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)

In the hippocampus, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and the non-receptor protein proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (PYK2) are activated by depolarization and involved in synaptic plasticity. Both are also activated under pathological conditions following ischemia, convulsions, or electroconvulsive shock. Although in non-neuronal cells PYK2 activates ERK through the recruitment of Src-family kinases (SFKs), the link between these pathways in the hippocampus is not known. We addressed this question using K(+)-depolarized rat hippocampal slices. Depolarization increased the phosphorylation of PYK2, SFKs, and ERK. These effects resulted from Ca(2+) influx through voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels and were diminished by GF109203X, a protein kinase C inhibitor. Inhibition of SFKs with PP2 decreased PYK2 tyrosine phosphorylation dramatically, but not its autophosphorylation on Tyr-402. Moreover, PYK2 autophosphorylation and total tyrosine phosphorylation were profoundly altered in fyn-/- mice, revealing an important functional relationship between Fyn and PYK2 in the hippocampus. In contrast, ERK activation was unaltered by PP2, Fyn knock-out, or LY294002, a phosphatidyl-inositol-3-kinase inhibitor. ERK activation was prevented by MEK inhibitors that had no effect on PYK2. Immunofluorescence of hippocampal slices showed that PYK2 and ERK were activated in distinct cellular compartments in somatodendritic regions and nerve terminals, respectively, with virtually no overlap. Activation of ERK was critical for the rephosphorylation of a synaptic vesicle protein, synapsin I, following depolarization, underlining its functional importance in nerve terminals. Thus, in hippocampal slices, in contrast to cell lines, depolarization-induced activation of non-receptor tyrosine kinases and ERK occurs independently in distinct cellular compartments in which they appear to have different functional roles.
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PMID:Depolarization activates ERK and proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (PYK2) independently in different cellular compartments in hippocampal slices. 1553 34

We showed previously that activation of the thromboxane prostanoid (TP) receptor causes human airway smooth muscle (HASM) cells to proliferate, suggesting a role in airway remodeling. This study aimed at determining the molecular mechanisms underlying this mitogenic action. We found that the MEK inhibitor PD98059 significantly affected agonist-induced DNA synthesis of HASM cells, which suggests that extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) are involved. ERK activation by the agonist U46619 was rapid, sensitive to pertussis toxin, and significantly abrogated by the tyrosine kinase inhibitors genistein and PP1. Stimulation of the TP receptor was also found to translocate phosphorylated ERK into the nucleus. TP receptor was found to activate Ras, as demonstrated by inhibition of ERK activation and DNA synthesis by Clostridium sordellii lethal toxin, and by the ability of U46619 to increase RasGTP. Finally, [(3)H]thymidine incorporation and ERK phosphorylation were also affected by prior treatment with protein kinase C inhibitor GF109203X, although to different extents. In conclusion, in HASM cells TP receptor, predominantly coupled to G(i/o) proteins, activates the Ras/ERK pathway to induce mitogenesis, probably with the involvement of nonreceptor tyrosine kinases and protein kinase C.
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PMID:Thromboxane prostanoid receptor signals through Gi protein to rapidly activate extracellular signal-regulated kinase in human airways. 1562 72

Metformin is thought to decrease blood glucose levels by reducing hepatic glucose output. To elucidate the pharmacological action of metformin on hepatic glucose production, we examined its effect on the gene expression of glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase), a key enzyme of gluconeogenesis, in H4IIE rat hepatoma cell line by RT-PCR and quantitative real-time PCR. Metformin suppressed dexamethasone/cAMP-induced expression of G6Pase mRNA in a dose dependent manner, its maximum effect being observed at 2 mM (79.3% inhibition, P<0.05). Pretreatment with the PI3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin, the MEK-1 inhibitor PD98059 or the protein kinase C inhibitor GF109203X had no effect on suppressed G6Pase expression by metformin. Moreover, metformin did not stimulate Akt phosphorylation. In the present study, we demonstrate that metformin suppresses G6Pase mRNA expression by a mechanism that is independent of the activation of PI3-kinase, Akt, MAP kinase and protein kinase C pathway in hepatocytes.
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PMID:Metformin-induced suppression of glucose-6-phosphatase expression is independent of insulin signaling in rat hepatoma cells. 1570 36

Recent studies show that neuronal and glial plasticity are important for the therapeutic action of antidepressants. Here, we demonstrated that amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant, significantly increased GDNF mRNA and GDNF release in C6 cells. Furthermore, different classes of antidepressants increased GDNF release, but non-antidepressant psychotropic drugs did not. The amitriptyline-induced GDNF release was completely inhibited by U0126, a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) kinase (MEK) inhibitor, but was not inhibited by H-89, a protein kinase A inhibitor or calphostin C, a protein kinase C inhibitor. These results suggest that the amitriptyline-induced GDNF release may be regulated through a MEK/MAPK pathway. Next, we examined the effects of monoamines on GDNF release, because antidepressants are known to increase monoamines. 5-HT increased GDNF mRNA and GDNF release, but noradrenaline and dopamine did not. The 5-HT-induced GDNF release was partially, but significantly, blocked by ketanserin, a 5-HT2A receptor antagonist. The 5-HT-induced GDNF release was completely inhibited by U0126, but was not inhibited by H-89 or calphostin C. These results suggest that the 5-HT-induced GDNF release was mediated through a MEK/MAPK pathway and, at least, 5-HT2A receptors. GDNF, as well as other neurotrophic factors, may contribute to explain the therapeutic action of antidepressants and suggest a novel strategy of pharmacological intervention.
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PMID:[Mechanisms of antidepressants and serotonin (5-HT)-induced glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) releases in rat C6 gliobrastoma cells]. 1579 67

Since both endothelin-1 (ET-1) and aldosterone have been shown to induce expression of several pro-inflammatory genes, including cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), in the vasculature as a cardiovascular risk hormone, the present study was undertaken to examine the effects of ET-1 and aldosterone on COX-2 gene expression as measured by a real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in aortic endothelial cells. Treatment with ET-1(10 M) markedly upregulated COX-2 mRNA levels in rat endothelial cells, whereas aldosterone (10 M) did not show any effect. The ET-1-induced COX-2 upregulation was inhibited by pretreatment with a non-selective endothelin receptor antagonist (TAK044), a protein kinase C inhibitor (GF109203X), and a MEK inhibitor (PD98059). Furthermore, ET-1 increased intracellular reactive oxygen species generation as estimated by the measurement of dichlorofluorescein fluorescence, whose effect was blocked by a COX-2 inhibitor (NS398). Our data show that ET-1 induces COX-2 upregulation in rat endothelial cells via a protein kinase C-dependent and extracellular signal-regulated kinase-dependent pathway, which may largely contribute to the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species.
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PMID:Endothelin-1 induces cyclooxygenase-2 expression and generation of reactive oxygen species in endothelial cells. 1583 13

The Fraction 1 (F1) antigen of Yersinia pestis is known to induce thymocyte proliferation. It serves as a major protective antigen against challenge of Y. pestis. Recently, we reported rF1-induced activation of macrophages. Current investigation elucidates the role of p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK)-mediated signal transduction in murine peritoneal macrophages on stimulation with rF1 (10 microg/ml) in vitro. The p42/44 MAPK activation was determined by studying the expression of the phosphorylated p42/44 MAPK in rF1-treated macrophages. PD98059, a specific inhibitor of MAPK kinase (MEK) inhibited the p42/44 MAPK phosphorylation, indicating the specificity of the above response. Furthermore, the rF1-induced phosphorylation of p42/44 MAPK is found to blocked by upstream protein kinase C inhibitor H7, tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein and phosphoinositol-3-kinase (PI3-K) inhibitor wortmannin. Additionally, phosphorylation of JNK and activation of the transcription factor, c-jun and c-fos was also observed in response to rF1 treatment. The rF1-induced activation of p42/44 MAPK was correlated to the functional activation of macrophages by demonstrating the inhibition of actin rearrangement, IL-1, TNF-alpha and NO production caused by PD98059 in the rF1-treated macrophages.
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PMID:Phosphorylation of p42/44 MAP kinase is required for rF1-induced activation of murine peritoneal macrophages. 1595 Jul 34

We have previously shown that prolactin-releasing peptide (PrRP) stimulates catecholamine release from PC12 cells (rat pheochromocytoma cell line). However, it is not known whether PrRP also affects catecholamine biosynthesis. Thus, we examined the effect of PrRP on catecholamine biosynthesis in PC12 cells. PrRP31 (>10 nM) and PrRP20 (>100 nM) significantly increased the activity and expression level of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), a rate-limiting enzyme, in catecholamine biosynthesis. However, the PrRP20-stimulated TH activity was markedly weaker than that of PrRP31. PrRP31 (>1 nM) and PrRP20 (>10 nM) significantly induced an increase in the level of PKC activity. Both Ro 32-0432 (a protein kinase C inhibitor) and H89 (a protein kinase A inhibitor) effectively suppressed the PrRP31 (100 nM)-induced TH mRNA level. Next, we examined the effect of PrRP on mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). PrRP31 (1 microM) significantly induced an increase in the activity of extracellular signal-related kinases (ERKs) and the stress-activated protein kinase/c-jun N terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK). In contrast to ERKs and JNK, PrRP31 did not affect P38 MAPK activity. Consistent with these findings, pretreatment of cells with the MEK-1-inhibitor, PD-98059 (50 microM), significantly inhibited the PrRP31 (100 nM)-induced increase in TH mRNA. These results indicate that PrRP stimulates catecholamine synthesis through both the PKC and PKA pathways in PC12 cells.
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PMID:Stimulation of catecholamine biosynthesis via the PKC pathway by prolactin-releasing peptide in PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cells. 1600 52

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), a mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), transduces a broad range of extracellular stimuli into diverse intracellular responses. Recent studies have showed that ERK activation in the supraspinal level involved in the development of drug dependence, especially in psychological dependence. In this study, we reported that the spinal ERK signaling pathway was activated by chronic morphine injection. There was a further increase in ERK activation after naloxone-precipitated withdrawal. Furthermore, attenuation of the spinal ERK phosphorylation by intrathecal a MAPK kinase (MEK) inhibitor U0126 or knockdown of the spinal ERK by antisense oligonucleotides not only decreased the scores of morphine withdrawal, but also attenuated withdrawal-induced allodynia, which were accompanied by decreased ERK phosphorylation in the spinal cord. The spinal ERK inhibition or knockdown also reduced morphine withdrawal-induced phosphorylation of cAMP response element binding protein (CREB), which is one of the important downstream substrates of ERK pathway, and Fos expression. The involvement of the spinal ERK in morphine withdrawal was supported by our finding that intrathecal N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist MK-801 or protein kinase C inhibitor chelerythrine chloride suppressed withdrawal-induced ERK activation in the spinal cord and attenuated morphine withdrawal symptoms. These findings suggest activation of the spinal ERK signaling pathway contributes naloxone-precipitated withdrawal in morphine-dependent rats.
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PMID:Activation of the spinal ERK signaling pathway contributes naloxone-precipitated withdrawal in morphine-dependent rats. 1628

We examined the effects of the adipose hormone leptin on the development of mouse cortical neurons. Treatment of neonatal and adult mice with intraperitoneal leptin (5 mg/kg) induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 phosphorylation in pyriform and entorhinal cortex neurons. Stimulation of cultured embryonic cortical neurons with leptin evoked Janus kinase 2 and ERK1/2 phosphorylation and activated the downstream effector 90-kDa ribosomal protein S6 kinase. Moreover, leptin elicited the phosphorylation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase effector Akt and evoked Ser-9 phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK3beta), an event inactivating this kinase. Leptin-mediated GSK3beta phosphorylation was prevented by the MEK/ERK inhibitor PD98059, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor LY294002, or the protein kinase C inhibitor GF109203X. Exposure of cortical neurons to leptin also induced Ser-41 phosphorylation of the neuronal growth-associated protein GAP-43, an effect prevented by LY294002 and GF109203X but not by PD98059. Ser-41-GAP-43 phosphorylation is usually high in expanding axonal growth cones. Neurons exposed to 100 ng/ml leptin for 72 h displayed reduced rate of growth cone collapse, a shift of growth cone size distribution toward higher values, and a 4-fold increase in mean growth cone surface area compared with control cultures. The leptin-induced growth cone spreading was hampered in cortical neurons from Lepr(db/db) mice lacking functional leptin receptors; it was associated with localized Ser-9-GSK3beta phosphorylation and mimicked by the GSK3beta inhibitor SB216763. At concentrations preventing GSK3beta phosphorylation, PD98059, LY294002, or GF109203X reversed the leptin-induced growth cone surface enlargement. We concluded that the leptin-mediated regulation of growth cone morphogenesis in cortical neurons relies on upstream regulators of GSK3beta activity.
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PMID:Leptin increases axonal growth cone size in developing mouse cortical neurons by convergent signals inactivating glycogen synthase kinase-3beta. 1652 36

Follistatin (FS) is produced and secreted from gonadotroph cells in pituitary gland as well as granulosa cells in the ovary. In the present study, we found that the FS promoter is activated by GnRH in the gonadotroph cell line, LbetaT2. Therefore, we examined the signal transduction pathways involved in the mechanism. The activation of the FS promoter by GnRH was inhibited by calphostin C, a protein kinase C inhibitor, and U0126, a MAP kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor. Phosphorylation by protein kinase C of myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS) in LbetaT2 cells was observed after 3-min treatment with GnRH and declined after 30 min. The subsequent activation of MAP kinase was also transient, and down-regulation of protein kinase C completely inhibited the MAP kinase activation by GnRH, suggesting that the transient activation of protein kinase C led to the transient activation of MAP kinase. Although phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate treatment increased phosphorylation of MARCKS and activated MAP kinase, it did not activate the FS promoter. Genistein, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, completely inhibited the GnRH-induced activation of the FS promoter, while no inhibition of the MAP kinase pathway was observed. These results suggest that the activations of both the protein kinase C and tyrosine kinase pathways are necessary for the activation of the FS promoter in gonadotroph cells.
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PMID:Activation of follistatin promoter by GnRH in LbetaT2 gonadotroph cells. 1661 82


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