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Query: UMLS:C0023418 (leukemia)
 93,477 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

MAP kinase/ERK kinase (MEK)-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) kinases are frequently activated in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), and can have prosurvival function. The purpose of this study was to induce downmodulation of MEK-ERK activation in AML primary blasts in order to detect the effect on cell cycle progression and on the apoptosis of leukemic cells. We investigated 14 cases of AML with high ERK 1/2 activity and four cases with undetectable or very low activity. After 24 h incubation of the AML blasts with high ERK activity using PD98059 (New England BioLabs, Beverly, MA, USA), a selective inhibitor of MEK1 phosphorylation, at concentrations of 20 and 40 microM, we observed a strong decrease in the levels of ERK1/2 activity. A significant decrease of blast cell proliferation compared with untreated controls was found. In contrast, the proliferation of blast cells that expressed low or undetectable levels of ERK activity was not inhibited. Time-course analysis demonstrated that the downmodulation of MEK1/2, ERK1 and ERK2 dual-phosphorylation was evident even after 3 h of treatment with 20 and 40 microM. The cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), an early sign of apoptosis, appeared after 18 h of PD98059 treatment at concentrations of 20 and 40 microM in eight of the 14 cases. After 24 h of treatment, cleaved PARP appeared in all 14 cases. Time-course analysis of cell cycle progression and apoptosis showed that PD98059 induced a G1-phase accumulation with low or undetectable levels of apoptosis after 24 h incubation; after 48 and 72 h incubation, a significant increase of apoptosis was observed. Thus, the primary effect of ERK downmodulation was a cell cycle arrest followed by the apoptosis of a significant percentage of the leukemic blasts. The preclinical model of leukemia treatment reported in this paper makes further comment with regard to MEK1 inhibition as a useful antileukemic target, and encourages the conducting of in vivo studies and clinical investigations.
Leukemia 2003 Sep
PMID:Downmodulation of ERK activity inhibits the proliferation and induces the apoptosis of primary acute myelogenous leukemia blasts. 1297 Jul 78

Signal transduction events regulating induction of apoptosis by the histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDIs) sodium butyrate (SB) and SAHA have been examined in Bcr/Abl+ human leukemia cells (K562, LAMA 84). Exposure of K562 cells to greater or less than 3.0 mM SB or 3.0 mM SAHA for 24-48 hr resulted in a marked induction of mitchondrial damage (e.g., cytochrome c release) and apoptosis, events associated with downregulation of Bcr/Abl and Raf-1, induction of p21CIP1, inactivation of MEK1/2, ERK1/2, and p70S6K, and a dramatic increase in JNK activation. HDI-mediated apoptosis was attenuated by pharmacologic JNK inhibitors and enhanced by the MEK1/2 inhibitor U0126 as well as by the JNK activator anisomycin. Interestingly, HDI-induced JNK activation was potentiated by pharmacologic MEK inhibition. Furthermore, HDI lethality was significantly diminished in cells ectopically expressing constitutively active MEK1, confirming a functional role for MEK/ERK inactivation in HDI-mediated apoptosis. Similar events were observed in Bcr/Abl+ LAMA 84 cells. Lastly, the free radical scavenger L-N-acetylcysteine (LNAC) attenuated HDI-mediated ROS generation, JNK activation, and apoptosis. Together, these findings support a model in which induction of apoptosis in Bcr/Abl+ cells by HDIs involves coordinate inactivation of the cytoprotective Raf/MEK/ERK pathway in conjunction with the ROS-dependent activation of JNK.
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PMID:Induction of apoptosis in BCR/ABL+ cells by histone deacetylase inhibitors involves reciprocal effects on the RAF/MEK/ERK and JNK pathways. 1461 24

Primary plasma cell leukaemia (PCL) is a rare plasma cell malignancy, which is related to multiple myeloma (MM) and is characterized by a poor prognosis. In a previous study we demonstrated that PCL plasma cells display a high expression of CD27, in contrast to MM plasma cells. The present study was set out to assess the functional properties of CD27 expressed on PCL plasma cells by triggering with its ligand CD70. Using CD27-expressing purified plasma cells from a PCL patient we demonstrated that CD27-triggering modestly inhibited spontaneous and dexamethasone-induced apoptosis. In vitro stimulation and Western blotting showed that activation of p38 and extracellular-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) was associated with CD27-mediated signal transduction. Specific inhibition of p38 and ERK1/2 MAPK abolished the anti-apoptotic effects of CD27-triggering. Interestingly, simultaneous inhibition of p38 and ERK1/2 strongly sensitized PCL cells for dexamethasone-induced apoptosis. Finally, in dexamethasone-treated PCL cells, CD27-triggering was associated with persistent DNA-binding activity of activator protein 1 (AP-1) but not of nuclear factor-kappaB. These findings suggest that, in primary PCL, specific anti-apoptotic pathways exist that might provide novel therapeutic targets.
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PMID:CD27-triggering on primary plasma cell leukaemia cells has anti-apoptotic effects involving mitogen activated protein kinases. 1471 76

The mitogen-activated protein (MAP) cascade leading to the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) is critical for regulating myeloma cell growth; however, the relationship of ERK1/2 activity with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production and the effects of its downmodulation in myeloma cells are not elucidated. We found that the treatment with MAP/ERK kinase 1 (MEK1) inhibitors PD98059 or PD184352 produced a reduction of phosphorylated ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2) levels in myeloma cells of more than 80% and prevented the increase of p-ERK1/2 induced by interleukin-6 (IL-6). MEK1 inhibitors also induced a significant inhibition of myeloma cell proliferation and blunted the stimulatory effect induced by IL-6. A significant inhibition of basal VEGF secretion by myeloma cells as well as a suppression of the stimulatory effect of IL-6 on VEGF was observed by either PD98059 or PD184352. Moreover, we also found that the PI3K kinase inhibitors, but not p38 MAPK inhibitors, reduced VEGF secretion by myeloma cells and increase the inhibitory effect of MEK1 inhibitors. In an 'in vitro' model of angiogenesis, we found that MEK1 inhibitors impair vessel formation induced by myeloma cells and restored by VEGF treatment, suggesting that the downmodulation of ERK1/2 activity reduces myeloma-induced angiogenesis by inhibiting VEGF secretion.
Leukemia 2004 Mar
PMID:Downmodulation of ERK protein kinase activity inhibits VEGF secretion by human myeloma cells and myeloma-induced angiogenesis. 1473 74

Changes in the cytoplasmic calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) regulate a wide variety of cellular processes. Here we demonstrate that increased [Ca(2+)](i) was able to induce hormone-independent survival and proliferation, as well as to evoke apoptosis in human myelo-erythroid GM-CSF/IL-3 dependent leukemia cells (TF-1). Cellular responses induced by elevated [Ca(2+)](i) depended on the duration and amplitude of the calcium-signal. Moderate or high, but transient, elevation of [Ca(2+)](i) caused a transient, biphasic activation of ERK1/2 and protected cells from hormone withdrawal-induced apoptosis.(1) In contrast, high and long-lasting elevation of [Ca(2+)](i) led to sustained activation of the ERK1/2 kinases and apoptosis of TF-1 cells. Our data suggest that a time-dependent action of the MAPK pathway works as a decision-point between cell proliferation and apoptosis.
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PMID:Effects of intracellular calcium on cell survival and the MAPK pathway in a human hormone-dependent leukemia cell line (TF-1). 1503 96

The hierarchy of events accompanying induction of apoptosis by the proteasome inhibitor Bortezomib was investigated in Jurkat lymphoblastic and U937 myelomonocytic leukemia cells. Treatment of Jurkat or U937 cells with Bortezomib resulted in activation of c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase), inactivation of extracellular signal-regulating kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), cytochrome c release, caspase-9, -3, and -8 activation, and apoptosis. Bortezomib-mediated cytochrome c release and caspase activation were blocked by the pharmacologic JNK inhibitor SP600125, but lethality was not diminished by the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580. Inducible expression of a constitutively active MEK1 construct blocked Bortezomib-mediated ERK1/2 inactivation, significantly attenuated Bortezomib lethality, and unexpectedly prevented JNK activation. Conversely, pharmacologic MEK/ERK1/2 inhibition promoted Bortezomib-mediated JNK activation and apoptosis. Lastly, the antioxidant N-acetyl-l-cysteine (LNAC) attenuated Bortezomib-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, ERK inactivation, JNK activation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis. In contrast, enforced MEK1 and ERK1/2 activation or JNK inhibition did not modify Bortezomib-induced ROS production. Together, these findings suggest that in human leukemia cells, Bortezomib-induced oxidative injury operates at a proximal point in the cell death cascade to antagonize cytoprotective ERK1/2 signaling, promote activation of the stress-related JNK pathway, and to trigger mitochondrial dysfunction, caspase activation, and apoptosis. They also suggest the presence of a feedback loop wherein Bortezomib-mediated ERK1/2 inactivation contributes to JNK activation, thereby amplifying the cell death process.
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PMID:The hierarchical relationship between MAPK signaling and ROS generation in human leukemia cells undergoing apoptosis in response to the proteasome inhibitor Bortezomib. 1509 52

The effects of a novel immunosuppressive agent FTY720 on proliferation inhibition and apoptosis of acute leukemia cell lines HL-60 and U937, and the role of extracelluar regulated protein kinase (ERK) in the course of proliferation inhibition and apoptosis induced by FTY720 were studied. The proliferation inhibition rate of HL-60 and U937 cells by various concentrations of FTY720 was detected by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was detected by DNA fragment analysis and flow cytometry. The phosphorylated ERK1/2 protein expression was observed by Western blotting. The change of intracellular distribution of ERK1/2 protein was identified by SP immunohistochemical staining. The results showed that FTY720 could inhibit the growth of HL-60 and U937 cells effectively in a dose-dependent manner. After incubation with FTY720 for 24 h, apoptosis was observed in HL-60 and U937 cells. The intracellular expression of phosphorylated ERK1/2 protein was also down-regulated and the distribution of ERK1/2 protein in cell nuclear was reduced during FTY720-induced apoptosis. So, that FTY720 inhibited ERK1/2 phosphorylation might mediate the role of FTY720-induced apoptosis and proliferation inhibition of leukemia cells.
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PMID:Role of extracelluar regulated protein kinases in FTY720-induced apoptosis of leukemia cell lines HL-60 and U937. 1516 13

It is known that Notch activation promotes the self-renewal of hematopoietic cells. However, we have previously found that the growth of a myeloid leukemia cell line, OCI/AML-6, was suppressed by Notch activation induced by stimulation with a recombinant Notch ligand, Delta-1 protein. We recently found that the growth of another leukemia cell line, THP-1, was also suppressed by the ligands Delta-1 and Jagged-1. In this study, we tried to clarify the cellular and molecular mechanism of the growth suppression induced by Notch activation. Flow cytometric analysis showed that Delta-1 stimulation increased the expression of differentiation markers such as CD11b and CD13 while it decreased the expression of CD117 (c-KIT), a marker for primitive cells in THP-1 cells. In OCI/AML-6 cells, Delta-1 stimulation decreased the expression of CD11b and CD14 and increased CD34 expression. Namely, Delta-1 showed the opposite effects on the differentiation markers of each cell line. Delta-1 stimulation did not increase the binding of annexin V, a marker for apoptotic cells in either cell line. Since the growth of myeloid cells is regulated by MAP kinase and JAK/STAT pathways, we investigated the effects of the ligand stimulation on these pathways. Delta-1 stimulation did not induce the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and STAT3 proteins in either cell line. Pre-exposure to Delta-1 did not affect the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and STAT3 induced by G-CSF in OCI/AML-6 cells, either. Namely, it is thought that these pathways are not involved in the growth suppression caused by Notch ligands. Our study revealed several findings on Notch function. However, the precise mechanism remains to be elucidated.
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PMID:Cellular analysis of growth suppression induced by the Notch ligands, Delta-1 and Jagged-1 in two myeloid leukemia cell lines. 1525 69

Present studies show that LBH589, a novel cinnamic hydroxamic acid analog histone deacetylase inhibitor, induces acetylation of histone H3 and H4 and of heat shock protein 90 (hsp90), increases p21 levels, as well as induces cell-cycle G(1) phase accumulation and apoptosis of the human chronic myeloid leukemia blast crisis (CML-BC) K562 cells and acute leukemia MV4-11 cells with the activating length mutation of FLT-3. In MV4-11 cells, this was associated with marked attenuation of the protein levels of p-FLT-3, FLT-3, p-AKT, and p-ERK1/2. In K562 cells, exposure to LBH589 attenuated Bcr-Abl, p-AKT, and p-ERK1/2. Treatment with LBH589 inhibited the DNA binding activity of signal transducers and activators of transcription 5 (STAT5) in both K562 and MV4-11 cells. The hsp90 inhibitor 17-allyl-amino-demethoxy geldanamycin (17-AAG) also induced polyubiquitylation and proteasomal degradation of FLT-3 and Bcr-Abl by reducing their chaperone association with hsp90. Cotreatment with LBH589 and 17-AAG exerted synergistic apoptosis of MV4-11 and K562 cells. In the imatinib mesylate (IM)-refractory leukemia cells expressing Bcr-Abl with the T315I mutation, treatment with the combination attenuated the levels of the mutant Bcr-Abl and induced apoptosis. Finally, cotreatment with LBH589 and 17-AAG also induced more apoptosis of IM-resistant primary CML-BC and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells (with activating mutation of FLT-3) than treatment with either agent alone.
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PMID:Combination of the histone deacetylase inhibitor LBH589 and the hsp90 inhibitor 17-AAG is highly active against human CML-BC cells and AML cells with activating mutation of FLT-3. 1551 6

Recent studies suggest that components of the prosurvival signal transduction pathways involving the Ras-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) can confer an aggressive, apoptosis-resistant phenotype to leukemia cells. In this study, we report that acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cells exploit the Ras-MAPK activation pathway to phosphorylate at Ser112 and to inactivate the proapoptotic protein Bad, delaying arsenic trioxide (ATO)-induced apoptosis. Both in APL cell line NB4 and in APL primary blasts, the inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) and Bad phosphorylation by MEK1 inhibitors enhanced apoptosis in ATO-treated cells. We isolated an arsenic-resistant NB4 subline (NB4-As(R)), which showed stronger ERK1/2 activity (2.7-fold increase) and Bad phosphorylation (2.4-fold increase) compared to parental NB4 cells in response to ATO treatment. Upon ATO exposure, both NB4 and NB4-As(R) cell lines doubled protein levels of the death antagonist Bcl-xL, but the amount of free Bcl-xL that did not heterodimerize with Bad was 1.8-fold greater in NB4-As(R) than in the parental line. MEK1 inhibitors dephosphorylated Bad and inhibited the ATO-induced increase of Bcl-xL, overcoming ATO resistance in NB4-As(R). These results may provide a rationale to develop combined or sequential MEK1 inhibitors plus ATO therapy in this clinical setting.
Leukemia 2005 Feb
PMID:Arsenic trioxide (ATO) and MEK1 inhibition synergize to induce apoptosis in acute promyelocytic leukemia cells. 1553 2


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