Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.4.21.73 (urokinase-type plasminogen activator)
 10,685 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A number of clonal cell lines have been isolated from NIH 3T3 cells transfected with the plasmid, pSV2 gpt-EJ-ras. The plasmid expresses Val12 instead of Gly12 in p21 ras protein and can be selected for the expression of E. coli XGPRT gene in mammalian cells. Southern analyses of the Eco R1 and Bam H1 digests of chromosomal DNA shows that multiple copies of the plasmid are integrated in a tandem sequence in the clones used in this study. The transfectants showed refractile appearance and criss-crossed pattern of growth, exhibited elevated expression of ras mRNA and formed tumors in nude mice commensurate with the copy number of the integrated EJ-ras gene. The increased propensity to form tumors did not correlate with the expression of urinary or tissue plasminogen activators (u-PA or t-PA). The cellular and secreted activity of u-PA in fact decreased as the ras gene expression increased. These data show that the enhanced tumorigenicity of transformed murine cells is related to the tandem integration and expression of human EJ-ras. The overexpression of ras has very little effect on t-PA but appears to suppress u-PA activity.
 ...
PMID:Tumorigenicity of EJ-ras oncogene transformed NIH 3T3 cells and expression of plasminogen activators. 216 52

Recent advance in cell-molecular biological studies have revealed various prognostic factors in lung cancer. The aim of this paper is to critically review the current status of molecular biological prognostic markers in non-small cell lung cancer. DNA ploidy, AgNORs and PCNA as marker of tumor cellular proliferative activity are reported to be a prognostic marker but still remain controversial. The proteases such as uPA, MMPs and CB catalyze degradation of the extracellular matrix and basement membranes. Although the prognostic implications of the uPA and MMPs still remain unclear, cathepsin B appears to be one of the most useful prognostic markers so far reported for non-small cell lung cancer. In a number of studies, genetic abnormalitis has been reported to be a prognostic marker in cancer patients. In non-small cell lung cancer, the prognostic implication of the altered p53 expression or ras p21 expression still remain unclear, especially p53 is conflicting. The most useful clinical prognostic marker may be obtained by the combined analysis of some prognostic information.
 ...
PMID:[Molecular biological prognostic markers in lung cancer]. 904 11

As a model system for the identification of genes involved in the progression of human breast cancer, differential gene expression in cell lines MCF-7 and MCF-7ADR was investigated. The latter cell line is derived from the former. Cell line MCF-7 is estrogen receptor-positive, vimentin-negative and uninvasive in the Matrigel outgrowth assay and in the nude mouse, while MCF-7ADR is estrogen receptor-negative, hormone-resistant, vimentin-positive, invasive in the Matrigel outgrowth assay and in the nude mouse and resistant to adriamycin due to overexpression of glycoprotein gp170. We have shown that tumor progression in this model system is mediated by transcriptional regulation of mitochondria-related genes, proteases, transmembrane receptors and cell cycle-related gene proteins. Among the genes differentially regulated at the transcriptional level in the cell lines MCF-7 and MCF-7ADR are a new mitochondrial transcript, mitochondrial creatine kinase, matrix metalloproteinase-1, stromelysin-3, urokinase and its receptor, tissue factor, E-cadherin, epidermal growth factor receptor, transmembrane proteins Mat-8 and progression associated protein (PAP), cyclin E, cyclin-dependent kinase-2 and cell cycle inhibitory proteins p16, p21 and p27.
 ...
PMID:Molecular analysis of two mammary carcinoma cell lines at the transcriptional level as a model system for progression of breast cancer. 951 94

Our previous works demonstrated that ligands of macrophage scavenger receptor (MSR) induce protein kinases (PKs) including protein-tyrosine kinase (PTK) and up-regulate urokinase-type plasminogen activator expression (Hsu, H. Y., Hajjar, D. P., Khan, K. M., and Falcone, D. J. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 1240--1246). To continue to investigate MSR ligand-mediated signal transductions, we focus on ligands, oxidized low density lipoprotein (OxLDL), and fucoidan induction of the cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1). In brief, in murine macrophages J774A.1, OxLDL and fucoidan up-regulate TNF production; additionally, fucoidan but not OxLDL induces IL-1 secretion, prointerleukin 1 (proIL-1, precursor of IL-1) protein, and proIL-1 message. Simultaneously, fucoidan stimulates activity of interleukin 1-converting enzyme. We further investigate the molecular mechanism by which ligand binding-induced PK-mediated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in regulation of expression of proIL-1 and IL-1. Specifically, fucoidan stimulates activity of p21-activated kinase (PAK) and of the MAPKs extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38. Combined with PK inhibitors and genetic mutants of Rac1 and JNK in PK activity assays, Western blotting analyses, and IL-1 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the role of individual PKs in the regulation of proIL-1/IL-1 was extensively dissected. Moreover, tyrosine phosphorylation of pp60Src as well as association between pp60Src and Hsp90 play important roles in fucoidan-induced proIL-1 expression. We are the first to establish two fucoidan-mediated signaling pathways: PTK(Src)/Rac1/PAK/JNK and PTK(Src)/Rac1/PAK/p38, but not PTK/phospholipase C-gamma 1/PKC/MEK1/ERK, playing critical roles in proIL-1/IL-1 regulation. Our current results indicate and suggest a model for MSR ligands differentially modulating specific PK signal transduction pathways, which regulate atherogenesis-related inflammatory cytokines TNF and IL-1.
 ...
PMID:Ligands of macrophage scavenger receptor induce cytokine expression via differential modulation of protein kinase signaling pathways. 1139 Mar 74

Cerivastatin is used in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia to inhibit 3-hydroxy 3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase and thus prevent the synthesis of cholesterol precursors, such as farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP), responsible, respectively, for translocation of Ras and Rho to the cell membrane, a step required for their cell signaling, leading to cell proliferation and migration. Recently, it has been suggested that non lipid-related effects of statins could play a beneficial role in cancer therapy. In this study, we have investigated the mechanisms by which statins inhibit cancer and the types of cancers which could benefit from this therapy. In MDA-MB-231 cells, an aggressive breast cancer cell line with spontaneous activation of Ras and NFkappaB and overexpression of RhoA, cerivastatin induced inhibition of both cell proliferation and invasion through Matrigel. This anti-proliferative effect was related to G(1)/S arrest due to an increase in p21(Waf1/Cip1). The anti-invasive effect was observed from 18 h and could be explained by RhoA delocalization from the cell membrane, resulting in disorganization of the actin fibers and disappearance of focal adhesion sites. The importance of RhoA inactivation in both these inhibitory effects was proved by their reversion by GGPP but not by FPP. Moreover, cerivastatin was also shown to induce inactivation of NFkappaB, in a RhoA inhibition-dependent manner, resulting in a decrease in urokinase and metalloproteinase-9 expression, two proteases involved in cell migration. The participation of Ras inactivation is considered a subsidiary mechanism for the effects of cerivastatin, as they were not rescued by FPP. Prolonged treatment of MDA-MB-231 cells with high doses of cerivastatin induced a loss of cell attachment. Interestingly, the effect of cerivastatin was considerably lower on poorly invasive MCF-7 cells. In conclusion, our results suggest that cerivastatin inhibits cell signaling pathways involved in the invasiveness and metastatic properties of highly invasive cancers.
 ...
PMID:Cerivastatin, an inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, inhibits the signaling pathways involved in the invasiveness and metastatic properties of highly invasive breast cancer cell lines: an in vitro study. 1147 Jul 41

High intakes of dietary fiber or resistant starches have been associated with a lower incidence of colon cancers. Because short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) such as butyrate are produced in the colonic lumen by the bacterial fermentation of dietary fibers and resistant starches, we hypothesized that SCFA may inhibit the development of invasive human colon cancers. To test this hypothesis, primary human invasive colonocytes were isolated from fresh surgical specimens and treated with 0.01 mol/L acetate, propionate or butyrate; cell invasion, cell adhesion, F-actin polymerization, urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), tissue inhibitor matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, TIMP-2 and mutant p53, Bcl-2, Bax, p21 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) protein expression levels were examined. Although each of the SCFA tested significantly reduced primary cell invasion, butyrate was the most potent, inhibiting primary invasive human colon cancer invasion by 54% (P < 0.0001). The effects of SCFA on primary cell invasion appeared to be independent of cell adhesion and F-actin polymerization but dependent on the inhibition of uPA (P < 0.05) and the stimulation of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 activities (P < 0.05). Protein expression levels of mutant p53, p21, Bax, Bcl-2 and PCNA were significantly altered by each of the SCFA tested (P < 0.05). These data indicate that SCFA inhibit invasive human colon cancer by modulating proteolytic uPA and antiproteolytic TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 activities, but their mechanisms of action on tumor suppression, apoptosis and growth arrest may differ.
 ...
PMID:Short-chain fatty acids inhibit invasive human colon cancer by modulating uPA, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, mutant p53, Bcl-2, Bax, p21 and PCNA protein expression in an in vitro cell culture model. 1169 45

Previous reports raised question as to whether 8-chloro-cyclic adenosine 3,5-monophosphate (8-Cl-cAMP) is a prodrug for its metabolite, 8-Cl-adenosine which exerts growth inhibition in a broad spectrum of cancer cells. The present study was carried out to clarify overall cellular affects of 8-Cl-cAMP and 8-Cl-adenosine on SK-N-DZ human neuroblastoma cells by systematically characterizing gene expression using radioactive human cDNA microarray. Microarray was prepared with PCR-amplified cDNA of 2,304 known genes spotted on nylon membranes, employing (33)P-labeled cDNAs of SK-N-DZ cells as a probe. The expression levels of approximately 100 cDNAs, representing about 8% of the total DNA elements on the array, were altered in 8-Cl-adenosine- or 8-Cl-cAMP-treated cells, respectively. The genome-wide expression of the two samples exhibited partial overlaps; different sets of up-regulated genes but the same set of down-regulated genes. 8-Cl-adenosine treatment up-regulated genes involved in differentiation and development (LIM protein, connexin 26, neogenin, neurofilament triplet L protein and p21(WAF1/CIP1)) and immune response such as natural killer cells protein 4, and down-regulated ones involved in proliferation and transformation (transforming growth factor-beta, DYRK2, urokinase-type plasminogen activator and proteins involved in transcription and translation) which were in close parallel with those by 8-Cl-cAMP. Our results indicated that the two drugs shared common genomic pathways for the down-regulation of certain genes, but used distinct pathways for the up-regulation of different gene clusters. Based on the findings, we suggest that the anti-cancer activity of 8-Cl-cAMP results at least in part through 8-Cl-adenosine. Thus, the systematic use of DNA arrays can provide insight into the dynamic cellular pathways involved in anticancer activities of chemotherapeutics.
 ...
PMID:Genome-wide expression profiling of 8-chloroadenosine- and 8-chloro-cAMP-treated human neuroblastoma cells using radioactive human cDNA microarray. 1221 10

Statins are currently used for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Recently, we demonstrated that cerivastatin also reduces the proliferation and invasion of aggressive breast cancer cells, MDA-MB-231. In this report, a molecular mechanism to explain its anti-cancer action is proposed by combining the study of cerivastatin effect on both gene expression (microarray) and signal transduction pathways. Firstly, the expression of 13 genes was modified by cerivastatin and confirmed at protein level. They could contribute to the inhibition of both cell proliferation (down-regulation of cyclin D1, PCNA, c-myc and up-regulation p21(Waf1), p19(INK4d), integrin beta8) and cell invasion, either directly (decrease in u-PA, MMP-9, u-PAR, PAI-1 and increase in anti-oncogenes Wnt-5a and H-cadherin) or indirectly by stimulating an anti-angiogenic gene (thrombospondin-2). The anti-angiogenic activity was confirmed by in vivo experiments. Secondly, we demonstrated that the biochemical mechanism of its anti-cancer action could be mainly explained by the inhibition of RhoA-dependent cell signalling. This hypothesis was supported by the fact that a RhoA inhibitor (C3 exoenzyme) or a dominant negative mutant RhoA (N19RhoA) induced similar effects to those of cerivastatin. In conclusion, cerivastatin, by preventing RhoA prenylation, inhibits (i) the RhoA/ROCK pathway, leading to defective actin stress fibres formation responsible for the loss of traction forces required for cell motility and (ii) the RhoA/FAK/AKT signalling pathway that could explain the majority of cancer-related gene modifications described above. Thus, the inhibition of RhoA cell signalling could be a good strategy in therapy of aggressive forms of breast cancer.
 ...
PMID:Molecular mechanism of the anti-cancer activity of cerivastatin, an inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, on aggressive human breast cancer cells. 1253 31

Ets transcription factors control multiple biological processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, transformation, and invasion. Pdef is an Ets transcription factor originally identified in prostate tissue. We demonstrate that human Pdef is expressed at high levels primarily in tissues with high epithelial cell content, including prostate, colon, and breast. We also determined that Pdef protein is reduced in human invasive breast cancer and is absent in invasive breast cancer cell lines. We next assessed the functional consequences of these observations. Significantly, expression of Pdef in breast cancer cells leads to inhibition of invasion, migration, and growth. Expression of Pdef also results in the down-regulation of urokinase-type plasminogen activator and activation of the promoter of the tumor suppressor gene, MASPIN: Growth-suppressive effects of Pdef expression are mediated in part by a G(0)-G(1) cell cycle arrest associated with elevated p21 levels. Collectively, these results indicate that Pdef loss may alter the expression of genes controlling progression to invasive breast cancer.
 ...
PMID:Pdef expression in human breast cancer is correlated with invasive potential and altered gene expression. 1290 42

Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi), an oriental medical mushroom, has been widely used in Asian countries for centuries to prevent or treat different diseases, including cancer. However, the mechanism(s) responsible for the effects of Ganoderma lucidum on cancer cells remain to be elucidated. We have previously demonstrated that Ganoderma lucidum down-regulated the expression of NF-kappaB-regulated urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and uPA receptor (uPAR), which resulted in suppression of cell migration of highly invasive human breast and prostate cancer cells. In this study, we investigated the effects of Ganoderma lucidum on cell proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells PC-3. Our data demonstrate that Ganoderma lucidum inhibits cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner by the down-regulation of expression of cyclin B and Cdc2 and by the up-regulation of p21 expression. The inhibition of cell growth was also demonstrated by cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase. Furthermore, Ganoderma lucidum induced apoptosis of PC-3 cells with a slight decrease in the expression of NF-kappaB-regulated Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl. However, the expression of proapoptotic Bax protein was markedly up-regulated, resulting in the enhancement of the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and Bax/Bcl-xl. Thus, Ganoderma lucidum exerts its effect on cancer cells by multiple mechanisms and may have potential therapeutic use for the prevention and treatment of cancer.
 ...
PMID:Ganoderma lucidum inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells PC-3. 1506 30


1 2 3 Next >>