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)

We have previously reported that prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) activates p44/p42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) through protein kinase C (PKC) in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) synthesis induced by PGF2 alpha and the effect of incadronate on the VEGF synthesis in these cells. PGF2 alpha significantly stimulated the VEGF synthesis in a dose-dependent manner between 1 pm and 10 microm. Cycloheximide reduced the PGF2 alpha effect. PGF2 alpha increased the levels of mRNA for VEGF. Cloprostenol, a PGF2 alpha-sensitive receptor agonist, potently induced the VEGF synthesis. Indomethacin, an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase, significantly reduced the PGF2 alpha-induced VEGF synthesis. Bisindolylmaleimide, an inhibitor of PKC, reduced the PGF2 alpha-induced VEGF synthesis. The VEGF synthesis induced by PGF2 alpha was significantly attenuated in the PKC down-regulated cells. PGF2 alpha elicited the translocation of PKC beta I from cytosol to membrane fraction. PD98059 or U0126, inhibitors of MEK, suppressed the VEGF synthesis induced by PGF2 alpha. Farnesyltransferase inhibitor failed to affect the PGF2 alpha-induced VEGF synthesis. Incadronate enhanced the synthesis of VEGF induced by PGF2 alpha. NaF-induced VEGF synthesis was also amplified by incadronate. PD98059 suppressed the enhancement by incadronate of PGF2 alpha-induced VEGF synthesis. Incadronate markedly enhanced the phosphorylation of Raf-1, MEK1/2, and p44/p42 MAPK induced by PGF2 alpha or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, a PKC activator. Incadronate significantly enhanced the cloprostenol-increased level of VEGF concentration in mouse plasma in vivo. These results strongly suggest that PGF2 alpha stimulates VEGF synthesis through the PKC-dependent activation of p44/p42 MAPK in osteoblasts and that the incadronate enhances the VEGF synthesis at the point between PKC and Raf-1.
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PMID:Incadronate amplifies prostaglandin F2 alpha-induced vascular endothelial growth factor synthesis in osteoblasts. Enhancement of MAPK activity. 1264 77

We previously established two lung cancer cell lines, OKa-C-1 and MI-4, which constitutively produce abundant granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin (IL)-1beta stimulated the expression of G-CSF, GM-CSF, and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in the two cell lines. It is known that increased COX-2 activity promotes tumor growth and induces G-CSF and GM-CSF expression in non-malignant cells, and that selective COX-2 inhibitors inhibit the growth of some types of malignant cells. Therefore, we hypothesized that inhibition of COX-2 activity might suppress constitutive production of G-CSF or GM-CSF in addition to reducing the growth of malignant cells. We confirmed that the selective COX-2 inhibitor, NS-398 suppressed the constitutive production of G-CSF and GM-CSF, and the cell growth in both OKa-C-1 and MI-4 cell lines. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) reversed the inhibitions of G-CSF and GM-CSF expression, as well as cell growth, by NS-398. This result confirms that the effects of NS-398 are based on the inhibition of COX activity. Some studies have indicated that nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) or MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) activation is related to upregulation of G-CSF, GM-CSF or COX-2 expression in some types of cells. Therefore, we examined if the actions of NS-398 might be mediated by the MAP kinase pathway or NF-kappaB activity in OKa-C-1 and MI-4 cells. We found that NS-398 inhibits G-CSF and GM-CSF production and cell growth through an extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase (MEK) signaling pathway in these cell lines. The prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer showing G-CSF gene expression is significantly worse. G-CSF overproduction by tumor cells is observed at an advanced clinical stage. Our findings imply that a COX-2 inhibitor might improve the prognosis of patients with lung cancer through the reduction of G-CSF or GM-CSF.
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PMID:Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor NS-398 suppresses cell growth and constitutive production of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor in lung cancer cells. 1270 93

Nephrin is an important regulator of the glomerular filtration barrier and its malfunction is associated with severe proteinuria. In this study we show that exposure of human embryonic kidney epithelial A293 cells to the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) causes a dose-dependent upregulation of nephrin mRNA level. Time-course analyses reveal first significant increases in nephrin mRNA levels after 4h of stimulation. Furthermore, nephrin protein is also elevated by IL-1beta treatment. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) exerted a comparable effect on nephrin mRNA and protein expression. The IL-1beta-induced upregulation of nephrin expression occurs independently of nitric oxide (NO) generation, since the NO-synthase inhibitor N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine does not block the IL-1beta effect. Mechanistically, we found that the IL-1beta-induced response does not involve protein kinase C, protein kinase A, the classical mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), the stress-activated p38-MAPK, or the NF-kappaB cascade, since selective inhibitors of these pathways were unable to alter the IL-1beta response. Moreover, neither unselective cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors, like indomethacin, nor COX-2-selective inhibitors, like flosulide and NS 398, nor the anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid dexamethasone were able to alter IL-1beta-induced nephrin expression. The only inhibitor that was able to block IL-1beta- and TNFalpha-induced nephrin upregulation was rottlerin, which has been suggested to act as a selective PKCdelta inhibitor. However, concerning cytokine-triggered nephrin expression, rottlerin action involved inhibition of another still to be identified protein kinase. Importantly, cytokine-induced upregulation of nephrin expression was also confirmed in primary human podocytes. In summary, these data show for the first time that inflammatory cytokines like IL-1beta or TNFalpha can upregulate nephrin expression and this mechanistically involves a rottlerin-sensitive protein kinase.
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PMID:Inflammatory cytokines upregulate nephrin expression in human embryonic kidney epithelial cells and podocytes. 1273 7

The unselective cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor S-flurbiprofen and its-in terms of COX-inhibition-"inactive" enantiomer R-flurbiprofen have been previously found to inhibit tumor development and growth in various animal models. The underlying mechanisms are unknown. Here, we show that both R- and S-flurbiprofen reduce survival of three colon cancer cell lines, which differ in the expression of COX-2 (HCT-15, no COX-2; Caco-2, inducible COX-2; and HT-29, constitutive COX-2). The IC50 for S- and R-flurbiprofen ranged from 250 to 450 microM. Both flurbiprofen enantiomers induced apoptosis in all three cell lines as indicated by DNA- and PARP-cleavage. In addition, R- and S-flurbiprofen caused a G1-cell cycle block. The latter was associated with an activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), an increase of the DNA binding activity of the transcription factor AP-1 and down-regulation of cyclin D1 expression. Western blot analysis, as well as supershift experiments, revealed that the AP-1 activation was associated with a change of AP-1 composition toward an increase of JunB. The JNK inhibitor SP600125 antagonized R- and S-flurbiprofen-induced AP-1 DNA binding, suppression of cyclin D1 expression, and the G1-cell cycle block. However, JNK inhibition had no effect on flurbiprofen-induced apoptosis. Hence, the cell cycle arrest is obviously mediated, at least in part, through JNK-activation, whereas R- and S-flurbiprofen-induced apoptosis is largely independent of JNK. Although in vitro effects of R- and S-flurbiprofen were indistinguishable, only R-flurbiprofen inhibited HCT-15 tumor growth in nude mice, suggesting the involvement of additional in vivo targets, which are differently affected by R- and S-flurbiprofen.
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PMID:Activation of c-Jun-N-terminal-kinase is crucial for the induction of a cell cycle arrest in human colon carcinoma cells caused by flurbiprofen enantiomers. 1275 38

Bradykinin and prostaglandins are both local mediators strongly implicated in pain and inflammation. Here, we have investigated the effects of bradykinin on the release of prostaglandin E(2) from cultured neurones derived from adult rat trigeminal ganglia. Bradykinin was a potent inducer of prostaglandin E(2) release, an effect that was likely mediated by bradykinin B(2) receptors, as the bradykinin-induced prostaglandin E(2) release was attenuated by the bradykinin B(2) receptor-selective antagonist, arginyl-L-prolyl-trans-4-hydroxy-L-prolylglycyl-3-(2-thienyl)-L-alanyl-L-seryl-D-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-3-isoquinolinecarbonyl-L-(2 alpha, 3 beta, 7a beta)-octahydro-1H-indole-2-carbonyl-L-arginine (HOE 140), but not by the bradykinin B(1) receptor-selective antagonist, des-Arg(9),[Leu(8)]-bradykinin. Furthermore, bradykinin-induced prostaglandin E(2) release was inhibited following treatment with the phospholipase A(2) inhibitor, arachidonyltrifluoromethyl ketone (AACOCF(3)), the nonselective cyclooxygenase inhibitor, piroxicam, the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase-1 (MEK1) inhibitor, 2'-amino-3'-methoxyflavone (PD98059), and the protein kinase C inhibitor, bisindolylmaleimide XI (Ro320432). Taken together, these data suggest that bradykinin, acting via bradykinin B(2) receptors, induces prostaglandin E(2) release from trigeminal neurones through the protein kinase C and mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent activation of phospholipase A(2) and consequent stimulation of cyclooxygenases.
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PMID:Characterization of bradykinin-induced prostaglandin E2 release from cultured rat trigeminal ganglion neurones. 1278 82

This study characterizes 3 cases of mesenchymal chondrosarcoma (MC) utilizing a proteomic approach that allows for the detection, visual quantification, cellular compartmentalization, and assessment of the functional state of certain proteins that may promote tumor growth and/or oppose apoptosis. Immunohistochemical procedures were performed to detect the following protein antigens: CD99, interleukin (IL)-1alpha, IL-6, transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha, conventional (c) protein kinase C (cPKC)-alpha, cPKC-betaII, phosphorylated (p)-PKC-alpha/betaII, c-kit (CD117), platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR)-alpha, PDGFR-beta, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)-2/neu, cathepsin D, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor, p21ras, the alpha subunit of farnesyl and geranylgeranyl transferase (FTalpha/GGTalpha), phospho (p)-c-Jun N-terminal kinase (p-JNK), p-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), cyclin D1, c-Jun, Ki-67, bcl-2, TGF-beta1 latency-associated peptide (LAP), TGF-betaRII, and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2. Immunoreactivities were scored from 0 to 3+ positivity using bright-field microscopy. The results showed that malignant mesenchymal chondroblasts exhibit stronger expressions of CD99, IL-1alpha, cPKC-alpha, p-PKC-alpha/betaII, PDGFR-alpha, p-JNK, Ki-67, and bcl-2 antigens than their more mature-appearing chondrocytic counterparts in MC. In conclusion, molecular profiling of mesenchymal chondrosarcoma using a proteomic approach characterized the mesenchymal chondroblasts as possessing pathways that incorporate PKC-alpha and PDGFR-alpha signaling and anti-apoptotic bcl-2 expression. Specific therapies to target the mesenchymal chondroblasts in mesenchymal chondrosarcoma might include interferon-alpha, rapamycin, ciprofloxacin, and STI571.
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PMID:Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma: molecular characterization by a proteomic approach, with morphogenic and therapeutic implications. 1281 16

The responses of airway epithelium following exposure to neutrophil elastase (NE) were investigated. Human bronchial epithelial cells were explanted on insert surfaces of a modified air-liquid interface culture system to which NE was added to stimulate epithelial cells. PGE2 release significantly increased within 10 min of incubation with NE and peaked 3 h after NE (20 microg/ml) stimulation. This action required proteolytic activity as alpha1-antitrypsin blocked NE-induced PGE2 release. The production of PGE2 was also inhibited by indomethacin; a selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitor, celecoxib; and dexamethasone. Moreover, the mRNA expression for COX-2 relative to that for a housekeeping gene was approximately eightfold that of the unstimulated cells. Dexamethasone inhibited COX-2 gene transcription. We further observed that NE-induced PGE2 release involved activation of p44/42, but not p38, MAP kinases. Such p44/42 MAP kinases were rapidly phosphorylated, with the concentration of phosphorylated p44/42 MAP kinases peaking at 10 min after stimulation and declining in culture at 90 min. The specific p44/42 MAP kinase inhibitor UO126 completely blocked p44/42 phosphorylation and, subsequently, PGE2 production. The airway epithelium may play important bronchoprotective and immunomodulatory roles in chronic neutrophilic inflammation.
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PMID:Neutrophil elastase stimulates human airway epithelial cells to produce PGE2 through activation of p44/42 MAPK and upregulation of cyclooxygenase-2. 1283 84

1. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) by their action on adipocytes have been independently linked to the pathogenesis of insulino-resistance. In isolated adipocytes, TNFalpha induces the expression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The purpose of the present work was, in the 3T3-F442A adipocyte cell line, to characterise TNFalpha-induced iNOS expression and to determine whether or not ET-1 could influence TNFalpha-induced iNOS expression and NO production. 2. In differentiated 3T3-F442A, treatment with TNFalpha (20 ng ml(-1)) induced the expression of a functional iNOS as demonstrated by nitrite assay, Western blot, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Northern blot analysis. TNFalpha-induced iNOS expression requires nuclear factor kappaB activation, but does not necessitate the activation of the PI-3 kinase/Akt and P38-MAP kinase pathways. 3. ET-1, but not ET-3, inhibited the TNFalpha-induced expression of iNOS protein and mRNA as well as nitrite production. The effects of ET-1 were blocked by a specific ETA (BQ123, pA(2) 7.4) but not by a specific ETB receptor antagonist (BQ788). 3T3-F442A adipocytes express the mRNAs for prepro-ET-1 and the ET-A receptor subtype, but not for the ET-B subtype. 4. The inhibitory effect of ET-1 was not affected by bisindolylmaleimide, SB 203580 or indomethacin, inhibitors of protein kinase C, p38-MAP kinase and cyclooxygenase, respectively, and was not associated with cAMP production. However, the effect of ET-1 was partially reversed by wortmannin, suggesting the involvement of PI3 kinase in the transduction signal of ET-1. 5. Differentiated 3T3-F442A adipocytes did not release ET-1 with or without exposure to TNFalpha, although the mRNA for preproET-1 was detected in both pre- and differentiated adipocytes. 6. Thus, these results confirm that adipocytes are a target for circulating ET-1 and demonstrate that the activation of the ETA receptor subtype can prevent TNFalpha-induced iNOS expression.
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PMID:Endothelin-1 inhibits TNF alpha-induced iNOS expression in 3T3-F442A adipocytes. 1283 67

Angiotensin (Ang) peptides play a critical role in regulating vascular reactivity and structure. We showed that Ang-(1-7) reduced smooth muscle growth after vascular injury and attenuated the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). This study investigated the molecular mechanisms of the antiproliferative effects of Ang-(1-7) in cultured rat aortic VSMCs. Ang-(1-7) caused a dose-dependent release of prostacyclin from VSMCs, with a maximal release of 277.9+/-25.2% of basal values (P<0.05) by 100 nmol/L Ang-(1-7). The cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin significantly attenuated growth inhibition by Ang-(1-7). In contrast, neither a lipoxygenase inhibitor nor a cytochrome p450 epoxygenase inhibitor prevented the antiproliferative effects of Ang-(1-7). These results suggest that Ang-(1-7) inhibits vascular growth by releasing prostacyclin. Ang-(1-7) caused a dose-dependent release of cAMP, which might result from prostacyclin-mediated activation of adenylate cyclase. The cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor Rp-adenosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate attenuated the Ang-(1-7)-mediated inhibition of serum-stimulated thymidine incorporation. Finally, Ang-(1-7) inhibited Ang II stimulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase activities (ERK1/2). Incubation of VSMCs with concentrations of Ang-(1-7) up to 1 micromol/L had no effect on ERK1/2 activation. However, preincubation with increasing concentrations of Ang-(1-7) caused a dose-dependent reduction in Ang II-stimulated ERK1/2 activities. Ang-(1-7) (1 micromol/L) reduced 100 nmol/L Ang II-stimulated ERK1 and ERK2 activation by 42.3+/-6.2% and 41.2+/-4.2%, respectively (P<0.01). These results suggest that Ang-(1-7) inhibits vascular growth through the release of prostacyclin, through the prostacyclin-mediated production of cAMP and activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, and by attenuation of mitogen-activated protein kinase activation.
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PMID:Molecular mechanisms of inhibition of vascular growth by angiotensin-(1-7). 1295 14

A novel quinolinone derivative, TA-270 [4-hydroxy-1-methyl-3-octyloxy-7-sinapinoylamino-2(1H)-quinolinone], has been shown to inhibit antigen-induced asthmatic responses including the early-phase bronchoconstriction in actively sensitized guinea pigs. Here we characterized the action mechanisms of TA-270 in cellular level in vitro. In RBL-2H3 mast cells sensitized with dinitrophenol (DNP)-specific IgE, the antigen exhibited several mast cell functions, including hexosaminidase release as a marker of degranulation, production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and production of immunologically detective leukotrienes. These antigen-induced actions were associated with the activation of several early signaling events, including inositol phosphate production reflecting phospholipase C activation and extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation. When the cells were treated with TA-270, the antigen-induced leukotriene production was almost completely suppressed, but other antigen-induced actions listed above were hardly affected. This drug also failed to affect the antigen-induced phospholipase A2 activation as evaluated by the total release of arachidonic acid and its metabolites from the cells prelabeled with radioactive arachidonic acid. However, TA-270 clearly changed the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway. It suppressed the accumulation of 5-lipoxygenase products, including leukotrienes, but hardly affected the accumulation of cyclooxygenase products. The inhibitory action of TA-270 on leukotriene production was also observed in human neutrophils and eosinophils. We conclude that TA-270 inhibits 5-lipoxygenase activity and, thereby, suppresses the antigen-induced leukotriene production.
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PMID:TA-270 [4-hydroxy-1-methyl-3-octyloxy-7-sinapinoylamino-2(1H)-quinolinone], an anti-asthmatic agent, inhibits leukotriene production induced by IgE receptor stimulation in RBL-2H3 cells. 1297 Mar 84


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