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 urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (u-PAR) facilitates extracellular matrix degradation in part by accelerating plasmin formation at the cell surface. We previously reported that u-PAR expression is elevated in colon cancer cell lines characterized by their in vitro invasive capacity. Since, u-PAR expression is increased by a variety of growth factors, which signal through the extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/ERK2), we determined if these mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) regulate u-PAR expression in two cultured colon cancer cell lines. An in-gel kinase assay showed that ERK1 activity was considerably higher in RKO cells, which display > or = 10(5) receptors/cell, than the GEO cells which have approximately 10(4) urokinase receptors per cell. The expression of either an ERK-inactivating phosphatase (CL100), or a kinase-defective ERK1, decreased the activity of a u-PAR promoter-driven CAT reporter in RKO cells. Immune complex kinase assays indicated that the constitutive ERK1 activity in RKO cells was largely a result of an activated MEK1. Further, treatment of RKO cells with a specific inhibitor (PD 098059) of MEK1 activation, which diminished ERK1 activity, reduced the amount of urokinase specifically bound to the cell surface and this was associated with reduced laminin degradation. The expression of a dominant negative c-Raf-1 also reduced u-PAR promoter activity suggesting that MEK1 activation involved an activator at, or upstream, of this serine-threonine kinase. Transfection of the u-PAR-deficient GEO cells with a constitutively activated MEK1 expression construct up-regulated u-PAR promoter activity. Similarly treatment of GEO cells with a phosphatase inhibitor (sodium vanadate) caused a dose-dependent increase in ERK1 activity which paralleled increased cell surface binding of urokinase. Taken together, these data suggest that elevated u-PAR expression, in at least a sub-population of colon cancer, is partly a consequence of a constitutively activated ERK-1-dependent signaling cascade.
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PMID:Elevated urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor expression in a colon cancer cell line is due to a constitutively activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1-dependent signaling cascade. 919 Oct 56

Bone metastases from prostate origin generate an osteoblastic reaction that is expressed in vitro by increased osteoblast proliferation. The urokinase-like plasminogen activator (u-PA) present in the media conditioned by tumoral prostatic cells acting as a ligand of the cellular membrane receptor (u-PAR), has been identified as the specific factor that modulates this proliferative reaction. The present study represents an effort to unravel the intracellular pathway by which u-PA activates osteoblastic proliferation and to evaluate the role of cellular receptor u-PAR in this proliferative phenomenon. Our results show that in vitro u-PA stimulates proliferation of SaOS-2 osteoblastic cells by activating the MAP kinase route of ERK 1 and 2 and the p38 pathway. These results are in accordance with the inhibition of intermediate activation and cell proliferation by PD 098059 and SB 203580, specific inhibitors of MEK and p38, respectively. We also show that SaOS-2 cells increase their proliferative response when cells are plated onto vitronectin, the second natural ligand of u-PAR, and that culturing SaOS-2 cells in the presence of u-PA represents a stimuli for u-PAR expression. On the basis of these results we propose that osteoblastic cells respond to the prostate-derived u-PA stimuli in a very efficient manner that includes the utilization of two different signaling routes and the stimulation of the expression of the u-PA receptor.
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PMID:ERK 1,2 and p38 pathways are involved in the proliferative stimuli mediated by urokinase in osteoblastic SaOS-2 cell line. 1150 Sep 57

We characterized the tracheal and bronchial relaxation caused by proteinase-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) activation in ddY mice and/or in wild-type and PAR-2-knockout mice of C57BL/6 background. Ser-Leu-Ile-Gly-Arg-Leu-amide (SLIGRL-NH(2)) and Thr-Phe-Leu-Leu-Arg-amide, PAR-2- and PAR-1-activating peptides, respectively, caused relaxation in the isolated ddY mouse trachea and main bronchus. The relaxation was abolished by specific inhibitors of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1, COX-2, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK), and p38 MAP kinase. The MEK and p38 MAP kinase inhibitors did not affect prostaglandin E(2)-induced relaxation. Inhibitors of cytosolic Ca(2+)-dependent phospholipase A(2) (PLA), Ca(2+)-independent PLA(2), diacylglycerol lipase, tyrosine kinase, and protein kinase C exhibited no or only minor inhibitory effects on the PAR-mediated relaxation. Trypsin, a PAR-2 activator, and 2-furoyl-Leu-Ile-Gly-Arg-Leu-amide, a potent PAR-2-activating peptide, in addition to SLIGRL-NH(2), caused airway relaxation in wild-type C57BL/6 mice, as in ddY mice. In PAR-2-knockout mice, the peptide effects were absent and the potency of trypsin decreased. Desensitization of PAR-2 and/or PAR-1 greatly suppressed the relaxant effect of trypsin. The bronchial and tracheal tissues displayed distinct sensitivities toward trypsin and the PAR-2-activating peptides. Our data indicate an involvement of both COX-1 and COX-2, and the MEK-extracellular signal-regulated kinase and p38 MAP kinase signaling pathways in the PAR-2- and PAR-1-triggered relaxation of mouse airway tissue, and substantiate a role for PAR-2 in regulating both the trachea and bronchial responsiveness in the mouse lung.
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PMID:Proteinase-activated receptor-2-mediated relaxation in mouse tracheal and bronchial smooth muscle: signal transduction mechanisms and distinct agonist sensitivity. 1519 93

Colon cancer progression is associated with the activation of protein kinase C (PKC), the downregulation of functional E-cadherin and an increased expression of the serine protease urokinase (u-PA) and its receptor (u-PAR). HT29-M6 intestinal epithelial cells represent an in vitro model to study colon cancer progression. These cells are induced to scatter and to invade by phorbol esters. Using proteolytic and cell signaling inhibitors, we show that HT29-M6 cells require plasminogen for the acquisition of the scattering response to PMA. Our results indicate that, prior to inducing a state of competency for plasminogen-dependent scattering, PMA triggers an ordered succession of events where upregulation of the activity of u-PA precedes proteolysis of u-PAR and active degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM). These events poise HT29-M6 cells to a scatter-competent state that allows the subsequent localized proteolytic activation of plasminogen to plasmin, required for the execution of scattering. Finally, we show that, in addition to its enzymatic activity directed at the degradation of ECM, plasmin generates an intracellular signal resulting in the phosphorylation of ERK 1/2. For a full motogenic activity, plasmin requires this signal since the use of a MEK inhibitor (PD98059) specifically blocks the plasmin-dependent phase of cell scattering. Our observations suggest that plasmin exerts a dual role in PMA-induced scattering of HT29-M6 cells, one directed extracellularly to promote proteolysis of the ECM and one directed to generate intracellular signaling.
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PMID:Requirement of the enzymatic and signaling activities of plasmin for phorbol-ester-induced scattering of colon cancer cells. 1663 Nov 61

Activation of both PAR-1 (proteinase-activated receptor-1) and PAR-2 resulted in release of the chemokine GRO (growth-regulated oncogene)/CINC-1 (cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1), a functional counterpart of human interleukin-8, from rat astrocytes. Here, we investigate whether the two PAR receptor subtypes can signal separately. PAR-2-induced GRO/CINC-1 release was independent of protein kinase C, phosphoinositide 3-kinase and MEK (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase)-1/2 activation, whereas these three kinases were involved in PAR-1-induced GRO/CINC-1 release. Despite such clear differences between PAR-1 and PAR-2 signalling pathways, JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase) was identified in both signalling pathways to play a pivotal role. By isoform-specific loss-of-function studies using small interfering RNA against JNK1-3, we demonstrate that different JNK isoforms mediated GRO/CINC-1 secretion, when it was induced by either PAR-1 or PAR-2 activation. JNK2 and JNK3 isoforms were both activated by PAR-1 and essential for chemokine GRO/CINC-1 secretion, whereas PAR-1-mediated JNK1 activation was mainly responsible for c-Jun phosphorylation, which was not involved in GRO/CINC-1 release. In contrast, PAR-2-induced JNK1 activation, which failed to phosphorylate c-Jun, uniquely contributed to GRO/CINC-1 release. Therefore our results show for the first time that JNK-mediated chemokine GRO/CINC-1 release occurred in a JNK isoform-dependent fashion and invoked PAR subtype-specific mechanisms. Furthermore, here we demonstrate that activation of PAR-2, as well as PAR-1, rescued astrocytes from ceramide-induced apoptosis via regulating chemokine GRO/CINC-1 release. Taken together, our results suggest that PAR-1 and PAR-2 have overlapping functions, but can activate separate pathways under certain pathological conditions to rescue neural cells from cell death. This provides new functional insights into PAR/JNK signalling and the protective actions of PARs in brain.
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PMID:Proteinase-activated receptor-1 and -2 induce the release of chemokine GRO/CINC-1 from rat astrocytes via differential activation of JNK isoforms, evoking multiple protective pathways in brain. 1694 65

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) hyper-activation promotes cell death but the signaling events downstream of PARP-1 activation are not fully identified. To gain further information on the implication of PARP-1 activation and PAR synthesis on signaling pathways influencing cell death, we exposed HeLa cells to the DNA alkylating agent N-methyl-N'-methyl-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). We found that massive PAR synthesis leads to down-regulation of ERK1/2 phosphorylation, Bax translocation to the mitochondria, release of cytochrome c and AIF and subsequently cell death. Inhibition of massive PAR synthesis following MNNG exposure with the PARP inhibitor PJ34 prevented those events leading to cell survival, whereas inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation by inhibiting MEK counteracted the cytoprotective effect of PJ34. Together, our results provide evidence that PARP-1-induced cell death by MNNG exposure in HeLa cells is mediated in part through inhibition of the MEK/ERK signaling pathway and that inhibition of massive PAR synthesis by PJ34, which promotes sustained activation of ERK1/2, leads to cytoprotection.
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PMID:PARP-1-induced cell death through inhibition of the MEK/ERK pathway in MNNG-treated HeLa cells. 1782 54

Thrombin signalling through PAR (protease-activated receptor)-1 is involved in cellular processes, such as proliferation, differentiation and cell survival. Following traumatic injury to the eye, thrombin signalling may participate in disorders, such as PVR (proliferative vitreoretinopathy), a human eye disease characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation, transdifferentiation and migration of otherwise quiescent RPE (retinal pigment epithelium) cells. PARs activate the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK MAPK pathway (where ERK is extracellular-signal-regulated kinase, MAPK is mitogen-activated protein kinase and MEK is MAPK/ERK kinase) through the activation of G(alpha) and G(betagamma) heterotrimeric G-proteins, and the downstream stimulation of the PLC (phospholipase C)-beta/PKC (protein kinase C) and PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase) signalling axis. In the present study, we examined the molecular signalling involved in thrombin-induced RPE cell proliferation, using rat RPE cells in culture as a model system for PVR pathogenesis. Our results showed that thrombin activation of PAR-1 induces RPE cell proliferation through Ras-independent activation of the Raf/MEK/ERK1/2 MAPK signalling cascade. Pharmacological analysis revealed that the activation of 'conventional' PKC isoforms is essential for proliferation, although thrombin-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 requires the activation of atypical PKCzeta by PI3K. Consistently, thrombin-induced ERK1/2 activation and RPE cell proliferation were prevented completely by PI3K or PKCzeta inhibition. These results suggest that thrombin induces RPE cell proliferation by joint activation of PLC-dependent and atypical PKC isoforms and the Ras-independent downstream stimulation of the Raf/MEK/ERK1/2 MAPK cascade. The present study is the first report demonstrating directly thrombin-induced ERK phosphorylation in the RPE, and the involvement of atypical PKCzeta in this process.
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PMID:PKC isoenzymes differentially modulate the effect of thrombin on MAPK-dependent RPE proliferation. 1863 65

PD98059 (MEK1 Inhibitor) has been shown to act in vivo as a highly selective inhibitor of MEK1 activation and the MAP kinase cascade. In the present study, we have investigated the effects of PD98059, on the development of non-septic shock caused by zymosan in mice. Mice received either intraperitoneally zymosan (500mg/kg, administered i.p. as a suspension in saline) or vehicle (0.25ml/mouse saline). PD98059 (10mg/kg) was administered 1 and 6h after zymosan administration i.p. Organ failure and systemic inflammation in mice was assessed 18h after administration of zymosan and/or PD98059. Treatment of mice with PD98059 attenuated the peritoneal exudation and the migration of polymorphonuclear cells caused by zymosan. PD98059 also attenuated the lung, liver and pancreatic injury and renal dysfunction caused by zymosan as well as the increase of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta plasma levels caused by zymosan. Immunohistochemical analysis for inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nitrotyrosine, poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR), ICAM-1, P-selectin, Bax, Bcl-2 and FAS-ligand revealed positive staining in pancreatic and intestinal tissue obtained from zymosan-injected mice. The degree of staining for nitrotyrosine, iNOS, PAR, ICAM-1, P-selectin, Bax, Bcl-2 and FAS-ligand were markedly reduced in tissue sections obtained from zymosan-injected mice, which had received PD98059. Moreover treatment of mice with PD98059 (10mg/kg) attenuated the NF-kappaB activation and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) expression induced by zymosan injection. In addition, administration of zymosan caused a severe illness in the mice characterized by a systemic toxicity, significant loss of body weight and a 60% of mortality at the end of observation period. Treatment with PD98059 significantly reduced the development of systemic toxicity, the loss in body weight and the mortality (20%) caused by zymosan. This study provides evidence that PD98059 attenuates the degree of zymosan-induced non-septic shock in mice.
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PMID:PD98059, a specific MAP kinase inhibitor, attenuates multiple organ dysfunction syndrome/failure (MODS) induced by zymosan in mice. 1981 33

The protease-activated receptors (PAR1 and PAR2) are unusual G protein-coupled receptors that are activated by distinct serine proteases and are coexpressed in many different cell types. Limited recent evidence suggests these closely related receptors regulate different physiological outputs in the same cell, although little is known about the comparative signaling pathways used by these receptors. Here we report that PAR1 and PAR2 couple to overlapping and distinct sets of G proteins to regulate receptor-specific signaling pathways involved in cell migration. In functionally PAR-null COS-7 cells, ectopically expressed PAR1 and PAR2 both form stable complexes with G alpha(q), G alpha(11), G alpha(14), G alpha(12), and G alpha(13). It is surprising that PAR1 but not PAR2 coupled to G alpha(o), G alpha(i1), and G alpha(i2). Consistent with these observations, PAR1 and PAR2 stimulation of inositol phosphate production and RhoA activation was blocked by specific inhibitors of G(q/11) and G(12/13) signaling, respectively. Both receptors stimulated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 phosphorylation, but only PAR1 inhibited adenylyl cyclase activity, and pertussis toxin blocked PAR1 effects on both adenylyl cyclase and ERK1/2 signaling. Neu7 astrocytes express native PAR1 and PAR2 receptors that activate inositol phosphate, RhoA, and ERK1/2 signaling. However, only PAR1 inhibited adenylyl cyclase activity. PAR1 and PAR2 also stimulate Neu7 cell migration. PAR1 effects on ERK1/2 phosphorylation and cell migration were blocked both by pertussis toxin and by the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase/ERK inhibitor [1,4-diamino-2,3-dicyano-1,4-bis(methylthio)butadiene (U0126)], whereas PAR2 effects were only blocked by U0126. These studies demonstrate that PAR1 and PAR2 physically and functionally link to overlapping and distinct profiles of G proteins to differentially regulate downstream signaling pathways and cell physiology.
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PMID:PAR1 and PAR2 couple to overlapping and distinct sets of G proteins and linked signaling pathways to differentially regulate cell physiology. 2021 60

The urokinase receptor (u-PAR) which is largely regulated at the transcriptional level has been implicated in tumor progression. In this study, we explored the epigenetic regulation of u-PAR and showed that the histone variant H2A.Z negatively regulates its expression in multiple cell lines. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed that H2A.Z was enriched at previously characterized u-PAR-regulatory regions (promoter and a downstream enhancer) and dissociates upon activation of gene expression by phorbol ester (PMA). Using specific chemical and dominant negative expression constructs, we show that the MEK-ERK signaling pathway terminating at AP-1 transcription factors intersects with the epigenetic control of u-PAR expression by H2A.Z. Furthermore, we demonstrate that two other AP-1 targets (MMP9 gene and miR-21 microRNA) are also H2A.Z regulated. In conclusion, our work demonstrates that (i) the expression of two genes and a microRNA all implicated in tumor progression are directly regulated by H2A.Z and (ii) MEK-ERK signaling terminating at AP-1 intersects with the epigenetic control of target gene expression by H2A.Z.
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PMID:Regulation of u-PAR gene expression by H2A.Z is modulated by the MEK-ERK/AP-1 pathway. 2193 8


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