Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: HUMANGGP:021712 (IL-6)
58,419 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We have investigated the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP-kinase) in KB human epidermoid carcinoma cells treated with interleukin 1 (IL-1). MAP-kinase activity was transient; the time required for activity to reach a maximal level was dependent upon the dose of IL-1, ranging from 15 minutes to 45 minutes. The level of kinase induction correlated well with dose-response curves for two characteristic IL-1-induced responses, PGE2 and IL-6 production. MAP-kinase activity returned to basal levels within 2 hours regardless of the amount of IL-1 added to the system. Exposure of KB cells to free IL-1 was accordingly restricted to periods of 2 hours or less, by replacing IL-1 with an excess of IL-1 receptor antagonist. Even after 2 hours exposure, the ability of IL-1 to induce IL-6 or PGE2 was still IL-1ra-inhibitable by more than 80%, suggesting that events downstream of, or parallel to MAP-kinase activation, requiring the continual formation of new IL-1 receptor complexes, are needed to fully elicit these responses. Two general serine/threonine kinase inhibitors, K252a and quercetin, were found to strongly inhibit MAP kinase in vivo with ED50s of c. 100 nM and 30 microM, respectively. At these concentrations, both compounds effectively inhibited IL-1-driven PGE2 and IL-6 induction without affecting general protein synthesis or secretion. Other non-selective kinase inhibitors had less effect on MAP-kinase activation or IL-1-induced biological responses. The transient activation of MAP-kinase induction correlated strikingly with activation of the transcription factor NF-kappa B. IL-1-induced NF-kappa B activation was, however, relatively insensitive to inhibition by K252a or quercetin. We suggest that MAP-kinase is likely to be a necessary, but not sufficient, intermediate in some (IL-6, PGE2 induction) but not all (NF-kappa B activation) IL-1 responses in these cells.
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PMID:Evidence that MAP (mitogen-activated protein) kinase activation may be a necessary but not sufficient signal for a restricted subset of responses in IL-1-treated epidermoid cells. 133 84

IL-11 is a multifunctional cytokine biologically related to IL-6, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), oncostatin M (OSM) and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF). It has been shown that these cytokines can utilize common signal transducer, gp130. We have demonstrated that Jak tyrosine kinases, MAP kinases and pp90rsk are highly activated by IL-11 and related cytokines. In addition, we have identified pp90rsk as one of the H7 sensitive protein kinases critical for primary response gene expression induced by IL-11. Furthermore, activation of 3CH134 (a MAP kinase phosphatase) gene by IL-11 suggested that a MAP kinase phosphatase may be involved in IL-11-mediated signal transduction. Our data also suggested that tyrosine phosphorylation of Stat91 and related transcriptional factors is involved in IL-11 signaling but is not sufficient for the activation of primary response genes such as JunB, tis11, tis8 and MAP kinase phosphatase in mouse preadipocytes. The understanding of signal transduction pathways mediated by IL-11 and related cytokines may help to define the common and unique biological properties of these growth factors.
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PMID:Interleukin (IL)-11--mediated signal transduction. 754 69

Ligation of Ag receptors in T and B lymphocytes initiates signal transduction cascades which alter the expression of genes that regulate cellular proliferation and differentiation. The transmission of signals from the membrane to the nucleus is mediated principally through the action of protein tyrosine and serine/threonine kinases. We have identified and characterized a novel serine/threonine kinase that phosphorylated the proto-oncogene product, c-Fos, and is termed Fos kinase. Fos kinase was rapidly activated after ligation of the CD3 and CD2 receptors in Jurkat and normal human T lymphocytes and in response to IL-6 and anti-IgM in the human B cell lines AF10 and Ramos, respectively. The phorbol ester, PMA, was also a potent inducer of Fos kinase activity in all of the above populations, suggesting that PKC plays a role in the regulation of this enzyme. Fos kinase phosphorylates c-Fos at a site near the C-terminus, as well as a peptide derived from this region (residues 359-370, RKGSSSNEPSSD), and Fos peptide competitively inhibited c-Fos phosphorylation. Fos kinase was shown to be distinct from other identified serine/threonine kinases, including protein kinase A, protein kinase C, casein kinase II, MAP kinases, p70S6K and p90RSK. Fos kinase was purified by anion exchange chromatography and exhibited an apparent M(r) = 65,000 and isoelectric point = 6.1. Fos kinase may play a role in transcriptional regulation through its capacity to phosphorylate c-Fos at a site required for expression of the transcriptional transrepressive activity of this molecule. Moreover, its rapid activation suggests it may have a wider role within signal transduction cascades in lymphocytes.
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PMID:Activation of a novel serine/threonine kinase that phosphorylates c-Fos upon stimulation of T and B lymphocytes via antigen and cytokine receptors. 815 58

Sex hormones have profound effects on immune responses and may influence the outcome of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We investigated the effect of gonadal steroids on the production of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-6, cytokines believed to be important in the pathogenesis of RA. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from healthy male donors and male patients with RA, and were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the presence of different concentrations of 17-beta-estradiol, progesterone or testosterone. In studies of cells from normal male donors, 17-beta-estradiol at pharmacological concentrations (> or = 10(-6) M) enhanced IL-1 and IL-6 secretion as well as the production of cell-associated IL-1. Progesterone and testosterone at similar concentrations inhibited IL-1 secretion but had no significant effect on IL-6 secretion or on the production of cell-associated IL-1. In studies of male RA donors, 17-beta-estradiol failed to enhance IL-1 or IL-6 secretion and progesterone failed to inhibit IL-1 secretion. The inhibitory effects of testosterone, however, appeared to be similar to that in normal donors. It is suggested that 17-beta-estradiol may promote IL-1 and IL-6 production and release, while gestation hormone, progesterone, and testosterone may inhibit IL-1 release in vivo. These data may partly explain the gender and age differences in the incidence of RA and the development of the disease in men with low and androgen levels.
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PMID:Effect of gonadal steroids on the production of IL-1 and IL-6 by blood mononuclear cells in vitro. 850 57

Ceramide, produced through either the induction of SM hydrolysis or synthesized de novo transduces signals mediating differentiation, growth, growth arrest, apoptosis, cytokine biosynthesis and secretion, and a variety of other cellular functions. A generalized ceramide signal transduction scheme is shown in Fig. 2 in which ceramide is generated through the activation of distinct SMases residing in separate subcellular compartments in response to specific stimuli. Clearly, specificity of cellular responses to ceramide depends upon many factors which include the nature of the stimulus, co-stimulatory signals and the cell type involved. Ceramide derived from neutral SMase activation is thought to be involved in modulating CAPK and MAP kinases, PLA2 (arachidonic acid mobilization), and CAPP while ceramide generated through acid SMase activation appears to be primarily involved in NF-kappa B activation. While there is no apparent cross-talk between these two ceramide-mediated signalling pathways, there is likely to be significant cross-talk between ceramide signalling and other signal transduction pathways (e.g., the PKC and MAP kinase pathways). Other downstream targets for ceramide action include Cox, IL-6 and IL-2 gene expression, PKC zeta, Vav, Rb, c-Myc, c-Fos, c-Jun and other transcriptional regulators. Many, if not all, of these ceramide-mediated signalling events have been identified in the various cells comprising the immune system and are integral to the optimal functioning of the immune system. Although the role of the SM pathway and the generation of ceramide in T and B lymphocytes have only recently been recognized, it is clear from these studies that signal transduction through SM and ceramide can strongly affect the immune response, either directly through cell signalling events, or indirectly through cytokines produced by other cells as the result of signalling through the SM pathway. An overview of the signalling mechanisms coupling ceramide to the modulation of the immune response is depicted in Fig. 3 and shows how ceramide may play pivotal roles in regulating a number of complex processes. The SM pathway represents a potentially valuable focal point for therapeutic control of immune responses, perhaps for either enhancement of the activity of T cells in the elimination of tumors, or the down-regulation of lymphocyte function in instances of autoimmune disease. The recent explosion of knowledge regarding ceramide signalling notwithstanding, a number of critical questions need to be answered before a comprehensive, mechanistic understanding can be formulated relative to the incredibly varied effects of ceramide on cell function. For example, (i) how is a structurally simple molecule like ceramide able to mediate so many different, and sometimes paradoxical, physiological responses ranging from cell proliferation and differentiation to inhibition of cell growth and apoptosis, (ii) what are the molecular identities and modes of activation of the various SMase isoforms, (iii) what determines the distribution of the unique isoforms of SMase in cells of different lineages or at different stages of differentiation, (iv) what is the relative contribution of ceramide generated through SM hydrolysis versus de novo synthesis, and (v) by what means does ceramide interact with specific intracellular targets? Although a number of ceramide-activatable kinases, phosphatases, and their protein substrates have been identified, a more extensive search for additional cellular targets will be indispensable in determining the phosphorylation cascades linking the activation of the SM pathway to the regulation of nuclear events. Clearly, cross-talk between ceramide-induced signal transduction cascades and other signalling pathways adds to the inherent difficulty in distinguishing the specific effects of complex, intertwining signalling pathways.
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PMID:Ceramide signalling and the immune response. 866 39

Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) is widely used in oncology both in the treatment of hormone-related cancers and as supportive therapy in anorexia/cachexia syndrome (ACS), but conclusive data are not yet available to explain its anticachectic effect. ACS is characterised by weight loss, changes in metabolism, reduction of appetite, nausea and vomiting. Several cytokines, mainly interleukin (IL)-1, IL-2, IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), are involved in the pathogenesis of ACS. Additionally, nausea and vomiting can be mediated by factors inducing serotonin (5-HT) production and/or release by pleiotropic cells including activated T lymphocytes. In the present study, we report the effect of MPA on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 10 cancer patients in advanced stage of disease (6 head and neck, 2 colon, 1 lung and 1 ovary). The proliferative response of PBMC to PHA, anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (MAb) or recombinant IL-2 (rIL-2), the production of IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-6, TNF alpha and 5-HT by PHA-stimulated PBMC and the expression of lymphocyte membrane-bound IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) subunities (CD25 and CD122) were studied. The addition of MPA significantly reduced the PBMC proliferative response to PHA and anti-CD3 MAb but not to rIL-2. MPA 0.2 microgram/ml was also capable of reducing the levels of IL-1 beta, IL-6, TNF alpha and 5-HT produced in culture by PHA-stimulated PBMC, whereas it did not induce any change in the percentage of PBMC expressing either CD25 or CD122 or both molecules after stimulation with PHA or anti-CD3 mAb.
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PMID:Medroxyprogesterone acetate reduces the in vitro production of cytokines and serotonin involved in anorexia/cachexia and emesis by peripheral blood mononuclear cells of cancer patients. 927 42

Activation of several different kinases characterizes the induction of apoptosis. Abelson virus transformed pre-B lymphocytes undergo apoptosis within 24 h of serum deprivation, PKA activation or gamma-irradiation, and the activity of two kinases of ca. 40 and 44 kDa is specifically induced during this apoptotic process. Bcl-2 expression prevents both apoptosis and the induction of these kinases. Immunologic and substrate similarities indicate that these kinases are related to the p38 family of MAP kinases. More mature cells of the B lymphocytic lineage, plasmacytomas, also exhibit induction of these kinases when apoptosis is induced by withdrawal of serum or IL-6. Treatment of the pre-B cells with ICE protease inhibitors when apoptotic stimuli are delivered prevents induction of the kinase activity, and partially inhibits apoptosis. These findings indicate that the induction of these 40 and 44 kDa p38 related kinases is a common feature of apoptosis in mouse B lymphocytic cells and may represent a step downstream of ICE proteases in the signal cascade that leads to programmed cell death.
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PMID:Activation of bcl-2 suppressible 40 and 44 kDa p38-like kinases during apoptosis of early and late B lymphocytic cell lines. 961 94

The involvement of serine/threonine protein phosphatases in signaling pathways that control the expression of the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene in human chondrocytes was examined. Okadaic acid (OKA), an inhibitor of protein phosphatases 1 (PP-1) and 2A (PP-2A), induced a delayed, time-dependent increase in the rate of COX-2 gene transcription (runoff assay) resulting in increased steady-state mRNA levels and enzyme synthesis. The latter response was dose dependent over a narrow range of 1-30 nmol/L with declining expression and synthesis of COX-2 at higher concentrations due to cell toxicity. The delayed increase in COX-2 mRNA expression was accompanied by the induction of the proto-oncogenes c-jun, junB, junD, and c-fos (but not FosB or Fra-1). Increased phosphorylation of CREB-1/ATF-1 transcription factors was observed beginning at 4 h and reached a zenith at 8 h. Gel-shift analysis confirmed the up-regulation of AP-1 and CRE nuclear binding proteins, though there was little or no OKA-induced nuclear protein binding to SP-1, AP-2, NF-kappaB or NF-IL-6 regulatory elements. OKA-induced nuclear protein binding to 32P-CRE oligonucleotides was abrogated by a pharmacological inhibitor of protein kinase A (PKA), KT-5720; the latter compound also inhibited OKA-induced COX-2 enzyme synthesis. Calphostin C (CalC), an inhibitor of PKC isoenzymes, had little effect in this regard. Inhibition of 12P-CRE binding was also observed in the presence of an antibody to CREB-binding protein (265-kDa CBP), an integrator and coactivator of cAMP-responsive genes. The binding to 32P-CRE was unaffected in the presence of excess radioinert AP-1 and COX-2 NF-IL-6 oligonucleotides, although a COX-2 CRE-oligo competed very efficiently. 32P-AP-1 consensus sequence binding was unaffected by incubation of chondrocytes with KT-5720 or CalC, but was dramatically diminished by excess radioinert AP-1 and CRE-COX-2 oligos. Supershift analysis in the presence of antibodies to c-Jun, c-Fos, JunD, and JunB suggested that AP-1 complexes were composed of c-Fos, JunB, and possibly c-Jun. OKA has no effect on total cellular PKC activity but caused a delayed time-dependent increase in total PKA activity and synthesis. OKA suppressed the activity of the MAP kinases, ERK1/2 in a time-dependent fashion, suggesting that the Raf-1/MEKK1/MEK1/ERK1,2 cascade was compromised by OKA treatment. By contrast, OKA caused a dramatic increase in SAPK/JNK expression and activity, indicative of an activation of MEKK1/JNKK/SAPK/JNK pathway. OKA stimulated a dose-dependent activation of CAT activity using transfected promoter-CAT constructs harboring the regulatory elements AP-1 (c-jun promoter) and CRE (CRE-tkCAT). We conclude that in primary phenotypically stable human chondrocytes, COX-2 gene expression may be controlled by critical phosphatases that interact with phosphorylation dependent (e.g., MAP kinases:AP-1, PKA:CREB/ATF) signaling pathways. AP-1 and CREB/ATF families of transcription factors may be important substrates for PP-1/PP-2A in human chondrocytes.
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PMID:Transcriptional induction of cyclooxygenase-2 gene by okadaic acid inhibition of phosphatase activity in human chondrocytes: co-stimulation of AP-1 and CRE nuclear binding proteins. 962 Jan 67

Interleukin (IL)-6, a multifunctional cytokine originally described as a T cell-derived factor, is also produced by different cell types, and it influences a wide variety of physiological and pathophysiological processes. Recent studies further suggest that IL-6 has a role in down-regulating hormone production by endocrine organs and can negatively affect the steroidogenic capacity of both ovaries and testes. Thus, the aims of this investigation were to examine whether IL-6 plays a role in luteolysis and, more specifically, to determine whether luteal cells express the IL-6 gene, whether this expression is developmentally and hormonally regulated in pregnancy, and whether the corpus luteum could be a target for IL-6 action. Using semiquantitative RT-PCR, messenger RNA (mRNA) encoding both components of the IL-6 receptor [the ligand-binding subunit (IL-6 R) and the IL-6 R-associated signal transducer (gp130)] were found to be highly expressed in corpora lutea throughout pregnancy. In contrast, IL-6 mRNA expression was barely detectable from day 4 through the end of pregnancy, whereas a sharp and abrupt expression of IL-6 mRNA occurred immediately after parturition. Although the corpus luteum does not express IL-6 mRNA during most of pregnancy, it could be induced to express this gene with an in vivo injection of the bacterial endotoxin, lipopolysaccharide. In addition, when corpora lutea from day-15 pregnant rats were isolated and maintained in culture, IL-6 mRNA that was undetectable at 0 h increased in a time-related manner and reached significant levels after 4 h of incubation, followed by a similar increase in IL-6 protein secreted in the culture media. Isolation of the small and large luteal cells by elutriation indicated that both cell populations can secrete IL-6 in culture. The apparent ability of luteal cells to spontaneously express IL-6 in vitro, together with the lack of IL-6 expression during most of pregnancy, led us to examine whether the IL-6 gene is silenced throughout pregnancy by luteotropic hormones. Corpora lutea from day-15 pregnant rats were cultured in the presence of different doses of progesterone; the synthetic glucocorticoid, dexamethasone; 17beta-estradiol; and PRL. Progesterone and dexamethasone markedly inhibited IL-6 mRNA expression, whereas 17beta-estradiol had a minimal inhibitory effect, and PRL did not affect IL-6 mRNA expression. In summary, results of this investigation have revealed that the rat corpus luteum expresses the IL-6 receptor system and that luteal cells are able to secrete IL-6. However, IL-6 gene expression is silenced during most of pregnancy, probably by the high levels of progesterone locally produced in the corpus luteum. The salient finding that progesterone and glucocorticoid strongly inhibit the expression of IL-6 in the corpus luteum suggests that one important luteotropic role of progesterone and glucocorticoids could be to prevent the expression of IL-6, which might have a deleterious effect on luteal function.
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PMID:The expression of interleukin-6 in the pregnant rat corpus luteum and its regulation by progesterone and glucocorticoid. 968 13

The authors hypothesized that certain PKC isoforms play an important role in the induction of pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6) synthesis. To test this hypothesis, the cytosol-to-membrane translocation of select PKC isoforms with tested cytokine production in human monocytes cultured in vitro was correlated. It is reported that in monocytes treated with phorbol ester (PMA), translocation of PKC isoforms alpha, betaII, delta and epsilon precede cytokine synthesis. Moreover, specific inhibition of PKC translocation that occurs in the presence of Calphostin C is reflected in downstream events: lack of MAP kinases phosphorylation, loss of DNA binding ability by AP-1 transcription factor, and the reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokine synthesis. Thus, the cytosol-to-membrane translocation of PKC isoforms alpha, betaII, delta and epsilon with the subsequent activation of: (1) MAP kinases; and (2) AP-1 transcription factor, may represent critical steps in the induction of signalling cascade leading to TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6 synthesis in human monocytes.
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PMID:Protein kinase c-dependent pathway is critical for the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6). 1054 71


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