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)

Intracellular phosphatase activity has been recognized to play a central role in signal transduction. In the present study, we investigated the effects of calyculin A, an inhibitor of protein phosphatases, on the expression of TNF-alpha mRNA and the possible signaling pathways in mouse osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. The result of semiquantitative RT-PCR showed that calyculin A increased the expression of TNF-alpha mRNA in MC3T3-E1 cells. Pre-treatment of LY294002 and Wortmannin, inhibitors of PI3K, inhibited the calyculin A-stimulated TNF-alpha mRNA expression. Western blot result disclosed that calyculin A increased the phosphorylation status of Akt at Ser473. However, U0126 and SB203580, specific inhibitor of MEK1/2 and p38MAPK, respectively, had no effect on calyculin A-stimulated expression of TNF-alpha mRNA. BAY11-7085 and CAPE, inhibitors of NF-kappaB activity, did not alter the calyculin A-stimulated TNF-alpha mRNA expression. Indirect immunofluorescent study confirmed that NF-kappaB was not translocated to the nucleus by calyculin A treatment. Our present results suggest that inhibition of phosphatase activity by calyculin A stimulate the phosphorylation of Akt at Ser473 by PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, resulting in the expression TNF-alpha mRNA.
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PMID:Calyculin A stimulates the expression of TNF-alpha mRNA via phosphorylation of Akt in mouse osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. 1748 57

In cardiac fibroblasts (CFs), insulin was shown to affect the expression of ENT2, CNT1, and CNT2 transporter. In the present study, we determined the signaling pathways utilized by insulin to regulate the expression of these nucleoside transporters. In the primary culture of rat CFs, insulin increased the mRNA level of ENT2 and suppressed the CNT1 and CNT2 mRNA levels. The insulin-induced increase of the ENT2 mRNA level was blocked by rapamycin (an inhibitor of mTOR) and by cycloheximide (an inhibitor of protein synthesis), whereas neither wortmannin (an inhibitor of PI3K) nor PD98059 (an inhibitor of MEK) affected the insulin action on the ENT2 transcript level. PD98059 completely blocked the insulin-induced decrease of the CNT1 and CNT2 mRNAs levels. Wortmannin prevented the insulin-induced change of the CNT1 mRNA level, but had no effect on the CNT2 mRNA. Rapamycin abolished the insulin effect on the CNT1 mRNA level, but not on the CNT2 mRNA. Cycloheximide prevented the insulin-induced decrease of CNT2 mRNA, but had no effect on the CNT1 mRNA level. Overall, our results demonstrate that the expression level of ENT2, CNT1, and CNT2 transporters in CFs is differentially regulated by insulin. Moreover, in this cell type insulin employs a distinct signaling pathway to regulate the expression of each transporter.
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PMID:Different signaling pathways utilized by insulin to regulate the expression of ENT2, CNT1, CNT2 nucleoside transporters in rat cardiac fibroblasts. 1753 94

In a previous study, we established that leptin acts synergistically with interferon-gamma in inducing nitric oxide synthase type II in cultured chondrocytes via Janus kinase-2 activation. However, the exact molecular mechanism that accounts for this synergism is not completely understood. The aim of the present study was to further delineate the signalling pathway used by leptin/interferon-gamma in the nitric oxide synthase type II induction in chondrocytes. Consequently, the roles of PI-3 kinase, MEK1 and p38 kinase were investigated using specific pharmacological inhibitors (Wortmannin, LY 294002, PD 098,059 and SB 203580). For this purpose, the amount of stable nitrite, the end product of NO generation by activated chondrocytes, has been evaluated by Griess colorimetric reaction in culture medium of human primary chondrocytes and in the murine ATDC5 cell line stimulated with leptin (400 nM) and interferon-gamma (1 ng/ml), alone or in combination. Specific inhibitors for PI-3K, MEK1 and p38 were added 1 h before stimulation. Nitric oxide synthase type II mRNA was investigated by real-time RT-PCR and NOS type II protein expression has been evaluated by western blot analysis. Our results showed that, as expected, leptin synergizes with IFN-gamma in inducing NO accumulation in the supernatant of co-stimulated cells. Pre-treatment with Wortmannin, LY 294002, PD 098,059 and SB 203580 caused a significant decrease in nitrite production, NOS type II protein expression and NOS type II mRNA expression induced by leptin and interferon-gamma co-stimulation. These findings were confirmed in 15 and 21-day differentiated ATDC5 cells, and in normal human primary chondrocytes. This is the first report showing that NOS type II induction triggered by co-stimulation with leptin and interferon-gamma is mediated by a signaling pathway involving PI-3K, MEK1 and p38.
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PMID:Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, MEK-1 and p38 mediate leptin/interferon-gamma synergistic NOS type II induction in chondrocytes. 1793 39

Periodontal disease is an inflammatory disease caused by infection with oral bacteria that results in tooth exfoliation. Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are a major component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative microorganisms and are involved in the inflammatory response. c-fos and c-jun are involved in pathological conditions such as inflammatory disorders. Inflammatory signaling cascades leading to c-fos activation in human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) are not well characterized. Thus, we have investigated the kinase pathways involved in c-fos and c-jun activation induced by LPS in human gingival fibroblasts. LPS promoted a dose- and time-dependent increase in c-fos transcription. Phosphoinositide-phospholipase C inhibitor (U-73122), protein kinase A inhibitor (H89), MEK1 inhibitor (PD 98,059), p38 inhibitor (SB203580), and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (genistein and herbimycin) attenuated the LPS effect, while the PI-3 K inhibitor (Wortmannin) had no effect on LPS-induced c-fos transcription. Protein kinase C inhibitors (Ro 31-8220, calphostin C, staurosporine, and chelerythrine chloride) also inhibited LPS-induced c-fos transcription. However, long-term treatment (24 -h) with the PKC activator tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (PMA) had no significant effect on LPS-induced transcription in HGFs. We also found an increase in c-jun expression in HGF stimulated with LPS. In addition, experiments using pharmacological inhibitors of individual mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and of protein kinase C (PKC) revealed that p38, ERK 1/2, and PKC are involved in LPS-induced c-jun expression. Our results indicate that LPS-induced c-fos and c-jun expressions are mediated by two different signaling pathways: one through phosphoinositide-phospholipase C via an upstream protein tyrosine kinase, which activates PKC isoforms that are insensitive to phorbol stress, and the second through activation of protein kinase A (PKA). Both kinases regulate the phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase ERK 1/2 and p38.
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PMID:Characterization of the transduction pathway involved in c-fos and c-jun expression induced by Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans lipopolysaccharides in human gingival fibroblasts. 1862 Nov 51

We investigated the molecular effect and signal pathway of icariin, a major flavonoid of Epimedium koreanum Nakai, on angiogenesis. Icariin stimulated in vitro endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and tubulogenesis, which are typical phenomena of angiogenesis, as well as increased in vivo angiogenesis. Icariin activated the angiogenic signal modulators, ERK, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), Akt, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and increased NO production, without affecting VEGF expression, indicating that icariin may directly stimulate angiogenesis. Icariin-induced ERK activation and angiogenic events were significantly inhibited by the MEK inhibitor PD98059, without affecting Akt and eNOS phosphorylation. The PI3K inhibitor Wortmannin suppressed icariin-mediated angiogenesis and Akt and eNOS activation without affecting ERK phosphorylation. Moreover, the NOS inhibitor NMA partially reduced the angiogenic activity of icariin. These results suggest that icariin stimulated angiogenesis by activating the MEK/ERK- and PI3K/Akt/eNOS-dependent signal pathways and may be a useful drug for angiogenic therapy.
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PMID:Icariin stimulates angiogenesis by activating the MEK/ERK- and PI3K/Akt/eNOS-dependent signal pathways in human endothelial cells. 1878 10

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) interacts with the Type I receptor to activate two main signaling pathways, the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt cascades, which mediate proliferation or survival of oligodendrocyte (OL) progenitors (OLPs). In other cellular systems, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and the p70 S6 kinase are downstream effectors that phosphorylate translation initiation factors (e.g. eIF-4E), their regulators (e.g. 4E-binding protein 1, 4E-BP1) and ribosomal protein S6 (S6). The aim of this study was to determine whether these pathways are involved in IGF-1-stimulated protein synthesis, important for growth and differentiation of OLs. Rat cultured OLPs were treated with IGF-1 with or without inhibitors of PI3K (LY294002 or Wortmannin), mTOR (rapamycin), MEK (PD98059), and Akt (III or IV), as well as an adenovirus encoding a dominant negative form of Akt. Protein synthesis, as assessed by [(35)S]-methionine incorporation, was stimulated by IGF-1 and required the upstream activation of PI3K, Akt, mTOR and MEK/ERK. Concordant with the experiments using protein kinase inhibitors, western blotting revealed that IGF-1 stimulates phosphorylation of Akt, mTOR, ERK, S6 and 4E-BP1. Activation of S6 and inactivation of 4E-BP1, necessary for protein synthesis to take place, were dependent on the upstream activation of PI3K and mTOR. Finally, IGF-1 consistently stimulated protein synthesis through mTOR in differentiating OLPs but mRNA transcription was not required at day 4, indicating a differential role of IGF-1 throughout OL development.
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PMID:IGF-1-stimulated protein synthesis in oligodendrocyte progenitors requires PI3K/mTOR/Akt and MEK/ERK pathways. 1945 43

Previously, we observed that in vitro germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) in Cyprinus carpio oocytes was induced by recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and bovine insulin (b-insulin) and this induction was steroid-independent. To investigate further the early signal transduction components involved in this process, the possible role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3 kinase) during oocyte maturation was examined. IGF-I- and b-insulin-induced oocyte maturation was significantly inhibited by Wortmannin and LY294002, two mechanistically different specific inhibitors of PI3 kinase. IGF-I and b-insulin were shown to activate PI3 kinase after 90 min of their treatment. Both IGF-I and b-insulin were found to activate cdc2 kinase at 21h of treatment. We examined the relative involvement of PI3 kinase, MAP kinase and cdc2 kinase in IGF-I- and b-insulin-induced oocyte maturation in C. carpio. MAP kinase was rapidly phosphorylated and activated (30-150 min) in response to exposure of the oocytes with IGF-I and b-insulin. This response preceded the phosphorylation and activation of cdc2 by several hours (almost 19h). A potent and selective inhibitor of MEK, PD98059, the protein kinase that phosphorylates and activate MAP kinase, blocked the phosphorylation and activation of MAP kinase and cdc2 kinase and GVBD induction. Likewise, PI3 kinase inhibitors strongly inhibited phosphorylation and activation of MAP kinase, which was increased during oocyte maturation. Taken together, these results suggest that PI3 kinase is an initial component of the signal transduction pathway which precedes MAP kinase, and MPF activation during IGF-I- and b-insulin-induced oocyte maturation in C. carpio.
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PMID:Involvement of PI3 kinase and MAP kinase in IGF-I- and insulin-induced oocyte maturation in Cyprinus carpio. 1948 57

The natural product sesamin has been known to act as a potent antioxidant and prevent endothelial dysfunction. We here found that sesamin increased in vitro angiogenic processes, such as endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and tube formation, as well as neovascularization in an animal model. This compound elicited the activation of multiple angiogenic signal modulators, such as ERK, Akt, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), NO production, FAK, and p38 MAPK, but not Src. The MEK inhibitor PD98059 and the PI3K inhibitor Wortmannin specifically inhibited sesamin-induced activation of the ERK and Akt/eNOS pathways. These inhibitors reduced angiogenic events, with high specificity for MEK/ERK-dependent cell proliferation and migration and PI3K/Akt-mediated tube formation. Moreover, inhibition of p38 MAPK effectively inhibited sesamin-induced cell migration. The angiogenic activity of sesamin was not associated with VEGF expression. Furthermore, this compound did not induce vascular permeability and upregulated ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression, which are hallmarks of vascular inflammation. These results suggest that sesamin stimulates angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo through the activation of MEK/ERK-, PI3K/Akt/eNOS-, p125(FAK)-, and p38 MAPK-dependent pathways, without increasing vascular inflammation, and may be used for treating ischemic diseases and tissue regeneration.
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PMID:Angiogenic activity of sesamin through the activation of multiple signal pathways. 1991 68

The process of embryo implantation and trophoblast invasion is considered the most limiting factor in the establishment of pregnancy. Leptin was originally described as an adipocyte-derived signaling molecule for the central control of metabolism. However, it has been suggested that leptin is involved in other functions during pregnancy, particularly in the placenta, where it was found to be expressed. In the present work, we have found a stimulatory effect of 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) on endogenous leptin expression, as analyzed by Western blot, in both the BeWo choriocarcinoma cell line and normal placental explants. This effect was time and dose dependent. Maximal effect was achieved at 10 nM in BeWo cells and 1 nM in placental explants. The E(2) effects involved the estrogen receptor, as the antagonist ICI 182 780 inhibited E(2)-induced leptin expression. Moreover, E(2) treatment enhanced leptin promoter activity up to 4-fold, as evaluated by transient transfection with a plasmid construction containing the leptin promoter region and the reporter gene luciferase. This effect was dose dependent. Deletion analysis demonstrated that a minimal promoter region between -1951 and -1847 bp is both necessary and sufficient to achieve E(2) effects. Estradiol action involved estrogen receptor 1, previously known as estrogen receptor alpha, as cotransfection with a vector encoding estrogen receptor 1 potentiated the effects of E(2) on leptin expression. Moreover, E(2) action probably involves membrane receptors too, as treatment with an estradiol-bovine serum albumin complex partially enhanced leptin expression. The effects of E(2) could be blocked by pharmacologic inhibition of MAPK and the phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) pathways with 50 microM PD98059 and 0.1 microM Wortmannin, respectively. Moreover, cotransfection of dominant negative mutants of MAP2K or MAPK blocked E(2) induction of leptin promoter. On the other hand, E(2) treatment promoted MAPK1/MAPK3 and AKT phosphorylation in placental cells. In conclusion, we provide evidence suggesting that E(2) induces leptin expression in trophoblastic cells, probably through genomic and nongenomic actions via crosstalk between estrogen receptor 1 and MAPK and PI3K signal transduction pathways.
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PMID:17Beta-estradiol enhances leptin expression in human placental cells through genomic and nongenomic actions. 2023 33

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) induces the expression of cyclooxgenase (COX)-2 served as a major neurotoxic factor in CNS injury. However, the mechanisms underlying EV71-initiated intracellular signaling pathways leading to COX-2 expression remain unknown. Therefore, we investigated the mechanisms underlying EV71-induced COX-2 expression and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) production in rat brain astrocytes (RBA)-1, determined by Western blotting, RT-PCR, and promoter assay. Here, we reported that EV71-induced COX-2 expression and PGE(2) production were attenuated by pretreatment with the inhibitors of c-Src (PP1), PDGFR (AG1296), PI3K (Wortmannin), MEK1/2 (PD98059), NF-kappaB (helenalin), and AP-1 (Tanshinone) and transfection with shRNA or siRNA of c-Src, PDGFR, p85, c-Jun, c-Fos, ERK1, or ERK2. We further observed that EV71-induced activation of Akt and p42/p44 MAPK were mediated via c-Src and PDGFR. Pretreatment with PP1 attenuated EV71-stimulated phosphorylation of Src, PDGFR, Akt, and p42/p44 MAPK. Inhibition of PI3K by Wortmannin attenuated EV71-induced Akt and p42/p44 MAPK phosphorylation, but had no effect on PDGFR phosphorylation, suggesting that PDGFR is an upstream and p42/p44 MAPK is a downstream component of PI3K/Akt in these responses. EV71-stimulated NF-kappaB translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, IkappaBalpha degradation and NF-kappaB promoter activity were attenuated by pretreatment with helenalin, but not AG1296, Wortmannin, and PD98059. EV71-induced c-Jun mRNA expression was attenuated by pretreatment with PD98059, AG1296, or Wortmannin. These results demonstrate that in RBA-1 cells, EV71-induced COX-2 expression associated with PGE(2) production is mediated through activation of c-Src/PDGFR/PI3K/Akt/p42/p44 MAPK to initiate the expression of AP-1.
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PMID:EV71 induces COX-2 expression via c-Src/PDGFR/PI3K/Akt/p42/p44 MAPK/AP-1 and NF-kappaB in rat brain astrocytes. 2033 48


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