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

We studied the effects of serine proteases on cytokine gene expression by cultured normal human keratinocytes. In resting keratinocytes, steady-state mRNA levels for interleukins IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-7, and IL-8, transforming growth factors alpha and beta, and tumor necrosis alpha were sufficient to be detected by our reverse transcriptase-polymerase clozin reaction method. Incubation of keratinocytes with 25 nM trypsin or 1 unit/ml thrombin for 24 hr selectively upregulated mRNA levels for granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and Il-6 to detectable levels. Keratinocytes secreted GM-CSF and IL-6 protein in response to these proteases. Monensin did not inhibit the gene expression for the cytokines, thereby excluding the possibility of intervention by secreted molecules. Aprotinin and argatroban inhibited the effects of the proteases. SFLLRN and SLIGRL, tethered ligand receptor peptides for thrombin receptor and for proteinase-activated receptor 2 (PAR-2), respectively, duplicated the effects of the proteases on keratinocytes, which expressed mRNA for both receptors. Trypsin increased tyrosine phosphorylated proteins and intracellular free calcium concentrations. Tyrphostin, pertussis toxin, or H-7 suppressed trypsin- and thrombin-induced GM-CSF gene expression. Our results demonstrate that the serine proteases activate thrombin receptors and PAR-2 on keratinocytes, triggering intracellular signaling and then inducing the synthesis of GM-CSF. We speculate that serine proteases modulate the course of physiological and pathological processes in the skin by stimulating keratinocytes to produce the cytokines.
 ...
PMID:Thrombin and trypsin induce granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-6 gene expression in cultured normal human keratinocytes. 906 88

We have evaluated the effects of monensin liposomes on drug resistance reversal, induction of apoptosis and expression of multidrug resistance (MDR) genes in a doxorubicin-resistant human breast tumour (MCF-7/dox) cell line. Monensin liposomes were prepared by the pH-gradient method. MCF-7/dox cells were treated with various anticancer drugs (doxorubicin, paclitaxel and etoposide) alone and in combination with monensin liposomes. The cytotoxicity was assessed using the crystal violet dye uptake method. The induction of apoptosis in MCF-7/dox cells was assessed by established techniques such as TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labelling) staining and caspase-3 assay. The effect of monensin liposomes on doxorubicin accumulation in MCF-7/dox cells was monitored by fluorescent microscopy. Finally, the expression of MDR genes (MDR1 and MRP1) in MCF-7/dox cells following the exposure to doxorubicin alone and in combination with monensin liposomes was evaluated by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Our results indicated that monensin liposomes overcame drug resistance in MCF-7/dox cells to doxorubicin, etoposide and paclitaxel by 16.5-, 5.6- and 2.8-times, respectively. The combination of doxorubicin (2.5 microg mL(-1)) with monensin liposomes (20 x 10(-8)M) induced apoptosis in approximately 40% cells, whereas doxorubicin (2.5 microg mL(-1)) or monensin liposomes (20 x 10(-8)M) alone produced minimal apoptosis (<10%) in MCF-7/dox cells. Fluorescent microscopy revealed that monensin liposomes increased the accumulation of doxorubicin in MCF-7/dox cells. RT-PCR studies demonstrated that the expression of MDR1 and MRP1 was increased by 33 and 57%, respectively, in MCF-7/dox cells following treatment with doxorubicin (2.5 microg mL(-1)) for 72 h as compared with control MCF-7/dox cells. Furthermore, the levels of MDR1 and MRP1 in MCF-7/dox cells exposed to both doxorubicin and monensin liposomes showed a modest decrease as compared with MCF-7/dox cells treated with doxorubicin alone. In conclusion, the delivery of monensin via liposomes provided an opportunity to overcome drug resistance.
 ...
PMID:Effects of monensin liposomes on the cytotoxicity, apoptosis and expression of multidrug resistance genes in doxorubicin-resistant human breast tumour (MCF-7/dox) cell-line. 1523 69