Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:2.7.12.2 (MEK)
18,161 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We evaluated the role of MAPKs on apoptosis induced by butyrate in cells derived from a human fibrosarcoma (2C4). Culture of 2C4 cells in 5% of fetal bovine serum (FBS) induced ERK1/2 and CREB phosphorylation and delayed apoptosis induced by butyrate. Butyrate inhibited phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and CREB. Furthermore, the use of specific inhibitors PD98059 (MEK) and H89 (PKA), which block ERK1/2 and CREB phosphorylation, accelerated butyrate induced cell death in 2C4 cells. The butyrate effect was shown to be dependent on caspase activation, once caspase inhibitors restored phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and CREB in 2C4 cells. However, the proteolytic effect of caspases was not directly on ERK1/2 and CREB proteins. In conclusion, butyrate induced apoptosis in 2C4 cells is regulated by the levels of ERK1/2 and CREB phosphorylation in a caspase dependent mechanism.
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PMID:Inhibition of ERK1/2 and CREB phosphorylation by caspase-dependent mechanism enhances apoptosis in a fibrosarcoma cell line treated with butyrate. 1267 May 6

Previously, we have demonstrated that deoxycholic acid (DCA)-induced signaling of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) in primary hepatocytes is a protective response. In the present study, we examined the roles of the ERK and c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) pathways, and downstream transcription factors, in the survival response of hepatocytes. DCA caused activation of the ERK1/2 and JNK1/2 pathways. Inhibition of either DCA-induced ERK1/2 or DCA-induced JNK1/2 signaling enhanced the apoptotic response of hepatocytes. Further analyses demonstrated that DCA-induced JNK2 signaling was cytoprotective whereas DCA-induced JNK1 signaling was cytotoxic. DCA-induced ERK1/2 activation was responsible for increased DNA binding of C/EBPbeta, CREB, and c-Jun/AP-1. Inhibition of C/EBPbeta, CREB, and c-Jun function promoted apoptosis following DCA treatment, and the level of apoptosis was further increased in the case of CREB and c-Jun, but not C/EBPbeta, by inhibition of MEK1/2. The combined loss of CREB and c-Jun function or of C/EBPbeta and c-Jun function enhanced DCA-induced apoptosis above the levels resulting from the loss of either factor individually; however, these effects were less than additive. Loss of c-Jun or CREB function correlated with increased expression of FAS death receptor and PUMA and decreased expression of c-FLIP-(L) and c-FLIP-(S), proteins previously implicated in the modulation of the cellular apoptotic response. Collectively, these data demonstrate that multiple DCA-induced signaling pathways and transcription factors control hepatocyte survival.
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PMID:Bile acid regulation of C/EBPbeta, CREB, and c-Jun function, via the extracellular signal-regulated kinase and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase pathways, modulates the apoptotic response of hepatocytes. 1269 8

Neuregulin is reported to stimulate synapse-specific transcription of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) genes in the skeletal muscle fiber by multiple signaling pathways such as ERK, PI3K, and JNK. The co-localization of PKA mRNA with AChR and ErbBs, receptors for neuregulin, at the confined region of synapse implicates the putative role of PKA in neuregulin-induced AChR gene expression. In the present study, we found that mRNA and protein of a regulatory subunit of PKA (PKARIalpha) were concentrated at synaptic sites of the rat sternomastoid muscle fiber, while those of ERK and PI3K were uniformly distributed throughout the muscle fiber. Neuregulin (100 ng/ml) increased both PKA activity in the nucleus and AChRdelta subunit gene transcription in cultured Sol8 myotubes. These increases were significantly blocked by a specific PKA inhibitor H-89 (100 nM) and an adenylcyclase inhibitor SQ 22536 (200 microM) (72.5% and 60.1%, respectively). Furthermore, neuregulin phosphorylated CREB, a well-known down-stream transcription factor of PKA. While H-89 inhibited CREB phosphorylation, H-89 and PD098059 (50 microM), a specific MEK1/2 inhibitor, did not inhibit the phosphorylation of ERK and CREB, respectively, suggesting no cross-talk between PKA and ERK pathways. In conclusion, neuregulin increases AChRdelta subunit gene transcription, in part, by the activation of PKA/CREB, an alternative route to the previously reported ERK signaling pathway.
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PMID:Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase A and CREB are involved in neuregulin-induced synapse-specific expression of acetylcholine receptor gene. 1272 21

The neurobiological underpinnings of mood modulation, molecular pathophysiology of manic-depressive illness, and therapeutic mechanism of mood stabilizers are largely unknown. The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway is activated by neurotrophins and other neuroactive chemicals to produce their effects on neuronal differentiation, survival, regeneration, and structural and functional plasticity. We found that lithium and valproate, commonly used mood stabilizers for the treatment of manic-depressive illness, stimulated the ERK pathway in the rat hippocampus and frontal cortex. Both drugs increased the levels of activated phospho-ERK44/42, activated phospho-ribosomal protein S6 kinase-1 (RSK1) (a substrate of ERK), phospho-CREB (cAMP response element-binding protein) and phospho-B cell lymphoma protein-2 antagonist of cell death (substrates of RSK), and BDNF. Inhibiting the ERK pathway with the blood-brain barrier-penetrating mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase)/ERK kinase (MEK) kinase inhibitor SL327, but not with the nonblood-brain barrier-penetrating MEK inhibitor U0126, decreased immobility time and increased swimming time of rats in the forced-swim test. SL327, but not U0126, also increased locomotion time and distance traveled in a large open field. The behavioral changes in the open field were prevented with chronic lithium pretreatment. SL327-induced behavioral changes are qualitatively similar to the changes induced by amphetamine, a compound that induces relapse in remitted manic patients and mood elevation in normal subjects. These data suggest that the ERK pathway may mediate the antimanic effects of mood stabilizers.
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PMID:The role of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling pathway in mood modulation. 1291 64

Cadmium exposure increases the risk of prostate cancer. We now describe the effects of Cd2+ on signalling and proliferation in 1LN prostate cells. Cd2+ increased [3H]thymidine uptake and cell number twofold. Cd2+ elevated intracellular IP3, cytosolic-free Ca2+, phosphorylated MEK1/2, ERK1/2, p38 MAPK and JNK two- to threefold. Increased PDK1 and phosphorylation of the 85-kDa regulatory subunit of PI 3-kinase, Akt and p70s6k were also observed. Cd2+ treatment increased transcription factors NFkappaB and CREB, and the expression of c-fos and c-myc. Cd2+-induced increased uptake of [3H]thymidine was abolished by translational and transcriptional inhibitors, and Ca2+ channel blockers. Inhibition of phospholipase C and of Ca2+ binding to IP3 receptors inhibited Cd2+-induced DNA synthesis as did inhibition of tyrosine kinases, protein kinase C, PI 3-kinase, farnesyl transferase, MEK1/2, ERK1/2 and p38MAPK. Thus signalling events, which are triggered on exposure of 1LN cells to submicromolar concentrations of Cd2+, induce increased proliferation of these cells.
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PMID:Induction of mitogenic signalling in the 1LN prostate cell line on exposure to submicromolar concentrations of cadmium+. 1449 49

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) represents the inducible key enzyme of arachidonic acid metabolism and contributes to the pathogenesis of gastroduodenal ulcers and gastric cancer. Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with elevated gastric COX-2 levels, but the mechanisms underlying H. pylori-dependent cox-2 gene expression are unclear. H. pylori stimulated cox-2 mRNA and protein abundance in gastric epithelial cells in vitro and in vivo, and functional analysis of the cox-2 gene promoter mapped its H. pylori-responsive region to a proximal CRE/Ebox element at -56 to -48. Moreover, USF1/-2 and CREB transcription factors binding to this site were identified to transmit H. pylori-dependent cox-2 transcription. Activation of MEK/ERK1/-2 signalling by bacterial virulence factors located outside the H. pylori cag pathogenicity island (cagPAI) was found to mediate bacterial effects on the cox-2 promoter. Our study provides a detailed description of the molecular pathways underlying H. pylori-dependent cox-2 gene expression in gastric epithelial cells, and may thus contribute to a better understanding of mechanisms underlying H. pylori pathogenicity.
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PMID:Helicobacter pylori stimulates host cyclooxygenase-2 gene transcription: critical importance of MEK/ERK-dependent activation of USF1/-2 and CREB transcription factors. 1453 97

Using rat peritoneal neutrophils, the complete nucleotide sequence of rat macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) mRNA including 5'untranslated region (UTR) and 3'UTR was determined (GenBank Accession number, AB060092). It was found that the MIP-2 mRNA has a 70 bp 5'UTR, a 303 bp coding region and a 728 bp 3'UTR which contains adenylate/uridylate (AU)-rich areas defined as AU-rich elements (AREs). Site-directed mutagenesis studies using the tetracycline-sensitive transactivator protein-expressing rat basophilic leukemia cells (RBL-2H3-TO cells) revealed that MIP-2 mRNA mutants which lack the 3'UTR are more stable than MIP-2-wild-type (wt) mRNA. A MIP-2 mRNA mutant in which some mutations were introduced to the ARE was also stable. The stability of MIP-2 mRNA was low in untreated RBL-2H3-TO cells, but it increased in the antigen-stimulated immunoglobulin E (IgE)-sensitized cells. The antigen-induced MIP-2 mRNA stabilization was counteracted by the highly specific p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor SB203580 and the MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK-1) inhibitor PD98059. These findings indicate that ARE is the cis-element which mediates the rapid decay of MIP-2 mRNA, and the antigen stimulation stabilizes MIP-2 mRNA and the p38 MAPK and p44/42 MAPK pathways are involved in the antigen-induced stabilization of MIP-2 mRNA.
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PMID:Analysis of the mechanism regulating the stability of rat macrophage inflammatory protein-2 mRNA in RBL-2H3 cells. 1462 57

The alpha2-macroglobulin signalling receptor is upregulated in highly metastatic 1-LN prostate cancer cells. Stimulation of 1-LN cells with activated alpha2-macroglobulin (alpha2M*) caused a two- to threefold increase in [3H]thymidine uptake and cell number. These events require the Ras-dependent MAPK and PI 3-kinase/Akt signalling cascades. Incubation of 1-LN cells with alpha2M* induced Grb2, shc, sos and Raf-1 expression, as well as phosphorylation of MEK 1/2, ERK 1/2, p38 MAPK and JNK. This treatment also increased PI 3-kinase activation, PDK1 expression, Akt phosphorylation and p70s6k phosphorylation. Levels of the early gene products c-fos protein and thymidylate synthase were comparably increased. Exposure of 1-LN cells to alpha2M* significantly raised the levels of phosphorylated CREB by about 15-20 min and phosphorylated p53 by about 60-90 min of incubation. We conclude that the growth regulatory effects of ligating the alpha2M* signalling receptor on 1-LN cells are exerted via the onset and crosstalk between the Ras-dependent MAPK and PI 3-kinase/Akt signalling cascades.
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PMID:Potentiation of signal transduction mitogenesis and cellular proliferation upon binding of receptor-recognized forms of alpha2-macroglobulin to 1-LN prostate cancer cells. 1470 37

ATF3 (Activating transcription factor 3), a member of the CREB/ATF family, can be induced by stress and growth factors in mammalian cells, and is thought to play an important role in the cardiovascular system. However, little is currently known about how the induction of ATF3 is regulated, except that the JNK pathway is involved. Here, we investigated the differential roles of the MAPK pathways involved in TNFalpha (tumour necrosis factor alpha)-induced ATF3 expression in vascular endothelial cells. In human umbilical vein endothelial cells, the expression of constitutively active MKK7 (MAPK kinase 7) increased the number of ATF3-positive cells, and dominant negative MKK7 suppressed the TNFalpha-induced expression of ATF3, indicating a requirement for the JNK pathway. In contrast, the expression of constitutively active or dominant negative MEK1/2 (MAPK/ERK kinase 1/2) suppressed or enhanced TNFalpha-mediated induction of ATF3, respectively. In support of this, the MEK1/2 specific inhibitor U0126 enhanced the expression of ATF3 induced by TNFalpha. Furthermore, the ERK pathway inhibits the TNFalpha-mediated induction of ATF3 mRNA, but not its stability, suggesting the involvement of ERK activity in the transcriptional regulation of the ATF3 gene. Our results suggest that TNFalpha-induced ATF3 gene expression is bidirectionally regulated by the JNK and ERK pathways in vascular endothelial cells.
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PMID:TNFalpha-induced ATF3 expression is bidirectionally regulated by the JNK and ERK pathways in vascular endothelial cells. 1472 8

Stratified squamous epithelial cells undergo an orderly process of terminal differentiation that is characterized by specific molecular and morphological changes, including expression of the cornified envelope protein involucrin. Significant progress has been made in characterizing the upstream regulatory region of the involucrin gene. Binding sites for AP-1 (activator protein 1) and Sp1 transcription factors were shown to be important for involucrin promoter activity and tissue-specific expression. Defective terminal differentiation is often characterized by decreased or lack of involucrin expression. Recently, a dominant-negative construct of the transcriptional co-activator P/CAF [p300/CBP-associated factor, where CBP stands for CREB (cAMP-response-element-binding protein)-binding protein] was shown to inhibit involucrin expression in immortalized keratinocytes [Kawabata, Kawahara, Kanekura, Araya, Daitoku, Hata, Miura, Fukamizu, Kanzaki, Maruyama and Nakajima (2002) J. Biol. Chem. 277, 8099-8105]. Loss of expression or inactivation of other co-activators has also been demonstrated [Suganuma, Kawabata, Ohshima, and Ikeda (2002) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 99, 13073-13078]. In the present study, we re-expressed CBP and P/CAF in immortalized keratinocyte lines that had lost expression of these co-activator proteins. Re-expression of these proteins restored calcium- and RA (retinoic acid)-responsive involucrin expression in these cells. RA and calcium signalling induced exchange of CBP and P/CAF occupancy at the AP-1 sites of the involucrin promoter. CBP and P/CAF inductions of the involucrin expression were not dependent on MEK (mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular-signal-regulated kinase kinase), p38, protein kinase C or CaM kinase (calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase) signalling. Kinase-induced changes in involucrin promoter activity directly resulted from changes in AP-1 protein expression. We concluded that CBP and P/CAF are important regulators of involucrin expression in stratified squamous epithelial cells.
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PMID:Regulation of the human involucrin gene promoter by co-activator proteins. 1502 63


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