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)

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) signaling is critical for the innate immune response to gram-negative bacteria. Here, evidence is presented for LPS stimulation of sphingosine kinase (SPK) in the RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cell line and rat primary hepatic macrophages (HMs). LPS treatment of RAW 264.7 cells resulted in a time- and dose-dependent activation of SPK and membrane translocation of SPK1. Further, LPS-induced SPK activation was blocked by SPK1-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA). Overexpression of Toll-like receptor 4 and MD2, the receptor and coreceptor of LPS, in HEK 293 cells activated SPK activity in the absence of LPS treatment. Inhibition of SPK by the pharmacological inhibitor N,N-dimethylsphingosine (DMS) or SPK1-specific siRNA blocked LPS stimulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and p38 but enhanced LPS-induced c-Jun N-terminal kinase activation. The SPK inhibitor DMS and dominant-negative SPK1 also blocked LPS activation of Elk-1 and NF-kappaB reporters in RAW 264.7 cells. Inhibition of SPK sensitized RAW 264.7 cells and HMs to LPS-induced apoptosis. These data demonstrate the critical role of SPK1 in LPS signaling in macrophages and suggest that SPK1 is a potential therapeutic target to block hyperimmune responses induced by gram-negative bacteria.
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PMID:Sphingosine kinase protects lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages from apoptosis. 1531 48

The root of Platycodon grandiflorum has been widely used for the treatment of various diseases in oriental medicine. Our previous study showed that the PG, a polysaccharide isolated from P. grandiflorum, activates macrophages via Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). However, the associated biological mechanisms are not fully understood. To elucidate the molecular mechanism responsible for the macrophage activation, we investigated the effect of PG on the activity of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and activator protein-1 (AP-1) in RAW 264.7 cells, a murine macrophage cell line. Treatment of RAW 264.7 cells with PG produced a marked induction of AP-1 DNA binding activity. Moreover, all three MAPKs were activated by PG, and PG-induced activation of MAPKs was abrogated by the treatment of PD98059, curcumin, and SB203580, specific inhibitors of MEK-1/2, stress-activated protein kinases/jun N-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK), and p38 MAP kianse, respectively. The induction of AP-1 DNA binding activity by PG was also inhibited by these MAPK inhibitors. Moreover, supershift analysis identified that JunB and Fra-1 are major components involved in the PG-mediated induction of AP-1 DNA binding. Additionally, curcumin and SB203580 suppressed PG-induced production of nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), whereas PD98059 showed an inhibitory effect only on the TNF-alpha production. Taken together, these results suggest that macrophage activation by PG is mediated, at least in part, by MAPKs and AP-1.
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PMID:Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and AP-1 by polysaccharide isolated from the radix of Platycodon grandiflorum in RAW 264.7 cells. 1535 17

The intracellular protozoan Toxoplasma gondii exerts profound effects on nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB)- and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-signaling cascades in macrophages. During early infection, nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB is blocked, and later, the cells display defects in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced MAPK phosphorylation after undergoing initial activation in response to Toxoplasma itself. Infected macrophages that are subjected to triggering through Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) with LPS display defective production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and IL-12 (IL-12) that likely reflects interference with NF-kappaB- and MAPK-signaling cascades. Nevertheless, T. gondii possesses molecules that themselves induce eventual proinflammatory cytokine synthesis. For interleukin-12, this occurs through both myeloid differentiation factor 88-dependent and chemokine receptor CCR5-dependent pathways. The balance between activation and interference with proinflammatory signaling is likely to reflect the need to achieve an appropriate level of immunity that allows the host and parasite to maintain a stable interaction.
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PMID:Manipulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase/nuclear factor-kappaB-signaling cascades during intracellular Toxoplasma gondii infection. 1536 Dec 42

We describe here the isolation of Reishi polysaccharides for the study of their effect on cytokine expression in mouse splenocytes. A fraction (F3) has been shown to activate the expression of IL-1, IL-6, IL-12, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, GM-CSF, G-CSF, and M-CSF, and from this three subfractions have been prepared where F3G1 activates IL-1, IL-12, TNF-alpha, and G-CSF, F3G2 activates all the cytokines as F3 does, and F3G3 activates only IL-1 and TNF-alpha. Together with previous studies, the mode of action on macrophages has been proposed where F3 binds to TLR4 receptor and activates extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 to induce IL-1 expression.
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PMID:Studies on the immuno-modulating and anti-tumor activities of Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) polysaccharides. 1546 37

Mushroom polysaccharides are increasingly being utilized to treat a wide variety of diseases. Phellinus linteus proteoglycan (PL) has been reported to have anti-tumor and immunomodulatory properties. However, the cellular and molecular mechanism underlying its therapeutic effect is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated whether PL induces the phenotypic and functional maturation of murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DC) and the possibility that Toll-like receptors (TLRs), which are known to be involved in immune-related responses, may be the receptor(s) of PL. The expression of surface molecules, including major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II and CD86, increased on DC that were stimulated in a dose-dependent manner with PL, in comparison with unstimulated DC. Furthermore, PL increases the production of IL-12 by DC, as well as the IL-2 secretion and proliferation of allogeneic T cells. In addition, the activities of PL on DC were significantly reduced by treating the cells with anti-TLR2 or anti-TLR4 antibody (Ab) prior to PL, suggesting that both of them are possible receptors of PL. Also, maturation of DC by PL was able to directly activate mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), such as ERK1/2 and p38, and the nuclear transcription factor NF-kappaB p65. Also, the pretreatment of DC with inhibitors of NF-kappaB p65, and ERK and p38 MAPK signal pathways inhibited PL-induced up-regulation of surface molecules, such as MHC class II and CD86, and IL-12 production. Our results demonstrated that PL stimulation could induce the phenotypic and functional maturation of DC via TLR2 and/or TLR4 mediated-NF-kappaB, ERK and p38 MAPK signal pathways.
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PMID:Proteoglycan isolated from Phellinus linteus induces toll-like receptors 2- and 4-mediated maturation of murine dendritic cells via activation of ERK, p38, and NF-kappaB. 1546 14

Suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins constitute a class of negative regulators for Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathways. These intracellular proteins are induced by cytokine signaling, but they can also be induced by stimulation of Toll-like receptors (TLR). It has even been suggested that SOCS proteins are important negative regulators of TLR signaling. Here we have elucidated the nature of the regulatory role of SOCS in TLR signaling. Induction of SOCS-3 and cytokine-inducible Src homology 2-containing protein (CIS) by TLR stimulation was strictly dependent on MyD88 but showed differing needs in case of SOCS-1. However, induction of SOCS proteins by TLR ligands was independent of type I interferon. In macrophages overexpressing SOCS, we were not able to observe an inhibitory effect of SOCS-1, SOCS-2, SOCS-3, or CIS on prototypical TLR target genes such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha. However, we found that TLR-2, TLR-3, TLR-4, and TLR-9 stimulation induced interferon-beta (IFN-beta), which is able to exert auto- and paracrine signaling, leading to the activation of secondary genes like IP-10. SOCS-1 and, to a lesser extent, SOCS-3 and CIS were able to inhibit this indirect signaling pathway following TLR stimulation, whereas neither MAP kinase nor NF kappa B signaling were affected. However, STAT-1 tyrosine phosphorylation following TLR triggering was severely impaired by SOCS-1 overexpression. Thus, our data suggest that SOCS proteins induced by TLR stimulation limit the extent of TLR signaling by inhibiting type I IFN signaling but not the main NF kappa B pathway.
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PMID:Suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins indirectly regulate toll-like receptor signaling in innate immune cells. 1549 91

PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase) I(A) family members contain a regulatory subunit and a catalytic subunit. The p110delta catalytic subunit is expressed predominantly in haematopoietic cells. There, among other functions, it regulates antigen receptor-mediated responses. Using mice deficient in the p110delta subunit of PI3K, we investigated the role of this subunit in LPS (lipopolysaccharide)-induced B cell responses, which are mediated by Toll-like receptor 4 and RP105. After injection of DNP-LPS (where DNP stands for 2,4-dinitrophenol), p110delta(-/-) mice produced reduced levels of DNP-specific IgM and IgG when compared with wild-type mice. In vitro, the proliferation and up-regulation of surface activation markers such as CD86 and CD25 induced by LPS and an antibody against RP105 were decreased. We analysed the activation state of key components of the LPS pathway in B cells to determine whether there was a defect in signalling in p110delta(-/-) B cells. They showed normal extracellular-signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation, but anti-RP105-induced protein kinase B, IkappaB (inhibitor of nuclear factor kappaB) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase activation was severely reduced. This demonstrates that the p110delta subunit of PI3K is involved in the LPS response in B cells and may represent a link between the innate and the adaptive immune system.
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PMID:The p110delta subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase is required for the lipopolysaccharide response of mouse B cells. 1549 16

The interleukin-2-deficient (IL-2(-/-)) mouse model of ulcerative colitis was used to test the hypothesis that colonic epithelial cells (CEC) directly respond to bacterial antigens and that alterations in Toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated signaling may occur during the development of colitis. TLR expression and activation of TLR-mediated signaling pathways in primary CEC of healthy animals was compared with CEC in IL-2(-/-) mice during the development of colitis. In healthy animals, CEC expressed functional TLR, and in response to the TLR4 ligand LPS, proliferated and secreted the cytokines IL-6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). However, the TLR-responsiveness of CEC in IL-2(-/-) mice was different with decreased TLR4 responsiveness and augmented TLR2 responses that result in IL-6 and MCP-1 secretion. TLR signaling in CEC did not involve NF-kappaB (p65) activation with the inhibitory p50 form of NF-kappaB predominating in CEC in both the healthy and inflamed colon. Development of colitis was, however, associated with the activation of MAPK family members and upregulation of MyD88-independent signaling pathways characterized by increased caspase-1 activity and IL-18 production. These findings identify changes in TLR expression and signaling during the development of colitis that may contribute to changes in the host response to bacterial antigens seen in colitis.
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PMID:Toll-like receptor-mediated responses of primary intestinal epithelial cells during the development of colitis. 1549 80

We have demonstrated that an extract of Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi or Ling-Zhi) polysaccharides (EORP) exerts immunomodulating activities by stimulating the expression of inflammatory cytokines from mouse spleen cells. Interestingly, via responding to LPS in genetic variation of murine macrophage HeNC2 and GG2EE cell lines, and using TLR4 Ab blockage in human blood-derived monocytic macrophages, we have found that the TLR4, but not complement receptor type 3, is a putative receptor of EORP, mediating the consequent immunomodulating events associated with IL-1 gene expression. Based on our studies of reactive oxygen species production, polymyxin B inhibition, and protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) activity, we ruled out the possibility of LPS contamination in EORP. We have found that EORP differentially modulates the protein kinase (PK)-mediated signal transduction pathways associated with inflammatory cytokine IL-1. In human macrophages and murine macrophage J774A.1 cells, EORP was found to up-regulate IL-1 secretion and pro-IL-1 (precursor of IL-1) as well as IL-1-converting enzyme expression. Specifically, EORP rapidly stimulates PTK-mediated phosphorylation, followed by induction of PKs and activation of MAPKs: ERK, JNK, and p38. Using PK inhibitors in the kinase activity assays, Western blot analyses and IL-1 ELISA, we have extensively examined and dissected the role of individual PK in the regulation of pro-IL-1/IL-1. Our findings establish that EORP-mediated signaling pathways are involved in the pro-IL-1/IL-1 regulation: PTK/protein kinase C/MEK1/ERK and PTK/Rac1/p21-activated kinase/p38.
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PMID:Extract of Reishi polysaccharides induces cytokine expression via TLR4-modulated protein kinase signaling pathways. 1552 33

Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative microaerophilic bacterium that causes chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric carcinoma. Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) is one of the potent proinflammatory cytokines elicited by H. pylori infection. We have evaluated the role of H. pylori lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as one of the mediators of IL-1beta release and dissected the signaling pathways leading to LPS-induced IL-1beta secretion. We demonstrate that both the NF-kappaB and the C/EBPbeta-binding elements of the IL-1beta promoter drive LPS-induced IL-1beta gene expression. NF-kappaB activation requires the classical TLR4-initiated signaling cascade leading to IkappaB phosphorylation as well as PI-3K/Rac1/p21-activated kinase (PAK) 1 signaling, whereas C/EBPbeta activation requires PI-3K/Akt/p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling. We observed a direct interaction between activated p38 MAP kinase and C/EBPbeta, suggesting that p38 MAPK is the immediate upstream kinase responsible for activating C/EBPbeta. Most important, we observed a role of Rac1/PAK1 signaling in activation of caspase-1, which is necessary for maturation of pro-IL-1beta. H. pylori LPS induced direct interaction between PAK1 and caspase-1, which was inhibited in cells transfected with dominant-negative Rac1. PAK1 immunoprecipitated from lysates of H. pylori LPS-challenged cells was able to phosphorylate recombinant caspase-1, but not its S376A mutant. LPS-induced caspase-1 activation was abrogated in cells transfected with caspase-1(S376A). Taken together, these results suggested a role of PAK1-induced phosphorylation of caspase-1 at Ser376 in activation of caspase-1. To the best of our knowledge our studies show for the first time that LPS-induced Rac1/PAK1 signaling leading to caspase-1 phosphorylation is crucial for caspase-1 activation. These studies also provide detailed insight into the regulation of IL-1beta gene expression by H. pylori LPS and are particularly important in the light of the observations that IL-1beta gene polymorphisms are associated with increased risk of H. pylori-associated gastric cancer.
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PMID:NF-kappaB- and C/EBPbeta-driven interleukin-1beta gene expression and PAK1-mediated caspase-1 activation play essential roles in interleukin-1beta release from Helicobacter pylori lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages. 1556 13


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