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)

MMP-9 (92 kDa) is the major gelatinase able to degrade collagen IV, secreted by keratinocytes that are actively involved in wound-healing or tumorigenesis. Since the invasive phenotype of cancers is dependent on MMP-9 expression, it appeared of interest to precisely characterize which signal transduction pathways activated by TNF-alpha are involved in MMP-9 up-regulation induced by TNF-alpha. In HaCaT cells, activation of MMP-9 occurs at the transcriptional level. Inhibition of the MAPK pathway using specific inhibitors of the Ras, Raf, MEK1/2, and Erk1/2 cascade was correlated with a marked inhibition of MMP-9 activity, as determined by gene and protein expression. MAPK pathway activation via TNF-alpha was confirmed by marked AP-1 activation detected in EMSA. Under our experimental conditions, p38 MAPK and SAPK/JNK pathways were not activated. Gene and protein expression of other MMPs that regulate MMP-9, such as MMP-1 and MMP-13, were also up-regulated by TNF-alpha and inhibited by UO126, providing evidence that the MAPK pathway plays a fundamental role in the regulation of MMP-9 secretion by keratinocytes. As TNF-alpha is known to be a main activator of NF-kappaB pathway, the effects of campthothecin and caffeic acid were investigated, such as, TNF-alpha campthothecin up-regulated MMP-9 activity but caffeic acid only weakly inhibited MMP-9 activation induced by TNF-alpha. However, NF-kappaB is activated as shown from immunostaining data, a nuclear staining and higher Western blotting expression of p50 and p65 NF-kappaB subunits were detected after TNF-alpha treatment. A higher specific signal was also detected in EMSA for TNF-alpha-treated cells.
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PMID:The inhibition of MAPK pathway is correlated with down-regulation of MMP-9 secretion induced by TNF-alpha in human keratinocytes. 1451 92

Increased expression of the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) receptor (c-met) and urokinase type plasminogen (uPA) correlated with the development and metastasis of cancers. To investigate the role of HGF/c-met signaling on metastasis in cancer cells stimulated with HGF, we examined the effects of a specific MEK1 inhibitor (PD98059) and a p38 MAP kinase inhibitor (SB203580) on HGF-induced uPA expression in pancreatic cancer cell lines, L3.6PL and IMIM-PC2. Pretreatment of PD98059 decreased HGF-mediated phosphorylation of extracellular receptor kinase (ERK), uPA secretion and expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, SB203580 pretreatment increased HGF-stimulated ERK phosphorylation, uPA secretion and expression of MMPs. SB203580 also reversed the inhibition of HGF-mediated ERK activation and uPA secretion in the PD98059-pretreated cells. These results suggest that ERK activation by HGF might play important roles in the metastasis of pancreatic cancer and the p38 MAPK pathway also involved in the HGF-mediated uPA secretion and metastasis by regulation of ERK pathway.
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PMID:Growth factor-dependent activation of the MAPK pathway in human pancreatic cancer: MEK/ERK and p38 MAP kinase interaction in uPA synthesis. 1459 83

The mechanisms by which c-erbB-dependent signaling contribute to the invasive potential of HNSCC remain to be fully elucidated. We have previously shown that c-erbB autocrine and/or paracrine stimulation upregulates MMP-9 but has no effect on the related gelatinase, MMP-2. BTC, a major c-erbB ligand, has the ability to efficiently activate all c-erbB receptors and to bind directly to EGFR and c-erbB-4. BTC is commonly expressed in HNSCC cells and exerts the most potent effects in terms of MMP induction relative to other c-erbB ligands so far tested. In the present study, we explored the contribution of major downstream events triggered by BTC/c-erbB receptor signaling to the regulation of MMP-9 and in vitro invasiveness of HNSCC cells. In human HNSCC cell lines, SIHN-006 and Detroit-562, BTC treatment resulted in rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of all c-erbB receptors whereas both endogenous MMP-9 and BTC-stimulated MMP-9 were predominantly mediated via EGFR. BTC induced ERK1/2, JNK/SAPK and Akt phosphorylation with differing kinetics but not p38 kinase. The BTC-dependent activation of JNK and PI3K/Akt pathways occurred predominantly via EGFR, whereas activation of the MEK-1/ERK pathway occurred via all 4 c-erbB receptors, although again predominantly via EGFR. Selective inhibition of ERK/MAPK (by PD98059 or U0126) and PI3K (by LY294002 or wortmannin) led to marked reduction of both basal and BTC-induced MMP-9 activity and invasive ability of HNSCC cells. In contrast, inhibition of p38 kinase with SB203580 produced no such effects. A specific inhibitor of NF-kappa B, BAY 11-7085, also blocked the stimulatory effect of BTC. No remarkable inhibition of MMP-9 and invasion was observed on targeting other cellular activities, such as PKA, PKC and PLC-gamma. Taken together, our data show that BTC induces MMP-9 production and invasion primarily through activation of EGFR, MAPK and PI3K/Akt in HNSCC cells.
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PMID:Signaling pathways required for matrix metalloproteinase-9 induction by betacellulin in head-and-neck squamous carcinoma cells. 1519 68

Bradykinin (BK), an inflammatory mediator, has been shown to increase the expression of proteins such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) on brain cells and contributes to the pathophysiology of inflammatory responses. However, the mechanisms regulating MMP-9 expression by BK in rat brain astrocytes-1 (RBA-1) remain unclear. Here we report that the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and NF-kappaB pathways participate in the induction of MMP-9 expression induced by BK in RBA cells. Zymographic, Western blotting, and RT-PCR analyses showed that BK increased expression of MMP-9 mRNA and protein in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. BK-induced MMP-9 mRNA and protein expression was inhibited by MEK1/2 inhibitor PD98059, PI3-K inhibitor LY294002, and NF-kappaB inhibitor helenalin. In accordance with these findings, BK-induced phosphorylation of p42/p44 MAPK and Akt and activation of NF-kappaB was attenuated by prior treatment with PD98059, LY294002, and helenalin, respectively. The effects of BK on MMP-9 expression and p42/p44 MAPK and Akt phosphorylation were inhibited by B(2) receptor antagonist Hoe 140, indicating the involvement of B(2) receptors revealed by [(3)H]-BK binding assay. Furthermore, BK-stimulated translocation of NF-kappaB into the nucleus was revealed by Western blotting and immnofluorescence staining and blocked by Hoe140, PD98059, LY294002, and helenalin. Taken together, these results suggest that in RBA cells, activation of p42/p44 MAPK and Akt cascades mediated through NF-kappaB pathway are essential for BK-induced MMP-9 gene expression. This study may provide insights into the regulation of MMP-9 production in CNS, which may occur in vivo in pathological situations such as CNS inflammation and brain astrocytoma.
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PMID:Intracellular signalings underlying bradykinin-induced matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression in rat brain astrocyte-1. 1524 11

We have recently demonstrated that osteopontin (OPN) induces nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB)-mediated promatrix metalloproteinase-2 activation through IkappaBalpha/IkappaBalpha kinase (IKK) signaling pathways. However, the molecular mechanism(s) by which OPN regulates promatrix metalloproteinase-9 (pro-MMP-9) activation, MMP-9-dependent cell motility, and tumor growth and the involvement of upstream kinases in regulation of these processes in murine melanoma cells are not well defined. Here we report that OPN induced alpha(v)beta(3) integrin-mediated phosphorylation and activation of nuclear factor-inducing kinase (NIK) and enhanced the interaction between phosphorylated NIK and IKKalpha/beta in B16F10 cells. Moreover, NIK was involved in OPN-induced phosphorylations of MEK-1 and ERK1/2 in these cells. OPN induced NIK-dependent NFkappaB activation through ERK/IKKalpha/beta-mediated pathways. Furthermore OPN enhanced NIK-regulated urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) secretion, uPA-dependent pro-MMP-9 activation, cell motility, and tumor growth. Wild type NIK, IKKalpha/beta, and ERK1/2 enhanced and kinase-negative NIK (mut NIK), dominant negative IKKalpha/beta (dn IKKalpha/beta), and dn ERK1/2 suppressed the OPN-induced NFkappaB activation, uPA secretion, pro-MMP-9 activation, cell motility, and chemoinvasion. Pretreatment of cells with anti-MMP-2 antibody along with anti-MMP-9 antibody drastically inhibited the OPN-induced cell migration and chemoinvasion, whereas cells pretreated with anti-MMP-2 antibody had no effect on OPN-induced pro-MMP-9 activation suggesting that OPN induces pro-MMP-2 and pro-MMP-9 activations through two distinct pathways. The level of active MMP-9 in the OPN-induced tumor was higher compared with control. To our knowledge, this is the first report that NIK plays a crucial role in OPN-induced NFkappaB activation, uPA secretion, and pro-MMP-9 activation through MAPK/IKKalpha/beta-mediated pathways, and all of these ultimately control the cell motility, invasiveness, and tumor growth.
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PMID:Nuclear factor-inducing kinase plays a crucial role in osteopontin-induced MAPK/IkappaBalpha kinase-dependent nuclear factor kappaB-mediated promatrix metalloproteinase-9 activation. 1524 85

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 expression induced by interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) was investigated in rat brain astrocyte-1 (RBA-1). Here we report that the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) pathways participate in the induction of MMP-9 expression by IL-1beta. Zymographic, western blotting, and RT-PCR analyses showed that IL-1beta increased expression of MMP-9 mRNA and protein, which were inhibited by inhibitors of MEK1/2 (U0126), p38 (SB202190), and JNK (SP600125). In accordance with these findings, IL-1beta stimulated phosphorylation of p42/p44 MAPK, p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), which was attenuated by U0126, SB202190, or SP600125, respectively. Furthermore, this up-regulation of MMP-9 mRNA and protein was blocked by a specific NF-kappaB inhibitor helenalin. Consistently, IL-1beta-stimulated translocation of NF-kappaB into the nucleus and degradation of inhibitory kappa B-alpha (IkappaB-alpha) was revealed by western blotting and immunofluorescence staining, which was blocked by helenalin, but not by U0126, SB202190, or SP600125. Taken together, these results suggest that in RBA-1 cells, activation of p42/p44 MAPK, p38, JNK and NF-kappaB pathways is essential for IL-1beta-induced MMP-9 gene expression via transcription and translation processes. An increased understanding of the signal transduction pathways involved in IL-1beta-induced MMP-9 expression on RBA-1 may be of potential therapeutic value in the treatment of inflammatory disease.
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PMID:Involvement of p42/p44 MAPK, p38 MAPK, JNK and nuclear factor-kappa B in interleukin-1beta-induced matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression in rat brain astrocytes. 1534 31

The effect of the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis on cell migration, the secretion of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and the adhesion of human hepatoma cell lines has been investigated. A close correlation was observed between the expression of COX-2 under basal conditions and the secretion of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Cell migration in HuH-7 cells, which express high constitutive levels of COX-2 was significantly inhibited by selective inhibitors of COX-2 and enhanced by exogenous addition of PGE2. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells expressed beta1 and alphaV beta3 integrins, exhibiting an increase in cell adhesion onto fibronectin and vitronectin. Moreover, addition of PGE2 increased the beta1 integrin levels and adhesion on vitronectin in HuH-7 cells. Inhibitors of MEK/ERK, p38 MAPK, protein kinases A and C impaired the migration of HuH-7 cells induced by PGE2, indicating the involvement of multiple pathways in the process. Taken together, these results support the existence of a relationship between COX-2-derived PGE2 synthesis, and migration and adhesion through an integrin-dependent pathway in HCC cells.
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PMID:Prostaglandin E2 promotes migration and adhesion in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. 1566 7

Human tumors frequently exhibit constitutively activated Ras signaling, which contributes to the malignant phenotype. Mounting evidence suggests unique roles of the Ras family members, H-Ras, N-Ras and K-Ras, in normal and pathological conditions. In an effort to dissect distinct Ras isoform-specific functions in malignant phenotypic changes, we previously established H-Ras- and N-Ras-activated MCF10A human breast epithelial cell lines. Using these, we showed that p38 kinase is a key signaling molecule differentially regulated between H-Ras and N-Ras, leading to H-Ras-specific induction of invasive and migrative phenotypes. The present study is to further investigate H-Ras- and N-Ras-mediated signaling pathways and to unveil how these pathways are integrated for regulation of invasive/migrative phenotypic conversion of human breast epithelial cells. Here we report that the Rac-MAPK kinase (MKK)3/6-p38 pathway is a unique signaling pathway activated by H-Ras, leading to the invasive/migrative phenotype. In contrast, Raf-MEK-ERK and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-Akt pathways, which are fundamental to proliferation and differentiation, are activated by both H-Ras and N-Ras. A significant role for p38 in cell invasion is further supported by the observation that p38 activation by MKK6 transfection is sufficient to induce invasive and migrative phenotypes in MCF10A cells. Activation of the MKK6-p38 pathway results in a marked induction of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, whereas it had little effect on MMP-9, suggesting MMP-2 up-regulation by MKK6-p38 pathway as a key step for H-Ras-induced invasion and migration. We also provide evidence for cross-talk among the Rac, Raf, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathways critical for regulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression and invasive phenotype. Taken together, the present study elucidated the role of the Rac-MKK3/6-p38 pathway leading to H-Ras-specific induction of malignant progression in breast epithelial cells, providing implications for developing therapeutic strategies for mammary carcinoma to target Ras downstream signaling molecules required for malignant cancer cell behavior but less critical for normal cell functions.
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PMID:H-Ras-specific activation of Rac-MKK3/6-p38 pathway: its critical role in invasion and migration of breast epithelial cells. 1567 64

Matrix metalloproteinases facilitate cell migration and tumor invasion through their ability to proteolyse the extracellular matrix. The laminin-binding integrin alpha3beta1 is expressed at high levels in squamous cell carcinomas and in normal keratinocytes during cutaneous wound healing. We showed previously that alpha3beta1 is required for MMP-9/gelatinase B secretion in immortalized mouse keratinocytes (MK cells) and that this regulation was acquired as part of the immortalized phenotype, suggesting a possible role for alpha3beta1 during malignant conversion. In the current study, we identify a novel mechanism whereby alpha3beta1 regulates the induction of MMP-9 expression that occurs in response to activation of a MAPK kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. Inhibition of MEK/ERK signaling in wild-type MK cells with a pharmacological inhibitor, U0126, showed that ERK activation was necessary for high levels of endogenous MMP-9 gene expression and activity of a transfected MMP-9 promoter. Furthermore, activation of MEK/ERK signaling in these cells with an oncogenic mutant of Ras, RasV12, increased both endogenous MMP-9 gene expression and MMP-9 promoter activity. Experiments with alpha3beta1-deficient MK cells revealed that alpha3beta1 was required for both baseline levels and RasV12-induced levels of MMP-9 mRNA expression. However, alpha3beta1 was not required for RasV12-mediated activation of ERK or for ERK-dependent MMP-9 promoter activity. Direct comparison of mRNA turnover in the wild type and alpha3-null MK cells identified a requirement for alpha3beta1 in stabilization of MMP-9 mRNA transcripts. These results identify a novel function for integrins in promoting mRNA stability as a mechanism to potentiate MAPK-mediated gene expression. They also suggest a role for alpha3beta1 in maintaining high levels of MMP-9 mRNA expression in response to oncogenic activation of MEK/ERK signaling pathways.
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PMID:Alpha3beta1 integrin regulates MMP-9 mRNA stability in immortalized keratinocytes: a novel mechanism of integrin-mediated MMP gene expression. 1572 52

Primary cancer of the gallbladder is not unusual. Most cases of gallbladder cancer are found at an advanced stage, accompanied by the invasion to the liver, metastases to the lymph nodes and distant organs, and peritoneal dissemination. In this study, we first examined the effect of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitors on the production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in a human gallbladder cancer cell line, NOZ cells in vitro. MEK inhibitors (PD98059 and U0126) inhibited the production of MMP-2, MMP-9 and high MW uPA, and upregulated TIMPs (TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and TIMP-3). Subsequently, we examined the effect of U0126 on invasion and metastasis of orthotopically inoculated NOZ cells in nude mice. Direct liver invasion by cancer cells was detected in all of the mice in the control group, but in only one mouse in the U0126-treated group. Most of the primary tumors in the U0126-treated group expanded to the liver, but did not invade into the liver. Vessel invasion in the liver was evident in 4 out of 5 mice in the control group, but in only one mouse in the U0126-treated group. Lymph node metastases and peritoneal dissemination were recognized in all of the mice in both groups. All 5 mice in the U0126-treated group, and 4 out of 5 mice in the vehicle control group, had metastases in the lungs. The present results suggest that a MEK inhibitor, U0126, prolonged the survival of the mice with NOZ tumor by inhibiting direct liver invasion and vessel invasion of the cancer cells via down-regulation of the matrix degrading ability of the cancer cells.
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PMID:A MEK inhibitor (U0126) markedly inhibits direct liver invasion of orthotopically inoculated human gallbladder cancer cells in nude mice. 1574 30


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