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)

Prostaglandin receptors may be activated by their cognate ligand or by free radical catalyzed isoprostanes, products of arachidonic acid peroxidation. For example, prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) causes hypertrophy of neonatal rat ventricular myocytes, via the PGF2alpha receptor (FP). However, the FP may also be activated by the isoprostane, 8,12-iso-iPF2alpha-III (Kunapuli, P., Lawson, J. A., Rokach, J., and FitzGerald, G. A. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 27147-27154). Both ligands induce myocyte hypertrophy with overlapping potencies. Interestingly, the hypertrophic effects of these two agonists on cardiomyocytes are additive. Furthermore, the preference of these two agonists for activation of intracellular signal transduction pathways differs in several respects. Thus, PGF2alpha and 8,12-iso-iPF2alpha-III stimulate inositol phosphate formation with EC50 values of 50 +/- 12 nM and 3.5 +/- 0.6 microM, respectively. Moreover, PGF2alpha causes a robust activation ( approximately 50-fold) of Erk2, whereas 8,12-iso-iPF2alpha-III has no effect. Similarly, PGF2alpha causes translocation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 and also results in a 7-fold increment in the formation of 6-keto-PGF1alpha, whereas 8,12-iso-iPF2alpha-III exerts no effect on this pathway. On the other hand, both agonists are equally potent in activating JNK1 and c-Jun, whereas neither activates the p38 kinase. Both PGF2alpha and 8,12-iso-iPF2alpha-III activate the p70S6 kinase (p70(S6K)), but not Akt, downstream of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K). However, both wortmannin, a PI3K inhibitor, and rapamycin, an inhibitor of p70(S6K) activity, inhibit 8,12-iso-iPF2alpha-III -induced myocyte hypertrophy, with IC50 values of 60 +/- 12 and 3 +/- 1.7 nM, respectively, whereas neither compound abrogates the PGF2alpha-mediated response. Thus, both PGF2alpha and 8,12-iso-iPF2alpha-III induce myocyte hypertrophy via discrete signaling pathways. Although both agonists signal via the JNK pathway to initiate changes in c-Jun-dependent gene transcription, PGF2alpha preferentially activates the MEK-Erk2- cytosolic phospholipase A2 pathway. In contrast, the PI3K-p70(S6K) pathway appears to be essential for 8,12-iso-iPF2alpha-III-induced myocyte hypertrophy.
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PMID:Prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) and the isoprostane, 8, 12-iso-isoprostane F2alpha-III, induce cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Differential activation of downstream signaling pathways. 971 68

The role of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascades in platelet function remains to be determined. Several studies have suggested a role in the activation of phospholipase A2; however, other functions seem likely. The object of the present study was to determine the role of the MAP kinase cascade in platelet function. An inhibitor of the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase MEK1, 2-(2'-amino-3'-methoxyphenyl)-oxanaphthalen-4-one (PD98059), was used, at concentrations consistent with those reported to inhibit MEK1, to examine the role that this enzyme plays in platelet function. PD98059 inhibited aggregation in response to low-dose collagen and arachidonic acid, but not that in response to high-dose collagen, thrombin, thrombin receptor-activating peptide (TRAP), 9,11-dideoxy-11alpha, 9alpha-epoxymethano-prostaglandin F2alpha (U46619), or phorbol ester. Thrombin, thrombin receptor-activating peptide, U46619, collagen, and arachidonic acid each caused the release of [3H]serotonin from dense granules, but only that elicited by low-dose collagen and arachidonic acid was inhibited by PD98059. The release of [3H]arachidonic acid in response to thrombin or collagen was unaffected by PD98059 pretreatment. In contrast, collagen- and arachidonic acid-induced thromboxane formation was inhibited by PD98059. These data suggest that MEK1 is not involved in the platelet response to thrombin or U46619. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of PD98059 on collagen- and arachidonic acid-induced responses suggest that PD98059 may inhibit the conversion of arachidonic acid to thromboxane, in addition to its reported effects on MEK1.
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PMID:Effects of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase inhibitor 2-(2'-amino-3'-methoxyphenyl)-oxanaphthalen-4-one (PD98059) on human platelet activation. 971 93

Prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) significantly induced p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activity in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells. PD98059, a selective inhibitor of MAP kinase kinase, inhibited PGF2alpha-induced interleukin-6 (IL-6) synthesis as well as PGF2alpha-induced p42/p44 MAP kinase activation. PD98059 suppressed the IL-6 synthesis induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a protein kinase C (PKC) activator, or NaF, an activator of heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein, as well as the p42/p44 MAP kinase activation by TPA or NaF. Calphostin C, a highly potent and specific inhibitor of PKC, inhibited the PGF2alpha-induced p42/p44 MAP kinase activity. These results strongly suggest that PKC-dependent p42/p44 MAP kinase activatioin is involved in PGF2alpha-induced IL-6 synthesis in osteoblasts.
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PMID:p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation is involved in prostaglandin F2alpha-induced interleukin-6 synthesis in osteoblasts. 1037 4

Pregnancy is established in ruminants through inhibitory actions of interferon (IFN)-tau on the release of prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF), which allows the corpus luteum to survive and continue to produce progesterone. Experiments were designed to 1) delineate the signal transduction pathway coordinating the synthesis of PGF, 2) determine how rapidly recombinant bovine (rb) IFN-tau attenuated phorbol ester (PDBu)-induced secretion of PGF, and 3) establish the site at which rbIFN-tau attenuates the secretion of PGF in cultured bovine endometrial (BEND) cells. BEND cells were untreated (control) or treated for 5, 10, 60, 180, or 300 min with PDBu (100 ng/ml), rbIFN-tau (50 or 500 ng/ml), PDBu + rbIFN-tau, or PDBu + PD98059 (MEK-1 inhibitor; 50 microM). Secretion of PGF was induced (P < 0.0001) by PDBu within 180 min, but induction was inhibited 74% by the addition of rbIFN-tau (P < 0.0001) and was ablated completely by PD98059. Parallel results were obtained for cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 protein expression. PDBu induced (P < 0.05) activation of the Raf-1/MEK-1/ERK-1/2 pathway, which was obligatory for the expression of COX-2 and secretion of PGF but was not altered by cotreatment with rbIFN-tau. PDBu induced (P < 0.05) transcription of c-jun and c-fos mRNAs within 30 min; induction was inhibited (P < 0.05) by cotreatment with PD98059 but not by cotreatment with rbIFN-tau. Treatment of BEND cells with rbIFN-tau also did not attenuate PDBu-induced degradation of IkappaBalpha, suggesting that the IkappaBalpha/NFkappaB pathway is not a site of IFN-tau inhibition of PGF. However, rbIFN-tau did block transcription of the COX-2 gene induced by PDBu within 30 min. In conclusion, COX-2 expression and PGF secretion induced by PDBu is mediated through the Raf-1/MEK-1/ERK-1/2 pathway, but this pathway is not disrupted by rbIFN-tau. Because rbIFN-tau inhibits COX-2 mRNA within 30 min, we hypothesized that transcription factors activated by rbIFN-tau rapidly and directly attenuate COX-2 gene expression, thereby suppressing secretion of PGF.
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PMID:Interferon-tau suppresses prostaglandin F2alpha secretion independently of the mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor kappa B pathways. 1120 14

We have previously reported that prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) activates p44/p42 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase through protein kinase C (PKC), resulting in the synthesis of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells, and that incadronate, a bisphosphonate, amplifies the VEGF synthesis. In the present study, we investigated the effects of tiludronate and etidronate, other bisphosphonates, on the PGF2alpha-stimulated VEGF synthesis in these cells. Tiludronate reduced the synthesis of VEGF induced by PGF2alpha. The PGF(2alpha)-stimulated phosphorylation of p44/p42 MAP kinase was suppressed by tiludronate. On the other hand, etidronate affected neither the VEGF synthesis nor the phosphorylation of p44/p42 MAP kinase elicited by PGF2alpha. Tiludronate attenuated the phosphorylation of both Raf-1 and MEK1/2 induced by PGF2alpha. The VEGF synthesis stimulated by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a direct activator of PKC, was suppressed by tiludronate. The TPA-induced phosphorylations of Raf-1, MEK1/2 and p44/p42 MAP kinase were inhibited by tiludronate. These results strongly suggest that tiludronate but not etidronate suppresses the PGF2alpha-stimulated VEGF synthesis in osteoblasts, and that the effect of tiludronate is exerted at the point between PKC and Raf-1.
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PMID:Tiludronate inhibits prostaglandin F2alpha-induced vascular endothelial growth factor synthesis in osteoblasts. 1592 88

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and oncostatin M (OSM) induce DNA synthesis in Swiss 3T3 cells through common signaling mechanism(s), whereas other related cytokines such as interleukin-6 and ciliary neurotrophic factor do not cause this response. Induction of DNA replication by LIF or prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) occurs, in part, through different signaling events. LIF and OSM specifically trigger STAT1 cytoplasmic to nuclear translocation, whereas PGF2alpha fails to do so. However, LIF and PGF2alpha can trigger increases in ERK1/2 activity, which are required for their mitogenic responses because U0126, a MEK1/2 inhibitor, prevents both ERK1/2 activation and induction of DNA synthesis by LIF or PGF2alpha treatment. PGF2alpha induces cyclin D expression and full phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein. In contrast, LIF fails to promote increases in cyclin D mRNA/protein levels; consequently, LIF induces DNA synthesis without promoting full phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (Rb). However, both LIF and PGF2alpha increase cyclin E expression. Furthermore, LIF mitogenic action does not involve protein kinase C (PKC) activation, because a PKC inhibitor does not block this effect. In contrast, PKC activity is required for PGF2alpha mitogenic action. More importantly, the synergistic effect between LIF and PGF2alpha to promote S phase entry is independent of PKC activation. These results show fundamental differences between LIF- and PGF2alpha-dependent mechanism(s) that induce cellular entry into S phase. These findings are critical in understanding how LIF and other related cytokine-regulated events participate in normal cell cycle control and may also provide clues to unravel crucial processes underlying cancerous cell division.
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PMID:Leukemia inhibitory factor induces DNA synthesis in Swiss mouse 3T3 cells independently of cyclin D1 expression through a mechanism involving MEK/ERK1/2 activation. 1629 39

In our previous study, we showed that prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) stimulates vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) synthesis via activation of p44/p42 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase via protein kinase C (PKC) in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells. In addition, we demonstrated that incadronate amplified, and tiludronate suppressed PGF2alpha-induced VEGF synthesis among bisphosphonates, while alendronate or etidronate had no effect. In the present study, we investigated the effects of minodronate, a newly developed bisphosphonate, on PGF (2alpha)-induced VEGF synthesis in MC3T3-E1 cells. Minodronate significantly reduced VEGF synthesis induced by PGF2alpha dose-dependently at levels between 3 and 100 microM. PGF2alpha-stimulated phosphorylation of Raf-1, MEK1/2 and p44/p42 MAP kinase were suppressed by minodronate. 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a direct activator VEGF synthesis induced by PKC, was inhibited by minodronate. Minodronate inhibited Raf-1, MEK1/2 and p44/p42 MAP kinase phosphorylation induced by TPA. Mevalonate failed to affect the suppressive effect of minodronate on PGF2alpha-induced VEGF synthesis. Taken together, these results indicate that minodronate suppresses PGF2alpha-stimulated VEGF synthesis at the point between PKC and Raf-1 in osteoblasts.
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PMID:Minodronate suppresses prostaglandin F2alpha-induced vascular endothelial growth factor synthesis in osteoblasts. 1667 5

Prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) is an important mediator of corpus luteum (CL) regression, although the cellular signaling events that mediate this process have not been clearly identified. It is established that PGF2alpha binds to a G-proteincoupled receptor (GPCR) to stimulate protein kinase C (PKC) and Raf-MEK-Erk signaling in luteal cells. The present experiments were performed to determine whether PGF2alpha stimulates the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) signaling pathway in steroidogenic luteal cells. We demonstrate that PGF2alpha treatment results in a timeand concentration-dependent stimulation of the phosphorylation and activation of S6K1. The stimulation of S6K1 in response to PGF2alpha treatment was abolished by the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin. Treatment with PGF2alpha did not increase AKT phosphorylation but increased the phosphorylation of Erk and the tumor suppressor protein tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (TSC2), an upstream regulator of mTOR. The effects of PGF2alpha were mimicked by the PKC activator PMA and inhibited by U0126, a MEK1 inhibitor. The activation of mTOR/S6K1 and putative down stream processes involving the translational apparatus (i.e. 4EBP1 phosphorylation, release of 4EBP1 binding in m(7)G cap binding assays, and the phosphorylation and synthesis of S6) were completely sensitive to treatment with rapamycin, implicating mTOR in the actions of PGF2alpha. Taken together, our data suggest that GPCR activation in response to PGF2alpha stimulates the mTOR pathway which increases the translational machinery in luteal cells. The translation of proteins under the control of mTOR may have implications for luteal development and regression and offer new strategies for therapeutic intervention in PGF2alpha-target tissues.
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PMID:AKT-independent phosphorylation of TSC2 and activation of mTOR and ribosomal protein S6 kinase signaling by prostaglandin F2alpha. 1681 3

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether latanoprost, a prostaglandin F2alpha analogue, has a direct anti-apoptotic effect both in retinal neuro-glial cells in culture and in diabetic retina. R28 cells, immortalized retinal neuroglial progenitor cells, were induced apoptosis by 24h serum deprivation. Serum withdrawal made up to 15% of R28 cells pyknotic and activated caspase-3 immunoreactive, and latanoprost acid suppressed apoptosis with dose dependency at an optimum concentration of 1.0 microM (P<0.001). UO126, a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase (MEK) 1 and 2 inhibitor reversed this effect. Streptozotocin induced one- or three-month diabetic rats received balanced-salt-solution (BSS) in the left eye and latanoprost eye drops in the right for 5 days. Retinal wholemount was subjected to terminal dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining, whereas eyeballs were enucleated for cleaved caspase-3 immunofluorescence. Retinal homogenates were probed for phospho- or total p44/p42 MAPK and Akt. One- and three-month diabetic retina had 30.2+/-15.3 and 23.6+/-9.0 TUNEL positive cells per 0.5 cm(2), respectively, whereas control retina had few TUNEL positive cells. Latanoprost instillation significantly reduced these cells (10.0+/-3.1 and 11.3+/-3.1 cells per 0.5 cm(2) for 1M and 3M, respectively, P<0.01), whereas BSS did not. Latanoprost also significantly reduced cleaved caspase-3 immunoreactive cells in ganglion cell and inner nuclear layers (P<0.05). Latanoprost increased phosphorylated to total protein ratio of p44/p42 MAPK (P<0.05), but not of Akt. Taken together, the present findings suggest that latanoprost rescues retinal neurons and/or glial cells from apoptosis, which is probably mediated by p44/p42 MAPK through caspase-3 inhibition.
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PMID:Latanoprost rescues retinal neuro-glial cells from apoptosis by inhibiting caspase-3, which is mediated by p44/p42 mitogen-activated protein kinase. 1683 45

In most mammals, prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) is believed to be a trigger that induces the regression of the corpus luteum (CL), whereby progesterone synthesis is inhibited, the luteal structure involutes, and the reproductive cycle resumes. Studies have shown that the early growth response 1 (EGR1) protein can induce the expression of proapoptotic proteins, suggesting that EGR1 may play a role in luteal regression. Our hypothesis is that EGR1 mediates the actions of PGF2alpha by inducing the expression of TGF beta1 (TGFB1), a key tissue remodeling protein. The levels of EGR1 mRNA and protein were up-regulated in the bovine CL during PGF2alpha-induced luteolysis in vivo and in PGF2alpha-treated luteal cells in vitro. Using chemical and genetic approaches, the RAF/MAPK kinase (MEK) 1/ERK pathway was identified as a proximal signaling event required for the induction of EGR1 in PGF2alpha-treated cells. Treatment with PGF2alpha increased the expression of TGFB1 mRNA and protein as well as the binding of EGR1 protein to TGFB1 promoter in bovine luteal cells. The effect of PGF2alpha on TGFB1 expression was mimicked by a protein kinase C (PKC)/RAF/MEK1/ERK activator or adenoviral-mediated expression of EGR1. The stimulatory effect of PGF2alpha on TGFB1 mRNA and TGFB1 protein secretion was inhibited by blockade of MEK1/ERK signaling and by adenoviral-mediated expression of NAB2, an EGR1 binding protein that inhibits EGR1 transcriptional activity. Treatment of luteal cells with TGFB1 reduced progesterone secretion, implicating TGFB1 in luteal regression. These studies demonstrate that PGF2alpha stimulates the expression of EGR1 and TGFB1 in the CL. We suggest that EGR1 plays a role in the expression of genes whose cognate proteins coordinate luteal regression.
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PMID:Prostaglandin F2alpha stimulates the expression and secretion of transforming growth factor B1 via induction of the early growth response 1 gene (EGR1) in the bovine corpus luteum. 1791 53


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