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)

Cross-linking of IgE or a bacterial product (f-Met-Leu-Phe; FMLP) induces the release of leukotriene C4 (LTC4) and histamine in human basophils. However, the signaling mechanisms in human basophils are only partially understood. It has been demonstrated that extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2) specifically regulate the pathway for LTC4 generation, but not for histamine release and interleukin-4 production. More recent studies have suggested that tyrosine kinase (syk)-mediated phosphorylation of shc is responsible for the ras-ERK cascade via the formation of shc-Grb2-Sos2 following stimulation with anti-IgE antibody, but not FMLP, in human basophils. However, while characterizing the role of phosphatidylinositol (PI)-3 kinase in signaling pathways leading to basophil mediator release, it was noted that this pathway might also regulate p21ras activation. Anti-IgE antibody, but not FMLP, resulted in phosphorylation of p85 (regulatory subunit of PI3 kinase), suggesting activation of PI3 kinase. Inhibition of PI3 kinase by selective inhibitor (LY294002) abolished anti-IgE antibody- but not FMLP-induced phosphorylation of MEK1 (MAPK kinase/ERK kinase) and ERKs while inhibiting LTC4 generation as well as histamine release. IgE-mediated activation of ras (upstream of MEK-ERK) was also inhibited. But, further upstream, phosphorylation of syk and of shc and inducible association between shc and Grb2 were not affected. Furthermore, the IgE-mediated cytosolic calcium response ([Ca(++)](i)) was also diminished. These results suggest that functional responses may be dependent on the activity of PI3 kinase, which regulates at least 2 important signaling pathways: by regulating activation of ras for the MEK-ERK pathway and the increase in [Ca(++)](i).
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PMID:Phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase regulates p21ras activation during IgE-mediated stimulation of human basophils. 1097 66

We compared the role of the Raf-1/mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK)/p90(RSK) cascade in gp130-mediated cardiac hypertrophy with the contribution of the Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transduction and activation of transcription (STAT) and phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3-K) pathways. Primary cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were stimulated with leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). LIF sequentially activated Raf-1, MEK1/2, ERK1/2, and p90(RSK). We used PD-98059 (a specific MEK inhibitor), AG-490 (a JAK2 inhibitor), and wortmannin (a PI3-K inhibitor) to confirm that this cascade was independent of the JAK/STAT and PI3-K/p70 S6 kinase (S6K) pathways. PD-98059, AG-490, and wortmannin suppressed the LIF-induced increase in [(3)H]phenylalanine uptake by 54.7, 21.5, and 25.6%, respectively, and inhibited the increase in cell area by 61.2, 42.8, and 39.2%, respectively. Reorganization of myofilaments was predominantly suppressed by AG-490. LIF-induced expression of c-fos, brain natriuretic peptide, and skeletal alpha-actin mRNA was markedly suppressed by PD-98059 and moderately suppressed by wortmannin and AG-490. Atrial natriuretic peptide was significantly suppressed by AG-490. These findings indicate that this pathway is critically involved in protein synthesis, induction of c-fos, brain natriuretic peptide, and skeletal alpha-actin expression and is partially involved in myofilament reorganization and atrial natriuretic peptide induction in gp130-mediated cardiac hypertrophy.
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PMID:Significance of ERK cascade compared with JAK/STAT and PI3-K pathway in gp130-mediated cardiac hypertrophy. 1100 50

The role of protein kinases in the inhibition of TNF-alpha associated apoptosis of human neutrophils by crystals of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) (25 mg/ml) was investigated. We monitored the activities of the p44 extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK1) and p42 ERK2 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K)-regulated protein kinase B (Akt) in neutrophils incubated with TNF-alpha and CPPD crystals, separately and in combination, in parallel with the endogenous caspase 3 activity and DNA fragmentation. CPPD crystals were observed to induce a robust and transient activation of ERK1, ERK2, and Akt, whereas TNF-alpha produced only a modest and delayed activation of Akt. In the presence of TNF-alpha, Akt activity was enhanced, and CPPD crystal-induced activation of ERK1 and ERK2 was more sustained than with CPPD crystals alone, but TNF-alpha itself reduced the basal phosphotransferase activities of these MAP kinases. Preincubation with the MAP kinase kinase (MEK1) inhibitors PD98059 (20 ng/ml) and U0126 (250 nM), or the PI3-K inhibitors wortmannin (100 nM) and LY294002 (50 microM) repressed the activation of ERK1, ERK2, and Akt in association with CPPD crystal incubation, in the absence or presence of TNF-alpha. Furthermore, the inhibition of the Mek1/Mek2-->ERK1/ERK2 or PI3-K/Akt pathways reversed CPPD crystal-associated suppression of TNF-alpha-induced caspase 3 activation and neutrophil apoptosis. Together, these results indicate that CPPD crystals function to induce acute inflammatory responses through ERK1/ERK2 and PI3-K/Akt-mediated stimulation of neutrophil activation and repression of apoptosis.
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PMID:Inhibition of TNF-alpha-induced neutrophil apoptosis by crystals of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate is mediated by the extracellular signal-regulated kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathways up-stream of caspase 3. 1106 39

The ability of neutrophils to degrade cartilage proteoglycan suggests that the neutrophils that accumulate in the joints of rheumatoid arthritis patients are mediators of tissue damage. The regulatory mechanisms which are relevant to the proteoglycan-degrading activity of neutrophils are poorly understood. Since phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K), protein kinase C (PKC), the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK)1/ERK2 and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) have been reported to regulate neutrophil respiratory burst and/or degranulation, a role for these signalling molecules in regulating proteoglycan degradation was investigated. Preincubation of human neutrophils with GF109203X (an inhibitor of PKC), PD98059 (an inhibitor of MEK, the upstream regulator of ERK1/ERK2) or with forskolin or dibutyryl cAMP, failed to suppress proteoglycan degradation of opsonized bovine cartilage. In contrast, preincubation of neutrophils with wortmannin or LY294002, specific inhibitors of PI3-K, inhibited proteoglycan degradation. Incubation of neutrophils with cartilage resulted in the activation of PI3-K in neutrophils, consistent with a role for PI3-K in proteoglycan degradation. Activation of PI3-K and proteoglycan degradation was enhanced by tumour necrosis factor-alpha. Degradation caused by neutrophils from the synovial fluid of rheumatoid arthritis patients was also inhibited by wortmannin. These data demonstrate that the proteoglycan degradative activity of neutrophils required PI3-K but not PKC or the ERK1/ERK2/ERK5 cascades and was insensitive to increases in intracellular cAMP concentrations.
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PMID:Regulation of human neutrophil-mediated cartilage proteoglycan degradation by phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase. 1116 38

Big mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (BMK1) is a new member of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family. In the present study, we investigated whether glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) can induce activation of BMK1 through RET tyrosine kinase. Its activation reached a maximal level at 30 min and continued at least for 120 min after GDNF stimulation. In addition, we detected BMK1 activation in NIH3T3 cells expressing RET with a multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) 2A mutation. The level of BMK1 activation markedly decreased by replacement of tyrosine 1062 with phenylalanine (designated Y1062F) in RET, indicating the importance of downstream signaling via tyrosine 1062. However, although both RAS/MAPK and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K)/AKT signaling pathways are activated via tyrosine 1062, BMK1 activation by GDNF was not significantly impaired by treatment with an MEK1 inhibitor, PD98059, or two distinct PI3-K inhibitors, LY294002 and wortmannin, suggesting that the RAS and PI3-K signaling pathways are not crucial for BMK1 activation by GDNF. Moreover, luciferase reporter assays revealed that RET-MEN2A mutant proteins can activate the MEF2C transcription factor that is known to be a cellular target for BMK1, and that its activation is impaired by the Y1062F mutation or by expression of a dominant negative form of MEK5.
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PMID:Activation of BMK1 via tyrosine 1062 in RET by GDNF and MEN2A mutation. 1123 12

Steel factor (SLF) plus GM-CSF induces proliferative synergy in factor-dependent cell line MO7e and hematopoietic progenitor cells. We previously reported ERK1/2 involvement in this synergy, but its downstream signaling molecules are not defined. Here, we investigated activation of the 90-kDa ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK) proteins by measuring the phosphorylation status and in vitro kinase activity in MO7e cells. Both GM-CSF and SLF induced activation of RSK, and the combined stimulation with these two cytokines induced synergistic and persistent activation of RSK. RSK activity was reduced by PI3 kinase inhibitor LY294002 or MEK1 inhibitor PD98059, suggesting that the ERK as well as the PI3 kinase pathways are involved in regulation of RSK activity. Sensitivities of RSK activity to inhibitory drugs correlated well with those of c-fos gene induction. Taken together, synergistic activation of RSK may contribute, at least in part, to the synergistic induction of c-fos after combined stimulation with GM-CSF plus SLF.
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PMID:Synergistic activation of RSK correlates with c-fos induction in MO7e cells stimulated with GM-CSF plus Steel factor. 1123 44

The members of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase family -- p44/p42 MAP kinase (ERK), c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAP kinase (p38) are known to be important mediators of the physiological plasticity or neurotoxicity induced in the striatum by activation of ionotropic glutamate receptors. However, our knowledge of the class of glutamate receptor and the intracellular pathways involved derives totally from studies on embryonic neurons, where the mechanisms are likely to be totally different from those operating in mature neurons. In superfused striatal slices from adult rats, NMDA and kainate, but not AMPA, were found to activate ERK. No activation of p38 or JNK was detected following treatment with any ionotropic glutamate receptor agonist. The activation of ERK by kainate was blocked by the ERK kinase (MEK) inhibitor PD98059, and the PI3 kinase inhibitor wortmannin, but not by the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor SB203580. This provides evidence for a novel pathway linking striatal kainate receptors to ERK activation via PI3 kinase and MEK.
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PMID:Activation of p44/p42 MAP kinase in striatal neurons via kainate receptors and PI3 kinase. 1131 83

Signals from the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor and integrin-dependent adhesion to laminin contribute to the progression and metastasis of colonic tumors. However, little is know about the mechanisms by which these signals cooperate. Recently, we have reported that the colon cancer cell line LIM1215 secretes and adhere to autocrine laminin-10 via multiple integrin receptors and that EGF stimulates spreading of these cells on the same substrate. In this report, we investigate the effect of EGF and laminin-10 on colon cancer cell migration in vitro. EGF stimulates migration of LIM1215 cells in a wound healing assay. The response to EGF is inhibited by anti-EGF receptor antibody 528, the EGF receptor kinase inhibitor AG-1478, or the MAP kinase kinase inhibitor PD98059 but not the PI3-K inhibitor wortmannin. Using Transwell migration chambers, we demonstrate that laminin-10 but not collagen-I, collagen-IV, or a commercial preparation of human placental laminin is a potent motility factor for LIM1215 cells. The migration response to laminin-10 is increased upon stimulation of the cells with EGF and correlates with the up-regulation of alpha(6)beta(4) integrin expression as measured by analysis of Triton X-100-soluble cellular extracts. The results from integrin inhibition experiments indicate that basal migration on laminin-10 is mediated by alpha(3)beta(1) but not alpha(2)beta(1) nor alpha(6)beta(4) integrins. Alpha(3) blocking antibodies also inhibited EGF-stimulated chemokinetic migration of LIM1215 cells on laminin-10. However, in contrast to unstimulated cells, alpha(6) or beta(4) integrin-blocking antibodies inhibited the migration of EGF-stimulated cells by up to 50%. Taken together, these results support the cooperative role of EGF receptor and laminin-10 on colon cancer cell motility and suggest a critical role for both the alpha(3)beta(1) and the alpha(6)beta(4) integrins in this process.
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PMID:Laminin-10 mediates basal and EGF-stimulated motility of human colon carcinoma cells via alpha(3)beta(1) and alpha(6)beta(4) integrins. 1133 19

To investigate whether human intestinal epithelial cell survival involves distinct control mechanisms depending on the state of differentiation, we analyzed the in vitro effects of insulin, pharmacological inhibitors of Fak, MEK/Erk, and PI3-K/Akt, and integrin (beta1, beta4)-blocking antibodies on the survival of the well-established human Caco-2 enterocyte-like and HIEC-6 cryptlike cell models. In addition, relative expression levels of six Bcl-2 homologs (Bcl-2, Bcl-X(L), Mcl-1, Bax, Bak, and Bad) and activation levels of Fak, Erk-2, and Akt were analyzed. Herein, we report that 1) the enterocytic differentiation process results in the establishment of distinct profiles of Bcl-2 homolog expression levels, as well as p125(Fak), p42(Erk-2), and p57(Akt) activated levels; 2) the inhibition of Fak, of the MEK/Erk pathway, or of PI3-K, have distinct impacts on enterocytic cell survival in undifferentiated (subconfluent Caco-2, confluent HIEC-6) and differentiated (30 days postconfluent Caco-2) cells; 3) exposure to insulin and the inhibition of Fak, MEK, and PI3-K resulted in differentiation state-distinct modulations in the expression of each Bcl-2 homolog analyzed; and 4) Fak, beta1 and beta4 integrins, as well as the MEK/Erk and PI3-K/Akt pathways, are distinctively involved in cell survival depending on the state of cell differentiation. Taken together, these data indicate that human intestinal epithelial cell survival is regulated according to differentiation state-specific control mechanisms.
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PMID:Human intestinal epithelial cell survival: differentiation state-specific control mechanisms. 1135 Jul 49

As one of the most extensively studied protein hormones, insulin and its receptor have been known to play key roles in a variety of important biological functions. Until recent years, the functions of insulin and insulin receptor (IR) in the central nervous system (CNS) have largely remained unclear. IR is abundantly expressed in several specific brain regions that govern fundamental behaviors such as food intake, reproduction and high cognition. The IR from the periphery and CNS exhibit differences in both structure and function. In addition to that from the peripheral system, locally synthesized insulin in the brain has also been identified. Accumulated evidence has demonstrated that insulin/IR plays important roles in associative learning, as suggested by results from both interventive and correlative studies. Interruption of insulin production and IR activity causes deficits in learning and memory formation. Abnormal insulin/IR levels and activities are seen in Alzheimer's dementia, whereas administration of insulin significantly improves the cognitive performance of these patients. The synaptic bases for the action of insulin/IR include modifying neurotransmitter release processes at various types of presynaptic terminals and modulating the activities of both excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic receptors such as NMDA and GABA receptors, respectively. At the molecular level, insulin/IR participates in regulation of learning and memory via activation of specific signaling pathways, one of which is shown to be associated with the formation of long-term memory and is composed of intracellular molecules including the shc, Grb-r/SOS, Ras/Raf, and MEK/MAP kinases. Cross-talk with another IR pathway involving IRS1, PI3 kinase, and protein kinase C, as well as with the non-receptor tyrosine kinase pp60c-src, may also be associated with memory processing.
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PMID:Role of insulin and insulin receptor in learning and memory. 1137 28


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