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)

Initiation of translation of the proto-oncogene c-myc can occur by either the cap-dependent scanning mechanism or by internal ribosome entry. The latter mechanism requires a complex RNA structural element that is located in the 5' untranslated region of c-myc, termed an internal ribosome entry segment (IRES). Recent work has shown that IRESs are used to maintain protein expression under conditions when cap-dependent translation initiation is compromised; for example, during mitosis, apoptosis and under conditions of cell stress, such as hypoxia or heat shock. Induction of genotoxic stress also results in a large reduction in global protein synthesis rates and therefore we investigated whether the c-myc IRES was active following DNA damage. As expected, in cells treated with either ethylmethane sulphonate or mitomycin C there was a large reduction in protein synthesis, although this was brought about by two different mechanisms. However, in each case the c-myc IRES was active and c-Myc protein expression was maintained. Finally we showed that the proteins required for this process are downstream of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular-signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK)/MEK(MAPK/ERK kinase) signalling pathways, since pre-treatment of cells with inhibitors of these pathways before DNA damage is initiated inhibits both c-myc IRES activity and expression of c-Myc protein.
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PMID:Internal ribosome entry segment-mediated initiation of c-Myc protein synthesis following genotoxic stress. 1156 82

Modulation of neurotrophic factors to protect neurons from damage is proposed as a novel mechanism for the action of antidepressants. However, the effect of antidepressants on modulation of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), which has potent and widespread effects, remains unknown. Here, we demonstrated that long-term use of antidepressant treatment significantly increased GDNF mRNA expression and GDNF release in time- and concentration-dependent manners in rat C6 glioblastoma cells. Amitriptyline treatment also increased GDNF mRNA expression in rat astrocytes. GDNF release continued for 24 h following withdrawal of amitriptyline. Furthermore, following treatment with antidepressants belonging to several different classes (amitriptyline, clomipramine, mianserin, fluoxetine and paroxetine) significantly increased GDNF release, but which did not occur after treatment with non-antidepressant psychotropic drugs (haloperidol, diazepam and diphenhydramine). Amitriptyline-induced GDNF release was inhibited by U0126 (10 microM), a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) kinase (MEK) inhibitor, but was not inhibited by H-89 (1 microM), a protein kinase A inhibitor, calphostin C (100 nM), a protein kinase C inhibitor and PD 169316 (10 microM), a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor. These results suggested that amitriptyline-induced GDNF synthesis and release occurred at the transcriptional level, and may be regulated by MEK/MAPK signalling. The enhanced and prolonged induction of GDNF by antidepressants could promote neuronal survival, and protect neurons from the damaging effects of stress. This may contribute to explain therapeutic action of antidepressants and suggest new strategies of pharmacological intervention.
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PMID:Antidepressant drug treatments induce glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) synthesis and release in rat C6 glioblastoma cells. 1159 54

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) play critical roles in the control of myogenesis. Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-5 (IGFBP-5), by regulating the bioavailability of IGFs, is involved in controlling IGF-dependent differentiation. We investigated the effects of TGF-beta on the IGFBP-5 production induced by IGFs in mouse myoblasts. TGF-beta leads to a decrease in IGFBP-5 synthesis at both transcript and protein levels, and blocked muscle differentiation. The Smad proteins and the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) have been shown to be involved in TGF-beta signaling pathways. We provide evidence that the JNK pathway, rather than Smad proteins, is involved in the response of muscle cells to TGF-beta. This factor failed to stimulate the GAL4-Smad 2/3 transcriptional activities of the constructs used to transfect myoblasts. Moreover, stable expression of the antagonistic Smad7 did not abolish the inhibitory effect of TGF-beta on IGFBP-5 production whereas expression of a dominant-negative version of MKK4, an upstream activator of JNK, did. We also showed, using a specific inhibitor, that the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) was not involved in the inhibition of IGFBP-5 production. Thus, TGF-beta-mediated IGFBP-5 inhibition is independent of Smads and requires activation of the JNK signaling pathway.
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PMID:Transforming growth factor-beta inhibition of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-5 synthesis in skeletal muscle cells involves a c-Jun N-terminal kinase-dependent pathway. 1159 9

In the inner medullary collecting duct of the terminal nephron, the type A natriuretic peptide receptor (NPR-A) plays a major role in determining urinary sodium content. This nephron segment, by virtue of its medullary location, is subject to very high levels of extracellular tonicity. We have examined the ability of medium tonicity to regulate the activity and expression of this receptor in cultured rat inner medullary collecting duct cells. We found that NaCl (75 mm) and sucrose (150 mm), but not urea (150 mm), increased natriuretic peptide receptor activity, gene expression, and promoter activity. The osmotic stimulus also activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK). In the latter instance the beta isoform was selectively activated. Inhibition of p38 MAPK with SB203580 blocked the osmotic induction of receptor activity and expression, as well as receptor gene promoter activity, whereas inhibition of ERK with PD98059 had no effect. Cotransfection of p38 beta MAPK together with the receptor gene promoter resulted in amplification of the osmotic stimulation of the latter, whereas cotransfection of dominant negative MKK6, but not dominant-negative MEK, completely blocked the osmotic induction of receptor promoter activity. Collectively, the data indicate that extracellular osmolality stimulates receptor activity and receptor gene expression through a specific p38 beta-dependent mechanism, raising the possibility that changes in medullary tonicity could play an important role in the regulation of renal sodium handling in the terminal nephron.
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PMID:Osmoregulation of natriuretic peptide receptor signaling in inner medullary collecting duct. A requirement for p38 MAPK. 1174 37

In cells from the adrenal medulla, angiotensin II (AII) regulates both the activity and mRNA levels of catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes whose expression is thought to be under the control of cAMP-responsive element (CRE) binding protein (CREB). In this study, we evaluated the effect of AII stimulation on CREB phosphorylation at Ser133 (pCREB) in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells (BACC). We found that AII produces a rapid and AII type-1 receptor (AT1)-dependent increase in pCREB levels, which is blocked by the MEK1/2 inhibitor U0126 but not by H-89, SB203580 or KN-93, suggesting that it is mediated by the extracellular-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) and not by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) or Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases (CaMKs) dependent pathways. Gel-shift experiments showed that the increase in pCREB levels is accompanied by an ERK1/2-dependent upregulation of CRE-binding activity. We also found that AII promotes a rapid and reversible increase in the activity of the non-receptor tyrosine kinase Src and that the inhibition of this enzyme completely blocks the AII-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2, the CREB kinase (p90)RSK and CREB. Our data support the hypothesis that in BACC, AII upregulates CREB functionality through a mechanism that requires Src-mediated activation of ERK 1/2 and (p90)RSK.
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PMID:Angiotensin II promotes the phosphorylation of cyclic AMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB) at Ser133 through an ERK1/2-dependent mechanism. 1175 53

The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38) is activated in response to environmental stress and inflammatory cytokines. Although several growth factors, including fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2, mediate activation of p38, the consequences for growth factor-dependent cellular functions have not been well defined. We investigated the role of p38 activation in FGF-2-induced angiogenesis. In collagen gel cultures, bovine capillary endothelial cells formed tubular growth-arrested structures in response to FGF-2. In these collagen gel cultures, p38 activation was induced more potently by FGF-2 treatment compared with that in proliferating cultures. Treatment with the p38 inhibitor SB202190 enhanced FGF-2-induced tubular morphogenesis by decreasing apoptosis, increasing DNA synthesis and cell proliferation, and enhancing the kinetics of cell differentiation including increased expression of the Notch ligand Jagged1. Overexpression of dominant negative mutants of the p38-activating kinases MKK3 and MKK6 also supported FGF-2-induced tubular morphogenesis. Sustained activation of p38 by FGF-2 was identified in vascular endothelial cells in vivo in the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). SB202190 treatment enhanced FGF-2-induced neovascularization in the CAM, but the vessels displayed abnormal features indicative of hyperplasia of endothelial cells. These results implicate p38 in organization of new vessels and suggest that p38 is an essential regulator of FGF-2-driven angiogenesis.
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PMID:p38 MAP kinase negatively regulates endothelial cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation in FGF-2-stimulated angiogenesis. 1178 39

COX-2 is rapidly expressed by various stimuli and plays a key role in conversion of free arachidonic acid to prostaglandins (PGs). 4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE), one of the lipid peroxidation end-products, has been recently identified as a potent COX-2 inducer in rat epithelial cell RL34 cells (Kumagai et al. (2000) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 273, 437-441). Here we investigated the molecular mechanism underlying the COX-2 induction by HNE mainly focusing on the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. The observations that (i) HNE induced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and MKK3/MKK6 within 5 min and that (ii) SB203580, a p38 MAPK-specific inhibitor, suppressed the HNE-induced COX-2 expression suggested that the p38 MAPK pathway was involved in the HNE-induced COX-2 expression. Overexpression of p38 MAPK enhanced the HNE-induced COX-2 expression, whereas the overexpression of dominant negative p38 MAPK suppressed it. Furthermore, we also found that HNE upregulated the COX-2 expression by the stabilization of COX-2 mRNA via the p38 MAPK pathway.
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PMID:Role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in the 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal-induced cyclooxygenase-2 expression. 1179 77

Phagocytosis of apoptotic cells by macrophages results in the production of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), which plays an important role in induction of an anti-inflammatory phenotype and resolution of inflammation. In this study, we show that TGF-beta prevents pro-inflammatory cytokine production through inhibition of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and NF-kappaB. Blockade of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling by the MEK-1/2 inhibitor PD 98059 reversed the inhibitory effects of TGF-beta, suggesting that cross-talk between MAPKs is essential for this response. Further investigation indicated that TGF-beta activated ERK, which in turn up-regulated MAPK phosphatase-1, thereby inactivating p38 MAPK. On the other hand, TGF-beta maintained or slightly increased production of the CC chemokine MCP-1, which is regulated predominantly by AP-1. Although SB 203580, an inhibitor of p38 MAPK, and dominant-negative p38 MAPK both increased AP-1 transcription, lack of effect of TGF-beta on lipopolysaccharide-stimulated SAPK/JNK phosphorylation along with a demonstrated inhibition of TGF-beta-induced AP-1 activation by dominant-negative Smad3 suggest that TGF-beta-stimulated AP-1 activation was not caused by inhibition of p38 MAPK but rather through the activation of Smads. Our data provide evidence that TGF-beta selectively inhibits inflammatory cytokine production through cross-talk between MAPKs.
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PMID:Cross-talk between ERK and p38 MAPK mediates selective suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines by transforming growth factor-beta. 1184 88

Osteoblastic cells transduce signals of mechanical loading that plays a key role in maintaining bone formation. In an attempt to elucidate the biochemical events associated with the conversion of mechanical stress to biological outcome, we examined cultured human periodontal ligament (hPDL) osteoblastic cells exposed to continuous stretch, in terms of cellular parameters correlating known signaling cascades to the initial phase of osteoblast-specific transcriptional control. Time-course experiments revealed that mechanical stretch-loaded hPDL cells exhibit a very rapid and relatively sustained increase in the abundance of the immediate-early gene products, c-Fos and c-Jun, components of the activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcription factor. Moreover, this increase in protein levels was accompanied by hyperphosphorylation and thereby potentiation of c-Jun, the principal modulator of AP-1 activity. Importantly, these inductive effects were partly or completely abolished by pre-incubating the cells with SB 203580, PD 098059, and the novel compound Y-27632, inhibitors of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), MAPK kinase (MEK), and Rho-associated protein kinase (RhoK), respectively. These results consolidate AP-1 as the pivotal downstream effector in the early response of hPDL cells to continuous mechanical stretching, via the coordinate stimulation of de novo synthesis and post-translational regulation of AP-1 proteins. This "integrating" function of AP-1 is mediated through a mechanotransduction circuit that incorporates elements of well-defined upstream signaling protein kinase systems.
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PMID:Effect of protein kinase inhibitors on the stretch-elicited c-Fos and c-Jun up-regulation in human PDL osteoblast-like cells. 1185 47

To better understand the intracellular signaling mechanism that causes the association of insulin resistance and hyperlipidemia with cardiovascular diseases, we specifically looked at the ability of lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC) to inhibit the Akt activation induced by insulin in cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells. LysoPC inhibited the insulin-induced phosphorylation of Akt at Ser473, and the inhibition was concentration dependent. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a protein kinase C (PKC) activator, inhibited the insulin-induced phosphorylation of Akt. LysoPC stimulated PKC phosphorylation at Ser660, which was inhibited by the PKC inhibitor GF109203X. The PKC-alpha/beta-selective inhibitor Go6976 also blocked the PMA- and lysoPC-induced inhibition of Akt phosphorylation by insulin. PKC-alpha, but not PKC-beta, is expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells, and overexpression of PKC-alpha, but not PKC-beta or PKC-delta, inhibited insulin-induced Akt activation. LysoPC rapidly stimulated PKC-alpha translocation to the membrane. In contrast, pretreatment with the p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitor PD98059 or the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor SB203580 did not block the lysoPC-induced inhibition of Akt phosphorylation by insulin. In addition, lysoPC inhibited the insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 but not that of the insulin receptor beta subunit or insulin binding. PMA treatment or PKC-alpha overexpression also inhibited the tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1. From these data, we conclude that lysoPC negatively regulates the insulin signal at the point of IRS-1 through PKC-alpha in the vasculature, which may explain the association of hyperlipidemia with hyperinsulinemia in cardiovascular diseases.
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PMID:Lysophosphatidylcholine inhibits insulin-induced Akt activation through protein kinase C-alpha in vascular smooth muscle cells. 1188 99


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