Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:2.7.7.49 (reverse transcriptase)
31,746 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Interferon-alpha (IFN alpha) mediates its biological effects through activation of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway and it has been shown to be one of most effective therapeutic agents for a number of hematological malignancies, including cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Nevertheless, its efficacy is limited by the development of clinical resistance but the reasons for resistance in CTCL are unknown. Here, we report the development of an IFN alpha-resistant CTCL cell line (HUT78R), characterized by its ability to proliferate in high concentration of recombinant IFN alpha, which can be used as a model system to study IFN resistance. The levels of IFN receptor expression and binding affinity were found to be comparable between the parental sensitive (HUT78S) and resistant (HUT78R) cells. However, IFN alpha stimulation failed to induce interferon-stimulated gene factor 3 (ISGF3) complex formation in HUT78R cells. In addition, the expression of the IFN-inducible 2-5 OAS gene was significantly reduced in HUT78R cells, suggesting the presence of a defect in the Jak-STAT signaling pathway. Our results showed that the IFN alpha-activated form of a latent transcriptional factor STAT1 was not found in HUT78R cells, whereas activated STAT2 and STAT3 were clearly detectable. By Western blotting and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses, we found that HUT78R cells do not express any STAT1 protein or mRNA, suggesting the possibility of a null mutation in the STAT1 gene. Resistance to the growth inhibitory effect of IFN alpha in CTCL cells may result from lack of STAT1 expression.
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PMID:Interferon-alpha resistance in a cutaneous T-cell lymphoma cell line is associated with lack of STAT1 expression. 942 11

Although peripheral blood and bone marrow are usually readily available from patients, present techniques of RNA extraction are tedious, require millilitres of starting material and removal of red blood cells before RNA purification. Further, successful reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplification requires the removal of haemoglobin derivatives which interfere with the PCR process. Recently, one step rapid use reagents have become available, claiming to be useful for obtaining high quality RNA from microlitre quantities of whole blood drawn directly from the patient. Their use to date in clinical samples appears limited with little information in the literature documented. In an attempt to overcome this, we tested the Trizol-LS, RNA-STAT-50 and Ultraspec-3 reagents upon a statistically significant number of clinical isolates of fresh and cryopreserved peripheral blood, bone marrow, blood apheresis products and a breast cancer cell line (MCF7) in order to evaluate whether these methods could be applied to routine laboratory use in an RT-PCR method capable of detecting rare gene expression. Our findings showed that there was some variation in the quality of RNA extracted which was indicated by absorbance spectrophotometry at 260 and 280 nm. 1% agarose gel electrophoresis showed that each of these methods could yield total RNA capable of generating the signature 18S and 28S rRNA bands. Using the Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric anova test combined with Dunn's multiple comparison test, the only statistically significant difference (p<0.05) indicated that Trizol-LS was more reliable than RNA-STAT-50-LS and Ultraspec-3 at extracting RNA from fresh peripheral blood. RNA extracted with the Trizol-LS and RNA STAT-50 reagents was successfully amplified in a multiplex RT-PCR reaction for detection of the multi-drug resistance related genes MDR1, the multi-drug resistance related protein (MRP) and topoisomerase IIalpha. Low level MDR1 gene expression could be detected in frozen whole blood. However, PCR products were only seen when the anti-coagulant heparin was removed from all samples prior to cDNA production. RT-PCR amplification was not 100% successful with RNA extracted with Ultraspec-3 reagent. In conclusion, we found that the RNA extracted from whole blood with the Trizol-LS and the RNA-STAT-50 are suitable for use in clinically relevant molecular biology protocols that analyze rare event genes without further purification. Our results indicated that the Trizol-LS reagent was generally more consistent in obtaining a pure and sufficient quantity of RNA from patient material as shown by the mean result of purity and quantity in comparison to either Ultraspec-3 or RNA-STAT-50-LS reagents. Ultraspec-3 is not easily suited for direct use with whole blood products.
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PMID:Evaluation of three rapid RNA extraction reagents: relevance for use in RT-PCR's and measurement of low level gene expression in clinical samples. 948 49

Persistent activation of the immune system is one of the hallmarks of HIV-1 infection. In this study we analysed the induction of factors involved in cytokine signal transduction, such as STAT 1 proteins and IRF-1 mRNA, in normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) exposed to HIV-infected cells, and the induction of apoptosis. Western blot analyses and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction results indicate that both cells infected with a X4 strain and cells infected with a R5 strain are able to increase intracellular levels of STAT 1alpha and beta proteins as well as IRF-1 mRNA. This effect was prevented by neutralizing antibodies against interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha). HIV-1-infected cells dose-dependently induced apoptotic commitment in normal PBMC, as revealed by DNA fragmentation analysis, but this was not accompanied by an increase of caspase-3 activity, even if a slight up-regulation of IL-1beta-converting enzyme mRNA was detected. Apoptosis induction could be abrogated mainly by antibodies against tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and, to a lesser extent, by antibodies against IFN-gamma. All these findings suggest that uninfected PBMC can undergo activation of signal transduction and apoptosis after exposure to bystander HIV-infected cells, subsequent to the induction of cytokines such as IFNs and TNF-alpha.
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PMID:Activation of signal transduction and apoptosis in healthy lymphomonocytes exposed to bystander HIV-1-infected cells. 1112 43

Expression of the long form of the leptin receptor was detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting in the human liver cell line WRL68. Leptin (50-200 nM) significantly increased tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT cytoplasmic transcription factors STAT3 and STAT5b in a dose-dependent manner and produced a gel-shift with STAT3- and STAT5-specific oligonucleotides. WRL68 cells therefore provide the first human in vitro hepatocyte system in which to study leptin receptor-mediated signalling and to elucidate the role of leptin in liver.
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PMID:Leptin receptor long-form signalling in a human liver cell line. 1144 22

Tobacco is a known cause of oral disease but the mechanism remains elusive. Nicotine (Nic) is a likely culprit of pathobiological effects because it displaces the local cytotransmitter acetylcholine from the nicotinic receptors (nAChRs) expressed by oral keratinocytes (KCs). To gain a mechanistic insight into tobacco-induced morbidity in the oral cavity, we studied effects of exposures to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) versus equivalent concentration of pure Nic on human and murine KCs. Both ETS and Nic up-regulated expression of cell cycle and apoptosis regulators, differentiation marker filaggrin, and signal transduction factors at both the mRNA and protein levels. These changes could be abolished in cultured human oral KCs transfected with anti-alpha3 small interfering RNA or treated with the alpha3beta2-preferring antagonist alpha-conotoxin MII. Functional inactivation of alpha3-mediated signaling in alpha3-/- mutant KCs prevented most of the ETS/Nic-dependent changes in gene expression. To determine relevance of the in vitro findings to the in vivo situation, we studied gene expression in oral mucosa of neonatal alpha3+/+ and alpha3-/- littermates delivered by heterozygous mice soon after their exposures to ETS or equivalent concentration of pure Nic in drinking water. In addition to reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, the ETS/Nic-dependent alterations in gene expression were also detected by semiquantitative immunofluorescence assay directly in KCs comprising murine oral mucosa. Only wild-type mice consistently developed significant (P < 0.05) changes in the gene expression. These results identified alpha3beta2 nAChR as a major receptor mediating effects of tobacco products on KC gene expression. Real-time polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that in all three model systems the common genes targeted by alpha3beta2-mediated ETS/Nic toxicity were p21, Bcl-2, NF-kappaB, and STAT-1. The expression of the nAChR subunits alpha5 and beta2 and the muscarinic receptor subtypes M(2) and M(3) was also altered. This novel mechanism offers innovative solutions to ameliorate the tobacco-related cell damage and intercede in disease pathways, and may shed light on general mechanisms regulating and driving tobacco-related morbidity in human cells.
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PMID:Receptor-mediated tobacco toxicity: regulation of gene expression through alpha3beta2 nicotinic receptor in oral epithelial cells. 1568 42

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB and PDGF-DD mediate mesangial cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. While PDGF-BB is a ligand for the PDGF alpha- and beta-receptor chains, PDGF-DD binds more selectively to the beta-chain, suggesting potential differences in the biological activities. Signal transduction and regulation of gene expression induced by PDGF-BB and -DD were compared in primary human mesangial cells (HMCs), which expressed PDGF alpha- and beta-receptor subunits. The growth factor concentrations used were chosen based on their equipotency in inducing HMCs proliferation and binding to the betabeta-receptor. Both growth factors, albeit at different concentrations induced phosphorylation and activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK1) and ERK2. In addition, PDGFs led to the phosphorylation and activation of signal transducers and activators of transcription 1 (STAT1) and STAT3. HMCs proliferation induced by either PDGF-BB or -DD could be blocked by signal transduction inhibitors of the mitogen-activated protein kinase-, Janus kinase (JAK)/STAT-, or phosphatidyl-inositol 3-kinase pathways. Using a gene chip array and subsequent verification by real-time reverse transcriptase (RT)-polymerase chain reaction, we found that in HMC genes for matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13) and MMP-14 and, to a low extent, cytochrome B5 and cathepsin L were exclusively regulated by PDGF-BB, whereas no exclusive gene regulation was detected by PDGF-DD. However, at the protein level, both MMP-13 and -14 were equally induced by PDGF-BB and -DD. PDGF-BB and -DD effect similar biological responses in HMCs albeit at different potencies. Rare apparently differential gene regulation did not result in different protein expression, suggesting that in HMCs both PDGFs exert their biological activity almost exclusively via the PDGF beta-receptor.
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PMID:Biological responses to PDGF-BB versus PDGF-DD in human mesangial cells. 1655 24

The objective of this study was to investigate the role of the Janus kinase-signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAKs/STATs) pathway in focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Sixty specific pathogen-free male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: a model group (MG) and a control group (CG). In the MG group, nephropathy was induced by unilateral nephrectomy and a single tail vein injection of adriamycin (5 mg/kg). Ten rats were sacrificed every 2 weeks in each group. The expressions of smooth muscle alpha actin (alpha-SMA), collagen (COL)-IV, STAT1, and STAT3 were examined using histochemical techniques, and Western blotting was used to examine the protein levels of STAT1, STAT3, phosphorylated (P)-STAT1, P-STAT3, and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta(1)). The expressions of JAK1, JAK2, STAT1, STAT3, suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS)1, SOCS3, protein inhibitors of activated STAT (PIAS)1, and PIAS3 were also measured by real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR. A steady and significant increase in the expressions of alpha-SMA, COL-IV and TGFbeta(1) were observed in MG rats over the whole experimental course. Increased STAT1 and P-STAT1 levels in MG rats were observed by week 6, whereas increased levels of STAT3 and P-STAT3 were noted by week 2. At the mRNA levels, JAK1, STAT1, and PIAS1 were significantly increased in MG rats in week 2, whereas JAK2 mRNA showed a significant decrease by weeks 2 and 4, followed by an significant increase in week 6. Significantly increased STAT3 levels were noted in week 2, followed by a steady and significant decrease in weeks 4 and 6. Significantly reduced levels of SOCS1, SOCS3, and PIAS3 mRNA were noted at all time points. We conclude that the JAKs/STATs signaling pathway may play an important role in the pathological process of rapid focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in the rat model.
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PMID:Expression of JAKs/STATs pathway molecules in rat model of rapid focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. 1935 Feb 81

Recombinant human erythropoietin (Epo) is used to prevent and treat tumor-related anemia and improve quality of life in cancer patients. Recent evidence suggested that Epo may adversely affect the survival of selected cancer patients by promoting tumor growth, inhibition of apoptosis, and induction of migration. Epo unfolds its effect on the Epo receptor (EpoR). We show--to the best of our knowledge for the first time--significantly increased EpoR expression in clinical melanoma metastases and primary melanomas in comparison with different sets of nevi by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and western blot analysis. When assessing the functionality of the EpoR-signaling pathway, recombinant human Epo led to the phosphorylation of JAK-2, signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3), and ERK1/2 in several of the melanoma cell lines that were analyzed. Besides, Epo counteracted cisplatin-induced cell death in BLM and MV3 cells. Finally, Epo promoted cell migration of MV3 cells, whereas inhibition of the JAK/STAT and ERK1/2 pathways reduced Epo-mediated migration. In summary, we show the overexpression of functional EpoR expression in about half of the analyzed clinical melanoma metastasis specimens and show anti-apoptotic as well as pro-migratory effects of Epo, which is of importance for the treatment of anemia in advanced melanoma.
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PMID:Role of erythropoietin receptor expression in malignant melanoma. 1953 48

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a neoplastic disease of the hematopoietic stem cell. Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (hnRNPK) may up-regulate the transcriptional activity of some oncogenes in cancerous cells. The aim of this study was to verify the expression pattern of hnRNPK in patients with CML, to explore its association with BCR-ABL and some abnormal signaling pathways, and to discover how hnRNPK contributes to the progression of CML. In this study, 15 patients with CML (9 in chronic phase and 6 in blast crisis) were enrolled in this study. The expression of hnRNPK in mononuclear cells (MNCs) from these patients was detected by Western blotting and fluorimeter-based quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. hnRNPK expression levels in K562 cell line and imatinib-resistant leukemic cell line K562R, following the treatments with the inhibitors of Ras-MAPK (PD98059), PI3K/AKT (LY294002), JAK/STAT (AG490) signaling pathways, and BCR-ABL [imatinib mesylate (IM)], were also determined. As the results, the overexpression of hnRNPK in protein and gene patterns was detected in MNCs from patients with CML comparing with normal donors. Especially, its level in MNCs from patients with CML-blast crisis was significantly higher than in CML-chronic phase cells (P < 0.01). After the treatment with PD98059 (at 4, 8, 24, and 48 h) and IM (at 48 h), the expression levels of hnRNPK in leukemic cell lines were decreased, comparing with DMSO control group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the results suggest that the overexpression of hnRNPK, which is regulated by BCR-ABL and Ras-MAPK signaling pathways, may promote the progression of CML. hnRNPK would be a potential marker and therapeutic target of CML evolution.
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PMID:The role of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K in the progression of chronic myeloid leukemia. 1965 39

Y-Box protein 1 (YB-1) is a multifunctional cellular protein expressed in a range of mammalian cells, including human cancer cells. It is involved in the regulation of various genes including cancer-associated genes, but the full range of target genes and regulatory mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. To identify global mRNA expression patterns that are potentially regulated by YB-1, a previously established and well-characterized cell model derived from drug-sensitive (EPG85-257P/tetR/YB-1) and multidrug-resistant (EPG85-257RDB/tetR/YB-1) gastric carcinoma cells in which the expression of YB-1 can be inhibited by tetracycline-dependent activation of the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway, was analyzed by microarray technology. By this approach, various potentially regulated genes encoding members of important cellular pathways such as the Jak/STAT, VEGF and the MAP-kinase signaling pathways were identified. Independent validation of these findings by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and Western blot did not confirm these regulatory effects. In conclusion, the findings suggest that YB-1 is not directly involved in the regulation of mRNA expression in drug-sensitive or drug-resistant gastric carcinoma cells.
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PMID:Regulation of mRNA expression in drug-sensitive and drug-resistant gastric carcinoma cells is independent of YB-1 expression. 2033 92


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