Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:3.1.27.1 (RNase)
16,360 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The signal transduction pathways that mediate GH-dependent regulation of IGF-I gene expression remain poorly defined. To establish a GH-responsive in vitro model system to study the effect of GH on the expression of the endogenous IGF-I gene, primary hepatocytes from adult male rats were prepared. These cells expressed both the GH receptor and the IGF-I gene, as demonstrated using a ribonuclease protection assay. Western blot analyses using antibodies directed against the phosphorylated forms of the ERKs, signal transducer and activator of transcription-5, and Akt/protein kinase B, a protein kinase that is downstream of PI3K, demonstrated GH-dependent phosphorylation of these signaling molecules. These signaling molecules are components of the major signal transduction pathways that are activated by GH. To determine whether GH-responsive IGF-I gene expression could be demonstrated in these cells, hepatocytes were treated without or with 50 ng/ml GH for 3--48 h. IGF-I mRNA levels increased within 3 h, and a maximal 2.2-fold increase was observed after 24 h of GH treatment. To determine whether ERK activation contributes to GH-induced IGF-I gene expression, hepatocytes were treated for 12 h without or with 50 ng/ml GH and 50 microM PD98059, an inhibitor of MAPK kinase-1 and -2. Treatment with PD98059 did not have a significant effect on GH-induced IGF-I gene expression. Similar studies were performed using 50 microM LY 294002, an inhibitor of PI3K. These studies demonstrated that treatment with LY 294002 completely abrogated GH-induced IGF-I gene expression. In contrast, PI3K-specific doses of another inhibitor of PI3K, wortmannin, failed to inhibit the GH-induced increase in IGF-I mRNA levels. In summary, rat hepatocytes in primary culture provide a good model system to study GH-induced IGF-I gene expression, and the results of these studies suggest that a signaling pathway inhibited by LY 294002, possibly a PI3K-dependent pathway, is important for GH-stimulated IGF-I gene expression in hepatocytes.
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PMID:LY 294002, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, inhibits GH-mediated expression of the IGF-I gene in rat hepatocytes. 1151 77

Studies were performed to determine the effects of acute and chronic voluntary periods of exercise on the expression of hippocampal genes. RNAs from rodents exposed to a running wheel for 3, 7 and 28 days were examined using a microarray with 1176 cDNAs expressed primarily in the brain. The expression of selected genes was quantified by Taqman RT-PCR or RNase protection assay. The largest up-regulation was observed in genes involved with synaptic trafficking (synapsin I, synaptotagmin and syntaxin); signal transduction pathways (Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, CaM-KII; mitogen-activated/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase, MAP-K/ERK I and II; protein kinase C, PKC-delta) or transcription regulators (cyclic AMP response element binding protein, CREB). Genes associated with the glutamatergic system were up-regulated (N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor, NMDAR-2A and NMDAR-2B and excitatory amino acid carrier 1, EAAC1), while genes related to the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system were down-regulated (GABAA receptor, glutamate decarboxylase GAD65). Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was the only trophic factor whose gene was consistently up-regulated at all timepoints. These results, together with the fact that most of the genes up-regulated have a recognized interaction with BDNF, suggest a central role for BDNF on the effects of exercise on brain plasticity. The temporal profile of gene expression seems to delineate a mechanism by which specific molecular pathways are activated after exercise performance. For example, the CaM-K signal system seems to be active during acute and chronic periods of exercise, while the MAP-K/ERK system seems more important during long-term exercise.
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PMID:Differential effects of acute and chronic exercise on plasticity-related genes in the rat hippocampus revealed by microarray. 1238 40

Using morphological and molecular approaches, we characterized cisplatin-induced cell necrosis and apoptosis in rat kidney. Male Sprague-Dawley rats ( n=5 per group) received a single intraperitoneal injection of either cisplatin (5 mg/kg) or saline, and were killed on day 5. Functionally, cisplatin-treated rats developed polyuric acute renal failure. Morphologically, kidneys of cisplatin-treated rats showed overt tubular necrosis associated with apoptosis in the corticomedullary junction. Cell necrosis was segment-specific and was distributed in radial fashion at the corticomedullary junction. The apoptosis was limited to discrete cells in apparently intact tubules in the vicinity of the necrosed tubules. The apoptotic changes were confirmed by TUNEL (TdT-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling) and staining for cleaved caspase-3. Analysis of outer medullary tissue for apoptosis-related molecules by RNase protection assay revealed a significant increase in the expression of pro-apoptotic mRNAs (caspases 1, 2, and 8, and Bax) in cisplatin-treated rats. On the other hand, the expression of mRNA for the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 did not change, resulting in a decrease in relative ratio of Bcl-2/Bax, and thus favoring apoptosis. The above changes were paralleled by a marked increase in caspase-3 precursor, the executioner protease. Furthermore, these pro-apoptotic molecular changes were associated with a 3-fold increase in the activity of JNK1 in the outer medulla, but not in the cortex, of cisplatin-treated rat kidneys, localizing to the site of maximal apoptosis. Upregulation of JNK1 activity in the outer medulla was not accompanied by changes in the activities of ERK or p38 kinase. In conclusion, these data suggest that cisplatin-induced apoptotic cell death in native kidney may be mediated by cooperative activation of the JNK1 pathway and Bax in the outer medulla.
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PMID:Cellular and molecular studies on cisplatin-induced apoptotic cell death in rat kidney. 1455 73

CRH-binding protein (CRH-BP) binds CRH with high affinity and inhibits CRH-mediated ACTH release from anterior pituitary corticotrope-like cells in vitro. In female mouse pituitary, CRH-BP is localized not only in corticotropes, but is also expressed in gonadotropes and lactotropes. To investigate the functional significance of gonadotrope CRH-BP, we examined the molecular mechanisms underlying GnRH-regulated CRH-BP expression in alphaT3-1 gonadotrope-like cells. CRH-BP is endogenously expressed in alphaT3-1 cells, and quantitative real-time RT-PCR and ribonuclease protection assays demonstrate that GnRH induces a 3.7-fold increase in CRH-BP mRNA levels. GnRH also induces intracellular CRH-BP (2.0-fold) and secreted CRH-BP (5.3-fold) levels, as measured by [125I]CRH:CRH-BP chemical cross-linking. Transient transfection assays using CRH-BP promoter-luciferase constructs indicate that GnRH regulation involves protein kinase C-, ERK- and calcium-dependent signaling pathways and is mediated via a multipartite GnRH response element that includes activator protein 1 and cAMP response element (CRE) sites. The CRE site significantly contributes to GnRH responsiveness, independent of protein kinase A, representing a unique form of multipartite GnRH regulation in alphaT3-1 cells. Furthermore, EMSAs indicate that alphaT3-1 nuclear proteins specifically bind at activator protein 1 and CRE sites. These data demonstrate novel regulation of pituitary CRH-BP, highlighting the importance of the pituitary gonadotrope as a potential interface between the stress and reproductive axes.
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PMID:Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) positively regulates corticotropin-releasing hormone-binding protein expression via multiple intracellular signaling pathways and a multipartite GnRH response element in alphaT3-1 cells. 1597 7

Activation of microglia has been increasingly associated with the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, and the suppression of microglial activation may lead to alleviation of the progression of neurodegeneration in these diseases. We sought to investigate whether Phellodendri cortex (PC) that has been used for centuries in Chinese traditional medicine for the treatment of various inflammatory conditions, inhibits production of anti-inflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) in microglia, and further studied the molecular and cellular mechanisms that govern these anti-inflammatory effects. The methanol extract of PC (PC extract) attenuated LPS-stimulated increase in production of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and NO in BV2 cells, a mouse microglia cell line, as well as in primary mouse microglia. The RNase protection assay and RT-PCR revealed that the PC extracts inhibited increases in mRNAs of these cytokines and iNOS in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells. The PC extracts significantly decreased release of these cytokines and NO from LPS-stimulated microglia in a dose-dependent manner. Molecular mechanisms that govern attenuation of the levels of mRNAs and proteins of these cytokines and iNOS revealed that the PC extract inhibited LPS-stimulated phosphorylation of ERK and activation of NF-kappaB. The studies demonstrate that the PC extract effectively inhibits microglial production and release of inflammatory cytokines and NO, and could be a candidate agent for anti-inflammation in neurodegenerative human brain diseases.
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PMID:Inhibition of gene expression and production of iNOS and TNF-alpha in LPS-stimulated microglia by methanol extract of Phellodendri cortex. 1749 98

Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of inhalational anthrax, enters a host through the pulmonary system before dissemination. We have previously shown that human alveolar macrophages participate in the initial innate immune response to B. anthracis spores through cell signal-mediated cytokine release. We proposed that the lung epithelia also participate in the innate immune response to this pathogen, and we have developed a human lung slice model to study this process. Exposure of our model to B. anthracis (Sterne) spores rapidly activated the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways ERK, p38, and JNK. In addition, an RNase protection assay showed induction of mRNA of several cytokines and chemokines. This finding was reflected at the translational level by protein peak increases of 3-, 25-, 9-, 34-, and 5-fold for interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha, IL-8, macrophage inflammatory protein 1alpha/beta, and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, respectively, as determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Inhibition of individual pathways by UO126, SP600125, and SB0203580 decreased induction of chemokines and cytokines by spores, but this depended on the pathways inhibited and the cytokines and chemokines induced. Combining all three inhibitors reduced induction of all cytokines and chemokines tested to background levels. An immunohistochemistry analysis of IL-6 and IL-8 revealed that alveolar epithelial cells and macrophages and a few interstitial cells are the source of the cytokines and chemokines. Taken together, these data showed the activation of the pulmonary epithelium in response to B. anthracis spore exposure. Thus, the lung epithelia actively participate in the innate immune response to B. anthracis infection through cell signal-mediated elaboration of cytokines and chemokines.
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PMID:Human lung innate immune response to Bacillus anthracis spore infection. 1751 78

Glutathione depletion is a key factor in the development of acute pancreatitis. Our aim was to study the regulation of glutamate cysteine ligase, the rate-limiting enzyme in glutathione synthesis, in edematous or necrotizing pancreatitis in rats. Glutathione levels were kept low in necrotizing pancreatitis for several hours, with no increase in protein or mRNA levels of glutamate cysteine ligase subunits, despite binding of RNA polymerase II to their promoters and coding regions. The survival signal pathway mediated by ERK and c-MYC was activated, and c-MYC was recruited to the promoters. The failure in gene up-regulation seems to be due to a marked increase in cytosolic ribonuclease activity. In contrast, in edematous pancreatitis glutathione levels were depleted and rapidly restored, and protein and mRNA expression of glutamate cysteine ligase increased markedly due to enhanced transcription mediated by recruitment of c-MYC, NF-kappaB, and SP-1 to the promoters. No increase in cytosolic ribonuclease activity was found in this case. We propose a novel pathophysiological mechanism to differentiate necrotizing from edematous pancreatitis, which is the inefficient up-regulation of glutamate cysteine ligase caused by increased cytosolic ribonuclease activity in the severe form of the disease. This mechanism would abrogate a rapid recovery of glutathione levels.
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PMID:Glutamate cysteine ligase up-regulation fails in necrotizing pancreatitis. 1827 77

We studied cytokine responses to influenza virus PR8 (H1N1) and Oklahoma/309/06 (OK/06, H3N2) in a novel human lung tissue model. Exposure of the model to influenza virus rapidly activated the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling (MAPK) pathways ERK, p38 and JNK. In addition, RNase protection assay demonstrated the induction of several cytokine and chemokine mRNAs by virus. This finding was reflected at the translational level as IL-6, MCP-1, MIP-1 alpha/beta, IL-8 and IP-10 proteins were induced as determined by ELISA. Immunohistochemistry for IP-10 and MIP-1 alpha revealed that alveolar epithelial cells and macrophages were the source of these two cytokines. Taken together, both PR8 and OK/06 cause similar induction of cytokines in human lung, although OK/06 is less effective at inducing the chemokines MCP-1 and IL-8. This human organ culture model should thus provide a relevant platform to study the biological responses of human lung to influenza virus infection.
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PMID:Innate immune response to H3N2 and H1N1 influenza virus infection in a human lung organ culture model. 1991 71

Ribonucleases (RNases) are ubiquitously distributed nucleases that cleave RNA into smaller pieces. They are promising drugs for different cancers based on their concrete antitumor activities in vitro and in vivo. Here we report for the first time purification and characterization of a 14-kDa RNase, designated as RNase MC2, in the seeds of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia). RNase MC2 manifested potent RNA-cleavage activity toward baker's yeast tRNA, tumor cell rRNA, and an absolute specificity for uridine. RNase MC2 demonstrated both cytostatic and cytotoxic activities against MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Treatment of MCF-7 cells with RNase MC2 caused nuclear damage (karyorrhexis, chromatin condensation, and DNA fragmentation), ultimately resulting in early/late apoptosis. Further molecular studies unveiled that RNase MC2 induced differential activation of MAPKs (p38, JNK and ERK) and Akt. On the other hand, RNase MC2 exposure activated caspase-8, caspase-9, caspase-7, increased the production of Bak and cleaved PARP, which in turn contributed to the apoptotic response. In conclusion, RNase MC2 is a potential agent which can be exploited in the worldwide fight against breast cancer.
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PMID:RNase MC2: a new Momordica charantia ribonuclease that induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells associated with activation of MAPKs and induction of caspase pathways. 2213 30

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) constitutes a predominant part of primary liver cancer which ranks as the fifth most common cancer as well as the third most common cause of cancer mortality. In view of the poor prognosis of unresectable liver cancers, it is of pivotal importance to develop novel chemotherapeutical regimens. RNase MC2 is a 14-kDa ribonuclease isolated from dietary bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) that manifested antitumor potential against breast cancers. In this study, we investigated the potential application of RNase MC2 on Hep G2 cells. We showed that RNase MC2 inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis in both in vitro and in vivo studies. RNase MC2 treatment caused cell cycle arrest predominantly at the S-phase and apoptosis, which is associated with the activation of both caspase-8 and caspase-9 regulated caspase pathways. Our further investigation disclosed that RNase MC2 down-regulated the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and increased the expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bak. Moreover, the phosphorylation of ERK and JNK was involved in the apoptosis process. Importantly, RNase MC2 significantly suppressed the growth of Hep G2 xenograft-bearing nude mice by inducing apoptosis. This notion is supported by data indicating an increased number of caspase-3- and PARP-positive cells, and TUNEL-positive cells in RNase MC2-treated tumor tissues. In summary, we have revealed the antitumor potential of RNase MC2 toward Hep G2 cells. Considering that bitter gourd is a common dietary component in many countries, this study may help to prompt the clinical application of RNase MC2.
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PMID:In vitro and in vivo anticarcinogenic effects of RNase MC2, a ribonuclease isolated from dietary bitter gourd, toward human liver cancer cells. 2255 86


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