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)

To clarify the differences of the signaling pathways used by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and tumor necrosis factor- (TNF), we investigated activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) subtype cascades in human neutrophils stimulated by these cytokines. G-CSF exclusively tyrosine-phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). GM-CSF tyrosine-phosphorylated ERK strongly and p38 MAPK weakly, whereas TNF tyrosine-phosphorylated p38 MAPK strongly and ERK weakly. Consistent with these findings, MEK, an upstream kinase of ERK, was phosphorylated by G-CSF, GM-CSF, and TNF, whereas MKK3/MKK6, an upstream kinase of p38 MAPK, was phosphorylated by GM-CSF and TNF, but not by G-CSF. The potency of these cytokines to phosphorylate ERK and MEK was GM-CSF > G-CSF > TNF, whereas that to phosphorylate p38 MAPK and MKK3/MKK6 was TNF > GM-CSF. C-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK) was not tyrosine-phosphorylated by any cytokine despite the existence of JNK proteins in human neutrophils, whereas it was tyrosine-phosphorylated by TNF in undifferentiated and all-trans retinoic acid-differentiated HL-60 cells. Increased phosphorylation of ERK or p38 MAPK was detected within 1 to 5 minutes after stimulation with each cytokine and was dependent on the concentrations of cytokines used. MEK inhibitor (PD98059) reduced tyrosine phosphorylation of ERK, but not p38 MAPK, induced by G-CSF, GM-CSF, or TNF. GM-CSF- or TNF-induced superoxide (O2-) release was inhibited by p38 MAPK inhibitor (SB203580) in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting the possible involvement of p38 MAPK in GM-CSF- or TNF-induced O2- release. The results indicate that G-CSF, GM-CSF, and TNF activate the overlapping but distinct MAPK subtype cascades in human neutrophils and suggest that the differential activation of ERK and p38 MAPK cascades may explain the differences of the effects of these cytokines on human neutrophil functions.
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PMID:Cytokine-specific activation of distinct mitogen-activated protein kinase subtype cascades in human neutrophils stimulated by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. 986 79

Hemopoietic cytokines such as interleukin-3 and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) are potent activators of hemopoietic cell growth and strongly induce activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases. However, the role of these kinases is unclear. Using specific chemical inhibitors for MEK and p38, we demonstrate here that both ERK and p38 pathways are critically involved in the transduction of a proliferative signal and cooperate in G-CSF-induced cell proliferation. We show that, like ERK and JNK activation, activation of p38 and its downstream substrate MAP kinase-activated protein kinase 2 by interleukin-3 or G-CSF requires Ras activation. We demonstrate that two distinct cytoplasmic regions of the G-CSF receptor are involved in activation of the p38 pathway: a region within the 100 membrane-proximal amino acids is sufficient to induce low levels of p38 and MAP kinase-activated protein kinase 2 activation, whereas the membrane-distal phosphorylation site Tyr763 mediates strong activation of these kinases. The levels of p38 activation correlate closely with those of Ras activation by G-CSF, suggesting that the degree of Ras activation is a critical determinant for the extent of p38 activation by hemopoietic cytokines.
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PMID:Cooperation of p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways during granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-induced hemopoietic cell proliferation. 993 3

The role of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on neutrophilic differentiation of Me2SO-treated HL-60 cells was studied. G-CSF augmented the functional maturation of Me2SO-treated HL-60 cells in terms of both O-2-generating ability and expression of the formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine receptor. G-CSF induced enhancement of cell growth in Me2SO-treated HL-60 cells. These results indicate that G-CSF is a potent enhancer for the differentiation and proliferation of Me2SO-treated HL-60 cells. G-CSF caused the activation of p70 S6 kinase but not mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase. On the other hand, G-CSF rapidly induced tyrosine phosphorylation of signal transducers and activators of transcription-3 (STAT3), but did not induce serine727 phosphorylation. From the analysis of confocal laser scanning fluorescence microscopy and differential centrifugation, it was clearly demonstrated that G-CSF induced nuclear translocation of tyrosine-phosphorylated STAT3. The G-CSF-dependent enhancement of neutrophilic differentiation in Me2SO-HL-60 cells was reversely inhibited by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Notably, in the presence of GM-CSF, G-CSF induced the tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT3 but failed to induce the nuclear translocation of tyrosine-phosphorylated STAT3. GM-CSF induced activation of not only p70 S6 kinase, but also of MAP kinase. Furthermore, GM-CSF caused the rapid serine727 phosphorylation of STAT3, both in the presence and absence of G-CSF. PD98059, an MEK1 inhibitor, inhibited the G-CSF-dependent serine727 phosphorylation of STAT3 and blocked the inhibitory effect of GM-CSF on G-CSF-dependent nuclear translocation of STAT3. These results suggest that G-CSF-dependent nuclear translocation of STAT3 coordinates with the promotion of neutrophilic differentiation in Me2SO-treated HL-60 cells.
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PMID:The role of STAT3 in granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-induced enhancement of neutrophilic differentiation of Me2SO-treated HL-60 cells. GM-CSF inhibits the nuclear translocation of tyrosine-phosphorylated STAT3. 1033 53

ERYTHROPOIETIN (EPO): Erythropoietin (EPO) is a hormone that promotes the proliferation and differentiation of erythroid progenitor cells and regulates the number of erythrocytes in peripheral blood. EPO is produced mainly by the kidneys, and transcription of the EPO gene is promoted by a reduction in the oxygen concentration in the blood. The existence of EPO was suggested near the end of the 19th century by the discovery that hypoxia increases the production of red blood cells. EPO was identified as a serum factor in the 1950s, and in 1970 Miyake and coworkers succeeded in purifying it by using the urine of patients with aplastic anemia as a starting material. The human EPO gene was cloned in 1985 using a partial amino acid sequence from this purified EPO, and it is well known that recombinant EPO is currently used as a drug to treat anemia associated with chronic renal failure and other illnesses. ACTION OF EPO: When human bone marrow cells are cultured in a semisolid medium containing EPO, they form small erythroblast colonies in five to seven days, and by day 10 large erythroblast colonies appear that resemble fireworks ("burst" colonies). The original cells in the former colonies are called colony forming units-erythroid (CFU-E) or late-stage erythroblast progenitor cells and in the latter colonies they are called burst forming units-erythroid (BFU-E) or early-stage erythroblast progenitor cells. As shown in Figure 1, red blood cells are produced through differentiation from stem cells to BFU-E, CFU-E, and erythroblasts. Although EPO acts on both BFU-E and CFU-E cells, CFU-E cells show greater sensitivity to EPO, and other factors such as stem cell factor (SCF), interleukin (IL)-3, IL-4, and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) must be present together with EPO for BFU-E cell proliferation. In erythroblasts beyond the CFU-E stage, sensitivity to EPO decreases as the cells mature. THE EPO RECEPTOR AND THE CYTOKINE RECEPTOR FAMILY: The EPO receptor gene was cloned by D'Andrea and coworkers in 1989 from murine erythroleukemia cells [1]. It became clear that the EPO receptor belongs to the cytokine receptor family that comprises receptors for the various interleukins, GM-CSF, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), growth hormone and prolactin. The special characteristic of this family of receptors is that they are switched on (i.e., the receptor is activated) and transduce signals to the interior of the cell by the formation of homo- or hetero-oligomers (dimers or trimers). Moreover, hetero-oligomers of these receptors share a common receptor subunit. As shown in Figure 2, the IL-3, IL-5 and GM-CSF receptors have a common &bgr; subunit, and their ligand specificity is determined by the &agr; subunit. In the same manner, the IL-6, LIF and oncostatin M (OSM) receptors all share gp130, which is the &bgr; subunit of the IL-6 receptor. The IL-2, IL-4 and IL-7 receptors all share the &ggr; subunit of the IL-2 receptor. All the above receptors are activated by the formation of hetero-oligomers, but the G-CSF receptor, EPO receptor, and growth hormone receptor are activated by the formation of homodimers of the same types of molecules [2]. We can see that groups of cytokines such as the interleukins that affect a relatively wide range of cells and have redundant biological activity create this redundancy through the common use of a single receptor subunit. On the other hand, EPO and G-CSF act with high specificity on a relatively limited range of cells, so it was probably unnecessary for their receptors to share one of the subunits. EPO RECEPTOR AND JAK2 KINASE: The signal for cellular proliferation and differentiation into erythroblasts is thought to originate at the EPO receptor. The cytoplasmic domain of the EPO receptor can be divided into two major regions. Roughly half of the cytoplasmic domain, the part lying nearest the plasma membrane, is required for generating the signals for proliferation and differentiation such as the induction of globin synthesis [3, 4]. The remaining half is not required for this signaling, and, conversely, it acts to dampen the signals. It is known that a tyrosine kinase called JAK2 associates with the region near the plasma membrane, undergoes autophosphorylation, and phosphorylates the EPO receptor, and a transcription factor called a STAT [5]. It is thought that JAK2 plays an important role in promoting cellular proliferation. The STAT is activated by the phosphorylation, and it then translocates to the nucleus, recognizes a specific base sequence in the promoter region of its target gene, and initiates transcription. At present, we know that the STAT whose activation is mediated by the EPO receptor is STAT5, and the target genes are CIS [6], which has an SH2 domain (a molecular structure that recognizes a phosphorylated tyrosine) and OSM [7], which is a pleiotropic cytokine. However, activation of STAT5 and activation of the target genes are not unique to the EPO receptor, and they also occur with the IL-2 and IL-3 receptors. Moreover, the JAK2 substrate that is directly linked to cellular proliferation is still unknown. At present, studies are under way to determine the transcription factors specific to EPO and their target genes, as well as the substrates of JAK2. RECEPTOR PHOSPHORYLATION AND CESSATION OF THE SIGNAL: On the other hand, tyrosine phosphorylation of the receptor is necessary at the cytoplasmic tail region far from the plasma membrane, and the signal transduction pathway that originates with this phosphorylated tyrosine and is mediated by proteins with SH2 domains becomes activated. First, a GTP/GDP exchange factor called SOS, which is mediated by Shc and Grb2, migrates to the plasma membrane and converts a ras protein to its GTP form. The activated ras protein then activates the Raf-MAP kinase kinase-MAP kinase cascade, and ultimately initiates the transcription of oncogenes such as c-fos and c-jun. An enzyme called PI3 kinase binds to the tyrosine phosphorylation site of the receptor and a second messenger is born. It is known that this pathway is a requirement for DNA synthesis in certain types of fibroblasts. However, these signal transduction pathways are not unique to the EPO receptor, and they are also activated by most growth factor receptors, so they are not necessarily required for EPO-induced proliferation. Conversely, the tyrosine phosphatase SH-PTP1 (also called HCP) that has an SH2 domain and is specific to blood cells associates with the tyrosine phosphorylation site of the receptor and promotes the dephosphorylation of JAK2. In other words, the role of SH-PTP1 is to stop generation of the signal [8]. Therefore, in mutations lacking this cytoplasmic tail region of the receptor far from the plasma membrane, the receptors do not undergo tyrosine phosphorylation, JAK2 activation continues for a longer period of time, and thus the signal is generated more efficiently. In fact, in one patient with a mild case of familial erythrocytosis a mutation was discovered in which the C-terminus of the EPO receptor was missing 70 amino acids [9]. This was a dominant genetic trait, and the patient's erythroblasts showed an increased sensitivity to EPO. In this family the impairment was not severe enough to be called an illness, and in fact it is said that this patient was proficient enough athletically to compete for a gold medal at the Olympics. More specifically, the reason that athletes undergo training at high altitudes is to boost EPO production because of the lower oxygen partial pressure, and this brings about the desired effect of sustained athletic capability due to a resultant increase in red blood cells. However, the same effect has occurred naturally in this athlete thanks to accelerated receptor capability.
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PMID:Physician Education: The Erythropoietin Receptor and Signal Transduction. 1038 12

Use of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) in combinatorial differentiation therapy of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) results in exceptional cure rates. However, potent cell differentiation effects of ATRA are so far largely restricted to this disease and long-term survival rates in non-APL acute myelogeneous leukemia (AML) remain unacceptably poor, requiring development of novel therapeutic strategies. We demonstrate here that myelomonocytic growth factors (granulocyte colony-stimulating factor [G-CSF] and/or granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor [GM-CSF]) potentiate differentiation effects of ATRA in different AML cell lines and primary cells from patients with myeloid leukemia. The ligand-dependent activities of endogenous and transiently expressed retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARalpha) isoforms can be potentiated by G/GM-CSF in U-937 cells and correlate with increased expression of ATRA-inducible RARalpha2 isoform. Specific inhibitors of mitogen mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) (MEK)-1/-2 or p38 extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) kinase diminish the ATRA as well as ATRA and G/GM-CSF-induced activation of the RARalpha proteins and decreased the differentiation-induced decline in cell numbers. Our data demonstrate that acting, at least in part, via the MAP kinase pathways, myelomonocytic growth factors enhance ATRA-dependent activation of the RARalpha isoforms and maturation of myeloid leukemia cells. These results suggest that combinatorial use of these agents may be effective in differentiation therapy of AML.
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PMID:Retinoids and myelomonocytic growth factors cooperatively activate RARA and induce human myeloid leukemia cell differentiation via MAP kinase pathways. 1533 53

The effect of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on human neutrophil motility was studied using videomicroscopy. Stimulation of neutrophils with G-CSF resulted in enhanced motility with morphological change and increased adherence. Enhanced neutrophil motility was detected within 3-5 min after G-CSF stimulation, reached a maximum at 10 min, and was sustained for approximately 35 min. The maximum migration rate was 84.4 +/- 2.9 microm/5 min. A study using the Boyden chamber method revealed that G-CSF-stimulated neutrophils exhibited random migration but not chemotaxis. Enhanced neutrophil motility and morphological change were inhibited by MEK [mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) kinase] inhibitors (PD98059 and U0126), and a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor (wortmannin), but not by a p38 MAPK inhibitor (SB203580). These findings are consistent with the fact that G-CSF selectively activates MEK/ERK and PI3K, but not p38, in neutrophils. MEK/ERK activation was associated with G-CSF-induced redistribution of F-actin and phosphorylated myosin light chain. Enhanced neutrophil motility was observed even in the presence of neutralizing anti-CD18 antibody, which prevented cell adherence. These findings indicate that G-CSF induces human neutrophil migration via activation of MEK/ERK and PI3K.
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PMID:Enhanced neutrophil motility by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor: the role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. 1690 68

This study was designed to evaluate effects of specific p38 MAP kinase inhibition on gene and protein expression of essential hematopoietic cytokines in primary human bone marrow stromal cells (HBMSC) and to identify downstream transcription factors (TF) regulated by the p38 MAP kinase signalling pathway. In vitro effects of p38 inhibitors (p38i) on cytokine regulation were compared to inhibitors of other major signalling pathways including PI3 kinase, JNK, MEK-1, NF-kappaB or protein kinase C (PKC). HBMSC were pre-treated with p38i (SB-203580) for 1 h and then stimulated with 200 ng/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Supernatants and RNA were collected 6 h post LPS treatment for quantitative protein and mRNA analyses by ELISA and real-time RT-PCR, respectively, for interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-11 (IL-11), granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and Activin A. Effects of the inhibitors of PI3 kinase (LY294002), JNK (synthetic inhibitory peptide), MEK-1 (PD90859), NF-kappaB (pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (PDTC)) and protein kinase C (calphostin C) on HBMSC expression hematopoietic cytokines were evaluated and compared. SB-203580 caused dose-dependent decreases in cytokine protein expression and decreased IL-6 and IL-11 mRNA expression. Of the pathway inhibitors examined, only NF-kappaB elicited similar effects on cytokine protein and mRNA expression. p38-regulated transcription factor activity was assessed using a DNA/Protein array. Several TFs linked to cytokine regulation were modulated by SB-203580, with 10 of 21 p38-regulated TFs identified have not been previously linked to downstream p38 signalling. These observations in cultured HBMSC have illustrated the involvement of cytokine proteins, mRNA and TF activities and may improve the current understanding of the in vivo p38i suppression of erythropoiesis. In addition, these results suggest that IL-6, IL-11, GM-CSF, G-CSF and Activin A are similarly regulated by p38 and NF-kappaB and that the MEK1, JNK and PKC pathways appear to play a more limited role in modulating cytokine expression in HBMSC.
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PMID:Role of p38 in regulation of hematopoiesis: effect of p38 inhibition on cytokine production and transcription factor activity in human bone marrow stromal cells. 1809 51

Adiponectin, an adipocyte-derived cytokine, affects a number of physiological processes, including immune function and inflammation. We investigated whether globular adiponectin (gAd) affects the expression of inflammation-related genes in murine macrophages (RAW264 cells). DNA microarray analysis indicated that granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) showed the largest increase in expression in gAd-stimulated RAW264 cells. The gAd-induced secretion of G-CSF increased in a time- and dose-dependent manner. U0126 (MEK1/2 inhibitor) and PD98059 (MEK1 inhibitor) reduced the gAd-induced G-CSF mRNA expression and G-CSF protein production. gAd induced the phosphorylation of MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 in RAW264 cells. In addition, the gAd-induced phosphorylation of MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 was dramatically reduced by PD98059 and U0126, respectively. Collectively, these results suggest that MEK1/2-ERK1/2 signaling is involved in the adiponectin-induced secretion of G-CSF.
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PMID:Induction of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor by globular adiponectin via the MEK-ERK pathway. 1855 87

The transcription factor growth factor independence 1 (Gfi1) and the growth factor granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) are individually essential for neutrophil differentiation from myeloid progenitors. Here, we provide evidence that the functions of Gfi1 and G-CSF are linked in the regulation of granulopoiesis. We report that Gfi1 promotes the expression of Ras guanine nucleotide releasing protein 1 (RasGRP1), an exchange factor that activates Ras, and that RasGRP1 is required for G-CSF signaling through the Ras/mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK/Erk) pathway. Gfi1-null mice have reduced levels of RasGRP1 mRNA and protein in thymus, spleen, and bone marrow, and Gfi1 transduction in myeloid cells promotes RasGRP1 expression. When stimulated with G-CSF, Gfi1-null myeloid cells are selectively defective at activating Erk1/2, but not signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) or STAT3, and fail to differentiate into neutrophils. Expression of RasGRP1 in Gfi1-deficient cells rescues Erk1/2 activation by G-CSF and allows neutrophil maturation by G-CSF. These results uncover a previously unknown function of Gfi1 as a regulator of RasGRP1 and link Gfi1 transcriptional control to G-CSF signaling and regulation of granulopoiesis.
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PMID:The transcription factor Gfi1 regulates G-CSF signaling and neutrophil development through the Ras activator RasGRP1. 2020 68

We previously demonstrated that treatment with a globular type of adiponectin (gAd) induced expression of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) via the MEK/ERK signaling pathway in a murine macrophage cell line, RAW 264. In the present study, we investigated whether suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS1) has roles in the regulation of gAd-induced G-CSF generation. Intracellular G-CSF generation induced by gAd treatment peaked after 10h and then attenuated. SOCS1 mRNA and protein were expressed at 1h and 4h after gAd treatment, respectively. Overexpression of SOCS1 reduced G-CSF generation and phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, and p38 MAPK in gAd-treated cells. While gAd treatment induced the translocation of STAT3 to the nucleus under control conditions, STAT3 stayed in the cytosol when SOCS1 was overexpressed. Additionally, knockdown of SOCS1 by interfering RNA caused levels of G-CSF to continue to rise beyond 10h after gAd treatment. These results suggest that SOCS1 is involved in providing negative feedback for gAd-induced production of G-CSF.
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PMID:Involvement of suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 in globular adiponectin-induced granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in RAW 264 cell. 2176 57


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