Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P05231 (interleukin-6)
 23,907 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Okadaic acid, a phosphatase inhibitor from a marine organism, mimics tumor necrosis factor/interleukin-1 (TNF/IL-1) in inducing changes in early cellular protein phosphorylation. A total of approximately 116 proteins exhibit significant and concordant changes in phosphorylation or dephosphorylation within 15 min in human fibroblasts activated by either okadaic acid, TNF, or IL-1. The fidelity of this mimicry by okadaic acid extends to the phosphorylation of the 27 hsp complex, stathmin, eIF-4E, myosin light chain, nucleolin, epidermal growth factor receptor, and other cdc2-kinase substrates (c-abl, RB, and p53). The okadaic acid-induced pattern of protein phosphorylation is distinct from that observed in cells treated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate or with ligands like epidermal growth factor, cyclic AMP agonists, bradykinin, or interferons. Like TNF, okadaic acid also induces the transcription of immediate early response genes like c-jun and Egr-1 as well as the interleukin-6 genes. The overall early effects of okadaic acid uniquely parallel those of TNF/IL-1 and not those of other cytokines or ligands. Regulation of protein phosphatase inhibition is discussed as a mechanism for TNF/IL-1 signal transduction.
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PMID:Okadaic acid mimics multiple changes in early protein phosphorylation and gene expression induced by tumor necrosis factor or interleukin-1. 137 Apr 82

Growth of epithelial ovarian cancer is influenced by several factors including transforming growth factor-alpha and transforming growth factor-beta, macrophage colony stimulating factor, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 and interleukin-6, c-erb B-2 (HER-2/neu), and mutant p53. Continued expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor, new expression of c-fms, and overexpression of HER-2/neu are associated with a poor prognosis. A number of cytokines have been used to treat patients with ovarian cancer, including interferon-alpha, interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-2. Judging from preclinical models, interferon-gamma may be more active than interferon-alpha against human ovarian cancer. Although tumor necrosis factor-alpha can stimulate proliferation of some ovarian cancers, the cytotoxic activity of tumor necrosis factor-alpha has been amplified ex vivo by inhibitors of protein synthesis. Similar heterogeneity exists with regard to interleukin-1 where stimulation or inhibition of cell proliferation has been observed. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes from ascites fluid contain cells capable of major histocompatibility complex-restricted and major histocompatibility complex-nonrestricted cytotoxicity. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and interleukin-2 have been combined with cytotoxic chemotherapy to treat advanced or recurrent disease. Bispecific monoclonal antibodies that react both with T cells and ovarian tumor cells have produced tumor inhibition in human tumor xenografts. Immunotoxins that contain OVB3 and pseudomonas exotoxin have been evaluated in a phase I clinical trial. Dose-limiting central neurotoxicity has been observed without tumor regression. A monoclonal antibody designated OVX1 has been developed against a high-molecular-weight mucinlike molecule associated with ovarian cancers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Biology and therapy with biologic agents in gynecologic cancer. 145 11

A variety of sexually transmitted diseases frequently accompany infection with human papillomavirus and stimulate inflammation of the cervical mucosa. Inflammation and cell injury cause release of proinflammatory cytokines, which in turn might regulate growth of human papillomavirus-infected cells. This study compared the interaction of the proinflammatory cytokine, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and its soluble receptor with normal ecto- and endocervical cells, human papillomavirus-immortalized ectocervical cells, and squamous carcinoma-derived cell lines. Proliferation of normal cervical cells was enhanced by IL-6 but inhibited by its soluble receptor. However, both IL-6 and its soluble receptor significantly stimulated growth of the three immortal and four cervical carcinoma-derived cell lines analyzed. Stimulation by IL-6 was dose dependent and was blocked by an antibody that neutralized IL-6 activity. IL-6-mediated proliferation was accompanied by increased expression of RNAs encoding transforming growth factor-alpha and amphiregulin, two epidermal growth factor receptor ligands. Furthermore, growth stimulation by IL-6 was significantly inhibited by antibodies that either blocked signal transduction by the epidermal growth factor receptor or that neutralized transforming growth factor-alpha or amphiregulin activity. Thus, IL-6 stimulates proliferation of human papillomavirus-immortalized cervical cells via an epidermal growth factor receptor-dependent pathway involving autocrine stimulation by transforming growth factor-alpha and amphiregulin.
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PMID:Interleukin-6 and interleukin-6 soluble receptor regulate proliferation of normal, human papillomavirus-immortalized, and carcinoma-derived cervical cells in vitro. 771 61

In PC12 cells stably expressing alpha(1A)-adrenergic receptors (ARs), norepinephrine (NE) activates several mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways and causes differentiation (). Using retroviral luciferase reporters, we found that NE also activated both signal transducers and activators of transcription (Stat) and gamma-interferon-activated sequence-mediated transcriptional responses, with maximal effects similar to those caused by interleukin-6 (IL-6). UTP and epidermal growth factor had no effect, whereas nerve growth factor caused a small Stat activation. Responses to NE were blocked by prazosin and depended on receptor density. Responses to NE were not blocked by inhibitors of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (PD98059), protein kinase C (GFX203290), Src (PP2), Jak2 (AG490), or the calcium chelator 1, 2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid. The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors SB202190 and SB203580 blocked Stat activation by NE, the epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor AG1478 caused a small inhibition, but the phosphoinositide 3 kinase inhibitor LY294002 potentiated both responses. Gel shifts confirmed formation of nuclear factors binding to both Stat and gamma-interferon-activated sequence consensus sequences in response to NE and IL-6. Immunoprecipitation experiments showed that IL-6 increased tyrosine phosphorylation of Stat1 and Stat3 in PC12 cells, whereas NE caused a sustained increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of Stat1. These results suggest that alpha(1A)-AR stimulation causes Stat-mediated transcriptional responses in PC12 cells that are not downstream of known second messenger or tyrosine kinase pathways.
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PMID:Activation of signal transducers and activators of transcription by alpha(1A)-adrenergic receptor stimulation in PC12 cells. 1077 80

The plasma level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) is elevated in patients with acute coronary syndromes and has prognostic value. Thrombin is a potent mitogen for vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and plays an important role in the progression of atherosclerosis. We examined the mechanism of thrombin-induced IL-6 expression in VSMCs. Thrombin induced IL-6 mRNA and protein expression in a dose-dependent manner. Pharmacological inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), or epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) suppressed the thrombin-induced IL-6 expression. Deletion and mutation analysis of the promoter region of the IL-6 gene by using luciferase as a reporter showed that the DNA segment between -228 and -150 bp containing the cAMP response element (CRE) site played a critical role. Thrombin also induced phosphorylation of CRE binding protein (CREB) in an ERK- and a p38 MAPK-dependent manner. Overexpression of the dominant-negative form of CREB inhibited thrombin-induced IL-6 mRNA expression. These results suggest that the CRE site and CREB play an important role in thrombin-induced IL-6 gene expression in VSMCs. Transactivation of EGF-R and activation of ERK and p38 MAPK are involved in this process. CREB may be a novel transcription factor that regulates thrombin-induced gene expression.
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PMID:Thrombin induces interleukin-6 expression through the cAMP response element in vascular smooth muscle cells. 1170 62

The androgen receptor (AR), a transcription factor that mediates the action of androgens in target tissues, is expressed in nearly all prostate cancers. Carcinoma of the prostate is the most frequently diagnosed neoplasm in men in industrialized countries. Palliative treatment for non-organ-confined prostate cancer aims to down-regulate the concentration of circulating androgen or to block the transcription activation function of the AR. AR function during endocrine therapy was studied in tumor cells LNCaP subjected to long-term steroid depletion; newly generated sublines could be stimulated by lower concentrations of androgen than parental cells and showed up-regulation of AR expression and activity as well as resistance to apoptosis. Androgenic hormones regulate the expression of key cell cycle regulators, cyclin-dependent kinase 2 and 4, and that of the cell cycle inhibitor p27. Inhibition of AR expression could be achieved by potential chemopreventive agents flufenamic acid, resveratrol, quercetin, polyunsaturated fatty acids and interleukin-1beta, and by the application of AR antisense oligonucleotides. In the clinical situation, AR gene amplification and point mutations were reported in patients with metastatic disease. These mutations generate receptors which could be activated by other steroid hormones and non-steroidal antiandrogens. In the absence of androgen, the AR could be activated by various growth-promoting (growth factors, epidermal growth factor receptor-related oncogene HER-2/neu) and pleiotropic (protein kinase A activators, interleukin-6) compounds as well as by inducers of differentiation (phenylbutyrate). AR function is modulated by a number of coactivators and corepressors. The three coactivators, TIF-2, SRC-1 and RAC3, are up-regulated in relapsed prostate cancer. New experimental therapies for prostate cancer are aimed to down-regulate AR expression and to overcome difficulties which occur because of the acquisition of agonistic properties of commonly used antiandrogens.
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PMID:Androgen receptors in prostate cancer. 1223 44

Previously we reported that moderate calorie restriction or diet restriction (DR, calories reduced by 35% for 21 days) in male Sprague-Dawley rats protects from a lethal dose of thioacetamide (TA). DR rats had 70% survival compared with 10% in rats fed ad libitum (AL) because of timely and adequate compensatory liver cell division and tissue repair in the DR rats. Further investigation of the mechanisms indicate that enhanced promitogenic signaling plays a critical role in this stimulated tissue repair. Expression of stimulators of promitogenic signaling interleukin-6 (IL-6), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) were studied during liver tissue repair after TA-induced liver injury. Plasma IL-6 was significantly higher in the DR rats, with 6-fold higher expression at 48 h after TA administration. Immunohistochemical localization revealed significantly higher expression of IL-6 in the hepatic sinusoidal endothelium of DR rats. Expression of TGF-alpha and HGF was consistently higher in the livers of DR rats from 36 to 72 h. EGFR, which serves as a receptor for TGF-alpha, was higher in DR rats before TA administration and remained higher till 48 h after TA intoxication. DR-induced 2-fold increase in hepatic iNOS activity is consistent with early cell division in DR rats after TA challenge. These data suggest that the reason behind the higher liver tissue repair after TA-induced hepatotoxicity in DR rats is timely and higher expression of the growth stimulatory cytokines and growth factors. It appears that the physiological effects of DR make the liver cells vigilant and prime the liver tissue promptly for liver regeneration through promitogenic signaling upon toxic challenge.
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PMID:Upregulated promitogenic signaling via cytokines and growth factors: potential mechanism of robust liver tissue repair in calorie-restricted rats upon toxic challenge. 1237 94

Overexpression of receptor tyrosine kinases including the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) as well as nonreceptor tyrosine kinases, such as Src, have been implicated in the formation of human lung cancers. In addition, cytokines like interleukin-6 (IL-6) have been demonstrated to modulate lung cancer cell growth and elevated levels of IL-6 have been shown to be an adverse prognostic factor for patients with lung cancer. Despite a large body of evidence pointing to their potential importance, few direct studies into the role of signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) pathways in human lung cancer have been undertaken. Here we demonstrate that multiple nonsmall cell lung cancer cell lines demonstrate constitutive Stat3 DNA-binding activity. Stat3 DNA-binding activity is specifically upregulated by the addition of epidermal growth factor (EGF), IL-6, and hepatocyte-derived growth factor (HGF). Furthermore, the stimulation of Stat3 DNA-binding activity by EGF requires the activity of EGF-R tyrosine kinase as well as Src-kinase, while the upregulation of Stat3 activity by IL-6 or HGF requires only Src-kinase activity. Treatment of A549 lung cancer cells with PD180970 or SU6656, both pharmacological inhibitors of Src-kinase, resulted in reduced Src and Stat3 activity, cell cycle arrest in G2, and reduced viability of cells accompanied by induction of apoptosis. Treatment of Stat3-positive A549 and H358 cells with antisense Stat3 oligonucleotides results in complete loss of Stat3 DNA-binding activity and apoptosis, while Stat3-positive H1299 cells remained healthy. Finally, an adenoviral vector expressing a dominant-negative Stat3 isoform results in loss of Stat3 DNA-binding activity, apoptosis, and reduced cellular viability. These results demonstrate a role of Stat3 in transducing survival signals downstream of tyrosine kinases such as Src, EGF-R, and c-Met, as well as cytokines such as IL-6, in human nonsmall cell lung cancers.
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PMID:Activation of Stat3 by receptor tyrosine kinases and cytokines regulates survival in human non-small cell carcinoma cells. 1283 38

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a local treatment of cancers. The principle of PDT is the production of reactive oxygen species, in particular singlet oxygen, by light activation of a photosensitizer introduced into the target cells. The direct photochemical and subsequent redox reactions can lead to cell death. This study sought to identify effects occurring during PDT and some of their consequences in surviving cells. Using epithelial cells in tissue culture and in tumors, several distinct PDT-mediated reactions were found, including global dephosphorylation of proteins, induced phosphorylation of a 71-kDa protein, initiation of cellular stress responses, structural modification and loss of epidermal growth factor receptor, and cross-linking of proteins. Specific covalent cross-linking of nonactivated signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-3, and to a lesser extent of STAT1 and STAT4, correlated with PDT dose. Cross-linked STAT3 was primarily localized to the cytoplasm and failed to bind to DNA. The combination of STAT cross-linking and inactivation of receptor functions rendered PDT-treated cells refractory for at least 24 hours to interleukin-6 and oncostatin M, cytokines known to be elevated at site of tissue damage and inflammation. It is suggested that the loss of responsiveness to these inflammatory cytokines in the PDT-treated field assists tumor cells in evading the growth-suppressive activity of these mediators expected to be present at tissue sites after PDT.
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PMID:Photodynamic therapy causes cross-linking of signal transducer and activator of transcription proteins and attenuation of interleukin-6 cytokine responsiveness in epithelial cells. 1537 71

The aberrant behavior of cancer reflects upregulation of certain oncogenic signaling pathways that promote proliferation, inhibit apoptosis, and enable the cancer to spread and evoke angiogenesis. Theoretically, it should be feasible to decrease the activity of these pathways-or increase the activity of pathways that oppose them-with noncytotoxic agents. Since multiple pathways are dysfunctional in most cancers, and cancers accumulate new oncogenic mutations as they progress, the greatest and most durable therapeutic benefit will likely be achieved with combination regimens that address several targets. Thus, a multifocal signal modulation therapy (MSMT) of cancer is proposed. This concept has already been documented by researchers who have shown that certain combinations of signal modulators-of limited utility when administered individually-can achieve dramatic suppression of tumor growth in rodent xenograft models. The present essay attempts to guide development of MSMTs for prostate cancer. Androgen ablation is a signal-modulating measure already in standard use in the management of delocalized prostate cancer. The additional molecular targets considered here include the type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor, the epidermal growth factor receptor, mammalian target of rapamycin, NF-kappaB, hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha, hsp90, cyclooxygenase-2, protein kinase A type I, vascular endothelial growth factor, 5-lipoxygenase, 12-lipoxygenase, angiotensin II receptor type 1, bradykinin receptor type 1, c-Src, interleukin-6, ras, MDM2, bcl-2/bclxL, vitamin D receptor, estrogen receptor-beta, and PPAR-. Various nutrients and phytochemicals suspected to have potential utility in prostate cancer prevention and therapy, but whose key molecular targets are still unknown, might reasonably be incorporated into MSMTs for prostate cancer; these include lycopene, selenium, green tea polyphenols, genistein, and silibinin. MSMTs can be developed systematically by testing various combinations of signal-modulating agents, in concentrations that can feasibly be achieved and maintained clinically, on human prostate cancer cell lines; combinations that appear promising can then be tested in xenograft models and, ultimately, in the clinic. Some signal modulators can increase response to cytotoxic drugs by upregulating effectors of apoptosis. When MSMTs fail to raise the spontaneous apoptosis rate sufficiently to achieve tumor stasis or regression, incorporation of appropriate cytotoxic agents into the regimen may improve the clinical outcome.
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PMID:Targeting multiple signaling pathways as a strategy for managing prostate cancer: multifocal signal modulation therapy. 1552 6


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