhibition. 1716 98

We previously reported that basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) activates stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK) and p44/p42 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, resulting in the release of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells. In the present study, we investigated the role of Akt/protein kinase B in the FGF-2-stimulated VEGF release in these cells. FGF-2 time-dependently induced the phosphorylation of Akt and GSK-3beta, a downstream element of Akt. The Akt inhibitor, 1L-6-hydroxymethyl-chiro-inositol 2-(R)-2-O-methyl-3-O-octadecylcarbonate, significantly amplified the FGF-2-induced VEGF release, in a dose-dependent manner between 1 and 70microM, while it suppressed the FGF-2-induced phosphorylation of GSK-3beta. The phosphorylation of Akt induced by FGF-2 was markedly attenuated by wortmannin and LY294002, inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells. Both wortmannin and LY294002 enhanced the FGF-2-induced VEGF release. In addition, Akt inhibitor had no significant effect on the FGF-2-induced phosphorylation of p44/p42 MAP kinase and SAPK/JNK. Furthermore, the FGF-2-induced Akt phosphorylation was not affected by PD98059, a MEK inhibitor, or SP600125, a SAPK/JNK inhibitor. Taken together, our findings strongly suggest that PI3-kinase/Akt plays an inhibitory role in FGF-2-induced VEGF release in osteoblasts.
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PMID:Activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt limits FGF-2-induced VEGF release in osteoblasts. 1721 71

Fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) activation by basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) serves to naturally repress the myofibroblast activation of valvular interstitial cells (VICs). Co-receptors for FGF-2, the heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs), are key participants in the formation of active FGF-2 signaling complexes. Bioactive environments regulating the myofibroblast phenotype were created by utilizing heparin glycosaminoglycan as a competitive inhibitor of HSPGs. First, soluble heparin was delivered to compete with cell-surface HSPG for the binding of FGF-2. Exogenous soluble heparin prevented serum-dependent activation of the classic mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and induced myofibroblast alpha smooth muscle actin (alphaSMA) expression and collagen production. Next, heparin-functionalized hydrogel cell substrates were polymerized from vinyl-modified precursors and rendered adhesive through incorporation of RGDS peptide. Culture of VICs on heparin-modified gels induced alphaSMA expression and inhibited MAPK activity compared to control gel substrates lacking heparin. Additionally, heparin-functionalized gels continued to induce alphaSMA expression in serum-free culture conditions, suggesting that bioactivity was independent of exogenous soluble mediators. Biomaterial scaffolds targeting cell surface growth factor receptors are a promising new direction for regulating cell functions in tissue-engineering applications.
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PMID:Material-based regulation of the myofibroblast phenotype. 1747 22

D-type cyclins are direct targets of extracellular signals and critical regulators of G(1) progression. Our previous data demonstrated that IGF-I and FGF-2 synergize to enhance cyclin D1 expression, cyclin E/cdk2 complex activation, and S-phase entry in OP cells. Here, we provide a mechanistic explanation for how two growth factor signaling pathways converge on a major cell cycle regulator. IGF-I and FGF-2 differentially activate signaling pathways to coordinately promote cyclin D1 expression. We show that the p44/p42 MAPK signaling pathway is essential for FGF-2 induction of cyclin D1 mRNA. In contrast, blocking the PI3-Kinase pathway results in loss of IGF-I/FGF-2 synergistic induction of cyclin D1 protein levels. Moreover, the presence of IGF-I significantly enhances nuclear localization of cyclin D1, which also requires PI3K signaling. GSK-3beta, a downstream target of the PI3K/Akt pathway, is phosphorylated in the presence of IGF-I in OPs. Consistent with a known role for GSK-3beta in cyclin D1 degradation, we show that proteasome inhibition in OPs exposed to FGF-2 increased cyclin D1 levels, equivalent to levels seen in IGF-I/FGF-2 treated cells. Thus, we provide a model for cyclin D1 coordinate regulation where FGF-2 stimulation of the MAPK pathway promotes cyclin D1 mRNA expression while IGF-I activation of the PI3K pathway inhibits proteasome degradation of cyclin D1 and enhances nuclear localization of cyclin D1.
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PMID:Synergistic induction of cyclin D1 in oligodendrocyte progenitor cells by IGF-I and FGF-2 requires differential stimulation of multiple signaling pathways. 1750 24

Activation of fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) requires the formation of a ternary complex between fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), FGFRs, and heparan sulfate proteoglycans, which are all located on the cell surface and the basement membrane (BM)/extracellular matrix (ECM). Heparan sulfate proteoglycans appear to stabilize FGFs by inhibiting the rapid degradation of FGFs normally observed in solution. Because of the pivotal role of FGFs in proliferative and developmental pathways, a number of recent studies have attempted to engineer microenvironments to stabilize growth factors for use in applications in tissue culture and regenerative medicine. In this communication, we demonstrate that covalent linkage of FGF-2 to nanofibrillar surfaces (defined as covalently bound FGF-2) composed of a network of polyamide nanofibers resulted in the maintenance of the biological efficacy of FGF-2 when stored dry for at least 6 months at 25 degrees C or 4 degrees C. Moreover, covalently bound FGF-2 was more potent than FGF-2 in solution when measured in cellular assays of proliferation and viability using a variety of cell types. Covalently bound FGF-2 also strongly activated FGFR, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2), and c-fos. Hence cell-signaling molecules can be incorporated into a synthetic nanofibrillar surface, providing a novel means to enhance their stability and biological activity.
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PMID:Covalently attached FGF-2 to three-dimensional polyamide nanofibrillar surfaces demonstrates enhanced biological stability and activity. 1800 36

Transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) protein is a coactivator of Runx2 and corepressor of PPARgamma. It also induces differentiation of mesenchymal cells into osteoblasts. In this study, we found that FGF-2, which inhibits bone mineralization and stimulates cell proliferation, reduced the TAZ protein expression level in osteoblast-like cells, MC3T3-E1. This reduction was recovered by removing FGF-2 from the culture medium, which also restored the osteoblastic features of MC3T3-E1 cells. Furthermore, FGF-2-induced reduction of TAZ is blocked by a SAPK/JNK-specific inhibitor. These findings suggest that the expression of TAZ protein is involved in osteoblast proliferation and differentiation. This may help elucidate the discrepancies in the effect of FGF-2 and contribute to the understanding of FGF/FGFR-associated craniosynostosis syndrome etiology and treatment.
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PMID:FGF-2 signaling induces downregulation of TAZ protein in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. 1806 53

There is great interest in genetic modification of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), not only for research purposes but also for use in (autologous) patient-derived-patient-used transplantations. A major drawback of bulk methods for genetic modifications of (stem) cells, like bulk-electroporation, is its limited yield of DNA transfection (typically then 10%). This is even more limited when cells are present at very low numbers, as is the case for stem cells. Here we present an alternative technology to transfect cells with high efficiency (>75%), based on single cell electroporation in a microfluidic device. In a first experiment we show that we can successfully transport propidium iodide (PI) into single mouse myoblastic C2C12 cells. Subsequently, we show the use of this microfluidic device to perform successful electroporation of single mouse myoblastic C2C12 cells and single human MSC with vector DNA encoding a green fluorescent-erk1 fusion protein (EGFP-ERK1 (MAPK3)). Finally, we performed electroporation in combination with live imaging of protein expression and dynamics in response to extracellular stimuli, by fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2). We observed nuclear translocation of EGFP-ERK1 in both cell types within 15 min after FGF-2 stimulation. Due to the successful and promising results, we predict that microfluidic devices can be used for highly efficient small-scale 'genetic modification' of cells, and biological experimentation, offering possibilities to study cellular processes at the single cell level. Future applications might be small-scale production of cells for therapeutic application under controlled conditions.
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PMID:Gene transfer and protein dynamics in stem cells using single cell electroporation in a microfluidic device. 1809 62

This study aimed to identify signaling pathways that oppose connective tissue fibrosis in the aortic valve. Using valvular interstitial cells (VICs) isolated from porcine aortic valve leaflets, we show that basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) effectively blocks transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1)-mediated myofibroblast activation. FGF-2 prevents the induction of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alphaSMA) expression and the exit of VICs from the cell cycle, both of which are hallmarks of myofibroblast activation. By blocking the activity of the Smad transcription factors that serve as the downstream nuclear effectors of TGF-beta1, FGF-2 treatment inhibits fibrosis in VICs. Using an exogenous Smad-responsive transcriptional promoter reporter, we show that Smad activity is repressed by FGF-2, likely an effect of the fact that FGF-2 treatment prevents the nuclear localization of Smads in these cells. This appears to be a direct effect of FGF signaling through mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades as the treatment of VICs with the MAPK/extracellular regulated kinase (MEK) inhibitor U0126 acted to induce fibrosis and blocked the ability of FGF-2 to inhibit TGF-beta1 signaling. Furthermore, FGF-2 treatment of VICs blocks the development of pathological contractile and calcifying phenotypes, suggesting that these pathways may be utilized in the engineering of effective treatments for valvular disease.
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PMID:Fibroblast growth factor represses Smad-mediated myofibroblast activation in aortic valvular interstitial cells. 1821 21

To determine if differential response to growth factor stimuli between subpopulations of satellite cells was due to variation in the levels of activated intracellular signaling proteins, the levels of phospho-MAPK (phospho-ERK 1/2) were determined in clonal populations of turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) satellite cells. Relative levels of phospho-ERK 1/2 between clones were determined by Western blotting of extracts from satellite cells exposed to growth factor stimuli. Initial measurements using serum mitogenic stimuli showed differences in phospho-MAPK levels between the clonal subpopulations, but the responses did not correlate with proliferation rates of the individual clones (P>0.05). IGF-I alone did not increase phospho-MAPK levels compared to unstimulated controls (P>0.05), whereas FGF-2 did increase levels (P<0.05). A synergistic response was seen in satellite cells as well as embryonic myoblasts administered both IGF-I and FGF-2. When administered FGF-2 and IGF-I, 2 of the slow growing satellite cell clones exhibited lowest levels of phospho-MAPK (P<0.05). One of the slow growing clones had levels of phospho-MAPK similar to the three fast growing clones (P>0.05). The results suggest that variation in responsiveness to growth factor stimuli among satellite cell populations within muscles may be due to several different reasons. Some differences in cell responsiveness appear to be due to variation in phospho-MAPK generation.
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PMID:Phospho-MAPK as a marker of myogenic satellite cell responsiveness to growth factors. 1822 72

Inorganic polyphosphate [poly(P)] is a biopolymer existing in almost all cells and tissues, although its biological functions in higher eukaryotes have not been completely elucidated. We previously demonstrated that poly(P) enhances the function of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) by stabilizing them and strengthening the affinity between FGFs and their cell surface receptors. Since FGFs play crucial roles in bone regeneration, we further investigated the effect of poly(P) on the cell differentiation of human stem cells via FGF signaling systems. Human dental pulp cells (HDPCs) isolated from human dental pulp show the characteristics of multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). HDPCs secreted FGFs and the proliferation of HDPCs was shown to be enhanced by treatment with poly(P). Cell surface receptor-bound FGF-2 was stably maintained for more than 40 hours in the presence of poly(P). The phosphorylation of ERK1/2 was also enhanced by poly(P). The effect of poly(P) on the osteogenic differentiation of HDPCs and human MSCs (hMSCs) were also investigated. After 5 days of treatment with poly(P), type-I collagen expression of both cell types was enhanced. The C-terminal peptide of type-I collagen was also released at higher levels in poly(P)-treated HDPCs. Microarray analysis showed that expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP1), osteopontin (OPN), osteocalcin (OC) and osteoprotegerin was induced in both cell types by poly(P). Furthermore, induced expression of MMP1, OPN and OC genes in both cells was confirmed by real-time PCR. Calcification of both cell types was clearly observed by alizarin red staining following treatment with poly(P). The results suggest that the activation of the FGF signaling pathway by poly(P) induces both proliferation and mineralization of stem cells.
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PMID:Activation of the FGF signaling pathway and subsequent induction of mesenchymal stem cell differentiation by inorganic polyphosphate. 1827 22


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