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)

Angiotensin II (Ang II) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF/FGF-2) play relevant roles in renal development. Since the signaling pathways modulating the mitogenic effects of Ang II and bFGF in human fetal mesangial cells (HFMc) are not clearly defined, we carried out experiments to determine whether they would exert their mitogenic effects by modulating the activity of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) [extracellular signal-regulated kinase-2 (ERK-2)] and cAMP signaling pathways. In confluent HFMc, bFGF (20 ng/mL) induced a significant 4-fold increase in ERK-2 activity and [3H]-thymidine incorporation (6-fold). In contrast, under similar tissue culture conditions, Ang II (10(-6) M) induced a more modest increase in ERK-2 activity (2-fold) and [3H]-thymidine incorporation (35 +/- 4%). The mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase-1 (MEK-1) inhibitor PD098059 (25 microM) almost completely abolished the bFGF-induced proliferation in HFMc but did not significantly affect Ang II proliferative effects. In the presence of the cAMP elevating agent isoproterenol, Ang II and bFGF induced opposite changes in cAMP accumulation and cell growth. Isoproterenol inhibited the basal and bFGF-induced proliferation of HFMc through a MEK-1/2-independent pathway that included the accumulation of cAMP. In contrast, isoproterenol increased Ang II mitogenic effects in correlation with a reduction in cAMP accumulation. We conclude that Ang II and bFGF modulate the proliferation of HFMc through the stimulation of different MEK-1/2-dependent and independent signaling pathways. Activation of MEK-1/2 is required but not sufficient for mitogenesis in HFMc. The accumulation of cAMP in HFMc counteracts the mitogenic effects of bFGF by a MEK-1/2-independent pathway.
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PMID:Angiotensin II and basic fibroblast growth factor mitogenic pathways in human fetal mesangial cells. 1081 86

We have reported that pretreatment of rat FRTL-5 thyroid cells with thyrotropin (TSH) markedly potentiates the mitogenic response to insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). The present study was undertaken to determine whether the augmentation by cAMP of IGF-I-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of known IGF-I receptor substrates plays an important role in the cAMP-dependent potentiation of DNA synthesis induced by IGF-I. Pretreatment with TSH or dibutyryl cAMP did not affect the IGF-I-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1). In contrast, cAMP pretreatment potentiated the tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-2 induced by IGF-I, but did not affect the amount of IRS-2. We found that the IGF-I-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of 66 kDa Shc (Src homology collagen) was markedly increased by cAMP pretreatment, and that this change was mainly due to an increase in the levels of 66 kDa Shc protein. Under these conditions, cAMP pretreatment significantly increased binding of Grb2 (growth-factor-receptor-bound protein 2) to Shc in response to IGF-I, and activation of MAP kinase (mitogen-activated protein kinase) induced by IGF-I was also enhanced by cAMP. The presence of PD98059, an inhibitor of MEK (MAP-kinase/Erk kinase), during treatment with IGF-I partially inhibited the cAMP-dependent augmentation of DNA synthesis in response to IGF-I. On the other hand, cAMP pretreatment increased binding of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) p85 subunit to IRS-2, which was reflected in PI 3-kinase activity. LY294002, a PI 3-kinase inhibitor, strongly depressed IGF-I-dependent DNA synthesis after pretreatment with and without TSH or dibutyryl cAMP. Our results suggest that the interaction between cAMP-dependent and IGF-I-dependent pathways leads to an augmentation of cell proliferation, which is mediated, at least in part, through the MAP kinase and PI 3-kinase signalling pathways. These effects are mediated by changes in tyrosine phosphorylation of IGF-I receptor substrates, including IRS-2 and Shc.
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PMID:Signalling pathways of insulin-like growth factor-I that are augmented by cAMP in FRTL-5 cells. 1081 36

The early growth response factor-1 (Egr-1) gene encodes a zinc finger transcription factor which is critical for cell proliferation and differentiation. The human Egr-1 promoter comprises regulatory elements including two Sp1 sites, an AP1 site, two cAMP response elements and an Egr-1 binding site. In addition to these transcription factor binding sites, the promoter harbours five serum response elements (SREs) and associated binding sites for the Ets transcription factor family, previously identified from partial sequence data (Sakamoto et al, Oncogene 6; 867-871, 1991). We now report the full sequence of the human Egr-1 promoter and confirm the presence of a fifth serum response element. This element is functionally active in a minimal promoter vector in response to the MAP kinase kinase MEK1.
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PMID:Full promoter sequence of human early growth response factor-1 (Egr-1): demonstration of a fifth functional serum response element. 1082 4

The bioactivity of endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) reflects its rates of production and of inactivation by superoxide (O(2)(*-)), a reactive species dismutated by extracellular superoxide dismutase (ecSOD). We have now examined the complementary hypothesis, namely that NO modulates ecSOD expression. The NO donor DETA-NO increased ecSOD expression in a time- and dose-dependent manner in human aortic smooth muscle cells. This effect was prevented by the guanylate cyclase inhibitor ODQ and by the protein kinase G (PKG) inhibitor Rp-8-CPT-cGMP. Expression of ecSOD was also increased by 8-bromo-cGMP, but not by 8-bromo-cAMP. Interestingly, the effect of NO on ecSOD expression was prevented by inhibition of the MAP kinase p38 but not of the MAP kinase kinase p42/44, suggesting that NO modulates ecSOD expression via cGMP/PKG and p38MAP kinase-dependent pathways, but not through p42/44MAP kinase. In aortas from mice lacking the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), ecSOD was reduced more than twofold compared to controls. Treadmill exercise training increased eNOS and ecSOD expression in wild-type mice but had no effect on ecSOD expression in mice lacking eNOS, suggesting that this effect of exercise is meditated by endothelium-derived NO. Upregulation of ecSOD expression by NO may represent an important feed-forward mechanism whereby endothelial NO stimulates ecSOD expression in adjacent smooth muscle cells, thus preventing O(2)(*-)-mediated degradation of NO as it traverses between the two cell types.
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PMID:Regulation of the vascular extracellular superoxide dismutase by nitric oxide and exercise training. 1084 22

Multiple families of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDE) have been described, and the regulated expression of these genes in cells is complex. Although cAMP is known to control the expression of certain PDE in cells, presumably reflecting a system of feedback on cAMP signaling, relatively little is known about the influence of non-cAMP signaling systems on PDE expression. In this study, we describe a novel mechanism by which activators of the protein kinase C (PKC)-Raf-MEK-ERK cascade regulate phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) expression in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and assess the functional consequences of this effect. Whereas a prolonged elevation of cAMP in VSMC resulted in a protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent induction of expression of two PDE4D variants (PDE4D1 and PDE4D2), simultaneous activation of both the cAMP-PKA and PKC-Raf-MEK-ERK signaling cascades blunted this cAMP-mediated increase in PDE4D expression. By using biochemical, molecular biological, and pharmacological approaches, we demonstrate that this PDE4D-selective effect of activators of the PKC-Raf-MEK-ERK cascade was mediated through a mechanism involving altered PDE4D mRNA stability and markedly attenuated the cAMP-mediated desensitization that results from prolonged activation of the cAMP signaling system in cells. The data are presented in the context of activators of the PKC-Raf-MEK-ERK cascade having both short and long term effects on PDE4D activity and expression in cells that may influence cAMP signaling.
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PMID:Expression of phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) is regulated by both the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways. A potential mechanism allowing for the coordinated regulation of PDE4D activity and expression in cells. 1085 Dec 31

In melanocytes and melanoma cells, cAMP activates extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) and MEK-1 by an unknown mechanism. We demonstrate that B-Raf is activated by cAMP in melanocytes. A dominant-negative mutant of B-Raf, but not of Raf-1, blocked the cAMP-induced activation of ERK, indicating that B-Raf is the MEK-1 upstream regulator mediating this cAMP effect. Studies using Clostridium sordelii lethal toxin and Clostridium difficile toxin B have suggested that Rap-1 or Ras might transduce cAMP action. We show that Ras, but not Rap-1, is activated cell-specifically and mediates the cAMP-dependent activation of ERKs, while Rap-1 is not involved in this process in melanocytes. Our results suggest a novel, cell-specific mechanism involving Ras small GTPase and B-Raf kinase as mediators of ERK activation by cAMP. Also, in melanocytes, Ras or ERK activation by cAMP is not mediated through protein kinase A activation. Neither the Ras exchange factor, Son of sevenless (SOS), nor the cAMP-responsive Rap-1 exchange factor, Epac, participate in the cAMP-dependent activation of Ras. These findings suggest the existence of a melanocyte-specific Ras exchange factor directly regulated by cAMP.
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PMID:Ras mediates the cAMP-dependent activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) in melanocytes. 1085 35

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Gram-negative bacteria interacts with a CD14-independent receptor of mouse bone marrow granulocytes (BMC), and triggers in these cells the expression of CD14, an inducible type of LPS receptor (iLpsR). This particular response of BMC to LPS required the activation of protein tyrosine kinase and p38 MAP kinase. The inhibition of the LPS effect by the MEK inhibitor PD-98059 suggested that the ERK pathway was also involved. Unexpectedly, protein kinase C, myosin light chain kinase, cAMP-, cGMP-, and Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent kinases, as well as ecto-protein kinases, were not required for iLpsR expression. However, other yet unidentified serine/threonine protein kinase(s) were implied since the BMC response to LPS was markedly reduced after exposure to three inhibitors of such kinases (K-252a, H-7, and KT-5823). The atypical kinase requirements observed in this study may be due either to a novel signaling LPS receptor complex present in BMC, or to the particular events involved in CD14 biosynthesis.
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PMID:Protein phosphorylation pathways involved during lipopolysaccharide-induced expression of CD14 in mouse bone marrow granulocytes. 1086 78

The time- and dose-dependent effects of wortmannin on transepithelial electrical resistance (Rte) and forskolin-stimulated chloride secretion in T84 monolayer cultures were studied. In both instances, maximal effects developed over 2 h and were stable thereafter. Inhibition of forskolin-stimulated chloride secretion, as measured by the short-circuit current (Isc) technique, had an IC50 of 200-500 nM, which is 100-fold higher than for inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), but similar to the IC50 for inhibition of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK). Previous work demonstrated that 500 nM wortmannin did not inhibit the cAMP activation of apical membrane chloride channels. We show here that 500 nM wortmannin has no affect on basolateral Na/K/2Cl-cotransporter activity, but inhibits basolateral membrane Na/K-ATPase activity significantly. The MLCK inhibitors ML-7 and KT5926 were without affect on forskolin-stimulated Isc. Similarly, the p38- and MEK-specific MAPK inhibitors SB203580 and PD98059 did not reduce forskolin-stimulated Isc. In contrast, the non-specific MAPK inhibitor apigenin reduced forskolin-stimulated Isc and basolateral membrane Na/K-ATPase activity similar to wortmannin. In isolated membranes from T84 cells, wortmannin did not inhibit Na/K-ATPase enzymatic activity directly. We conclude that one or more MAPK may regulate the functional expression of basolateral membrane Na/K-ATPase by controlling the abundance of enzyme molecules in the plasma membrane.
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PMID:Wortmannin inhibition of forskolin-stimulated chloride secretion by T84 cells. 1093 May 8

Interactions between noradrenergic and cholinergic receptor signaling may be important in some forms of learning. To investigate whether noradrenergic and cholinergic receptor interactions regulate forms of synaptic plasticity thought to be involved in memory formation, we examined the effects of concurrent beta-adrenergic and cholinergic receptor activation on the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampal CA1 region. Low concentrations of the beta-adrenergic receptor agonist isoproterenol (ISO) and the cholinergic receptor agonist carbachol had no effect on the induction of LTP by a brief train of 5 Hz stimulation when applied individually but dramatically facilitated LTP induction when coapplied. Although carbachol did not enhance ISO-induced increases in cAMP, coapplication of ISO and carbachol synergistically activated p42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p42 MAPK). This suggests that concurrent beta-adrenergic and cholinergic receptor activation enhances LTP induction by activating MAPK and not by additive or synergistic effects on adenylyl cyclase. Consistent with this, blocking MAPK activation with MEK inhibitors suppressed the facilitation of LTP induction produced by concurrent beta-adrenergic and cholinergic receptor activation. Although MEK inhibitors also suppressed the induction of LTP by a stronger 5 Hz stimulation protocol that induced LTP in the absence of ISO and carbachol, they had no effect on LTP induced by high-frequency synaptic stimulation or low-frequency synaptic stimulation paired with postsynaptic depolarization. Our results indicate that MAPK activation has an important, modulatory role in the induction of LTP and suggest that coactivation of noradrenergic and cholinergic receptors regulates LTP induction via convergent effects on MAPK.
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PMID:Coactivation of beta-adrenergic and cholinergic receptors enhances the induction of long-term potentiation and synergistically activates mitogen-activated protein kinase in the hippocampal CA1 region. 1093 39

FSH stimulates in ovarian granulosa cells diverse, differentiation-dependent responses that implicate activation of specific cellular signaling cascades. In these studies three kinases were investigated to determine their relationship to FSH, cAMP, and A kinase signaling: protein kinase B (PKB/Akt), serum and glucocorticoid-induced kinase (Sgk), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK). The phosphorylation (activation) of these kinases was analyzed by using selective agonists/inhibitors: forskolin/H89 for cAMP-dependent protein kinase (A kinase), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I)/LY294002 and wortmannin for phosphatidylinositol-dependent kinase (PI3-K), and phorbol myristate (PMA)/GF109203X for diacylglycerol and Ca++-dependent kinases (C kinases). An inhibitor (PD98059) of MEK1, which regulates extracellular regulated kinases (ERKs), and SB203580, which inhibits p38MAPK, were also used. In addition, we analyzed the expression of the recently described, cAMP-regulated guanine nucleotide exchange factors (cAMP-GEFI and GEFII) that impact Ras-related GTPases and Raf kinases, known regulators of various protein kinase cascades. We provide evidence that FSH, forskolin, and 8-bromo-cAMP stimulate phosphorylation of PKB by mechanisms involving PI3-K (LY294002/wortmannin sensitive) not A kinase (H89 insensitive), a pattern of response mimicking that of IGF-I. In contrast, FSH induction and phosphorylation of Sgk protein requires A kinase (H89 sensitive) but also involves PI3-K (LY294002 sensitive) as well as p38MAPK (SB203580 sensitive) pathways. PMA (C kinase) abolished FSH-mediated (but not IGF-I-mediated) phosphorylation of PKB at a step(s) upstream of PI3-K and independent of A kinase. Lastly, FSH-mediated phosphorylation of p38MAPK is negatively affected by A kinase and PI3-K, suggesting that it may be downstream of specific members of the cAMP-GEF/Rap/Raf pathway. We propose that cAMP activation of A kinase is obligatory for transcription of Sgk in granulosa cells whereas cAMP (IGF-I-like)-mediated phosphorylation (activation) of PKB and Sgk (via PI3-K), as well as p38MAPK, involves other cellular events. These results provide new and exciting evidence that cAMP acts in granulosa cells by A kinase-dependent and -independent mechanisms, each of which controls specific kinase cascades.
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PMID:Follicle-Stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulates phosphorylation and activation of protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) and serum and glucocorticoid-lnduced kinase (Sgk): evidence for A kinase-independent signaling by FSH in granulosa cells. 1093 51


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