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)

Obesity serves as an important risk factor for incidences of both cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Leptin, the obesity biomarker molecule secreted systemically by body fat mass and locally by activated hepatic stellate cells, is proposed to play a certain role in HCC growth. Here, we show both proliferative and anti-apoptotic effects of leptin in HCC cells. Leptin stimulated cyclin D1 promoter activity to increase cyclin D1 protein expression, which accelerated the cell cycle progression. The reduced ratio between anti-apoptotic (Bcl-2) and pro-apoptotic (Bax) Bcl-2 family proteins by transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1 caused HCC cells degradation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and consequential apoptosis; whereas, leptin protected cells from apoptosis by reversing TGF-beta 1-reduced Bcl-2/Bax ratio as a result of down-regulating Bax. Any inhibitor specific for Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt, or mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) blocked these leptin functions. When intrahepatocytic JAK2 was activated by leptin, the active JAK2 afterward triggered a signaling cascade involving activations of PI3K/Akt and MEK/ERK1/2 in order of occurrence. As yet, in most cases, the crosstalks among signaling pathways primarily studied in diverse cancer cell types for mediating somatotropic effect of leptin are not well clarified and seem to be cell-type dependent. For the first time, our results demonstrate the direct effects of leptin on HCC growth and define its signal pathway with a crosstalking JAK2-PI3K/Akt-MEK/ERK1/2 connection. The identified hierarchy of intrahepatocytic leptin signaling pathway provides a clear basis potentially beneficial to make accurate and effectual strategies for facing both cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic liver carcinogenesis.
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PMID:Leptin induces proliferation and anti-apoptosis in human hepatocarcinoma cells by up-regulating cyclin D1 and down-regulating Bax via a Janus kinase 2-linked pathway. 1763 64

Obesity is a major risk factor for the development of hypertension. Recent studies have suggested that leptin, a 167-amino acid peptide hormone produced by white adipose tissue, is related to the pathogenesis of obesity-related hypertension. However, the signaling mechanisms underlying the effects of leptin remain to be extensively examined. In this study, we found that leptin induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation and endothelin-1 expression in rat aortic smooth muscle cells. Both PD98059 and U0126, inhibitors of the upstream activator of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase, inhibited augmentation of endothelin-1 expression stimulated with leptin. Leptin induced significant tyrosine phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor, which was significantly attenuated by two inhibitors, an epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, AG1478, and a broad-spectrum matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor, GM6001. This indicates that the pathway of epidermal growth factor receptor transactivation induced by leptin is dependent on proteolytically released epidermal growth factor receptor ligands. Pretreatment of cells with AG1478 significantly reduced the degree of phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and endothelin-1 expression. Our results reveal that epidermal growth factor receptor transactivation is involved in the leptin signaling pathway in vascular smooth muscle cells, which may be related to the increased risk of hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases in obese subjects.
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PMID:Leptin stimulates endothelin-1 expression via extracellular signal-regulated kinase by epidermal growth factor receptor transactivation in rat aortic smooth muscle cells. 1767 88

The death of midbrain dopaminergic neurons in sporadic Parkinson disease is of unknown etiology but may involve altered growth factor signaling. The present study showed that leptin, a centrally acting hormone secreted by adipocytes, rescued dopaminergic neurons, reversed behavioral asymmetry, and restored striatal catecholamine levels in the unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) mouse model of dopaminergic cell death. In vitro studies using the murine dopaminergic cell line MN9D showed that leptin attenuated 6-OHDA-induced apoptotic markers, including caspase-9 and caspase-3 activation, internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, and cytochrome c release. ERK1/2 phosphorylation (pERK1/2) was found to be critical for mediating leptin-induced neuroprotection, because inhibition of the MEK pathway blocked both the pERK1/2 response and the pro-survival effect of leptin in cultures. Knockdown of the downstream messengers JAK2 or GRB2 precluded leptin-induced pERK1/2 activation and neuroprotection. Leptin/pERK1/2 signaling involved phosphorylation and nuclear localization of CREB (pCREB), a well known survival factor for dopaminergic neurons. Leptin induced a marked MEK-dependent increase in pCREB that was essential for neuroprotection following 6-OHDA toxicity. Transfection of a dominant negative MEK protein abolished leptin-enhanced pCREB formation, whereas a dominant negative CREB or decoy oligonucleotide diminished both pCREB binding to its target DNA sequence and MN9D survival against 6-OHDA toxicity. Moreover, in the substantia nigra of mice, leptin treatment increased the levels of pERK1/2, pCREB, and the downstream gene product BDNF, which were reversed by the MEK inhibitor PD98059. Collectively, these data provide evidence that leptin prevents the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons by 6-OHDA and may prove useful in the treatment of Parkinson disease.
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PMID:Leptin protects against 6-hydroxydopamine-induced dopaminergic cell death via mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling. 1789 42

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

Leptin (Ob), the peripheral signal produced by the adipocyte to regulate energy metabolism, can also be produced by placenta, where it may work as an autocrine hormone. Recently, we have demonstrated that leptin promotes proliferation and survival of trophoblastic cells. In the present work we aimed to study the signal transduction pathways that mediate the trophic effect of leptin in placenta, by using the human placenta choriocarcinoma JEG-3 cell line, as well as trophoblastic cells from human placenta. We have assayed the early phase of apoptosis, triggered by serum deprivation, by using Annexin V-propidium iodide (PI) labeling and flow cytometric analysis, as well as the late phase of apoptosis by studying the activation of caspase-3. We have studied the major signalling pathways known to be triggered by the leptin receptor, and we have investigated the relative importance of these pathways in the effect of leptin by using pharmacological inhibitors. We have found that leptin stimulates Janus kinase (JAK)-signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) pathway by promoting JAK-2 and STAT-3 tyrosine phosphorylation. We have also demonstrated the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway by studying phosphorylation of extracellular-signal regulated kinase (Erk) kinase (MEK) and Erk1/2. PI3K pathway is also triggered by leptin stimulation as assessed by the study of protein kinase B (PKB) phosphorylation. These signaling pathways were confirmed in trophoblastic cells obtained from placenta of healthy donors. The effect of leptin on JEG-3 survival was completely reversed by blocking Erk1/2 activation employing the MEK inhibitor PD98059, whereas it was not affected by PI3K inhibition using wortmannin. These data suggest that the leptin antiapoptotic effect in placenta is mediated by the MAPK pathway.
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PMID:Leptin prevents apoptosis of trophoblastic cells by activation of MAPK pathway. 1861 12

Recent studies have shown that factors from adipose tissue influence and regulate the reproductive system. Hormones such as leptin and resistin are now known to regulate several reproductive processes. Adiponectin is the most abundant protein secreted by adipose tissue, and its circulating concentration is inversely related to adiposity and body mass index. Little is known about the involvement of adiponectin in reproduction. In the present study, the effect of recombinant adiponectin on the meiotic maturation and early embryo development in vitro was investigated, using porcine oocytes. Adiponectin receptors, AdipoR1 and AdipoR2, were found to be expressed in porcine oocytes and cumulus cells of both small and large follicles. Both AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 were immunolocalized to cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs), oocytes, and early developing embryos. When included in oocyte maturation medium for 46 h, adiponectin significantly decreased the frequency of meiotic immature oocytes derived from large follicles (3-6 mm) but not from small follicles (<3mm). From studies of oocytes matured in the presence of adiponectin and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway inhibitors MEK1 (PD98059), MEK1/2 (U0126), and p38MAPK (SB203580) it was concluded that adiponectin enhances oocyte maturation thought the p38MAPK pathway. Finally, a superior rate of embryo development to the blastocyst stage was achieved by embryos cultured in the presence of adiponectin. These results indicate that adiponectin has a positive effect on the meiotic maturation and in vitro embryo development of porcine oocytes and suggests a physiological role for this adipokine in early development in mammals.
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PMID:Adiponectin enhances in vitro development of swine embryos. 1863 63

Leptin plays a role in both energy homeostasis and reproduction, and it is required in early pregnancy. It stimulates metalloproteinase activity in cultured human trophoblasts and invasiveness of cultured mouse trophoblasts. Our goal has been to examine mechanisms that underpin the ability of leptin to promote trophoblast invasiveness in primary cultures of mouse trophoblasts. Leptin stimulated the phosphorylation of MEK (MAP2K1) but not signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in the cultures, increased the concentration of the suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) protein, and upregulated metalloproteinase activity. Microarray analysis revealed that leptin stimulated select genes with roles in cell motility, including Stmn, a gene linked to invasiveness in other cell types. There was also an increase in activity of several genes associated with MAPK and RhoGTPase signaling. In addition, leptin muted expression of genes correlated with terminal differentiation of trophoblast giant cells, including ones associated with the TGFbeta signaling pathway and endoreduplication of DNA, and upregulated selected prolactin-related family members. Feulgen staining of leptin-treated cells revealed a loss of cells with low ploidy. The data suggest that leptin accelerates disappearance of non-giant cells while inhibiting terminal differentiation of committed giant cells, possibly by maintaining cells in an intermediate stage of differentiation.
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PMID:Effect of leptin on mouse trophoblast giant cells. 1903 58

The co-existence of receptors for leptin and melanocortin in cerebral microvessels suggests possible interactions between leptin and alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH) signaling. In this study, we showed that ObRb and melanocortin receptor MC3R and MC4R were present in enriched cerebral microvessels. To test the interactions between ObRb and MC3R or MC4R-mediated cellular signaling, we over-expressed these plasmids in RBE4 cerebral microvascular endothelial cells and HEK293 cells in culture. Activation of signal transducers and activators of transcription-3 (STAT3) in response to leptin was determined by western blotting and luciferase reporter assays. Production of cAMP downstream to melanocortin receptors was determined with a chemiluminescent ELISA kit. alphaMSH, which increased intracellular cAMP, also potentiated leptin-induced STAT3 activation. This potentiation was abolished by a specific MEK inhibitor, indicating the involvement of the mitogen-activated kinase pathway. Reversely, the effect of leptin on alphaMSH-induced cAMP production was minimal. Thus, melanocortin specifically potentiated STAT3 signaling downstream to ObRb by cross-talk with mitogen-activated kinase. The cooperation of ObRb and G protein-coupled receptors in cellular signaling may have considerable biological implications not restricted to feeding and obesity.
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PMID:Melanocortin potentiates leptin-induced STAT3 signaling via MAPK pathway. 1945 1

Acute leptin treatment significantly increases the mRNA of the long isoform of leptin receptor (OB-Rb) in C2C12 myotubes after as little as 30min, without affecting that of the short isoform (OB-Ra). The Sam68 STAR protein has been implicated in leptin signal transduction as an adaptor molecule useful to recruit other signalling proteins. We found that leptin increased Sam68 tyrosine-phosphorylation so decreasing its poly(U)-binding capacity. RT-PCR analysis of the mRNA bound to immunoprecipitated Sam68 showed that Sam68 associated with OB-Rb but not OB-Ra mRNA in control and leptin-treated C2C12 cells. The siRNA-mediated silencing of Sam68 reduced its levels by 89% and abolished the leptin-mediated increase in OB-Rb mRNA. Leptin activates ERKs which in turn might phosphorylate Sam68 modifying its influence on mRNA. We did not observe any changes in Sam68 Ser/Thr phosphorylation but using the specific MEK1 inhibitor PD-98059 showed that leptin-mediated ERK activation is essential for leptin's effect on OB-Rb mRNA expression. Thus it appears that leptin has a positive short-term effect on the regulation of OB-Rb mRNA in C2C12 cells, involving both Sam68 and ERKs. These results might suggest that leptin signal acutely favours its own sensitivity.
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PMID:Sam68 and ERKs regulate leptin-induced expression of OB-Rb mRNA in C2C12 myotubes. 1952 14

Recent studies indicate that LH stimulates production of ovarian paracrine factors that induce meiosis of the oocyte. DNA microarray analyses of ovarian transcripts were performed in mice and major increases of a short isoform of leptin receptor, ObRa, were identified by the preovulatory LH/human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) surge. In oocytes, the level of ObRa transcripts was increased shortly after HCG stimulation, whereas the level of ObRb transcripts was not changed. Leptin was produced by cumulus, granulosa, theca and interstitial cells of ovaries and its transcript level was not regulated during gonadotrophin treatment. Treatment with leptin promoted germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) in oocytes within preovulatory follicles, and enhance first polar body extrusion in both cumulus-oocyte complexes and denuded oocytes. The leptin-promoted GVBD and first polar body extrusion were blocked by a mitogen-activated protein kinase extracellular signal regulated kinase kinases (MEK)1/2 inhibitor, U0126, but not its inactive analogue U0124. Furthermore, leptin promoted fertilization of oocytes and the in-vitro development of zygotes to preimplantation embryos. These findings suggest paracrine roles of leptin in the enhancement of nuclear maturation of oocytes through MEK1/2 signalling, and in the promotion of cytoplasmic maturation essential for successful oocyte development to the preimplantation embryos.
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PMID:Leptin and ObRa/MEK signalling in mouse oocyte maturation and preimplantation embryo development. 1971 52


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