Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.1.3.16 (calcineurin)
17,112 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

1. Microglial cells represent the first line of defence in the brain against infection and damage. However, under conditions of chronic inflammation and neurodegeneration, excessive activation of microglia can contribute to the neurodegenerative process by releasing a cornucopia of potentially cytotoxic substances including the cytotoxic free radical nitric oxide (NO). Although the cell signalling events implicated in NO formation in peripheral macrophages are well defined, events occurring in the phenotypically homologous cerebral microglial cell are not yet fully characterized. 2. In the present study, a cloned murine microglial cell line (N9), stimulated with combined lipopolysaccharide/interferon-gamma (LPS/IFN) incubation, was shown to produce a significant increase in NO formation, as measured by medium nitrite levels, during 8-72 h exposure. 3. LPS/IFN-stimulated NO production was partially inhibited with the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) competitive antagonists; N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester and N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine. The ability of the selective inducible (iNOS) inhibitor, aminoguanidine, but not the selective 'neuronal-type' constitutive (cNOS) inhibitor 7-nitroindazole, to inhibit NO production suggested a primary role of iNOS in this response and was confirmed by immunolabelling of activated cells with a specific iNOS antibody. 4. A series of tyrosine kinase inhibitors, herbimycin A, genestein, tyrphostins, AG-126, AG-556 and the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors, sodium orthovanadate and phenylarsine oxide, significantly attenuated LPS/IFN-mediated NO production. The serine/threonine kinase inhibitors, staursporine (protein kinase C), H-9 (cyclic GMP/cyclic AMP-dependent kinase) or serine/threonine phosphatase inhibitors, cyclosporin A (phosphatase 2B) and okadaic acid (phosphatase 1/2A), reduced NO formation by an apparent cytostatic mechanism, as determined by cellular reduction of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yi)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT). 5. The present results suggest that the co-ordinated activation of protein tyrosine kinases/phosphatases, and proximal signalling events implicating the interplay between serine-threonine kinases/phosphatases, is intricately linked with inflammatory mediated mechanisms of iNOS activation in microglial cells by regulating the activation of the transcription factor NFkappaB.
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PMID:Suppression of nitric oxide formation by tyrosine kinase inhibitors in murine N9 microglia. 953 16

Microcystin LR (MCLR) is a naturally occurring protein phosphatase inhibitor and potent hepatotoxin produced by strains of Microcystis aeruginosa. Although its acute toxicity has been well characterized, little is known about its chronic effects. In this study, we sought to acquire evidence that oxidative stress may play a role in the pathogenesis of prolonged sublethal MCLR toxicity. Twelve rats (3 per group) weighing on average 185 g were exposed to 1 of 3 different concentrations of MCLR (16, 32, and 48 microg/kg/day) or to saline via intraperitoneal osmotic pumps for 28 days. Histologic evidence of dose-dependent hepatic inflammation was seen, including infiltration of centrilobular regions by lymphocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils, centrilobular fibrosis, apoptosis, and steatosis. Analysis of lipid peroxidation products revealed a dose-dependent increase in malondialdehyde concentrations with an approximate 4-fold increase in the livers of the high-dose rats over those of the saline-treated controls. Livers from MCLR-exposed rats were more sensitive than those of controls to the cytotoxic effects of the organic oxidizing agent tert-butyl hydroperoxide, based on an MTT (3-[dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide) viability assay. These histopathologic and biochemical findings indicate that oxidative stress may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of chronic MCLR toxicosis.
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PMID:Hepatic oxidative stress following prolonged sublethal microcystin LR exposure. 1052 38

L-Deprenyl, an irreversible MAO-B (monoamine oxidase B, EC 1.4.3.4) inhibitor, is used for the treatment of Parkinson's disease and to delay the progression of Alzheimer's disease. L-Deprenyl also exhibits protective effects against neuronal apoptosis which are independent of its ability to inhibit MAO-B. The purpose of this study was to compare the antiapoptotic efficacy of L-deprenyl against different types of apoptotic inducers in three neuronal cell culture models. The level of apoptosis was quantified by measuring the activation of caspase-3 enzyme, which is the main apoptotic executioner in neuronal cells. MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] and LDH (lactate dehydrogenase, EC 1. 1.1.27) assays were used to demonstrate the cytotoxic response of apoptotic treatments. Our results showed that okadaic acid, an inhibitor of protein phosphatase 1 and 2A, induced a prominent increase in caspase-3 activity both in cultured hippocampal and cerebellar granule neurons as well as in Neuro-2a neuroblastoma cells. Interestingly, L-deprenyl offered a significant protection against the apoptotic response induced by okadaic acid in all three neuronal models. The best protection appeared at the concentration level of 10(-9) M. L-Deprenyl also provided a protection against apoptosis after AraC (cytosine beta-D-arabinoside) treatment in hippocampal neurons and Neuro-2a cells and after etoposide treatment in Neuro-2a cells. However, L-deprenyl did not offer any protection against apoptosis caused by serum withdrawal or potassium deprivation. Okadaic acid treatment in vivo is known to induce an Alzheimer's type of hyperphosphorylation of tau protein, formation of beta-amyloid plaques, and a severe memory impairment. Our results show that the okadaic acid model provides a promising tool to study the molecular basis of Alzheimer's disease and to screen the neuroprotective capacity of L-deprenyl derivatives.
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PMID:Protective effect of L-deprenyl against apoptosis induced by okadaic acid in cultured neuronal cells. 1079 57

The toxicities and uptake mechanisms of two hepatotoxins, namely cylindrospermopsin and lophyrotomin, were investigated on primary rat hepatocytes by using microcystin-LR (a well-known hepatotoxin produced by cyanobacteria) as a comparison. Isolated rat hepatocytes were incubated with different concentrations of hepatotoxins for 0, 24, 48 and 72 h. The cell viability was assayed by the tetrazolium-based (MTT) assay. Microcystin-LR, cylindrospermopsin and lophyrotomin all exhibited toxic effects on the primary rat hepatocytes with 72-h LC(50) of 8, 40 and 560 ng/ml, respectively. The involvement of the bile acid transport system in the hepatotoxin-induced toxicities was tested in the presence of two bile acids, cholate and taurocholate. Results showed that the bile acid transport system was responsible for the uptake, and facilitated the subsequent toxicities of lophyrotomin on hepatocytes. This occurred to a much lesser extent with cylindrospermopsin. With its smaller molecular weight, passive diffusion might be one of the possible mechanisms for cylindrospermopsin uptake into hepatocytes. This was supported by incubating a permanent cell line, KB (devoid of bile acid transport system), with cylindrospermopsin which showed cytotoxic effects. No inhibition of protein phosphatase 2A by cylindrospermopsin or lophyrotomin was found. This indicated that other toxic mechanisms besides protein phosphatase inhibition were producing the toxicities of cylindrospermopsin and lophyrotomin, and that they were unlikely to be potential tumor promoters.
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PMID:Toxicity and uptake mechanism of cylindrospermopsin and lophyrotomin in primary rat hepatocytes. 1168 42

Cantharidin (Spanish Fly) is a natural toxin and an inhibitor of protein phosphatases 1 (PP1) and 2A (PP2A), which have key roles in cell cycle progression. We have synthesised two series of demethylated cantharidin analogues, one displaying an open-ring lactone configuration in solution (Novo-1 to Novo-5) similar to cantharidin, the other showing a closed-ring lactone configuration (Novo-6 to Novo-10). In the present study, these ten agents were screened for in vitro PP1 and PP2A inhibition and cellular cytotoxicity in nine cancer cell lines of haematopoietic (L1210, HL60), ovarian (A2780, ADDP), osteo (143B), and colon (HCT116, HT29, WiDr, SW480) origin and one normal colon cell line (CCD-018). The open-ring series (IC50, PPI=2.0-4.8 microM, PP2A=0.2-0.5 microM) maintained the PP2A selectivity of cantharidin (IC50, PPI=1.8 microM, PP2A=0.2 microM), although some were less potent. The closed-ring series (IC50, PPI=12.5->1000 microM, PP2A=5->1000 microM) were considerably less potent inhibitors, confirming the need of ring opening for inhibition. The cytotoxicity (IC50, 72 h, MTT assay) of cantharidin ranged from 6-15 microM, while the new analogues ranged from 14 to >1000 microM. Cytotoxicity of the agents did not consistently parallel the in vitro potency of protein phosphatase inhibition. A number of analogues showed colon cancer selectivity, particularly Novo-6, where the cytotoxicity ranged from 14-88 microM in the colon cancer cells and 275-680 microM in all other cell lines including normal colon cells. The reason for this selectivity was not apparent and may involve additional intracellular targets. Cell cycle analysis showed cantharidin to enhance cell cycle progression as evident from an increased S-phase population and enhanced DNA synthesis, culminating in G2/M arrest and apoptosis. With Novo-1 and Novo-6, the cell cycle changes paralleled the cytotoxicity responses, with the predominant effect of G2/M cell cycle arrest followed by cell death. In conclusion, we have synthesised new anticancer agents that show selective cytotoxicity in colon cancer cells while remaining inactive in normal colon cells, and which mediate their effects via the G2/M phase of the cell cycle.
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PMID:Anticancer activity and protein phosphatase 1 and 2A inhibition of a new generation of cantharidin analogues. 1200 83

Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha)-2b is known to have antiproliferative effects on hematological malignant cells, especially chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML). However, it can induce cytogenetical remissions in a very small percentage of the patients. Also during interferon therapy, resistance can emerge in the CML clones. K562 is an in vitro model cell line transformed from a Ph positive CML patient. It can be induced to differentiate to granulocytic and/or monocytic lineages with certain molecules. IFN-alpha-2b generally exerts its effects on CML cells by Janus family kinases (Jak/Stat) pathway, mostly through tyrosine kinase system. However, there is almost no data on the relevance of serine/threonine (Ser/Thr) protein phosphatase (PP) system in the interferon induced signal transduction pathways. In this study, we investigated serine/threonine protein phosphatases in the IFN-alpha-2b induced K562 cytotoxicity. Trypan blue dye exclusion test and MTT assay were utilised for determining cytotoxicity. IC(50) of IFN-alpha-2b on K562 cells was found to be 600IU/ml. However, no differentiation was determined by analysis of cell surface antigen expressions. Serine/threonine protein phosphatase inhibitors calyculin A (Cal A) and okadaic acid (OKA) augmented the IFN-alpha-2b induced cytotoxicity. Apoptosis assay by the mono-oligonucleosome detection and acridine orange/propidium iodide dye revealed marked apoptosis underlying cytotoxicity. Phosphatase enzyme assay revealed a gradual increase in protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity during interferon induced cytotoxicity. Conversely, immunoblots showed no change in the expression of PP2A catalytic and regulatory subunits. In conclusion, PP2A plays a role in IFN-alpha-2b induced apoptosis of K562 cells and should be investigated as a new window furthermore.
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PMID:Involvement of protein phosphatase 2A in interferon-alpha-2b-induced apoptosis in K562 human chronic myelogenous leukaemia cells. 1280 29

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in hypoxic preconditioning (HPC) of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes against hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury. METHODS: Cardiomyocytes from neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly distributed into the following experimental groups: (1) HPC group: 20 min of hypoxia was performed to induce hypoxic preconditioning. Twenty four hours after HPC, cardiomyocytes were exposed to lethal hypoxia for 3 h followed by 3 h normoxia (reoxygenation). (2) Hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) group: cardiomyocytes were directly subjected to hypoxia (3 h) followed by reoxygenation (3 h). (3) PD98059+HPC (PD+HPC) group: cardiomyocytes were preincubated with PD98059 (a selective MEK-1/2 inhibitor, 50 mumol/l) 10 min prior to HPC. (4) BDM+HPC group: cardiomyocytes were pretreated with an activator of protein phosphatase 2,3-butanedione monoxide (BDM, 20 mmol/l) 10 min prior to HPC. (5) Control group: cardiomyocytes were incubated in cell incubator for 30 h. Viability of cardiomyocytes was assessed by MTT assay. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in medium was determined using a LDH assay kit. Activity of p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p42/44 MAPKs) was detected using Western blotting method. SDS-PAGE mobility shift experiments were performed to determine phosphorylation of Hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha). RESULTS: HPC promoted survival and membrane integrity of cardiomyocytes subjected to subsequent sustained H/R. The protective effects of HPC were completely abolished either by PD98059 [a selective inhibitor of MEK-1/2 (upstream activators of p42/44 MAPKs)], or by BDM (an activator of protein phosphatase). Western blot analysis showed activated p42/44 MAPKs in whole cell extracts from hypoxic preconditioned cardiomyocytes. SDS-PAGE mobility shift experiments showed increased phophorylation level of HIF-1alpha in HPC group, and the phosphorylation can be blocked by PD98059 or BDM. CONCLUSIONS: HPC protects neonatal cardiomyocytes against H/R injury by promoting cardiomyocyte survival and membrane integrity. The protective mechanism might be attributed to upregulation of HIF-1alpha phosphorylation which may be induced by P42/44 MAPKs.
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PMID:Hypoxic preconditioning of cardiomyocytes and cardioprotection: phophorylation of HIF-1alpha induced by p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinases is involved. 1456 22

Protein phosphatases are signalling molecules that regulate a variety of fundamental cellular processes including cell growth, metabolism and apoptosis. The aim of this work was to correlate the cytotoxicity of pervanadate and okadaic acid on HL60 cells and their effect on the phosphatase obtained from these cells. The cytotoxicity of these protein phosphatase inhibitors was evaluated on HL60 cells using phosphatase activity, protein quantification and MTT reduction as indices. The major phosphatase presents in the cellular extract showed high activity (80%) and affinity (Km = 0.08 mM) to tyrosine phosphate in relation to p-nitrophenyl phosphate (pNPP)-(Km = 0.51 mM). Total phosphatase (pNPP) was inhibited in the presence of 10 mM vanadate (98%), 200 microM pervanadate (95%) and 100 microM p-chloromercuribenzoate (80%) but okadaic acid caused a slight increase in enzyme activity (25%). When the HL60 cells were treated with the phosphatase inhibitors (pervanadate and okadaic acid) for 24hours, only 20% residual activity was observed in presence of 200 microM pervanadate, whereas in the presence of okadaic acid this inhibitory effect was not observed. However, in respect to mitochondrial function, cell viability decreased about 80% in the presence of 100 nM okadaic acid. The total protein content was decreased 25% when the cells were treated with 100 nM okadaic acid in combination with 200 microM pervanadate. Our results suggest that both phosphatase inhibitors presented different mechanisms of action on HL60 cells. However, their effect on the cell redox status have to be considered.
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PMID:Relationship between phosphatase activity and cytotoxic effect of two protein phosphatase inhibitors, okadaic acid and pervanadate, on human myeloid leukemia cell line. 1469 10

Tocotrienols, a subgroup within the vitamin E family of compounds, have been shown to display potent anticancer activity and inhibit preneoplastic and neoplastic mammary epithelial cell proliferation at treatment doses that have little or no effect on normal cell growth and function. However, the specific intracellular mechanisms mediating the antiproliferative effects of tocotrienols are presently unknown. Because Akt and nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB) are intimately involved in mammary tumor cell proliferation and survival, studies were conducted to determine the effects of gamma-tocotrienol on Akt and NFkappaB activity in neoplastic +SA mammary epithelial cells in vitro. Treatment with 0-8 microM gamma-tocotrienol for 0-3 days caused a dose-responsive inhibition in +SA cell growth and mitotic activity, as determined by MTT colorimetric assay and proliferating cell nuclear antigen immunocytochemical staining, respectively. Studies also showed that treatment with 4 microM gamma-tocotrienol, a dose that inhibited +SA cell growth by more than 50% compared with that of untreated control cells, decreased intracellular levels of activated phosphotidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent kinase (PI3K)-dependent kinase 1 (phospho-PDK-1) and Akt, and reduced phospho-Akt kinase activity. Furthermore, these effects were not found to be associated with an increase in either phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted from chromosome 10 (PTEN) or protein phosphatase type 2A phosphatase activity. In addition, gamma-tocotrienol treatment was shown to decrease NFkappaB transcriptional activity, apparently by suppressing the activation of IkappaB-kinase-alpha/beta, an enzyme associated with inducing NFkappaB activation. In summary, these findings demonstrate that the antiproliferative effects of gamma-tocotrienol result, at least in part, from a reduction in Akt and NFkappaB activity in neoplastic +SA mammary epithelial cells.
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PMID:Gamma-tocotrienol inhibits neoplastic mammary epithelial cell proliferation by decreasing Akt and nuclear factor kappaB activity. 1579 44

Reversible protein phosphorylation regulates the biological activities of many human proteins involved in crucial cellular processes, e.g., protein-protein interactions, cell signaling, gene transcription, cell growth, and death. A malfunction of cellular homeostasis in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells is involved in the age-related retinal degeneration. In this study, we examined cytotoxicity in human RPE cells subjected to the protein phosphatase inhibitor, okadaic acid (OA). Moreover, the influence of Hsp90 inhibitor geldanamycin (GA), a benzoquinone ansamycin, in cytoprotection was assessed. Hsp70 protein levels were analyzed by Western blot. Cellular viability was determined by LDH and MTT assays. To study apoptotic cell death, caspase-3 enzyme activity was measured by assaying the cleavage of a fluorescent peptide substrate and Hoechst dye was used to visualize nuclear morphology. OA treatment caused morphological changes and induced cytotoxicity by caspase-3-independent manner in the RPE cells. No evidence of nuclear fragmentation was observed in response to OA. Interestingly, GA treatment accumulated Hsp70 protein and attenuated OA-induced cytotoxicity. This study suggests that Hsp70 and Hsp90 are closely related to cytoprotection of RPE cells in response to protein phosphatase inhibition.
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PMID:Geldanamycin activates Hsp70 response and attenuates okadaic acid-induced cytotoxicity in human retinal pigment epithelial cells. 1595 Jul 70


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