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)

The chemokine stromal-derived factor-1alpha (SDF-1alpha/CXCL-12) and its receptor, CXCR4, play a crucial role in adhesion and transendothelium migration (TEM) of prostate cancer cells. We tested the hypothesis that enhanced expression of CXCR4 in prostate cancer cells is dependent upon SDF-1alpha-mediated activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB). SDF-1alpha increased the CXCR4 mRNA and protein expression in PC-3 cells but not in LNCaP cells. Similarly, SDF-1alpha enhanced the NF-kappaB-dependent transcriptional activity in PC-3 cells but not in LNCaP cells. SDF-1alpha increased PC-3 cell adhesion to the human umbilical vein endothelial cell monolayer and enhanced TEM, which was abrogated with anti-CXCR4 monoclonal antibody (mAb). Suppression of NF-kappaB activity in PC-3 cells by a mutant IkappaBalpha super-repressor adenoviral vector decreased the CXCR4 mRNA expression and inhibited adhesion and TEM. Transient overexpression of p65 subunit of NF-kappaB in PC-3 cells up-regulated CXCR4 receptor expression and increased the adhesion and TEM of these cells in response to SDF-1alpha gradient. Treatment of PC-3 cells with SDF-1alpha leads to nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB protein within 15 to 30 minutes, which correlated with IkappaBalpha phosphorylation. A p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase [MAPK, extracellular signal regulated kinase-1/2 (ERK-1/2)] biphasic activation pattern was observed in these cells at 15 minutes and 3 hours after SDF-1alpha treatment. Phosphorylation of IkappaB kinase alpha was observed within 30 minutes, which was blocked by PD98059 [MAPK kinase (MEK) inhibitor]. PD98059 cotreatment significantly inhibited SDF-1alpha-induced NF-kappaB reporter activity and CXCR4 receptor expression as shown by flow cytometry. These data suggest that SDF-1alpha-induced expression of CXCR4 in PC-3 cells is dependent on MEK/ERK signaling cascade and NF-kappaB activation.
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PMID:Up-regulation of CXCR4 expression in PC-3 cells by stromal-derived factor-1alpha (CXCL12) increases endothelial adhesion and transendothelial migration: role of MEK/ERK signaling pathway-dependent NF-kappaB activation. 1626 13

Many isothiocyanates (ITCs) such as sulforaphane (SFN), phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) and allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) are highly effectively in chemoprevention or reduction of the risk of cancer and possess antitumor activities in vitro and in vivo. The activator protein 1 (AP-1) and MAPK signaling pathways are believed to play an important role in cancer chemoprevention and chemotherapy due to their involvement in tumor cell growth, proliferation, apoptosis and survival. In the present study, we determined the effects of SFN, PEITC and AITC on AP-1 activation, and investigated the roles of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathways in the regulation of AP-1 activation and cell death elicited by these ITCs in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells. SFN, PEITC and AITC each induced AP-1 activity potently and caused a significant elevation in the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, JNK1/2, Elk-1 and c-Jun. Transfection with ERK2 and upstream kinase DNEE-MEK1 activated AP-1 activity, and transfection with dominant-negative mutant ERK2 (dnERK2) potently decreased AP-1 activation induced by SFN, PEITC and AITC. Transfection with JNK1 and upstream kinase MKK7 activated AP-1 activity, and transfection with dominant-negative mutant JNK1-APF significantly attenuated AP-1 activation induced by SFN, PEITC and AITC. Pretreatment with MEK1-ERK inhibitor U0126 and JNK inhibitor SP600125 substantially attenuated the decrease in cell viability induced by SFN, PEITC and AITC. Transfection with dnERK2 and JNK1-APF significantly reversed the decrease of Bcl-2 expression elicited by these ITCs. Furthermore, transfection with dnERK2 and JNK1-APF blocked the apoptosis induced by these ITCs in PC-3 cells. Taken together, our results indicate that the activation of the ERK and JNK signaling pathways is important for transcriptional activity of AP-1 and is involved in the regulation of cell death elicited by ITCs in PC-3 cells.
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PMID:ERK and JNK signaling pathways are involved in the regulation of activator protein 1 and cell death elicited by three isothiocyanates in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells. 1627 72

The p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75(NTR)) has been characterized as a metastasis and tumor suppressor in prostate cancer. In order to investigate the mechanism(s) by which the p75(NTR) functions as a metastasis suppressor in prostate cancer cells, we characterized the ectopic expression of p75(NTR) on the urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and the type IV collagen matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) in PC-3 human prostate cancer cells. Rank-order expression of p75(NTR) greatly reduced protein levels and enzymatic activities of uPA, MMP-2, and MMP-9 as shown by immunoblot and zymography analyses. Conversely, expression of the MMP-9 antagonist, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) exhibited an increase in protein levels with an increase in p75(NTR) levels, whereas TIMP-2 was not detected. Transient transfection with an inducible dominant negative antagonist Deltap75(NTR) rescued uPA, MMP-2, and MMP-9 protein levels and protease activities, and conversely suppressed TIMP-1 levels. Since p75(NTR) signal transduction occurs via the NFkappaB and JNK pathways, antagonism of signaling intermediates in these pathways, using dominant negative IKKbeta or dominant negative MKK-4, respectively, was shown to further decrease expression of uPA, MMP-2, and MMP-9 protein and enzymatic activity levels, and conversely up-regulate levels of TIMP-1. These results indicate that expression of uPA, MMP-2, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 are directly regulated by expression of p75(NTR) and its downstream signal transduction cascade. These results suggest that the metastasis suppressor activity of p75(NTR) is mediated, in part, by down-regulation of specific proteases (uPA, type IV collagenases) implicated in cell migration and metastasis.
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PMID:The p75(NTR) metastasis suppressor inhibits urokinase plasminogen activator, matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in PC-3 prostate cancer cells. 1691 16

The impact of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on prostate carcinoma viability was investigated. Treatment of LNCaP and PC-3 cells with hCG modestly reduced cell viability within 96 h. Treatment of cells with hCG followed by exposure to ionizing radiation enhanced radiosensitivity. Exposure of LNCaP cells to hCG promoted activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (ERBB1) via a Galpha(i)-, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)1/2-, and metalloprotease-dependent paracrine mechanism, effects that were further enhanced after radiation exposure, and that were causal in prolonged intense activation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Inhibition of ERBB1, MEK1, or PARP1 function suppressed the radiosensitizing properties of hCG. Radiosensitization was also, in part, dependent upon c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase 1/2 signaling. PARP1-dependent radiosensitization was suppressed by a pan-caspase inhibitor and by knockdown of apoptosis-inducing factor expression. Inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, expression of dominant-negative AKT, or treatment with the HMG CoA reductase inhibitor lovastatin suppressed AKT phosphorylation and enhanced the cytotoxic effects of hCG. The enhancing effect of lovastatin was reproduced by incubation with a geranylgeranyl transferase inhibitor and blocked by coexposure to geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate. Treatment with hCG and lovastatin decreased expression of BCL-(XL) and XIAP, and increased expression of IkappaB. The cytotoxic effects of hCG were enhanced by expression of dominant-negative IkappaB, and they were abolished by coexpression of activated AKT. Expression of activated AKT maintained BCL-(XL) levels in cells expressing dominant-negative IkappaB. The promotion of hCG lethality by lovastatin was abolished by overexpression of BCL-(XL), and was dependent upon activation of caspase-9. Thus, hCG, in combination with radiation and lovastatin, may represent a novel approach to kill prostate cancer cells.
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PMID:Human chorionic gonadotropin modulates prostate cancer cell survival after irradiation or HMG CoA reductase inhibitor treatment. 2741 95

BRCA2 is central to an utterly diverse biological behavior elicited after integrin-mediated normal and prostate cancer cell adhesion to basement membrane (BM) and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Unlike normal cells, adhesive stimuli in cancer cells activate PI 3-kinase/AKT signaling resulting in BRCA2 degradation and unchecked cancer cell proliferation and metastasis. However, the precise mechanisms involved in normal BRCA2 homeostasis are unknown. We investigated ERK and AKT phosphorylation in normal (PNT1A) and cancer (PC-3) prostate cells after adhesion to ECM and the effects upon BRCA2 and cell proliferation. PNT1A cell adhesion to ECM triggered MAPK/ERK signaling resulting in upregulation of BRCA2 mRNA and protein, with negligible effects upon cell proliferation. Disruption of MAPK/ERK with PD98059 prevented any BRCA2 upregulation inhibiting DNA synthesis below basal levels. PC-3 cells exhibited a defective MAPK/ERK pathway that was unresponsive to adhesion to the ECM, which instead triggered PI 3-kinase/AKT signaling leading to BRCA2 protein depletion and cell proliferation. Reconstitution of MAPK/ERK by recombinant expression of a constitutively active form of MAPK kinase 1 (MEK1) effectively reversed the neoplastic phenotype by increasing BRCA2 expression and preventing any aberrant cell proliferation at rest and upon interaction with ECM proteins. Our results suggest that aberrant loss of MAPK/ERK activity in prostate cancer may play a pivotal role in the malignant phenotype, and provide evidence that interventions aimed at bypassing the signaling block are able to effectively reverse neoplastic unchecked cell proliferation.
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PMID:Constitutive activation of MAPK/ERK inhibits prostate cancer cell proliferation through upregulation of BRCA2. 2708 45

Increased levels of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) are frequently observed in patients with advanced, hormone-refractory prostate cancer. However, the precise mechanism of IL-6 regulation is still largely unknown. Since prostate cancer gradually progresses to an androgen-independent state despite the stress caused by various therapeutic agents, we hypothesized the stress-activated protein kinases (SAPKs) involvement in androgen-independent growth or IL-6 secretion of prostate cancer cells. Using PC-3 and DU145 human prostate cancer cells, we analyzed the role of SAPKs in IL-6 mediated cell growth and found that the p38MAPK and JNK are involved in androgen-independent cancer cell growth. Furthermore, IL-6 secretion by PC-3 and DU145 cells was significantly suppressed by SAPKs inhibitor, especially by p38MAPK inhibitor SB203580, but not by JNK inhibitor SP600125 nor by MEK inhibitor, PD98059. These results raised the possibility that the IL-6 mediated androgen-independent proliferation of PC-3 and DU145 cells is regulated at least partly via SAPKs signaling pathway especially through p38MAPK activation.
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PMID:p38MAPK activation is involved in androgen-independent proliferation of human prostate cancer cells by regulating IL-6 secretion. 1719 71

We and other investigators have previously shown that membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) is overexpressed in invasive prostate cancer cells. However, the mechanism for this expression is not known. Here, we show that MT1-MMP is minimally expressed in nonmalignant primary prostate cells, moderately expressed in DU-145 cells, and highly expressed in invasive PC-3 and PC-3N cells. Using human MT1-MMP promoter reporter plasmids and mobility shift assays, we show that Sp1 regulates MT1-MMP expression in DU-145, PC-3, and PC-3N cells and in PC3-N cells using chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis and silencing RNA. Investigation of signaling pathway showed that DU-145 cells express constitutively phosphorylated extracellular stress-regulated kinase (ERK), whereas PC-3 and PC-3N cells express constitutively phosphorylated AKT/PKB and c-Jun NH2 terminal kinase (JNK). We show that MT1-MMP and Sp1 levels are decreased in PC-3 and PC-3N cells when phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase and JNK are inhibited, and that MT1-MMP levels are decreased in DU-145 cells when MEK is inhibited. Transient transfection of PC-3 and PC-3N cells with a dominant-negative JNK or p85, and of DU-145 cells with a dominant negative ERK, reduces MT1-MMP promoter activity. These results indicate differential signaling control of Sp1-mediated transcriptional regulation of MT1-MMP in prostate cancer cell lines.
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PMID:Membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase is regulated by sp1 through the differential activation of AKT, JNK, and ERK pathways in human prostate tumor cells. 1753 46

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a tea polyphenol, inhibits the proliferation of many cancer cell lines; however, the antiproliferative mechanism(s) are not well-characterized. The objective of this study is to identify the cellular signaling mechanism(s) responsible for the antiproliferative effects of EGCG in the PC-3 prostate cancer cell line. EGCG inhibited PC-3 cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC(50) value of 39.0 microM, but had no effect on the proliferation of a nontumorigenic prostate epithelial cell line (RWPE-1). Treatment of PC-3 cells with EGCG (0-50 microM) resulted in time and concentration-dependent activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) pathway. EGCG treatment did not induce ERK1/2 activity in RWPE-1 cells. The activation of ERK1/2 by EGCG was not inhibited using PD98059, a potent inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK), the immediate upstream kinase responsible for ERK1/2 activation; suggesting a MEK-independent signaling mechanism. Pretreatment of PC-3 cells with a phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitor partially reduced both EGCG-induced ERK1/2 activation and the antiproliferative effects of this polyphenol. These results suggest that ERK1/2 activation via a MEK-independent, PI3-K-dependent signaling pathway is partially responsible for the antiproliferative effects of EGCG in PC-3 cells.
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PMID:Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) inhibits PC-3 prostate cancer cell proliferation via MEK-independent ERK1/2 activation. 1793 10

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) holds immunotherapeutic promise in prostate cancer as it activates the host immune system. Increased production of GM-CSF by cancer cells may facilitate host immunosurveillence by the dendritic cells (DC). Here, we studied the effects of kaempferol (K) and quercetin (Q) on the production of GM-CSF in PC-3 cells. Human cytokine antibody array revealed that treatment with K or Q increased GM-CSF release by PC-3 cells. We further observed by ELISA that K and Q in a concentration-dependent manner increased GM-CSF production without affecting its mRNA levels. Inhibitors of vesicular traffic through the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi-blocked GM-CSF secretory stimulation. A microtubule-stabilizing agent stimulated GM-CSF release, whereas tubulin and actin depolymerizers suppressed K- or Q-stimulated secretion of GM-CSF. Depletion of extracellular or intracellular calcium ion inhibited the GM-CSF secretion upregulated by both K and Q. Furthermore, we showed that K- and Q-stimulated GM-CSF production involves PLC, PKC, and MEK1/2 activation. Treating human DC with the conditioned medium of K- or Q-incubated PC-3 cells increased chemotaxis of DC, which was significantly attenuated when the conditioned medium was incubated with the neutralizing antibody against GM-CSF. Taken together, our results demonstrate that K and Q activate an immune response in the prostate cancer cells by stimulating GM-CSF production, which in turn could result in the recruitment of DCs to the tumor site.
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PMID:Kaempferol and quercetin stimulate granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor secretion in human prostate cancer cells. 1834 43

NAG-1 (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-activated gene), a member of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily, is involved in many cellular processes, such as inflammation, apoptosis/survival, and tumorigenesis. Vitamin E succinate (VES) is the succinate derivative of alpha-tocopherol and has antitumorigenic activity in a variety of cell culture and animal models. In the current study, the regulation and role of NAG-1 expression in PC-3 human prostate carcinoma cells by VES was examined. VES treatment induced growth arrest and apoptosis as well as an increase in NAG-1 protein and mRNA levels in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. VES treatment induced nuclear translocation and activation of p38 kinase. Pretreatment with p38 kinase inhibitor blocked the VES-induced increase in NAG-1 protein and mRNA levels, whereas an inhibition of protein kinase C, Akt, c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase, or MEK activity had no effect on VES-induced NAG-1 levels. Forced expression of constitutively active MKK6, an upstream kinase for p38, induced an increase in NAG-1 promoter activity, whereas p38 kinase inhibitor blocked MKK6-induced increase in NAG-1 promoter activity. VES treatment resulted in >3-fold increase in the half-life of NAG-1 mRNA in a p38 kinase-dependent manner and transient transfection experiment showed that VES stabilizes NAG-1 mRNA through AU-rich elements in 3'-untranslated region of NAG-1 mRNA. The inhibition of NAG-1 expression by small interfering RNA significantly blocked VES-induced poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, suggesting that NAG-1 may play an important role in VES-induced apoptosis. These results indicate that VES-induced expression of NAG-1 mRNA/protein is regulated by transcriptional/post-transcriptional mechanism in a p38 kinase-dependent manner and NAG-1 can be chemopreventive/therapeutic target in prostate cancer.
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PMID:Vitamin E succinate induces NAG-1 expression in a p38 kinase-dependent mechanism. 1841 10


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