Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0036572 (seizures)
 80,221 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Kainic acid, an analogue of glutamate, causes limbic seizures and induces cell death in the rat brain. We examined the activation of MAPK family kinases; ERKs, JNKs and p38 kinase in rat hippocampus after KA treatment. Activation of all three kinases were observed at 30 min after the treatment, but, in contrary to ERK phosphorylation, which lasted up to 3 h, the phosphorylation of JNK and p38 returned to the basal level by 2 h. The phosphorylation of' upstream kinases for the MAPK family was distinct. The phosphorylation of MEK1 clearly increased at 30 min but diminished rapidly thereafter. The phosphorylation of MKK6 was also increased but reached peak at 2 h after KA treatment. However, the phosphorylation of other upstream kinases, SEK1 and MKK3, gradually decreased to 3 h after KA treatment. These results indicate that the KA activates all of the three MAPK family kinases with different time patterns and suggest the possibility that MKK3 and MKK6, and SEK1 may not be the upstream kinases for p38 and JNK in rat hippocampus.
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PMID:Activation of JNK and p38 in rat hippocampus after kainic acid induced seizure. 1119 Feb 75

Gliosis is a hypertrophic and hyperplastic response to many types of central nervous system injury, including trauma, stroke, seizure, as well as neurodegenerative and demyelinating disorders. Reactive astrocytes, a major component of the glial scar, express molecules that can both inhibit and promote axonal regeneration. ATP, which is released upon traumatic injury, hypoxia, and cell death, contributes to the gliotic response by binding to specific cell surface astrocytic P2 nucleotide receptors and evoking characteristic features of gliosis such as increased expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), generation and elongation of astrocytic processes, and cellular proliferation. Here, we review recent studies that demonstrate that (1) metabotropic, P2Y, and ionotropic, P2X, receptors expressed in astrocytes are coupled to protein kinase signaling pathways that regulate cellular proliferation, differentiation, and survival such as ERK and protein kinase B/Akt and (2) these P2 receptor/protein kinase cascades are activated after trauma induced by mechanical strain. We suggest that P2 receptor/protein kinase signaling pathways might provide novel therapeutic targets to regulate the formation of reactive astrocytes and the production of molecules that affect axonal regeneration and neurodegeneration.
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PMID:Signaling from P2 nucleotide receptors to protein kinase cascades induced by CNS injury: implications for reactive gliosis and neurodegeneration. 1595 14

We have previously shown that the HSV-2 anti-apoptotic protein ICP10PK is delivered by the replication incompetent virus mutant DeltaRR and prevents kainic acid (KA)-induced epileptiform seizures and neuronal cell loss in the mouse and rat models of temporal lobe epilepsy. The present studies used DeltaRR and the ICP10PK deleted virus mutant DeltaPK to examine the mechanism of neuroprotection. DeltaRR-infected neuronal cells expressed a chimeric protein in which ICP10PK is fused in frame to LacZ (p175) while retaining ICP10PK kinase activity. DeltaPK-infected neuronal cells expressed a mutant ICP10 protein that is deleted in the PK domain and is kinase negative (p95). p175 and p95 were expressed in CA3 (86+/-3%) and CA1 (69+/-7%) cells from DeltaRR or DeltaPK-infected organotypic hippocampal cultures (OHC) and 80-85% of the ICP10 positive cells co-stained with antibody to beta(III) Tubulin (neuronal marker). DeltaRR, but not DeltaPK, inhibited KA-induced cell death and caspase-3 activation in CA3 neurons, an inhibition seen whether DeltaRR was delivered 2 days before or 2 days after KA administration (95% neuroprotection). Neuroprotection was associated with ERK and Akt activation and was abrogated by simultaneous treatment with the MEK (U0126) and PI3-K (LY294002) inhibitors. DeltaRR-mediated neuroprotection was associated with increased expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bag-1 and decreased expression of the pro-apoptotic protein Bad. The surviving neurons retained normal synaptic function potentially related to increased expression of the transcription factor CREB. The data indicate that DeltaRR is a promising platform for neuroprotection from excitotoxic injury.
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PMID:The growth compromised HSV-2 mutant DeltaRR prevents kainic acid-induced apoptosis and loss of function in organotypic hippocampal cultures. 1702 Jul 50

Activation of c-fos in brain is related to coupling of neuronal activity to gene expression, but also to pathological conditions such as seizures or excitotoxicity-induced cell death. Glutamate activates c-fos in neurons through the calcium-dependent phosphorylation of CREB by ERK and/or CaMKIV kinase pathways downstream NMDA-receptors. In glial cells, however, the activation of c-fos by glutamate is poorly understood. Because glial cells actively modulate neuronal excitability and the brain's response to injury, we studied the mechanisms by which glutamate activates c-fos in rat cortical glial cells. Glutamate potently induced c-fos mRNA in a calcium-dependent manner, as demonstrated by using the calcium chelator BAPTA-AM. Glutamate-induced c-fos mRNA expression was not sensitive to inhibitors of ERK, p38(MAPK), or CaMK pathways, indicating that glial c-fos is activated by a distinct mechanism. Thapsigargin abolished the glutamate effect on c-fos mRNA, indicating ER calcium mobilization. Additionally, glutamate induction of c-fos mRNA was sensitive to the mGluR5 antagonist MPEP but not the NMDA-R antagonist MK-801. In luciferase reporter assays, DRE, which actively represses c-fos by binding the calcium-binding transcriptional repressor DREAM, was activated by glutamate, whereas SRE and CRE were not. Finally, glutamate caused the nuclear export of DREAM in astrocytes, and transfection of astrocytes with a mutant variant of DREAM that constitutively binds DNA inhibited glutamate-induced c-Fos expression. These findings are in sharp contrast to the mechanism described in neurons and suggest a novel pathway activated by glutamate in glial cells that employs mGluR5, ER calcium, and the derepression of c-fos at the DRE.
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PMID:Glutamate activates c-fos in glial cells via a novel mechanism involving the glutamate receptor subtype mGlu5 and the transcriptional repressor DREAM. 1712 Feb 44

Stimulation paradigms that induce perforant path long-term potentiation (LTP) initiate phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and induce expression of a variety of immediate early genes (IEGs). These events are thought to be critical components of the mechanism for establishing the changes in synaptic efficacy that endure for hours or longer. Here we show that in mice, perforant path LTP can be induced using a standard protocol (repeated trains at 250 Hz), without accompanying increases in immunostaining for p-ERK1/2 or increased in expression of representative IEGs (Arc and c-fos). Signaling pathways capable of inducing ERK phosphorylation and IEG transcription are intact in mice because ERK phosphorylation differs strikingly in awake versus anesthetized mice, and IEG expression is strongly induced by electroconvulsive seizures. In pursuing the reasons for the lack of induction with LTP, we found that in rats, one of the stimulation paradigms used to induce perforant path LTP (trains at 250 Hz) also does not activate MAP kinase or induce IEG expression, despite the fact that the LTP induced by 250 Hz stimulation requires NMDA receptor activation and persists for hours. These findings indicate that there are different forms of perforant path LTP, one of which does not require MAP kinase activation or IEG induction. Moreover, these data demonstrate that different LTP induction paradigms do not have identical molecular consequences, which may account for certain discrepancies between previous studies.
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PMID:A form of perforant path LTP can occur without ERK1/2 phosphorylation or immediate early gene induction. 1756 95

The ERK MAPK signalling pathway is a highly conserved kinase cascade linking transmembrane receptors to downstream effector mechanisms. To investigate the function of ERK in neurons, a constitutively active form of MEK1 (caMEK1) was conditionally expressed in the murine brain, which resulted in ERK activation and caused spontaneous epileptic seizures. ERK activation stimulated phosphorylation of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) and augmented NMDA receptor 2B (NR2B) protein levels. Pharmacological inhibition of NR2B function impaired synaptic facilitation in area cornus ammonicus region 3 (CA3) in acute hippocampal slices derived from caMEK1-expressing mice and abrogated epilepsy in vivo. In addition, expression of caMEK1 caused phosphorylation of the transcription factor, cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and increased transcription of ephrinB2. EphrinB2 overexpression resulted in increased NR2B tyrosine phosphorylation, which was essential for caMEK1-induced epilepsy in vivo, since conditional inactivation of ephrinB2 greatly reduced seizure frequency in caMEK1 transgenic mice. Therefore, our study identifies a mechanism of epileptogenesis that links MAP kinase to Eph/Ephrin and NMDA receptor signalling.
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PMID:ERK activation causes epilepsy by stimulating NMDA receptor activity. 1797 14

Proteins are subject to various types of spontaneous modifications that can disrupt their structures with sometimes adverse affects on biological activity. The formation of L-isoaspartyl (or D-aspartyl) residues, through either the deamidation of asparagine or dehydration of aspartate, is one of the most frequent types of deterioration occurring under physiological conditions. Protein L-isoaspartate/D-aspartate o-methyltransferase (PIMT) is a conserved and ubiquitous enzyme that participates in the repair of various isomerized proteins. PIMT catalyzes the transfer of the methyl group of S-adenosyl-L-methionine onto the alpha-carboxyl group of an L-isoaspartyl (or the beta-carboxyl group of an D-aspartyl) residue, which initiates the conversion of this residue to an L-aspartyl residue. PIMT-deficient mice have been shown to die at a mean age of 42 days from progressive epileptic seizures with grand mal and myoclonus. Although PIMT-deficiency clearly leads to the accumulation of isomerized proteins, it is currently unclear how this causes progressive epilepsy in PIMT-deficient mice. As a first step towards understanding this, we developed a new assay to measure PIMT activity in cell lysates. Additionally, we isolated PIMT knockdown cells from HEK293 cells that were stably transfected with a PIMT small interfering RNA expression vector. PIMT activities were significantly decreased in the PIMT knockdown cells, and analysis of the transfectants revealed that MEK and ERK were hyperactivated after cell stimulation with epidermal growth factor (EGF). These results indicate that the ability to repair L-isoaspartyl-(or D-aspartyl-) containing proteins is important for the maintenance of normal MEK-ERK signaling.
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PMID:[Role of isomerized protein repair enzyme, PIMT, in cellular functions]. 1805 81

Neuroprotection following status epilepticus should encompass not only the prevention of neuronal death, but also preservation of neuronal and network function. This is critical because these aims are not necessarily equivalent; prevention of neuronal loss, for example, does not inevitably prevent epileptogenesis. There are endogenous neuroprotective mechanisms that can serve dichotomous roles (e.g. ERK 1/2 activation can result in either neuroprotection or promote neuronal death). The roles of potential endogenous mechanisms can depend upon the pattern and timing of their activation. The simplest exogenous neuroprotective mechanism is to halt seizure activity. Other approaches consist of early NMDA receptor antagonism or later inhibition of apoptotic pathways. The problem with the latter approach is that calcium accumulation results in the activation of a number of downstream pathways, the importance of which varies from region to region and in a cell-type specific manner. Neuroprotection in epilepsy is not a straightforward concept, and we need to be clear about our eventual objectives (e.g. preventing cognitive decline). There are numerous possible approaches to neuroprotection, and the efficacy of these depends upon their timing, the specific aims and even the method of status epilepticus induction.
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PMID:Neuroprotection in epilepsy. 1833 4

l-Aspartyl (l-Asp) and l-asparaginyl residues in proteins isomerize or racemize to d,l-isoaspartyl (d,l-isoAsp) or d-aspartyl (d-Asp) residues during protein aging. These atypical aspartyl residues can interfere with the biological function of the protein and lead to cellular dysfunction. Protein l-isoaspartyl (d-aspartyl) methyltransferase (PIMT) is a repair enzyme that facilitates conversion of l-isoAsp and d-Asp to l-Asp. PIMT deficient mice exhibit accumulation of l-isoAsp in several tissues and die, on average, 12 days after birth from progressive epileptic seizures with grand mal and myoclonus features. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms by which accumulation of the aberrant residues leads to cellular abnormalities. In this study, we established PIMT-knockdown cells using a short interfering RNA expression system and characterized the resultant molecular abnormalities in intracellular signaling pathways. PIMT-knockdown cells showed significant accumulation of proteins with isomerized residues, compared to control cells. In the PIMT-knockdown cells, Raf-1, MEK, and ERK, members of the MAPK cascade, were hyperphosphorylated after EGF stimulation compared to control cells. These results suggest that PIMT repair of abnormal proteins is necessary to maintain normal MAPK signaling.
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PMID:Suppression of protein l-isoaspartyl (d-aspartyl) methyltransferase results in hyperactivation of EGF-stimulated MEK-ERK signaling in cultured mammalian cells. 1838 Dec

The ability of calcineurin to regulate IRS-1 and IRS-2 levels has not been examined in any given cells, although calcineurin inhibition by therapeutic immunosuppressants produced cytoprotective and cytotoxic effects (e.g., new-onset of diabetes mellitus, seizure). Chronic (>or=3h) treatment of cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells with cyclosporin A or FK506 decreased IRS-2 protein level by approximately 50% (IC(50)=200 or 10nM), without changing IRS-2 mRNA level, and insulin receptor, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) receptor, IRS-1, PI3K/PDK-1/Akt/GSK-3beta and ERK1/ERK2 protein levels. When the cells were washed to remove the test drug, the decreased IRS-2 level restored to the control level. Cyclosporin A or FK506 treatment inhibited calcineurin activity (IC(50)=500 or 40 nM, in vitro assay). Rapamycin, an FK506-binding protein ligand unable to inhibit calcineurin, failed to decrease IRS-2, but reversed FK506-induced decreases of calcineurin activity and IRS-2 level. Pulse-label followed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that cyclosporin A or FK506 accelerated IRS-2 degradation rate (t(1/2)) from >24 to approximately 4.2h, without altering IRS-2 synthesis. IRS-2 reduction by cyclosporin A or FK506 was prevented by lactacystin (proteasome inhibitor), but not by calpeptin (calpain inhibitor) or leupeptin (lysosome inhibitor). Cyclosporin A or FK506 increased serine-phosphorylation and ubiquitination of IRS-2. Cell surface (125)I-IGF-I binding capacity was not changed in cyclosporin A- or FK506-treated cells; however, IGF-I-induced phosphorylations of GSK-3beta and ERK1/ERK2 were attenuated by approximately 50%, which were prevented by rapamycin or lactacystin. Thus, calcineurin inhibition decreased IRS-2 level via proteasomal IRS-2 degradation, attenuating IGF-I-induced GSK-3beta and ERK pathways.
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PMID:Proteasomal degradation of IRS-2, but not IRS-1 by calcineurin inhibition: attenuation of insulin-like growth factor-I-induced GSK-3beta and ERK pathways in adrenal chromaffin cells. 1853 59


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