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)

Arsenite has been well-proved to act as both an environmental carcinogen as well as a tumor therapeutic agent. AP-1 is one of the transcription factors that can be induced upon arsenite stimulation. However, the study on the mechanism and the function of the arsenite-induced AP-1 transactivation remains far complete. Here we demonstrated that high dose of arsenite induced apoptotic response in mouse fibroblasts correlating with AP-1 transactivation, which events were mediated by both IKKalpha and IKKbeta, two major protein kinases responsible for NF-kappaB activation. In addition, the regulatory effect of IKKs on the arsenite-induced AP-1 activation was delivered by sequential induction of GADD45alpha expression and the activation of MAPKK (MKK3/4/6) and MAPK (JNK and p38K)-dependent pathways. We further provided evidence that p50, but not p65 subunit of NF-kappaB, was involved in GADD45alpha induction and the subsequent MAPKK/MAPK/AP-1 activation under arsenite exposure, while functional NF-kappaB induced by arsenite stimulation consisted of p65 but not of p50 subunit. Therefore, we concluded that both IKKalpha and IKKbeta can mediate arsenite-induced AP-1 transactivation through NF-kappaB activity-independent manner.
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PMID:Both IKKalpha and IKKbeta are implicated in the arsenite-induced AP-1 transactivation correlating with cell apoptosis through NF-kappaB activity-independent manner. 1850 47

Lyme borreliosis is a spirochetal infection caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex that can proceed towards an inflammatory joint manifestation known as Lyme arthritis. Production of chemokines orchestrating neutrophil infiltration is supposed to be key to early arthritic pathogenesis. Using PMA-differentiated macrophage-like THP-1 (mTHP-1) cells we identified by antibody array methodology or mRNA analysis IL-8, GRO-alpha, NAP-2, and SDF-1alpha as being among those chemokines that are upregulated by bacterial lysates obtained from B. burgdorferi. Based on these observations, we set out to characterize in detail mechanisms mediating IL-8 release in this cellular model. TLR2 blocking antibodies, analysis of p65 translocation, and electromobility-shift analysis revealed activation of the TLR2/NF-kappaB axis by B. burgdorferi. The functional importance of this pathway was substantiated by suppression of IL-8 after inhibition of IkappaB kinase. Notably, MAP kinases, specifically the MEK1/2-ERK1/2 pathway, were essential for IL-8 secretion. Those data were confirmed by using freshly isolated adherent peripheral blood mononuclear cells. On the contrary, B. burgdorferi-induced IL-8 in mTHP-1 was unlikely related to flagellin, alpha3beta1-integrin signaling, lipopolysaccharide, bacterial DNA, NOD1/NOD2 agonists, or to intermediate production of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha. Induction of IL-8 by B. burgdorferi was not due to amplification of constitutive AP-1 DNA-binding activity detectable in mTHP-1 cells. Data presented herein validate that TLR2, particularly on mTHP-1 cells, holds a central position in mediating IL-8 secretion associated with extracellular B. burgdorferi and beyond that suggest inhibition of IkappaB kinase and MEK1/2 kinases as promising pharmacological strategies aiming at IL-8 in early Lyme arthritis.
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PMID:Systematic analysis highlights the key role of TLR2/NF-kappaB/MAP kinase signaling for IL-8 induction by macrophage-like THP-1 cells under influence of Borrelia burgdorferi lysates. 1857 57

Tumor expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) predicts poor outcomes for melanoma patients. We have reported the regulation of melanoma iNOS by the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. In this study, we test the hypothesis that NF-kappaB mediates this regulation. Western blotting of melanoma cell lysates confirmed the constitutive expression of iNOS. Western blot detected baseline levels of activated nuclear extracellular signal-regulated kinase and NF-kappaB. Indirect immunofluorescence confirmed the presence of NF-kappaB p50 and p65 in melanoma cell nuclei, with p50 being more prevalent. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay demonstrated baseline NF-kappaB activity, the findings confirmed by supershift analysis. Treatment of melanoma cells with the MEK inhibitor U0126 decreased NF-kappaB binding to its DNA recognition sequence, implicating the MAPK pathway in NF-kappaB activation. Two specific NF-kappaB inhibitors suppressed iNOS expression, demonstrating regulation of iNOS by NF-kappaB. Several experiments indicated the presence of p50 homodimers, which lack a transactivation domain and rely on the transcriptional coactivator Bcl-3 to carry out this function. Bcl-3 was detected in melanoma cells and co-immunoprecipitated with p50. These data suggest that the constitutively activated melanoma MAPK pathway stimulates activation of NF-kappaB hetero- and homodimers, which, in turn, drive iNOS expression and support melanoma tumorigenesis.
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PMID:NF-kappaB mediates mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway-dependent iNOS expression in human melanoma. 1866 40

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a therapeutic target in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease; however, the exact role of TNF signaling in the colon epithelium remains unclear. We demonstrate that TNF activation of TNF receptor (R)1 stimulates both pro- and anti-apoptotic signaling pathways in the colon epithelium; however, TNFR1 protects against colon epithelial cell apoptosis following TNF exposure. To investigate anti-apoptotic signaling pathways downstream of TNFR1, we generated an intestinal epithelium-specific Raf knock-out mouse and identified Raf kinase as a key regulator of colon epithelial cell survival in response to TNF. Surprisingly, Raf promotes NF-kappaB p65 phosphorylation, independent of MEK signaling, to support cell survival. Taken together, these data demonstrate a novel pathway in which Raf promotes colon epithelial cell survival through NF-kappaB downstream of TNFR1 activation. Thus, further understanding of colon epithelial cell-specific TNFR signaling may result in the identification of new targets for inflammatory bowel disease treatment and define novel mediators of colitis-associated cancer.
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PMID:TNFR1 promotes tumor necrosis factor-mediated mouse colon epithelial cell survival through RAF activation of NF-kappaB. 1871 39

It has been shown that ultrasound (US) stimulation accelerates fracture healing in the animal models and non-operatively clinical uses. Nitric oxide (NO) is a crucial early mediator in mechanically induced bone formation. Here we found that US-mediated inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression was attenuated by Ras inhibitor (manumycin A), Raf-1 inhibitor (GW5074), MEK inhibitor (PD98059), NF-kappaB inhibitor (PDTC), and IkappaB protease inhibitor (TPCK). US-induced Ras activation was inhibited by manumycin A. Raf-1 phosphorylation at Ser(338) by US was inhibited by manumycin A and GW5074. US-induced MEK and ERK activation was inhibited by manumycin A, GW5074, and PD98059. Stimulation of preosteoblasts with US activated IkappaB kinase alpha/beta (IKK alpha/beta), IkappaBalpha phosphorylation, p65 phosphorylation at Ser(276), p65, and p50 translocation from the cytosol to the nucleus, and kappaB-luciferase activity. US-mediated an increase of IKK alpha/beta, IkappaBalpha, and p65 phosphorylation, kappaB-luciferase activity and p65 and p50 binding to the NF-kappaB element was inhibited by manumycin A, GW5074, and PD98059. Our results suggest that US increased iNOS expression in preosteoblasts via the Ras/Raf-1/MEK/ERK/IKKalphabeta and NF-kappaB signaling pathways.
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PMID:Ultrasound stimulates NF-kappaB activation and iNOS expression via the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway in cultured preosteoblasts. 1928 77

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) may play an important role in emphysematous change in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. We previously reported that simvastatin, an inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, attenuates emphysematous change and MMP-9 induction in the lungs of rats exposed to cigarette smoke. However, it remained uncertain how cigarette smoke induced MMP-9 and how simvastatin inhibited cigarette smoke-induced MMP-9 expression in alveolar macrophages (AMs), a major source of MMP-9 in the lungs of COPD patients. Presently, we examined the related signaling for MMP-9 induction and the inhibitory mechanism of simvastatin on MMP-9 induction in AMs exposed to cigarette smoke extract (CSE). In isolated rat AMs, CSE induced MMP-9 expression and phosphorylation of ERK and Akt. A chemical inhibitor of MEK1/2 or PI3K reduced phosphorylation of ERK or Akt, respectively, and also inhibited CSE-mediated MMP-9 induction. Simvastatin reduced CSE-mediated MMP-9 induction, and simvastatin-mediated inhibition was reversed by farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) or geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP). Similar to simvastatin, inhibition of FPP transferase or GGPP transferase suppressed CSE-mediated MMP-9 induction. Simvastatin attenuated CSE-mediated activation of RAS and phosphorylation of ERK, Akt, p65, IkappaB, and nuclear AP-1 or NF-kappaB activity. Taken together, these results suggest that simvastatin may inhibit CSE-mediated MMP-9 induction, primarily by blocking prenylation of RAS in the signaling pathways, in which Raf-MEK-ERK, PI3K/Akt, AP-1, and IkappaB-NF-kappaB are involved.
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PMID:Simvastatin inhibits induction of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in rat alveolar macrophages exposed to cigarette smoke extract. 1929 17

Tumor malignancy is associated with several features such as proliferation ability and frequency of metastasis. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), a secreted protein that binds to integrins, modulates the invasive behavior of certain human cancer cells. However, the effect of CTGF on migration activity in human chondrosarcoma cells is mostly unknown. Here we found that CTGF increased the migration and expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13 in human chondrosarcoma cells (JJ012 cells). RGD peptide, alphavbeta3 monoclonal antibody (mAb) and MAPK kinase (MEK) inhibitors (PD98059 and U0126) but not RAD peptide inhibited the CTGF-induced increase of the migration and MMP-13 up-regulation of chondrosarcoma cells. CTGF stimulation increased the phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). In addition, treatment of JJ012 cells with NF-kappaB inhibitor (PDTC) or IkappaB protease inhibitor (TPCK) inhibited CTGF-induced cell migration and MMP-13 up-regulation. Stimulation of JJ012 cells with CTGF also induced IkappaB kinase alpha/beta (IKK alpha/beta) phosphorylation, IkappaBalpha phosphorylation, p65 Ser(536) phosphorylation, and kappaB-luciferase activity. The CTGF-mediated increases in kappaB-luciferase activities were inhibited by RGD, PD98059, U0126 or FAK, and ERK2 mutant. Taken together, our results indicated that CTGF enhances the migration of chondrosarcoma cells by increasing MMP-13 expression through the alphavbeta3 integrin, FAK, ERK, and NF-kappaB signal transduction pathway.
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PMID:CTGF enhances migration and MMP-13 up-regulation via alphavbeta3 integrin, FAK, ERK, and NF-kappaB-dependent pathway in human chondrosarcoma cells. 1930 Dec 59

Elucidating the molecular mechanism of the low-dose radiation (LDR)-mediated radioadaptive response is crucial for inventing potential therapeutic approaches to improving normal tissue protection in radiation therapy. ATM, a DNA-damage sensor, is known to activate the stress-sensitive transcription factor NF-kappaB upon exposure to ionizing radiation. This study provides evidence of the cooperative functions of ATM, ERK, and NF-kappaB in inducing a survival advantage through a radioadaptive response as a result of LDR treatment (10 cGy X-rays). By using p53-inhibited human skin keratinocytes, we show that phosphorylation of ATM, MEK, and ERK (but not JNK or p38) is enhanced along with a twofold increase in NF-kappaB luciferase activity at 24 h post-LDR. However, NF-kappaB reporter gene transactivation without a significant enhancement of p65 or p50 protein level suggests that NF-kappaB is activated as a rapid protein response via ATM without involving the transcriptional activation of NF-kappaB subunit genes. A direct interaction between ATM and NF-kappaB p65 is detected in the resting cells and this interaction is significantly increased with LDR treatment. Inhibition of ATM with caffeine, KU-55933, or siRNA or inhibition of the MEK/ERK pathway can block the LDR-induced NF-kappaB activation and eliminate the LDR-induced survival advantage. Altogether, these results suggest a p53-independent prosurvival network involving the coactivation of the ATM, MEK/ERK, and NF-kappaB pathways in LDR-treated human skin keratinocytes, which is absent from mutant IkappaB cells (HK18/mIkappaB), which fail to express NF-kappaB activity.
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PMID:Coactivation of ATM/ERK/NF-kappaB in the low-dose radiation-induced radioadaptive response in human skin keratinocytes. 1932 81

Psoriasis vulgaris is an autoimmune dermatosis with Th17 infiltration. Prolactin (PRL) may participate in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. The chemokine CCL20 recruits Th17 cells, and CCL20 production by epidermal keratinocytes is enhanced in psoriatic lesions. We examined the in vitro effects of PRL on CCL20 production in human keratinocytes. PRL increased basal and IL-17-induced CCL20 secretion, and mRNA expression in keratinocytes. CCL20 production by PRL was suppressed by antisense oligonucleotides against the AP-1 components c-Fos and c-Jun, whereas that by IL-17 was suppressed by antisense NF-kappaB p50 and p65. CCL20 production induced by PRL plus IL-17 was suppressed by antisense c-Fos, c-Jun, p50, and p65. PRL alone increased the transcriptional activity of AP-1, and c-Fos and c-Jun expression; moderately enhanced NF-kappaB activity and IkappaBalpha phosphorylation; and potently increased IL-17-induced NF-kappaB activity. MEK and JNK inhibitors suppressed PRL- or PRL-plus-IL-17-induced CCL20 production and AP-1 activities. MEK inhibitor suppressed PRL-induced c-Fos expression, whereas JNK inhibitor suppressed c-Jun expression. PRL induced ERK and JNK phosphorylation. These results suggest that PRL may enhance basal and IL-17-induced CCL20 production in keratinocytes by AP-1 and NF-kappaB activation, which is partially mediated via MEK/ERK and JNK. PRL may promote Th17 infiltration into psoriatic lesions via CCL20.
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PMID:Prolactin enhances basal and IL-17-induced CCL20 production by human keratinocytes. 1935 May 75

Invasion of tumor cells is the primary cause of therapeutic failure in the treatment of malignant chondrosarcomas. Glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) plays a crucial role in migration and metastasis of human cancer cells. Integrins are the major adhesive molecules in mammalian cells. Here we found that GDNF directed the migration and increased cell surface expression of alphav and beta3 integrin in human chondrosarcoma cells. Pretreated of JJ012 cells with MAPK kinase (MEK) inhibitors PD98059 or U0126 inhibited the GDNF-mediated migration and integrin expression. Stimulation of cells with GDNF increased the phosphorylation of MEK and extracellular signal-regulating kinase (ERK). In addition, NF-kappaB inhibitor (PDTC) or IkappaB protease inhibitor (TPCK) also inhibited GDNF-mediated cells migration and integrin up-regulation. Stimulation of cells with GDNF induced IkappaB kinase (IKKalpha/beta) phosphorylation, IkappaB phosphorylation, p65 Ser(536) phosphorylation, and kappaB-luciferase activity. Furthermore, the GDNF-mediated increasing of kappaB-luciferase activity was inhibited by PD98059, U0126, PDTC and TPCK or MEK, ERK, IKKalpha, and IKKbeta mutants. Taken together, these results suggest that the GDNF acts through MEK/ERK, which in turn activates IKKalpha/beta and NF-kappaB, resulting in the activations of alphavbeta3 integrin and contributing the migration of human chondrosarcoma cells.
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PMID:Glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor increases migration of human chondrosarcoma cells via ERK and NF-kappaB pathways. 1939 30


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