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)

Collagenase-3 (matrix metalloproteinase-13, MMP-13) is a recently identified human MMP with an exceptionally wide substrate specificity and restricted tissue-specific expression. Here we show that MMP-13 expression is induced in normal human skin fibroblasts cultured within three-dimensional collagen gel resulting in production and proteolytic activation of MMP-13. Induction of MMP-13 mRNAs by collagen gel was potently inhibited by blocking antibodies against alpha1 and alpha2 integrin subunits and augmented by activating antibody against beta1 integrin subunit, indicating that both alpha1 beta1 and alpha2 beta1 integrins mediate the MMP-13-inducing cellular signal generated by three-dimensional collagen. Collagen-related induction of MMP-13 expression was dependent on tyrosine kinase activity, as it was abolished by treatment of fibroblasts with tyrosine kinase inhibitors genistein and herbimycin A. Contact of fibroblasts to three-dimensional collagen resulted in simultaneous activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in three distinct subgroups: extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1 and ERK2, Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase, and p38. Induction of MMP-13 expression was inhibited by treatment of fibroblasts with a specific p38 inhibitor, SB 203580, whereas blocking the ERK1,2 pathway (Raf/MEK1,2/ERK1,2) by PD 98059, a selective inhibitor of MEK1,2 activation potently augmented MMP-13 expression. Furthermore, specific activation of ERK1,2 pathway by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate markedly suppressed MMP-13 expression in dermal fibroblasts in collagen gel. These results show that collagen-dependent induction of MMP-13 in dermal fibroblasts requires p38 activity, and is inhibited by activation of ERK1,2. Therefore, the balance between the activity of ERK1,2 and p38 MAPK pathways appears to be crucial in regulation of MMP-13 expression in dermal fibroblasts, suggesting that p38 MAPK may serve as a target for selective inhibition of collagen degradation, e.g. in chronic dermal ulcers.
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PMID:Induction of collagenase-3 (MMP-13) expression in human skin fibroblasts by three-dimensional collagen is mediated by p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. 989 Oct 15

Collagenase-1 (matrix metalloproteinase-1, MMP-1) is expressed by several types of cells, including fibroblasts, and apparently plays an important role in the remodeling of collagenous extracellular matrix in various physiologic and pathologic situations. Here, we have examined the molecular mechanisms of the activation of fibroblast MMP-1 gene expression by a naturally occurring non-phorbol ester type tumor promoter okadaic acid (OA), a potent inhibitor of serine/threonine protein phosphatase 2A. We show that in fibroblasts OA activates three distinct subgroups of mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs): extracellular signal-regulated kinase1,2 (ERK1,2), c-Jun N-terminal-kinase/stress-activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK) and p38. Activation of MMP-1 promoter by OA is entirely blocked by overexpression of dual-specificity MAPK phosphatase CL100. In addition, expression of kinase-deficient forms of ERK1,2, SAPKbeta, p38, or JNK/SAPK kinase SEK1 strongly inhibited OA-elicited activation of MMP-1 promoter. OA-elicited enhancement of MMP-1 mRNA abundance was also strongly prevented by two chemical MAPK inhibitors: PD 98059, a specific inhibitor of the activation of ERK1,2 kinases MEK1,2; and SB 203580, a selective inhibitor of p38 activity. Results of this study show that MMP-1 gene expression in fibroblasts is coordinately regulated by ERK1,2, JNK/SAPK, and p38 MAPKs and suggest an important role for the stress-activated MAPKs JNK/SAPK and p38 in the activation of MMP-1 gene expression. Based on these observations, it is conceivable that specific inhibition of stress-activated MAPK pathways may serve as a novel therapeutic target for inhibiting degradation of collagenous extracellular matrix.
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PMID:Enhancement of fibroblast collagenase-1 (MMP-1) gene expression by tumor promoter okadaic acid is mediated by stress-activated protein kinases Jun N-terminal kinase and p38. 992 49

Collagenase-3 (MMP-13) is characterized by an exceptionally wide substrate specificity and restricted expression. MMP-13 is specifically expressed by transformed human keratinocytes in squamous cell carcinomas in vivo and its expression correlates with their invasion capacity. Here, we show, that interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) markedly inhibits expression of MMP-13 by human cutaneous SCC cells (UT-SCC-7) and by ras-transformed human epidermal keratinocytes (A-5 cells) at the transcriptional level. In addition, IFN-gamma inhibits collagenase-1 (MMP-1) expression in these cells. IFN-gamma abolished the enhancement of MMP-13 and MMP-1 expression by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and inhibited invasion of A-5 cells through type I collagen. IFN-gamma also rapidly and transiently activates extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1,2 (ERK1,2) and blocking ERK1,2 pathway (Raf/MEK1,2/ERK1,2) by specific MEK1,2 inhibitor PD98059 partially (by 50%) prevents Ser-727 phosphorylation of STAT1 and suppression of MMP-13 expression by IFN-gamma. Furthermore, Ser-727 phosphorylation of STAT1 by ERK1,2, or independently of ERK1,2 activation is associated with marked reduction in MMP-13 expression. These observations identify a novel role for IFN-gamma as a potent inhibitor of collagenolytic activity and invasion of transformed squamous epithelial cells, and show that inhibition of MMP-13 expression by IFN-gamma involves activation of ERK1,2 and STAT1.
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PMID:Inhibition of collagenase-3 (MMP-13) expression in transformed human keratinocytes by interferon-gamma is associated with activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1,2 and STAT1. 1064 3

Collagenase-1 is a protease expressed by active fibroblasts that is involved in remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM). In this study, we characterize the intracellular signaling mechanism of collagenase-1 production by IL-1alpha in subcultured normal fibroblasts (NF) from uninjured normal corneas, compared to that in repair wound fibroblasts (WF). In NF, collagenase-1 was induced specifically after the exogenous addition of IL-1alpha via activation of ERK and p38MAPK. Collagenase-1 expression was strongly suppressed upon treatment with either a MEK or p38MAPK inhibitor. In contrast, repair WF constitutively synthesized both IL-1alpha and collagenase-1. Combined treatment with both mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors dramatically reduced collagenase-1 synthesis, while individual MEK1 or p38 inhibitors weakly modulated the collagenase-1 level. The results indicate that both pathways are crucial in the regulation of collagenase-1 synthesis. Furthermore, an IL-1alpha receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) could not abolish constitutive collagenase-1 synthesis, even at high doses, suggesting that other cytokines/factors are additionally involved in this process. We propose that induction of collagenase-1 by IL-1alpha in both WF and NF depends on a unique combination of cell type-specific signaling pathways.
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PMID:Constitutive collagenase-1 synthesis through MAPK pathways is mediated, in part, by endogenous IL-1alpha during fibrotic repair in corneal stroma. 1745 22