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)

Rubella virus (RV) causes severe congenital defects when acquired during the first trimester of pregnancy. RV cytopathic effect has been shown to be due to caspase-dependent apoptosis in a number of susceptible cell lines, and it has been suggested that this apoptotic induction could be a causal factor in the development of such defects. Often the outcome of apoptotic stimuli is dependent on apoptotic, proliferative and survival signaling mechanisms in the cell. Therefore we investigated the role of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt survival signaling and Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK proliferative signaling during RV-induced apoptosis in RK13 cells. Increasing levels of phosphorylated ERK, Akt and GSK3beta were detected from 24-96 hours post-infection, concomitant with RV-induced apoptotic signals. Inhibition of PI3K-Akt signaling reduced cell viability, and increased the speed and magnitude of RV-induced apoptosis, suggesting that this pathway contributes to cell survival during RV infection. In contrast, inhibition of the Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK pathway impaired RV replication and growth and reduced RV-induced apoptosis, suggesting that the normal cellular growth is required for efficient virus production.
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PMID:The involvement of survival signaling pathways in rubella-virus induced apoptosis. 1563 31

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) inhibits Na+-K+-ATPase activity by serine phosphorylation of the alpha1 subunit through protein kinase C (PKC)- and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-dependent pathways. Based on previous studies we postulated that PTH regulates sodium pump activity through isoform-specific PKC-dependent activation of ERK. In the present work utilizing opossum kidney cells, a model of renal proximal tubule, PTH stimulated membrane translocation of PKCalpha by 102 +/- 16% and PKCbetaI by 41 +/- 7% but had no effect on PKCbetaII and PKCzeta. Both PKCalpha and PKCbetaI phosphorylated the Na+-K+-ATPase alpha1 subunit in vitro. PTH increased the activity of PKCalpha but not PKCbetaI. Coimmunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that treatment with PTH enhanced the association between Na+-K+-ATPase alpha1 subunit and PKCalpha, whereas the association between Na+-K+-ATPase alpha1 subunit and PKCbetaI remained unchanged. A PKCalpha inhibitory peptide blocked PTH-stimulated serine phosphorylation of the Na+-K+-ATPase alpha1 subunit and inhibition of Na+-K+-ATPase activity. Pharmacologic inhibition of MEK-1 blocked PTH-stimulated translocation of PKCalpha, whereas transfection of constitutively active MEK-1 cDNA induced translocation of PKCalpha and increased phosphorylation of the Na+-K+-ATPase alpha1 subunit. In contrast, PTH-stimulated ERK activation was not inhibited by pretreatment with the PKCalpha inhibitory peptide. Inhibition of PKCalpha expression by siRNA did not inhibit PTH-mediated ERK activation but significantly reduced PTH-mediated phosphorylation of the Na+-K+-ATPase alpha1 subunit. Pharmacologic inhibition of phosphoinositide 3-kinase blocked PTH-stimulated ERK activation, translocation of PKCalpha, and phosphorylation of the Na+-K+-ATPase alpha1 subunit. We conclude that PTH stimulates Na+-K+-ATPase phosphorylation and decreases the activity of Na+-K+-ATPase by ERK-dependent activation of PKCalpha.
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PMID:Parathyroid hormone-mediated regulation of Na+-K+-ATPase requires ERK-dependent translocation of protein kinase Calpha. 1563 80

The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) signalling pathway plays a key role in the regulation of cell survival and proliferation. We show that the PI3-kinase/Akt pathway is constitutively active in primary acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) cells and that blockade by the selective inhibitor LY294002 reduces survival of the total blast population (mean 52%). The ERK/MAPK module is also constitutively active and treatment with the MAPKK inhibitor U0126 reduces cell survival by 22%. In 10 of 18 samples, PI3-kinase contributes to MAPK activation as incubation with LY294002 leads to a marked reduction in its phosphorylation. PI3-kinase inhibition reduces survival of the CD34+38- AML progenitor subset by 44%, whereas MAPKK inhibition has little effect. Reporter assays in primary AML cells show that blocking PI3-kinase leads to a marked reduction of constitutive NF-kappaB activity and promotes p53-mediated transcription. This is associated with a synergistic interaction between LY294002 and Ara-C. An inducible activated form of Akt protects normal myeloid cells from Ara-C and etoposide-mediated apoptosis. These results show that blocking PI3-kinase has direct antileukaemic effects and potentiates the response to conventional cytotoxics via a number of targets including NF-kappaB, p53 and MAPK. Inhibitors of PI3-kinase and Akt may be useful in the treatment of AML.
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PMID:PI3-kinase/Akt is constitutively active in primary acute myeloid leukaemia cells and regulates survival and chemoresistance via NF-kappaB, Mapkinase and p53 pathways. 1570 83

Acrosome reaction (AR) is an exocytotic process of fundamental importance for the spermatozoon to fertilize the oocyte. The mechanisms mediating this process are only partially defined. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of various kinases and the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway in the induction of the AR and associated phosphorylation of tyrosine (Tyr) residues and of the threonine-glutamic acid-tyrosine (Thr-Glu-Tyr) motif that occurs in 80 and 105 kDa proteins (p80/p105). Human spermatozoa were capacitated and AR was induced with lysophosphatidylcholine in the presence of inhibitors of various kinases and of the ERK pathway. Phosphorylation of Tyr and of Thr-Glu-Tyr peaked 15 min after the induction of the AR. Both phosphorylations were prevented by inhibitors of protein kinase C, MEK, phosphoinositide 3-kinase and Akt but not by protein kinase A inhibitors. Phosphorylation of Thr-Glu-Tyr, but not Tyr, was decreased by inhibitors of protein tyrosine kinase and Grb2-SH2. All the inhibitors prevented lysophosphatidylcholine-induced AR, indicating the involvement of PKC, PKA, PTK, PI3K, Akt and the ERK pathway. These results show that phosphorylation of Tyr and Thr-Glu-Tyr are associated with the AR and are differently regulated by the various kinases emphasing the complexity of this process.
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PMID:Various protein kinases regulate human sperm acrosome reaction and the associated phosphorylation of Tyr residues and of the Thr-Glu-Tyr motif. 1570 55

The IGF-I (insulin-like growth factor-I) signalling pathway responsible for regulation of proteoglycan synthesis in chondrocytes has not been defined and is the focus of the present study. Chondrocytes isolated from normal human articular cartilage were stimulated with IGF-I in monolayer culture or in suspension in alginate. IGF-I activated members of both the PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase) pathway and the ERK (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase)/MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) pathway. The PI3K inhibitors LY294002 and wortmannin blocked IGF-I-stimulated Akt phosphorylation without blocking ERK phosphorylation and this was associated with complete inhibition of proteoglycan synthesis. A decrease in IGF-I-stimulated proteoglycan synthesis was also observed upon inhibition of mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) and p70S6 kinase, both of which are downstream of Akt. The MEK (MAPK/ERK kinase) inhibitors PD98059 and U0126 blocked IGF-I-stimulated ERK phosphorylation but did not block the phosphorylation of Akt and did not decrease proteoglycan synthesis. Instead, in alginate- cultured chondrocytes, the MEK inhibitors increased IGF-I-stimulated proteoglycan synthesis when compared with cells treated with IGF-I alone. This is the first study to demonstrate that IGF-I stimulation of the PI3K signalling pathway is responsible for the ability of IGF-I to increase proteoglycan synthesis. Although IGF-I also activates the ERK/MAPK pathway, ERK activity is not required for proteoglycan synthesis and may serve as a negative regulator.
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PMID:IGF-I stimulation of proteoglycan synthesis by chondrocytes requires activation of the PI 3-kinase pathway but not ERK MAPK. 1580 8

The chemokine stromal-derived factor-1alpha (SDF-1alpha) regulates leukemic cell motility and proliferation; however, the importance of these functions in the growth and dissemination of leukemia is unclear. We examined SDF-1alpha-mediated responses of cells from 27 cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Although cells from the majority of cases showed chemotactic and proliferative responses to SDF-1alpha, a subset of cases did not undergo chemotaxis in response to SDF-1alpha, while still demonstrating dependence on SDF-1alpha for proliferation in stroma-supported cultures. This chemotactic defect was associated with an absence of phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) induced by SDF-1alpha, and of SDF-1alpha-induced augmentation of beta(1) integrin-mediated adhesion. Signaling through phosphoinositide 3-kinase and MEK was not affected. No correlation was observed between CXCR4 expression and chemotactic function, in vitro migration into bone marrow stromal layers, and engraftment of leukemic cells in nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient (NOD/SCID) mice. This study suggests that signaling through p38 MAPK is required for ALL cell chemotaxis but not for proliferation, and that the loss of a chemotactic response to SDF-1alpha does not impede engraftment in NOD/SCID mice.
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PMID:Defective p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling impairs chemotaxic but not proliferative responses to stromal-derived factor-1alpha in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. 1583 62

The pathogenesis of allergic asthma involves the interplay of inflammatory cells and resident airway cells, and of their secreted mediators including cytokines, chemokines, growth factors and inflammatory mediators. Tyrosine kinase signaling cascades play a critical role in the pathogenesis of allergic airway inflammation. Receptor tyrosine kinases (e.g. epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR] and platelet-derived growth factor receptor) are important for the pathogenesis of airway remodeling. Stimulation of non-receptor tyrosine kinases (e.g. Lyn, Lck, Syk, ZAP-70, Btk, Itk and JAK) is the earliest detectable signaling response upon activation of immune receptors (T cell receptor, B cell receptor and FCepsilonR1), cytokine receptors and chemokine receptors in inflammatory cells. Activation of tyrosine kinases invokes multiple downstream signaling pathways, including phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), leading to cell differentiation, survival, proliferation, degranulation and chemotaxis. Inhibitors targeted at different enzyme molecules of the tyrosine kinase signaling cascade might afford therapeutic potential for asthma. Anti-inflammatory effects of pharmacological agents targeted at tyrosine kinases, Syk, Itk, signal transducer and activator of transcription-1, NF-kappaB, GATA3, EGFR, PI3K, MEK1/2, p38 MAPK and JNK have been reported in animal models of allergic airway inflammation. Therefore, development of inhibitors targeted at the tyrosine kinase signaling cascade is an attractive strategy for the treatment of asthma.
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PMID:Inhibitors of the tyrosine kinase signaling cascade for asthma. 1590 13

We have found that honokiol [4-allyl-2-(3-allyl-4-hydroxy-phenyl)-phenol] can promote neurite outgrowth and mobilize intracellular Ca2+ store in primary cultured rat cortical neurons. In this study, we examined the effects of honokiol on extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2) and Akt, and their possible relationship to neurite outgrowth and Ca2+ mobilization. Honokiol-induced neurite outgrowth in the cultured rat cortical neurons was significantly reduced by PD98059, a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MAPKK, MAPK/ERK kinase MEK, direct upstream of ERK1/2) inhibitor, but not by LY294002, a phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K, upstream of Akt) inhibitor. Honokiol also significantly enhanced the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas the effect of honokiol on Akt phosphorylation was characterized by transient enhancement in 10 min and lasting inhibition after 30 min. The phosphorylation of ERK1/2 enhanced by honokiol was inhibited by PD98059 as well as by KN93, a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMK II) inhibitor. Moreover, the products of the phosphoinositide specific phospholipase C (PLC)-derived inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3) and 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG) were measured after honokiol treatment. Together with our previous findings, these results suggest that the signal transduction from PLC, IP3, Ca2+, and CaMK II to ERK1/2 is involved in honokiol-induced neurite outgrowth.
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PMID:Honokiol-induced neurite outgrowth promotion depends on activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2). 1592 25

Serotonin 5-HT2C receptors (5-HT(2C)Rs) are almost exclusively expressed in the CNS, and implicated in disorders such as obesity, depression, and schizophrenia. The present study investigated the mechanisms governing the coupling of the 5-HT(2C)R to the extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) 1/2, using a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line stably expressing the receptor at levels comparable to those found in the brain. Using the non-RNA-edited isoform of the 5-HT(2C)R, constitutive ERK1/2 phosphorylation was observed and found to be modulated by full, partial and inverse agonists. Interestingly, agonist-directed trafficking of receptor stimulus was also observed when comparing effects on phosphoinositide accumulation and intracellular Ca2+ elevation to ERK1/2 phosphorylation, whereby the agonists, [+/-]-2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI) and quipazine, showed reversal of efficacy between the phosphoinositide/Ca2+ pathways, on the one hand, and the ERK1/2 pathway on the other. Subsequent molecular characterization found that 5-HT-stimulated ERK1/2 phosphorylation in this cellular background requires phospholipase D, protein kinase C, and activation of the Raf/MEK/ERK module, but is independent of both receptor- and non-receptor tyrosine kinases, phospholipase C, phosphoinositide 3-kinase, and endocytosis. Our findings underscore the potential for exploiting pathway-selective receptor states in the differential modulation of signaling pathways that play prominent roles in normal and abnormal neuronal signaling.
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PMID:Characterization of serotonin 5-HT2C receptor signaling to extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2. 1593 77

The effects of morphine on the gene expression of prepro-nociceptin/orphanin FQ (ppN/OFQ) in various primary cultured brain cells from embryonic day 17, rats were studied by use of real-time RT-PCR method. The basal level of ppN/OFQ mRNA in terms of ratio to the beta-actin in astrocytes was equivalent to that in neurons, but 10-times higher than that in microglia. The addition of 1 microM morphine significantly enhanced the ppN/OFQ mRNA levels in cultured astrocytes, but not neurons or microglia. The enhancement was observed as early as 1h after the addition of morphine, reached maximum at 6h. There was a concentration-dependency between 30 nM to 1 microM. The morphine-induced enhancement was abolished by naloxone, an antagonist of mu opioid peptide receptor (MOP), wortmannin, a phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, and PD98059, a MEK inhibitor, but not by 1,10-phenanthroline, a metalloprotease inhibitor and U73122, a phospholipase C inhibitor. These profiles contrast to the data with morphine-induced enhancement of brain-derived growth factor (BDNF) gene expression in microglia, where 1,10-phenanthroline abolished the expression. Furthermore, the ELISA analysis revealed that the immunoreactive ppN/OFQ or N/OFQ level was also increased by morphine. The present findings suggest that astrocytes could play roles in the neuronal plasticity during morphine chronic treatments by enhancing gene expression of anti-opioid peptide, N/OFQ.
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PMID:Morphine-induced overexpression of prepro-nociceptin/orphanin FQ in cultured astrocytes. 1599 Jan 99


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