Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0011849 (diabetes)
 277,896 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness in the Western world. Aberrant intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression and leukocyte adhesion have been implicated in its pathogenesis, raising the possibility of an underlying chronic inflammatory mechanism. In the current study, the role of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I in these processes was investigated. We found that systemic inhibition of IGF-I signaling with a receptor-neutralizing antibody, or with inhibitors of PI-3 kinase (PI-3K), c-Jun kinase (JNK), or Akt, suppressed retinal Akt, JNK, HIF-1alpha, nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB, and AP-1 activity, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, as well as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 levels, leukostasis, and blood-retinal barrier breakdown, in a relevant animal model. Intravitreous administration of IGF-I increased retinal Akt, JNK, HIF-1alpha, NF-kappaB, and AP-1 activity, and VEGF levels. IGF-I stimulated VEGF promoter activity in vitro, mainly via HIF-1alpha, and secondarily via NF-kappaB and AP-1. In conclusion, IGF-I participates in the pathophysiology of diabetic retinopathy by inducing retinal VEGF expression via PI-3K/Akt, HIF-1alpha, NF-kappaB, and secondarily, JNK/AP-1 activation. Taken together, these in vitro and in vivo signaling studies thus identify potential targets for pharmacological intervention to preserve vision in patients with diabetes.
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PMID:Insulin-like growth factor-I plays a pathogenetic role in diabetic retinopathy. 1527 20

The analysis of the molecular basis of autoimmune diseases is currently under intense investigation. The identification of novel mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of these diseases generates the possibility for the development of new therapeutic agents. In this review we summarize the results leading to novel insights concerning the molecular processes involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematodes, multiple sclerosis and diabetes type 1. We focus on the role of transcription factors such as nuclear factor kappa B, activator protein 1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, vitamin D receptor and the glucocorticoid receptor that mediate pro- and anti-inflammatory effects and therefore represent direct or indirect targets for therapeutic intervention.
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PMID:Transcription factors in autoimmune diseases. 1537 67

Activation of the polyol pathway has been linked to the development of secondary diabetic complications. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. To probe the contribution of this pathway, we examined whether inhibition of aldose reductase, which catalyzes the first step of the pathway, affects hyperglycemia-induced activation of the inflammatory transcription factor nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB. Treatment of vascular smooth muscle cells with the aldose reductase inhibitors tolrestat and sorbinil prevented high-glucose-induced protein kinase C (PKC) activation, nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB, phosphorylation of IKK, and the increase in the expression of intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1, and aldose reductase. High-glucose-induced NF-kappaB activation was also prevented by the PKC inhibitors chelerythrine and calphostin C. Ablation of aldose reductase by small interference RNA (siRNA) prevented high-glucose-induced NF-kappaB and AP-1 activation but did not affect the activity of SP-1 or OCT-1. Stimulation with iso-osmotic mannitol activated NF-kappaB and increased the expression of aldose reductase but not ICAM-1 and VCAM-1. Treatment with aldose reductase inhibitors or aldose reductase siRNA did not affect mannitol-induced NF-kappaB or AP-1 activation. Administration of tolrestat (15 mg . kg(-1) . day(-1)) decreased the abundance of activated NF-kappaB in balloon-injured carotid arteries of diabetic rats. Collectively, these results suggest that inhibition of aldose reductase, which prevents PKC-dependent nonosmotic NF-kappaB activation, may be a useful approach for treating vascular inflammation caused by diabetes.
Diabetes 2004 Nov
PMID:Activation of nuclear factor-kappaB by hyperglycemia in vascular smooth muscle cells is regulated by aldose reductase. 1550 72

Recently, we reported that zinc sulfate-enriched (25 mM) drinking water (Zn(2+)) protected male C57BL/6 mice from diabetes induced by multiple low doses of streptozotocin (MLD-STZ) and that MLD-STZ activates the transcription factors nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B and activator protein (AP)-1 in islets of these mice. Therefore, we studied the effect of Zn(2+) on spontaneous diabetes in female nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice and on the activity of NF-kappa B and AP-1 in islets of NOD and MLD-STZ-injected male C57BL/6 mice. We hypothesized that Zn(2+) may affect NF-kappa B, which may play a key role in immune-mediated diabetogenesis. Here we continuously administered Zn(2+) to NOD mice, to both parents and their F(1) offspring, and treated C57BL/6 male mice with MLD-STZ either alone or in addition to Zn(2+) . We assessed effects of Zn(2+) on insulitis and peri-insulitis in 8-week-old NOD mice and analyzed NF-kappa B and AP-1 activities in islets. Zn(2+) significantly prevented diabetes in female F(1) offspring and significantly reduced insulitis and peri-insulitis. Zn(2+) significantly stimulated NF-kappa B and AP-1 activation in NOD mice, in contrast, in C57BL/6 mice, Zn(2+) significantly reduced their activation by MLD-STZ. These data demonstrate that NF-kappa B may play a critical role in immune-mediated diabetes. Depending on the mode of beta-cell destruction, Zn(2+) may prevent apoptosis through activation of NF-kappa B in NOD mice or prevent inflammatory immune destruction through inhibition of NF-kappa B in MLD-STZ-treated C57BL/6 mice.
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PMID:Prevention of spontaneous and experimentally induced diabetes in mice with zinc sulfate-enriched drinking water is associated with activation and reduction of NF-kappa B and AP-1 in islets, respectively. 1556 45

Changes in glucose transporter expression in glomerular cells occur early in diabetes. These changes, especially the GLUT1 increase in mesangial cells, appear to play a pathogenic role in the development of ECM expansion and perhaps other features of diabetic nephropathy. In addition, it appears that at least some diabetic patients may be predisposed to nephropathy because of polymorphisms in their GLUT1 genes. GLUT1 overexpression leads to increased glucose metabolic flux which in turn triggers the polyol pathway and activation of PKC alpha and B1. Activation of these PKC isoforms can lead directly to AP-1 induced increases in fibronectin expression and ECM accumulation. Other, more novel effects of GLUT1 on cellular hypertrophy and injury could also promote changes of diabetic nephropathy. Strategies to prevent GLUT1 overexpression could ameliorate or prevent the progression of diabetic nephropathy.
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PMID:Glucose transporters in diabetic nephropathy. 1571 66

Metal-induced toxicity and carcinogenicity, with an emphasis on the generation and role of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, is reviewed. Metal-mediated formation of free radicals causes various modifications to DNA bases, enhanced lipid peroxidation, and altered calcium and sulfhydryl homeostasis. Lipid peroxides, formed by the attack of radicals on polyunsaturated fatty acid residues of phospholipids, can further react with redox metals finally producing mutagenic and carcinogenic malondialdehyde, 4-hydroxynonenal and other exocyclic DNA adducts (etheno and/or propano adducts). Whilst iron (Fe), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), vanadium (V) and cobalt (Co) undergo redox-cycling reactions, for a second group of metals, mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd) and nickel (Ni), the primary route for their toxicity is depletion of glutathione and bonding to sulfhydryl groups of proteins. Arsenic (As) is thought to bind directly to critical thiols, however, other mechanisms, involving formation of hydrogen peroxide under physiological conditions, have been proposed. The unifying factor in determining toxicity and carcinogenicity for all these metals is the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Common mechanisms involving the Fenton reaction, generation of the superoxide radical and the hydroxyl radical appear to be involved for iron, copper, chromium, vanadium and cobalt primarily associated with mitochondria, microsomes and peroxisomes. However, a recent discovery that the upper limit of "free pools" of copper is far less than a single atom per cell casts serious doubt on the in vivo role of copper in Fenton-like generation of free radicals. Nitric oxide (NO) seems to be involved in arsenite-induced DNA damage and pyrimidine excision inhibition. Various studies have confirmed that metals activate signalling pathways and the carcinogenic effect of metals has been related to activation of mainly redox-sensitive transcription factors, involving NF-kappaB, AP-1 and p53. Antioxidants (both enzymatic and non-enzymatic) provide protection against deleterious metal-mediated free radical attacks. Vitamin E and melatonin can prevent the majority of metal-mediated (iron, copper, cadmium) damage both in vitro systems and in metal-loaded animals. Toxicity studies involving chromium have shown that the protective effect of vitamin E against lipid peroxidation may be associated rather with the level of non-enzymatic antioxidants than the activity of enzymatic antioxidants. However, a very recent epidemiological study has shown that a daily intake of vitamin E of more than 400 IU increases the risk of death and should be avoided. While previous studies have proposed a deleterious pro-oxidant effect of vitamin C (ascorbate) in the presence of iron (or copper), recent results have shown that even in the presence of redox-active iron (or copper) and hydrogen peroxide, ascorbate acts as an antioxidant that prevents lipid peroxidation and does not promote protein oxidation in humans in vitro. Experimental results have also shown a link between vanadium and oxidative stress in the etiology of diabetes. The impact of zinc (Zn) on the immune system, the ability of zinc to act as an antioxidant in order to reduce oxidative stress and the neuroprotective and neurodegenerative role of zinc (and copper) in the etiology of Alzheimer's disease is also discussed. This review summarizes recent findings in the metal-induced formation of free radicals and the role of oxidative stress in the carcinogenicity and toxicity of metals.
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PMID:Metals, toxicity and oxidative stress. 1589 31

Poly(ADP-ribosyl) ation is a reversible post-translational protein modification implicated in the regulation of a number of biological functions. Whereas an 18 member superfamily of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) enzymes synthesize poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR), a single protein, PAR glycohydrolase (PARG) is responsible for the catabolism of the polymer. PARP-1 accounts for more than 90% of the poly(ADP-ribosyl)ating capacity of the cells. PARP-1 activated by DNA breaks cleaves NAD(+) into nicotinamide and ADP-ribose and uses the latter to synthesize long branching PAR polymers covalently attached to acceptor proteins including histones, DNA repair enzymes, transcription factors and PARP-1. Whereas activation of PARP-1 by mild genotoxic stimuli may facilitate DNA repair and cell survival, irreparable DNA damage triggers apoptotic or necrotic cell death. In apoptosis, early PARP activation may assist the apoptotic cascade [e.g. by stabilizing p53, by mediating the translocation of apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) from the mitochondria to the nucleus or by inhibiting early activation of DNases]. In most severe oxidative stress situations, excessive DNA damage causes over activation of PARP-1, which incapacitates the apoptotic machinery and switches the mode of cell death from apoptosis to necrosis. Besides serving as a cytotoxic mediator, PARP-1 is also involved in transcriptional regulation, most notably in the NF kappaB and AP-1 driven expression of inflammatory mediators. Pharmacological inhibition or genetic ablation of PARP-1 provided remarkable protection from tissue injury in various oxidative stress-related disease models ranging from stroke, diabetes, diabetic endothelial dysfunction, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion, shock, Parkinson's disease, arthritis, colitis to dermatitis and uveitis. These beneficial effects are attributed to inhibition of the PARP-1 mediated suicidal pathway and to reduced expression of inflammatory cytokines and other mediators (e.g. inducible nitric oxide synthase).
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PMID:Structure and function of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1: role in oxidative stress-related pathologies. 1602 17

The c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) were originally identified by their ability to phosphorylate c-Jun in response to UV-irradiation, but now are recognized as critical regulators of various aspects of mammalian physiology, including: cell proliferation, cell survival, cell death, DNA repair and metabolism. JNK-mediated phosphorylation enhances the ability of c-Jun, a component of the AP-1 transcription factor, to activate transcription, in response to a plethora of extracellular stimuli. The JNK activation leads to induction of AP-1-dependent target genes involved in cell proliferation, cell death, inflammation, and DNA repair. The JNKs, which are encoded by three different Jnk loci, are now known to be regulated by many other stimuli, from pro-inflammatory cytokines to obesity, in addition to UV-irradiation. Targeted disruption of the Jnk loci in mice has proved to be a critical tool in better understanding their physiological functions. Such studies revealed that the JNKs play important roles in numerous cellular processes, including: programmed cell death, T cell differentiation, negative regulation of insulin signaling, control of fat deposition, and epithelial sheet migration. Importantly, the JNKs have become prime targets for drug development in several important clinical areas, including: inflammation, diabetes, and cancer.
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PMID:From JNK to pay dirt: jun kinases, their biochemistry, physiology and clinical importance. 1603 12

The "Third International Conference on Mechanisms of Action of Nutraceuticals" (ICMAN 3) was held to bring investigators from around the world together to find answers and share experience relevant to the role of nutraceuticals in health and disease. Dietary supplements are currently receiving recognition as being beneficial in coronary heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis and other chronic and degenerative diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. This gave impetus to investigate the mechanisms of action of nutraceuticals and related bioactive compounds in disease pathologies. Many lines of evidence indicate that the mechanistic actions of natural compounds involve a wide array of biological processes, including activation of antioxidant defenses, signal transduction pathways, cell survival-associated gene expression, cell proliferation and differentiation and preservation of mitochondrial integrity. Furthermore, many of these compounds exert anti-inflammatory actions through inhibition of oxidative stress-induced transcription factors (e.g., NF-kappaB, AP-1), cytotoxic cytokines and cyclooxygenase-2. It appears that these properties play a crucial role in the protection against the pathologies of numerous age-related or chronic diseases. This review summarizes the latest research finding in functional foods and micronutrients in the promotion of health and reduction of risk for major chronic diseases as presented in this symposium.
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PMID:Proceedings from the "Third International Conference on Mechanism of Action of Nutraceuticals". 1611 39

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), initially discovered as a result of its antitumor activity, has now been shown to mediate tumor initiation, promotion, and metastasis. In addition, dysregulation of TNF has been implicated in a wide variety of inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, scleroderma, atopic dermatitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, type II diabetes, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, osteoporosis, and autoimmune deficiency disease. TNF, however, is a critical component of effective immune surveillance and is required for proper proliferation and function of NK cells, T cells, B cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells. TNF activity can be blocked, either by using antibodies (Remicade and Humira) or soluble TNF receptor (Enbrel), for the symptoms of arthritis and Crohn's disease to be alleviated, but at the same time, such treatment increases the risk of infections, certain type of cancers, and cardiotoxicity. Thus blockers of TNF that are safe and yet efficacious are urgently needed. Some evidence suggests that while the transmembrane form of TNF has beneficial effects, soluble TNF mediates toxicity. In most cells, TNF mediates its effects through activation of caspases, NF-kappaB, AP-1, c-jun N-terminal kinase, p38 MAPK, and p44/p42 MAPK. Agents that can differentially regulate TNF expression or TNF signaling can be pharmacologically safe and effective therapeutics. Our laboratory has identified numerous such agents from natural sources. These are discussed further in detail.
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PMID:TNF blockade: an inflammatory issue. 1633 57


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