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)

Cripto-1 (CR-1), a recently discovered protein of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family, was found to interact with a high affinity, saturable binding site(s) on HC-11 mouse mammary epithelial cells and on several different human breast cancer cell lines. This receptor exhibits specificity for CR-1, since other EGF-related peptides including EGF, transforming growth factor alpha, heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor, amphiregulin, epiregulin, betacellulin, or heregulin beta1 that bind to either the EGF receptor or to other type 1 receptor tyrosine kinases such as erb B-3 or erb B-4 fail to compete for binding. Conversely, CR-1 was found not to directly bind to or to activate the tyrosine kinases associated with the EGFR, erb B-2, erb B-3, or erb B-4 either alone or in various pairwise combinations which have been ectopically expressed in Ba/F3 mouse pro-B lymphocyte cells. However, exogenous CR-1 could induce an increase in the tyrosine phosphorylation of 185- and 120-kDa proteins and a rapid (within 3-5 min) increase in the tyrosine phosphorylation of the SH2-containing adaptor proteins p66, p52, and p46 Shc in mouse mammary HC-11 epithelial cells and in human MDA-MB-453 and SKBr-3 breast cancer cells. CR-1 was also found to promote an increase in the association of the adaptor Grb2-guanine nucleotide exchange factor-mouse son of sevenless (mSOS) signaling complex with tyrosine-phosphorylated Shc in HC-11 cells. Finally, CR-1 was able to increase p42(erk-2) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity in HC-11 cells within 5-10 min of treatment. These data demonstrate that CR-1 can function through a receptor which activates intracellular components in the ras/raf/MEK/MAPK pathway.
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PMID:Cripto enhances the tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc and activates mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in mammary epithelial cells. 901 73

We have assessed five signal transduction pathways to determine the role each might play in the malignant transformation of mammary epithelium initiated by neu, heregulin/NDF, TGFalpha, v-Ha-ras and c-myc in transgenic mice. The study involves a molecular and pharmacologic assessment of Erk/MAP kinase, Jnk/SAP kinase, PI 3-kinase, protein kinase C, and the Src-related kinases Lck and Fyn. Our results indicate that oncogenes capable of transforming mammary gland epithelium activate and require specific signal transduction pathways. For example, mammary tumors initiated by neu, v-Ha-ras and c-myc have high levels of active Erk/MAP kinase and their anchorage independent growth is strongly inhibited by PD098059, an inhibitor of Mek/ MAP kinase kinase. By contrast, Erk/MAP kinase activity is weak in tumors initiated by TFGalpha and heregulin/NDF and the corresponding cell lines are not growth inhibited by PD098059. Similarly, PI 3-kinase is strongly activated in neu, TGFalpha and heregulin/NDF initiated tumor cell lines, but not in c-myc or v-Ha-ras initiated tumor cell lines. The anchorage independent growth of all these tumor cell lines are, however, inhibited by the specific PI 3-kinase inhibitor LY294001. Further illustrating this oncogene-based specificity, PP1, a specific inhibitor of the Src-like kinases, Lck and Fyn, blocks anchorage-independent cell growth only in the TGFalpha initiated mammary tumor cell line. Taken together with additional observations, we conclude that certain oncogenes reliably require the recruitment/activation of specific signal transduction pathways. Such specific relationships between the initiating oncogene and a required pathway may reflect a direct activating effect or the parallel activation of a pathway that is a necessary oncogenic collaborator for transformation in the mammary gland. The work points to a molecular basis for targeting therapy when an initiating oncogene can be implicated; for example, because of amplification, increased expression, genetic alteration, or heritable characteristics.
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PMID:Signal transduction pathways activated and required for mammary carcinogenesis in response to specific oncogenes. 948 37

Members of the erbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases are commonly overexpressed in human breast cancer. However, the relative contribution of particular signalling pathways activated downstream of these receptors to the mitogenic response of transformed breast epithelial cells remains poorly characterized. Administration of heregulin-beta2 (HRG), a ligand for erbB3 and erbB4, to growth arrested T-47D human breast cancer cells leads to activation of both the PI3-kinase and MAP kinase signalling pathways and potent stimulation of cell cycle progression. Specific inhibitors were used to assess the role of these pathways in HRG-induced mitogenesis and to identify underlying mechanisms in terms of regulation of gene expression. Treatment with the MEK inhibitor PD98059 led to a complete block of HRG-induced entry into S-phase, whilst administration of the PI3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin resulted in only modest inhibition. In addition, administration of PD98059 8 h after HRG was equipotent with simultaneous administration in inhibiting entry into S-phase. However, delaying addition for 14-16 h after HRG, when the cells were entering S-phase, was without effect. HRG stimulation led to sequential induction of c-myc, cyclin D1, cyclin E and cyclin A gene expression and hyperphosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein pRB. p21 (WAF1/CIP1/SDI1) gene expression was rapidly induced by HRG, but significant changes in p27 (KIP1) protein levels were not detected. Preincubation with PD98059 blocked the HRG-dependent induction of cyclin D1 mRNA, p21 and c-Myc protein and pRB phosphorylation. These findings demonstrate that MEK activation is critical to HRG-induced S-phase entry in these cells whilst PI3-kinase plays a minor role. Moreover, these data are compatible with HRG-induced activation of MEK being critical for a mid-G1 transition point and implicate c-myc and cyclin D1 as key targets of the MAP kinase pathway involved in this response.
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PMID:Inhibition of the MAP kinase cascade blocks heregulin-induced cell cycle progression in T-47D human breast cancer cells. 965 48

Neuregulin is a neural factor implicated in upregulation of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) synthesis at the neuromuscular junction. Previous studies have demonstrated that the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) subgroup of MAP kinases is required for neuregulin-induced AChR gene expression. We report here that the neuregulin-mediated increase in AChR epsilon-subunit mRNA was a delayed response in C2C12 muscle cells. Neuregulin induced expression of immediate early genes c-jun and c-fos, which followed and depended on the ERK activation. Treatment of muscle cells with cycloheximide to inhibit c-JUN synthesis at the protein level and suppression of c-JUN function by a dominant-negative mutant blocked neuregulin-induced expression of the epsilon-subunit gene, indicating an essential role of c-JUN in neuregulin signaling. Furthermore, neuregulin activated c-JUN N-terminal kinase (JNK) in C2C12 muscle cells. Blockade of JNK activation by overexpressing dominant-negative MKK4 inhibited epsilon-promoter activation. Moreover, overexpression of the JNK dominant-negative mutant inhibited neuregulin-mediated expression of the epsilon-transgene and endogenous epsilon-mRNA. Taken together, our results demonstrate important roles of c-JUN and JNK in neuregulin-mediated expression of the AChR epsilon-subunit gene and suggest that neuregulin activates multiple signaling cascades that converge to regulate AChR epsilon-subunit gene expression.
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PMID:Essential roles of c-JUN and c-JUN N-terminal kinase (JNK) in neuregulin-increased expression of the acetylcholine receptor epsilon-subunit. 1049 50

Neu differentiation factor (NDF; also known as neuregulin) induces a pleiotropic cellular response that is cell type-dependent. NDF and its receptor ErbB-4 are highly expressed in neurons, implying important roles in neuronal cell functions. In the present study we demonstrate that ErbB-4 receptors expressed in PC12 cells mediate NDF-induced signals and neurite outgrowth that are indistinguishable from those mediated by the nerve growth factor-activated Trk receptors. In PC12-ErbB-4 cells but not in PC12 cells, NDF induced an initial weak mitogenic signal and subsequently neurite outgrowth. The NDF-induced differentiation in PC12-ErbB-4 cells was mimicked by the pan-ErbB ligand betacellulin but not by other epidermal growth factor-like ligands. Thus, NDF and betacellulin mediate similar activities through the ErbB-4 receptor. Indeed, only these ligands induced strong phosphorylation of the ErbB-4 receptors. Neurite outgrowth induced by NDF in PC12-ErbB-4 cells was accompanied by sustained activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and induction of the neural differentiation marker GAP-43. Inhibition of the MAPK kinase MEK or of protein kinase C (PKC) blocked NDF-induced differentiation, whereas elevation of cyclic AMP levels enhanced the response. Taken together, these results indicate that neurite outgrowth induced by ErbB-4 in PC12 cells requires MAPK and PKC signaling networks.
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PMID:ErbB-4 activation promotes neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells. 1069 28

Neuregulin can trigger morphogenetic signals in cells both in vivo and in culture through the activation of receptors from the ErbB family. We have ectopically expressed various ErbB-receptors in 32D myeloid cells lacking endogenous ErbB-proteins, and in CHO cells, which express only ErbB-2. We show here that activation of ErbB-3/ErbB-2 heterodimeric receptors triggers PI3-kinase-dependent lamellipodia formation and spreading, while individual ErbB-receptor homodimers as well as ErbB-3/ErbB-1 heterodimers are much less effective. CHO cells expressing ErB-3/ErbB-2 together with N-cadherin, an adhesion receptor, form epithelioid colonies. Neuregulin activates cell motility leading to transition of these colonies into ring-shaped multicellular arrays, similar to those induced by neuregulin in epithelial cells of different types (Chausovsky et al., 1998). This process requires both PI3-kinase and MAP kinase kinase activity and depends on coordinated changes in the actin- and microtubule-based cytoskeleton. Transactivation of ErbB-2 is not sufficient for the activation of cell motility and ring formation, and the C-terminal domain of ErbB-3 bearing the docking sites for the p85 subunit of PI3-kinase is essential for these morphogenetic effects. Thus, ErbB-3 in conjunction with ErbB-2 mediates, via its C-terminal domain, cytoskeletal and adhesion alterations which activate cell spreading and motility, leading to the formation of complex structures such as multicellular rings. Oncogene (2000) 19, 878 - 888.
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PMID:Molecular requirements for the effect of neuregulin on cell spreading, motility and colony organization. 1070 96

In this report, we have investigated the signaling pathways that are activated by, and mediate the effects of, the neuregulins and axonal contact in Schwann cells. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MAPK kinase) are strongly activated in Schwann cells by glial growth factor (GGF), a soluble neuregulin, and by contact with neurite membranes; both kinase activities are also detected in Schwann cell-DRG neuron cocultures. Inhibition of the PI 3-kinase, but not the MAP kinase, pathway reversibly inhibited Schwann cell proliferation induced by GGF and neurites. Cultured Schwann cells undergo apoptosis after serum deprivation and can be rescued by GGF or contact with neurites; these survival effects were also blocked by inhibition of PI 3-kinase. Finally, we have examined the role of these signaling pathways in Schwann cell differentiation in cocultures. At early stages of coculture, inhibition of PI 3-kinase, but not MAPK kinase, blocked Schwann cell elongation and subsequent myelination but did not affect laminin deposition. Later, after Schwann cells established a one-to-one relationship with axons, inhibition of PI 3-kinase did not block myelin formation, but the myelin sheaths that formed were shorter, and the rate of myelin protein accumulation was markedly decreased. PI 3-kinase inhibition had no observable effect on the maintenance of myelin sheaths in mature myelinated cocultures. These results indicate that activation of PI 3-kinase by axonal factors, including the neuregulins, promotes Schwann cell proliferation and survival and implicate PI 3-kinase in the early events of myelination.
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PMID:Axonal regulation of Schwann cell proliferation and survival and the initial events of myelination requires PI 3-kinase activity. 1084 33

The epidermal growth factor (EGF) family and its receptors regulate normal and cancerous epithelial cell proliferation, a process that could be suppressed by anti-receptor blocking antibodies. Polypeptide elongation factor-1alpha (EF-1alpha) is a multifunctional protein whose levels are positively correlated with the proliferative state of cells. To identify genes, whose expression may be modulated by anti-receptor blocking antibodies, we performed a differential display screening and isolated differentially expressed cDNAs. Isolates from one clone were 100% identical to human EF-1alpha. Both EGF and heregulin-beta1 (HRG) induced EF-1alpha promoter activity and mRNA and protein expression. Growth factor-mediated EF-1alpha expression was effectively blocked by pretreatment with humanized anti-EGF receptor antibody C225 or anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) antibody herceptin. Mutants and pharmacological inhibitors of p38(MAPK) and MEK, but not phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, suppressed both constitutive and HRG-induced stimulation of EF-1alpha promoter activity in MCF-7 cells. Deletion analysis of the promoter suggested the requirement of the -393 to -204 region for growth factor-mediated transcription of EF-1alpha. Fine mapping and point mutation studies revealed a role of the SP1 site in the observed HRG-mediated regulation of the EF-1alpha promoter. In addition, we also provide new evidence to suggest that HRG stimulation of the EF-1alpha promoter involves increased physical interactions with acetylated histone H3 and histone H4. These results suggest that regulation of EF-1alpha expression by extracellular signals that function through human EGF receptor family members that are widely deregulated in human cancers and that growth factor regulation of EF-1alpha expression involve histone acetylation.
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PMID:Regulation of elongation factor-1alpha expression by growth factors and anti-receptor blocking antibodies. 1110 60

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) plays important roles in tumor invasion and angiogenesis. Secretion of MMP-9 has been reported in various cancer types including lung cancer, colon cancer, and breast cancer. In our investigation of MMP-9 regulation by growth factors, MMP-9 was activated by heregulin-beta1 as shown by zymography in both SKBr3 and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. Increase in MMP-9 activity was due to increased MMP-9 protein and mRNA levels, which mainly results from transcriptional upregulation of MMP-9 by heregulin-beta1. Heregulin-beta1 activates multiple signaling pathways in breast cancer cells, including Erk, p38 kinase, PKC, and PI3-K pathways. We examined the pathways involved in heregulin-beta1-mediated MMP-9 activation using chemical inhibitors that specifically inhibit each of these heregulin-beta1-activated pathways. The PKC inhibitor RO318220 and p38 kinase inhibitor SB203580 completely blocked heregulin-beta1-mediated activation of MMP-9. MEK-1 inhibitor PD098059 partially blocked MMP-9 activation, whereas PI3-K inhibitor wortmannin had no effect on heregulin-beta1-mediated MMP-9 activation. Therefore, at least three signaling pathways are involved in the activation of MMP-9 by heregulin-beta1. Since MMP-9 is tightly associated with invasion/metastasis and angiogenesis, our studies suggest that blocking heregulin-beta1-mediated activation of MMP-9 by inhibiting the related signaling pathways may provide new strategies for inhibition of cancer metastasis and angiogenesis.
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PMID:Multiple signaling pathways involved in activation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) by heregulin-beta1 in human breast cancer cells. 1178 19

Oncostatin M (OSM), an interleukin-6 type cytokine, acts via the gp130 signaling receptor to inhibit proliferation and induce differentiation of breast cancer cells. EGF, a mitogen for breast cells, signals via EGFR/ErbB tyrosine kinase receptors which are implicated in breast cancer pathogenesis. Here we show paradoxically that EGF enhanced the OSM-induced inhibition of proliferation and induction of cellular differentiation in both estrogen receptor positive and negative breast cancer cells. This functional synergism was also seen with heregulin but not SCF, PDGF or IGF-1, indicating that it was specific to EGF-related growth factors. Immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that gp130 was constitutively associated with ErbB-2 and ErbB-3. There was a similar association between the OSMRbeta and ErbB-2. Furthermore, EGF unexpectedly induced tyrosine phosphorylation of gp130. We show that OSM induced phosphorylation of STAT3. Both OSM and EGF activated the p42/44 MAP kinases, but while the MEK inhibitor, PD98059, ablated the OSM-induced inhibition, it only partially ablated the inhibitory effects of OSM plus EGF. Thus, we have demonstrated that the receptors and signalling pathways of two apparently unrelated growth factors were intimately linked, resulting in an unexpected biological effect. This provides a new mechanism for generating signalling diversity and has potential clinical implications in breast cancer.
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PMID:An unexpected biochemical and functional interaction between gp130 and the EGF receptor family in breast cancer cells. 1182 58


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