Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0268318 (ICP)
 10,007 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

To produce disease, viruses must enter the host, multiply locally in host tissues, spread from the site of entry, and overcome or evade host immune responses. At each stage in this infectious process, specific microbial and host genes determine the ultimate virulence of the virus. Genetic approaches have identified many viral genes that play critical roles in virulence and are presumed to target specific components of the host innate and acquired immune response. However, formal proof that a virulence gene targets a specific protein in a host pathway in vivo has not been obtained. Based on cell culture studies, it has been proposed that the herpes simplex virus type 1 gene ICP34.5 (ICP, infected cell protein) enhances neurovirulence by negating antiviral functions of the IFN-inducible double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase R or PKR [Chou, J., Chen, J.J., Gross, M. & Roizman, B. (1995) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 92, 10516-10520]. Herein, we show that a virus that has been attenuated by deletion of ICP34.5 exhibits wild-type replication and virulence in a host from which the PKR gene has been deleted. We show that restoration of virulence is specific to ICP34.5 and PKR by using additional host and viral mutants. The use of recombinant viruses to infect animals with null mutations in host defense genes provides a formal genetic test for identifying in vivo mechanisms and targets of microbial virulence genes.
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PMID:Specific phenotypic restoration of an attenuated virus by knockout of a host resistance gene. 1082 27

Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) are characterized by impaired erectile function and overactivity of the procontractile RhoA/Rho-associated, coiled-coil-containing protein kinase (RhoA/ROCK) pathway, as compared with their normotensive counterpart, Wistar-Kyoto rats. By measuring the intracavernous pressure:mean arterial pressure (ICP:MAP) ratio after electrostimulation of the cavernous nerve, we confirmed these findings and showed that responsiveness to sildenafil (25 mg/kg by oral gavage) also is hampered in SHR. A 2-week treatment with atorvastatin (5 and 30 mg/kg) improved the sildenafil-induced ICP:MAP increase and normalized RhoA and ROCK2 overexpression in SHR corpora cavernosa (CC). Conversely, other genes, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS), endothelial NOS, and phosphodiesterase 5, were unaffected. In human fetal smooth muscle cells derived from CC (hfPSMC), atorvastatin inhibited RhoA membrane translocation and ROCK activity, as well as RhoA-dependent biologic functions like cell migration and cell proliferation. Atorvastatin's effect on migration was rescued in a dose-dependent manner by geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate, suggesting the involvement of RhoA geranylgeranylation. In hfPSMC, atorvastatin decreased the expression of RhoA-dependent genes such as ROCK2, desmin, alpha-smooth muscle actin, SM22alpha, and myocardin. In contrast to atorvastatin, elocalcitol, a vitamin D analog that also interferes with RhoA activation in SHR bladder, was unable to restore penile responsiveness to sildenafil. In conclusion, atorvastatin, but not elocalcitol, ameliorates sildenafil-induced penile erections in SHR, likely by interfering with RhoA/ROCK signaling within the penis.
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PMID:Atorvastatin but not elocalcitol increases sildenafil responsiveness in spontaneously hypertensive rats by regulating the RhoA/ROCK pathway. 1769 3

To elucidate the molecular mechanism of arsenic (As) on motor learning and memory, concentration of As in cerebellar tissue of mice exposed to 1 ppm and 4 ppm As(2)O(3) subchronically was determined by ICP-MS, neurobehavioral changes associated with memory was examined by the Morris Water Maze test, and the critical gene expression profiles related to the Creb-dependent phase of cerebellar long-term depression (LTD) were analyzed by GeneChip. Our results showed the increased level of As concentration in cerebellar tissue of the exposed mice in a dose-response manner, longer escape latency in the experimental group than controls and the down-regulated expression of Ca(2+)/calmodulin dependent protein kinase IV (Camk4), a very important regulator in the LTD pathway. We further analyzed the influence of As on cerebellar Camk4 expression by Western blot. The quantity of Camk4 band in the group exposed to 4 ppm As(2)O(3) significantly decreased compared to the control group, agreeing well with gene microarray results. It is indicated that the accumulated As induced learning and memory impairment and impeded the Camk4 expression. Therefore, the Camk4 may be target of As-induced neurotoxicity. Furthermore, the intervention of antioxidants taurine or vitamin C did not prevent Camk4 from down-regulation, indicating that the down-regulation of Camk4 expression by As may be via an oxidation-independent way.
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PMID:Arsenic down-regulates the expression of Camk4, an important gene related to cerebellar LTD in mice. 1941 Jun 45