Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound   Target Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound

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Query: EC:2.7.12.2 (MEK)
18,161 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The signal pathway mediating induction of p15(INK4b) and p16(INK4a) during HepG2 growth inhibition triggered by the phorbol ester tumor promoter TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate) and the Chinese herb Saikosaponin a was investigated. Western blot of three activated forms of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) (p-ERK, p-JNK and p-p38) demonstrated that phosphorylation of ERK is dramatically induced (11.6-fold ) by TPA during 15 min to 1 h and significantly induced (2.5-fold) by Saikosaponin alpha at 30 min, whereas phosphorylation of JNK was induced only by TPA during 30 min to 1 h. Phosphorylation of p38 was not induced by either drug. During this period, phosphorylation of one of the downstream transcriptional factors of MAPK cascade, ATF2, was 3.2- and 2.0-fold induced by TPA and Saikosaponin a, respectively, whereas that of another transcriptional factor, c-jun, was induced by TPA only. On the other hand, expressions of proto-oncogene c-jun, junB and c-fos were induced by TPA and Saikosaponin a during 30 min to 6 h of treatment. Pretreatment of 20 microg/ml PD98059, an inhibitor of MEK which is the upstream kinase of ERK, prevents the TPA- and Saikosaponin a-triggered HepG2 growth inhibition by 50 and 30%, respectively, accompanied by a 50 - 85% decrease of the p15(INK4b)/p16(INK4a) RNAs and proteins induced by both drugs. Inductions of c-fos RNA by both drugs and c-jun phosphorylation by TPA were also significantly reduced by PD98059 pretreatment. In addition, AP-1 DNA-binding assay using nonisotopic capillary electrophoresis and laser-induced fluorescence (CE/LIF) demonstrated that the AP-1-related DNA-binding activity was significantly induced by TPA and Saikosaponin a, which can be reduced by PD98059 pretreatment. These results suggested that activation of ERK together with its downstream transcriptional machinery mediated p15(INK4b) and p16(INK4a) expression that led to HepG2 growth inhibition.
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PMID:ERK signaling pathway is involved in p15INK4b/p16INK4a expression and HepG2 growth inhibition triggered by TPA and Saikosaponin a. 1259 82

The mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade operates downstream of Ras to convey cell-surface signals to the nucleus via nuclear translocation of ERK1 and ERK2. We and others have recently demonstrated that activation of ERK1/2 by growth factors is required for proliferation of intestinal epithelial crypt cells. However, it remained to be established whether ERK1/2 activation alone was sufficient to trigger intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) proliferation. To this aim, retrovirus encoding the hemagglutinin-tagged MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK)1 wild type (wtMEK), the upstream activator of ERK1/2, or a constitutively active mutant of MEK1 (MEK1-S218D/S222D; caMEK) were used to infect nonimmortalized human normal intestinal epithelial crypt cell cultures [human intestinal epithelial cells (HIEC)] and rodent immortalized intestinal crypt cells (IEC-6). Stable expression of caMEK but not wtMEK in HIEC led to the irreversible arrest of cellular proliferation (premature senescence). Concomitant with the onset of cell-cycle arrest was the induction of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21(Cip), p53, and p16(INK4A). By contrast, overexpression of caMEK in IEC-6 cells induced growth factor relaxation for DNA synthesis, promoted morphological transformation and growth in soft agar, and did not affect expression of p21(Cip), p53, and p16(INK4A). We provided evidences that ERK1b, an alternatively spliced isoform of ERK1, is activated and may contribute to the deregulation of contact inhibition cell growth and transformation of these cells. Constitutive activation of MEK in IECs can produce either premature senescence or forced mitogenesis depending on the integrity of a senescence program controlled by the cell cycle inhibitors p53, p16(INK4A), and p21(CIP).
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PMID:Dual role of MEK/ERK signaling in senescence and transformation of intestinal epithelial cells. 1470 21

Several studies have shown that forced expression of oncogenic H-ras can induce a senescence-like permanent growth arrest in normal cells. Here we report that expression of oncogenic H-ras in human osteosarcoma U2OS cells also resulted in a senescence-like flat and enlarged cell morphology and permanent growth arrest. In contrast to normal human fibroblasts, U2OS cells were arrested independently of the p16 and ARF tumor suppressors. Treatment with a MEK inhibitor or a p38MAPK inhibitor interrupted oncogenic H-ras-induced growth arrest in U2OS cells, suggesting that activation of MAPK pathways is important. To further determine whether this process is unique to oncogenic H-ras signaling, we examined the effect of oncogenic K-ras on normal cells and human osteosarcoma cells. Similar to oncogenic H-ras, oncogenic K-ras also induced senescence in normal fibroblasts, while transforming immortalized mouse fibroblasts. However, in contrast to oncogenic H-ras, oncogenic K-ras failed to induce a permanent growth arrest in osteosarcoma U2OS cells. Additionally, cells transduced with oncogenic K-ras exhibited distinguishable cellular changes compared to those transduced with oncogenic H-ras. In summary, we report for the first time that oncogenic H-ras signaling can trigger a senescence-like growth arrest in tumor cells, independent of the p16 and ARF tumor suppressors. This result suggests that tumor cells may harbor a senescence-like program that can be activated by ras signaling. Moreover, our study uncovered a cell type-dependent differential response to oncogenic K-ras, as compared to oncogenic H-ras.
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PMID:Differential oncogenic Ras signaling and senescence in tumor cells. 1549 1

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a cytokine that regulates the proliferation of some tumor cells including multiple myeloma (MM). Ectopic expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR 3) associated with the chromosomal translocation, t(4;14)(p16.3;q32), is frequently found in MM, and therefore, has been implicated in the neoplastic transformation of this disease. Here, we show that IL-6 together with FGF enhanced proliferation of a myeloma cell line, KMS-11 carrying t(4;14)(p16.3;q32) and the FGFR 3-transfected U 266 myeloma cell line which ectopically expressed FGFR 3 but responded to neither IL-6 nor FGF alone. In KMS-11, IL-6 activated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT 3) while FGF activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2) and phosphatidylinositol (PI)-3 kinase. As both MEK inhibitors and a PI 3-kinase inhibitor abolished the effect of IL-6 and FGF, the activation of both the ERK 1/2 and PI 3-kinase signaling cascades is essential for the proliferation of KMS-11 enhanced by IL-6 and FGF. Furthermore, the FGF-induced activation of ERK 1/2 contributed to the serine phosphorylation of STAT 3, suggesting that the signaling crosstalk between the cytokine receptor, IL-6 receptor alpha/gp 130 and the growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase, FGFR 3. These results indicate that FGFR 3 plays a crucial role in the accelerated proliferation of MM carrying t(4;14)(p16.3;q32).
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PMID:Accelerated proliferation of myeloma cells by interleukin-6 cooperating with fibroblast growth factor receptor 3-mediated signals. 1594 Feb 50

The tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) is a well-known activator of both protein kinase C (PKC) and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal cascade triggering a lot of effects in many non-tumor and tumor cells. We have reported activation of PKCalpha isozyme was specifically required for TPA-induced ERK (MAPK) signaling that mediated gene expressions of the CDK inhibitors p15(INK4b) and p16 (INK4a) leading to growth inhibition of hepatoma cell HepG2. We further investigated the upstream signal molecule linking PKCalpha to ERK. In the Ras activation assay, HepG2 cell exhibited substantial amount of Ras activity. Treatment of the cell with 50nM TPA for 10min slightly inhibited Ras activity by about 10-20%. Pretreatment of the cell with 10microM manumycin A, which abolish basal Ras activity, did not prevent TPA-triggered ERK phosphorylation. Immunoprecipitation coupled with kinase assay demonstrated that MEK-1 activity was strongly induced by treatment of TPA for 5-30min in HepG2. In contrast, c-Raf activity was not significantly induced by TPA within 5-15min. Consistently, Western blot of Phospho(ser-218/222)-MEK demonstrated that phosphorylation of MEK-1 was greatly induced by 50nM TPA, which can be prevented by the PKC inhibitor Bisindolylmaleimides II. Moreover, pretreatment of the MEK1/2 inhibitor, but not c-Raf inhibitor prevented the TPA-induced ERK phosphorylation, gene expression of p15(INK4b) and p16 (INK4a) and growth inhibition of HepG2. In addition, transient expression of a dominant negative Raf mutant in HepG2 did not prevent these effects of TPA. Constitutive expression of an active PKCalpha mutant in HepG2 enhanced phosphorylation of both MEK and ERK accompanied with induction of gene expression of p16(INK4a) and growth inhibition of HepG2. In contrast, Ras and Raf activity were not increased by expression of active PKCalpha. Taken together, we conclude that PKCalpha may activate MEK, independently of Raf and Ras, to trigger sustained ERK (MAPK) signaling and cell cycle arrest of HepG2 induced by TPA.
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PMID:Protein kinase C alpha trigger Ras and Raf-independent MEK/ERK activation for TPA-induced growth inhibition of human hepatoma cell HepG2. 1616 61

The molecular genetic profiles that characterize pancreatic ductal neoplasia have taken shape recently with the help of immunohistochemistry and the establishment of the nomenclature describing pancreatic ductal tumorigenesis. K-ras mutations frequently occur early, changes in the expression and genetic integrity of the p16 gene appear in intermediate lesions, and the inactivation of the p53, DPC4, and BRCA2 genes occur late in the neoplastic progression. Tumor-suppressor genes inactivated in pancreatic cancer such as ALK5, TGFBR2, MKK4, and STK11/LKB1 have been identified, although their roles in tumor progression are not yet well defined. Additional discoveries in this tumor system may be on the horizon, will further refine the molecular genetic profiles for the disease, and should suggest some clinical uses for this fund of knowledge.
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PMID:Molecular genetics of ductal pancreatic neoplasia. 1703 Nov 13

Activated Ras signaling can induce a permanent growth arrest in osteosarcoma cells. Here, we report that a senescence-like growth inhibition is also achieved in human carcinoma cells upon the transduction of H-Ras(V12). Ras-induced tumor senescence can be recapitulated by the transduction of activated, but not wild-type, MEK. The ability for H-Ras(V12) to suppress tumor cell growth is drastically compromised in cells that harbor endogenous activating ras mutations. Notably, growth inhibition of tumor cells containing ras mutations can be achieved through the introduction of activated MEK. Tumor senescence induced by Ras signaling can occur in the absence of p16 or Rb and is not interrupted by the inactivation of Rb, p107, or p130 via short hairpin RNA or the transduction with HPV16 E7. In contrast, inactivation of p21 via short hairpin RNA disrupts Ras-induced tumor senescence. In summary, this study uncovers a senescence-like program activated by Ras signaling to inhibit cancer cell growth. This program appears to be intact in cancer cells that do not harbor ras mutations. Moreover, cancer cells that carry ras mutations remain susceptible to tumor senescence induced by activated MEK. These novel findings can potentially lead to the development of innovative cancer intervention.
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PMID:Dissecting the senescence-like program in tumor cells activated by Ras signaling. 1713 42

MEK/ERK pathways are frequently activated in acute myelogenous leukemia, and this signal pathway's inhibitor has made it an interesting candidate for cancer chemotherapy. Little is known, however, about the effects of cellular and molecular mechanisms on human leukemic U937 cells. In the present study, we found that treatment with PD98059 significantly arrests the G1 phase through up-regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor, and produces morphological features of apoptosis in U937 cells, which were associated with poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP) cleavage and PLC-gamma1 degradation. PD98059 also decreased the Cdk-2, Cdk-4, cyclin D1, and cyclin E expression, and increased high levels of the mitotic inhibitors p16(INIa), p21(Waf1), and p27(Kip1). Also, Bcl-2's overexpression and a caspase-3 inhibitor z-DEVD-fmk significantly attenuated PD98059-induced apoptosis through the down-regulation of caspase-3 activity, but did not attenuate G1 phase arrest. Moreover, PD98059 down-regulated Akt phosphorylation and produced a synergy effect of apoptosis with LY294002 co-treatment. Thus, our results imply that PD98059-induced apoptosis is significantly involved in down-regulation of Bcl-2, caspase-3 activity, the Akt pathway, and some of the biological functions in U937 cells.
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PMID:PD98059 triggers G1 arrest and apoptosis in human leukemic U937 cells through downregulation of Akt signal pathway. 1716 15

The INK4 family members p16(INK4a) and p15(INK4b) negatively regulate cell cycle progression by inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6. Loss of p16(INK4a) functional activity is frequently observed in tumor cells, and is thought to be one of the primary causes of carcinogenesis. In contrast, despite the biochemical similarity to p16(INK4a), the frequency of defects in p15(INK4b) was found to be lower than in p16(INK4a), suggesting that p15(INK4b)-inductive agents may be useful for tumor suppression. Here we report the discovery of a novel pyrido-pyrimidine derivative, JTP-70902, which exhibits p15(INK4b)-inducing activity in p16(INK4a)-inactivated human colon cancer HT-29 cells. JTP-70902 also induced another CDK-inhibitor, p27(KIP1), and downregulated the expression of c-Myc and cyclin D1, resulting in G(1) cell cycle arrest. MEK1/2 was identified by compound-immobilized affinity chromatography as the molecular target of JTP-70902, and this was further confirmed by the inhibitory activity of JTP-70902 against MEK1/2 in kinase assays. JTP-70902 suppressed the growth of most colorectal and some other cancer cell lines in vitro, and showed antitumor activity in an HT-29 xenograft model. However, JTP-70902 did not inhibit the growth of COLO320 DM cells; in these, constitutive extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation was not detected, and neither p15(INK4b) nor p27(KIP1) induction was observed. Moreover, p15(INK4b)-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts were found to be more resistant to the growth-inhibitory effect of JTP-70902 than wild-type mouse embryonic fibroblasts. These findings suggest that JTP-70902 restores CDK inhibitor-mediated cell cycle control by inhibiting MEK1/2 and exerts a potent antitumor effect.
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PMID:Identification of JTP-70902, a p15(INK4b)-inductive compound, as a novel MEK1/2 inhibitor. 1778 72

Malignant melanoma originates in melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells of the skin and eye, and is one of the most deadly human cancers with no effective cure for metastatic disease. Like many other cancers, melanoma has both environmental and genetic components. For more than 20 years, the melanoma genome has been subject to extensive scrutiny, which has led to the identification of several genes that contribute to melanoma genesis and progression. Three molecular pathways have been found to be nearly invariably dysregulated in melanocytic tumors, including the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK pathway (through mutation of BRAF, NRAS or KIT), the p16 INK4A-CDK4-RB pathway (through mutation of INK4A or CDK4) and the ARF-p53 pathway (through mutation of ARF or TP53). Less frequently targeted pathways include the PI3K-AKT pathway (through mutation of NRAS, PTEN or PIK3CA) and the canonical Wnt signaling pathway (through mutation of CTNNB1 or APC). Beyond the specific and well-characterized genetic events leading to activation of proto-oncogenes or inactivation of tumor suppressor genes in these pathways, systematic high-resolution genomic analysis of melanoma specimens has revealed recurrent DNA copy number aberrations as well as perturbations of DNA methylation patterns. Melanoma provides one of the best examples of how genomic analysis can lead to a better understanding of tumor biology. We review current knowledge of the genes involved in the development of melanoma and the molecular pathways in which these genes operate.
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PMID:The genome and epigenome of malignant melanoma. 1804 49


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