Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P00750 (PLA)
 16,800 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The elevated expression of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator gene, which is necessary for the invasive phenotype of several types of cancers, is controlled by growth factors such as epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor a, and fibroblast growth factor which bind to and activate protein tyrosine kinase transmembrane receptors. Since these activated receptors communicate with the nucleus via a signaling pathway in which c-Raf-1, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 (MEK1), and the extracellular signal-regulated kinases are sequentially activated, we determined the effect of a specific MEK1 inhibitor (PD 098059) on urokinase expression in two squamous cell carcinoma cell lines (UM-SCC-1 and MDA-TU-138) characterized as avid secretors of the plasminogen activator. PD 098059 treatment of either cell line reduced the amount of secreted urokinase in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, a compound (daidzein) chemically unrelated to PD 098059 had little effect on urokinase secretion. The effect of PD 098059 on urokinase secretion in UM-SCC-1 cells was reversible and correlated with decreased extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 activity. PD 098059 caused a dose-dependent reduction in the in vitro invasiveness of UM-SCC-1 cells whereas it had little effect on proliferation rates. Transient transfection assays with a chloramphenicol acetyl transferase reporter driven by the urokinase promoter indicated that diminished secretion of the protease was largely a consequence of reduced promoter activity. These findings suggest that interfering with MEK1 may provide a novel means of controlling the invasiveness of tumors in which this signaling cascade is activated by autocrine and/or paracrine growth factors.
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PMID:Effect of PD 098059, a specific inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase, on urokinase expression and in vitro invasion. 896 87

c-Raf-1 is a proximal serine/threonine kinase in the signaling cascade of many mitogens. The cellular mechanisms responsible for regulation of this kinase remain ill-defined. Although c-Raf-1-associated proteins have been identified, including Ras, none of these have been found to activate c-Raf-1 kinase in vitro. To evaluate whether arachidonic acid or one of its products is implicated in c-Raf-1 activation, c-Raf-1 activity was measured in LLC-PK(1) kidney epithelial cells overexpressing the 100 kDa phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)). As compared to control neomycin plasmid transfected cells, the cells overexpressing PLA(2) had a greater activation of c-Raf-1 in response to A23187 and phorbol ester stimulation. To explore the possibility that c-Raf-1 activity may be modulated directly by lipids, the enzymatic characteristics of c-Raf-1 were determined, and the effects of various possible lipid modulators on c-Raf-1 activity were examined. The K(m) of c-Raf-1 for ATP and mitogen-activiated protein kinase kinase (MAPKK), the only known physiologic substrate of c-Raf-1, were 11.6 &mgr;M and 0.8 &mgr;M, respectively. Of 13 lipids or combinations of lipids tested, including arachidonic acid and several eicosanoids, only phosphatidylserine and diacylglycerol in the presence of CA(2+) (2.5 mM) increased c-Raf-1 kinase activity significantly. The increase (1.5-fold) was approximately two orders of magnitude less than the stimulation of protein kinase C by these lipids. c-Raf-1 kinase activity and immunoreactivity eluted on gel filtration at a predicted molecular mass of greater than 150 kDa, suggesting that active c-Raf-1 is part of a multimeric complex. The absence of immunoreactive Ras in the active fractions confirms that the interaction is not necessary to maintain c-Raf-1 in an active state. In conclusion, a product of PLA(2) may play a role, together with Ras and another unidentified cofactor, in activating c-Raf-1. This lipid mediator(s) may directly or indirectly regulate the activity of c-Raf-1, but the identity of the mediator and its mode of interaction with c-Raf-1 and its associated proteins remain unclear.
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PMID:Phospholipase A(2) and Lipids as Potential Modulators of c-Raf-1 Kinase. 1186 63

Cross talk between the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) and mitogen-activating protein kinase (MAPK)1/2 signaling cascades in response to aldosterone-induced K-RasA was investigated in renal A6 epithelial cells. In addition, the contribution of these signaling pathways to aldosterone-stimulated Na(+) transport was investigated. Aldosterone increased active K-RasA levels in A6 cells resulting in activation of downstream effectors in both the MAPK1/2 and PI3-K cascades with K-RasA directly interacting with the catalytic p110 subunit of PI3-K in a steroid-dependent manner. Aldosterone-stimulated PI3-K signaling impinged on the MAPK1/2 cascade at the level of Akt-mediated phosphorylation of c-Raf at an established negative regulatory site. Aldosterone also increased Sgk levels as well as stimulated phosphorylation of this kinase in a PI3-K- and K-RasA-dependent manner. Blockade of MAPK1/2 signaling had little effect on Na(+) transport. Conversely, inhibition of PI3-K markedly suppressed transport. Likewise, suppression of K-RasA induction decreased transport. However, Na(+) transport was subsequently stimulated under these conditions with the PLA(2) inhibitor aristolochic acid, an established positive modulator of Na(+) transport, suggesting that K-RasA signaling through PI3-K does not directly affect epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) levels but the activity of this channel. Consistent with this possibility, activity of ENaC reconstituted in Chinese hamster ovary cells was increased by coexpression of constitutively active PI3-K. The current study demonstrates that aldosterone increases Na(+) transport, in part, by stimulating PI3-K signaling and that during aldosterone actions, there is both signaling convergence between the two aldosterone-induced proteins, K-RasA and Sgk, as well as cross talk between the PI3-K and MAPK1/2 cascades with the prior but not latter cascade enhancing ENaC activity.
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PMID:Regulation of Na+ transport by aldosterone: signaling convergence and cross talk between the PI3-K and MAPK1/2 cascades. 1503 43

Pulmonary delivery of drug-loaded nanoparticles is a novel approach for lung cancer treatment and the conjugation of nanoparticles to a targeting ligand further promotes specificity of the carrier cargo to cancer cells. Notably, the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM, CD326) is over expressed in lung cancer. Here, we report the safety and proof-of-concept efficacy of drug-loaded nanoparticles and EpCAM immunonanoparticles in a c-Raf transgenic lung cancer model. PEG-PLA nanoparticles and immunonanoparticles were prepared whereby paclitaxel palmitate (Pcpl) was incorporated as a medication for its common use in lung cancer treatment. Four doses of aerosolized nanoparticle formulations or vehicle were endotracheally administered to mice by consecutive or alternate regimes. Pulmonary delivery of drug loaded nano- and/or immunonanoparticle formulations elicited mild inflammation as evidenced by the slightly increased neutrophil and activated macrophage counts in bronchoalveolar lavage. No evidence for pulmonary toxicity following treatment with either blank or drug-loaded nano- and/or immunonanoparticles was observed. Proof-of-concept efficacy was determined by serial CT scanning and histopathology. Animals treated with either EpCAM antibody or Pcpl solution or drug loaded nano- or immunonanoparticles inhibited disease progression. Conversely, disease progression was noted with vehicle treated animals with nearly 30% loss of their aerated lung volume. Importantly, treatment of mice with either Pcpl or EpCAM antibody solution caused 80% mortality and/or haemorrhage, respectively, thus causing unacceptable toxicity. In contrast, the survival of animals treated with either nano- or immunonanoparticles was 60 and 70%, respectively. Taken collectively, pulmonary delivered drug-loaded nano- and EpCAM immunonanoparticles were well tolerated and can be considered a promising strategy for improving lung cancer treatment.
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PMID:Safety and proof-of-concept efficacy of inhaled drug loaded nano- and immunonanoparticles in a c-Raf transgenic lung cancer model. 2303 Feb 33