Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P05412 (c-Jun)
 11,453 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

In Alzheimer's disease (AD), in aging, and under conditions of oxidative stress, the levels of reactive carbonyl compounds continuously increase. Accumulating carbonyl levels might be caused by an impaired enzymatic detoxification system. The major dicarbonyl detoxifying system is the glyoxalase system, which removes methylglyoxal in order to minimize cellular impairment. Although a reduced activity of glyoxalase I was evident in aging brains, it is not known how raising the intracellular methylglyoxal level influences neuronal function and the phosphorylation pattern of tau protein, which is known to be abnormally hyperphosphorylated in AD. To simulate a reduced glyoxalase I activity, we applied an inhibitor of glyoxalase I, p-bromobenzylglutathione cyclopentyl diester (pBrBzGSCp(2)), to SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells to induce chronically elevated methylglyoxal concentrations. We have shown that 10 microM pBrBzGSCp(2) leads to a fourfold elevation of the methylglyoxal level after 24 hr. In addition, glyoxalase I inhibition leads to reduced cell viability, strongly retracted neuritis, increase in [Ca(2+)](i), and activation of caspase-3. However, pBrBzGSCp(2) did not lead to tau "hyper"-phosphorylation despite activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase but rather activated protein phosphatases 2 and induced tau dephosphorylation at the Ser(202)/Thr(205) and Ser(396)/Ser(404) epitopes. Preincubation with the carbonyl scavenger aminoguanidine prevented tau dephosphorylation, indicating the specific effect of methylglyoxal. Also, pretreatment with the inhibitor okadaic acid prevented tau dephosphorylation, indicating that methylglyoxal activates PP-2A. In summary, our data suggest that a reduced glyoxalase I activity mimics some changes associated with neurodegeneration, such as neurite retraction and apoptotic cell death.
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PMID:Pathological effects of glyoxalase I inhibition in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. 1655 97

The two classical pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease are deposits of aggregated beta-amyloid (Abeta) peptide and neurofibrillary tangles composed of hyperphosphorylated tau protein. In addition to Abeta pathology, an invariant trait of Alzheimer's disease, disruption of tau processing is a necessary event in the neurotoxic cascade which eventually leads to neuronal death and subsequent dementia. Tau is a neuronal, microtubule-bound protein which becomes hyperphosphorylated as a result of an imbalance of the kinase and phosphatase activities which normally tightly regulate its phosphorylation. In addition to this pathogenic hyperphosphorylation, tau dissociates from microtubules and self-aggregates to form insoluble oligomers which progress to the macroscopic tangles evident in post mortem Alzheimer's disease tissue. Subsequent toxicity may ensue either as a direct toxic effect of free tau oligomers or as a result of altered microtubule-dependent processes. In order to intervene pharmacologically in this disease process, much effort has been expended in order to identify and inhibit the kinases responsible for pathogenic hyperphosphorylation and many candidate kinases have been investigated including glycogen synthase kinase (GSK-3), cyclin-dependant kinase-5 (Cdk-5), MAPK family members (extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 [Erk-1 and 2], MEK [MAP kinase kinase], c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinases (JNKs) and p38), casein kinase, calcium calmodulin-dependant kinase II (CaMK-II), microtubule affinity regulating kinase (MARK), protein kinase A (PKA/cAMP-dependant protein kinase) and others. Focus has also fallen upon the role of the phosphatases responsible for dephosphorylation of tau. This review will describe the tau-related etiology of Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies as well as the therapeutic strategies to inhibit the hyperphosphorylation of tau.
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PMID:Tau therapeutic strategies for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. 1671 93

The c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK-1, -2, and -3) are members of the mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase family of enzymes. They are activated in response to certain cytokines, as well as by cellular stresses including chemotoxins, peroxides, and irradiation. They have been implicated in the pathology of a variety of different diseases with an inflammatory component including asthma, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. In this work, high-throughput screening identified a JNK inhibitor with an excellent kinase selectivity profile. Using X-ray crystallography and biochemical screening to guide our lead optimization, we prepared compounds with inhibitory potencies in the low-double-digit nanomolar range, activity in whole cells, and pharmacokinetics suitable for in vivo use. The new compounds were over 1,000-fold selective for JNK-1 and -2 over other MAP kinases including ERK2, p38alpha, and p38delta and showed little inhibitory activity against a panel of 74 kinases.
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PMID:Aminopyridine-based c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitors with cellular activity and minimal cross-kinase activity. 1675 99

To investigate the upstream effector that led to tau hyperphosphorylation, nitration, and accumulation as seen in Alzheimer's disease brain, and the underlying mechanisms, we bilaterally injected SIN-1, a recognized peroxynitrite donor, into the hippocampus of rat brain. We observed that the level of nitrated and hyperphosphorylated tau was markedly increased in rat hippocampus 24 h after drug administration, and these alterations were prevented by preinjection of uric acid, a natural scavenger of peroxynitrite. Concomitantly, we detected a significant activation in glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) and p38 MAPKs, including p38alpha, p38beta, and p38delta, but no obvious change was measured in the activity of p38gamma, ERK, and c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK). Both nitrated tau and hyperphosphorylated tau were aggregated in the hippocampus, in which the activity of 20S proteasome was significantly arrested in SIN-1-injected rats. Further studies demonstrated that the hyperphosphorylated tau was degraded as efficiently as normal tau by 20S proteasome, but the nitrated tau with an unorderly secondary structure became more resistant to the proteolysis. These results provide the first in vivo evidence showing that peroxynitrite simultaneously induces tau hyperphosphorylation, nitration, and accumulation, and that activation of GSK-3beta, p38alpha, p38beta, p38delta isoforms and the inhibition of proteasome activity are respectively responsible for the peroxynitrite-induced tau hyperphosphorylation and accumulation. Our findings reveal a common upstream stimulator and a potential therapeutic target for Alzheimer-like neurodegeneration.
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PMID:Peroxynitrite induces Alzheimer-like tau modifications and accumulation in rat brain and its underlying mechanisms. 1681 18

Acrolein, which is a highly reactive alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde generated by lipid peroxidation, can affect cells and tissues and cause various disorders. Increased levels of unsaturated aldehydes play an important role in the pathogenesis of a number of human diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, atherosclerosis and diabetes. Acrolein is a highly ubiquitous toxic environmental pollutant. Because of human exposure, there is a need for investigating the mechanisms involved in acrolein toxicity at the cellular and molecular levels. Acrolein can induce cell death by apoptosis, although the mechanisms are not entirely clear. The present study investigates whether mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) play a role in activation of apoptosis by acrolein. Our findings show that acrolein-mediated apoptosis is in fact MAPK-dependent in Chinese hamster ovary cells. The MAP family kinases, including ERK and p38 kinase, and the transcription factor c-Jun were all activated by phosphorylation after 1 h exposure to acrolein. Phosphorylation of ERK and p38 kinases and their blockade by an ERK inhibitor, U0126, or a p38 inhibitor, SB203580, respectively, suggested that activation of apoptosis by acrolein is ERK- and p38-dependent. Thus, blockade of ERK and p38 inhibited chromatin condensation, caspase-7 and -9 activation as well as ICAD cleavage induced by acrolein. JNK and AKT kinases seem to be implicated in survival pathways against acrolein insult, since their respective inhibitors, SP600125 and LY294002/Wortmannin switched the mode of cell death from apoptosis to total necrosis. Finally, acrolein induced phosphorylation of the pro-apoptotic factor p53 which is responsible for transcription of pro-apoptotic factors such as Bax and Fas ligand. These results provide new information demonstrating the implication of MAPKs and AKT in acrolein-induced apoptosis, and this information may be useful for understanding the pathogenesis of a number of tissue diseases and environmental toxicity in response to acrolein.
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PMID:P38 and ERK mitogen-activated protein kinases mediate acrolein-induced apoptosis in Chinese hamster ovary cells. 1719 91

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy, associated to most cases of Alzheimer's disease (AD), is characterized by the deposition of amyloid ss-peptide (Ass) in brain vessels, although the origin of the vascular amyloid deposits is still controversial: neuronal versus vascular. In the present work, we demonstrate that primary cultures of human cerebral vascular smooth muscle cells (HC-VSMCs) have all the secretases involved in amyloid ss-protein precursor (APP) cleavage and produce Ass(1-40) and Ass(1-42). Oxidative stress, a key factor in the etiology and pathophysiology of AD, up-regulates ss-site APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) expression, as well as Ass(1-40) and Ass(1-42) secretion in HC-VSMCs. This process is mediated by c-Jun N-terminal Kinase and p38 MAPK signaling and appears restricted to BACE1 regulation as no changes in the other secretases were observed. In conclusion, oxidative stress-mediated up-regulation of the amyloidogenic pathway in human cerebral vascular smooth muscle cells may contribute to the overall cerebrovascular amyloid angiopathy observed in AD patients.
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PMID:Oxidative stress triggers the amyloidogenic pathway in human vascular smooth muscle cells. 1730 21

The c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway is known to be activated by oxidative stress and can lead to either defensive-protective adaptations in the cell or apoptosis. The JNK pathway is activated in Alzheimer disease (AD), as demonstrated in studies showing higher levels of phospho-JNK in affected neurons in AD brains than in controls. c-Jun, a transcription factor, is the downstream effector of JNK, whose activation requires phosphorylation of Ser63/Ser73. In this study, we characterized and compared the localization of c-Jun phosphorylated at either Ser63 or Ser73 in the hippocampi of AD cases with that in age-matched controls. Phospho-c-Jun (Ser73) was found to be strongly associated with neurofibrillary tangles and granulovacuolar degeneration (GVD) in addition to the nuclei in neurons in the hippocampal regions of the AD brain, but was virtually absent in most controls. Phospho-c-Jun (Ser63) was also found to be associated with GVD in AD brains. Indeed, phospho-c-Jun (Ser73) immunostaining was much more extensive than that of phospho-c-Jun (Ser63), with all the phospho-c-Jun (Ser63)-positive neurons also being phospho-c-Jun (Ser73) positive. Significant overlap between phospho-c-Jun and phospho-JNK suggested a mechanistic link. In addition, the neurons showing increased levels of phospho-c-Jun (Ser73) in the cytoplasmic GVD were negative for TUNEL, suggesting a mechanism protecting the cells from death. Overall, this study demonstrated specific alterations in c-Jun phosphorylation and distribution in AD which is not necessarily linked to apoptosis but rather may represent an adaptation process in the face of oxidative stress.
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PMID:c-Jun phosphorylation in Alzheimer disease. 1745 99

Increased brain deposition of amyloid beta protein (Abeta) and cognitive deficits are classical signals of Alzheimer's disease (AD) that have been highly associated with inflammatory alterations. The present work was designed to determine the correlation between tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-related signaling pathways and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in a mouse model of AD, by means of both in vivo and in vitro approaches. The intracerebroventricular injection of Abeta(1-40) in mice resulted in marked deficits of learning and memory, according to assessment in the water maze paradigm. This cognition impairment seems to be related to synapse dysfunction and glial cell activation. The pharmacological blockage of either TNF-alpha or iNOS reduced the cognitive deficit evoked by Abeta(1-40) in mice. Similar results were obtained in TNF-alpha receptor 1 and iNOS knock-out mice. Abeta(1-40) administration induced an increase in TNF-alpha expression and oxidative alterations in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Likewise, Abeta(1-40) led to activation of both JNK (c-Jun-NH2-terminal kinase)/c-Jun and nuclear factor-kappaB, resulting in iNOS upregulation in both brain structures. The anti-TNF-alpha antibody reduced all of the molecular and biochemical alterations promoted by Abeta(1-40). These results provide new insights in mouse models of AD, revealing TNF-alpha and iNOS as central mediators of Abeta action. These pathways might be targeted for AD drug development.
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PMID:Connecting TNF-alpha signaling pathways to iNOS expression in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease: relevance for the behavioral and synaptic deficits induced by amyloid beta protein. 1750 61

The c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) belong to the subfamily of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). JNK is an important transducing enzyme that is involved in many facets of cellular regulation including gene expression, cell proliferation and programmed cell death. The activation of JNK pathways is critical for naturally occurring cell death during development as well as for pathological death associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Initial research concentrated on defining the components and organization of JNK signalling cascades, but more recent studies see JNK as a target to prevent cell death. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have reported alterations of JNK pathways potentially associated with neuronal death in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. So efforts are now aimed at developing chemical inhibitors of this pathway. These have proved effective in vivo, reducing brain damage and some of the symptoms of arthritis in animal models. An alternative cell penetrating peptide approach is now available, with the identification of the JNK permeable peptide inhibitor, which modifies JNK action rather than activation, preventing neuronal death with unprecedented specificity and efficacy in several experimental conditions, including two animal models of ischemia. In this review we examine in detail the role of JNK in neurodegeneration, particularly in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. The possibility of intervention on the JNK pathway as a therapeutic approach is also illustrated.
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PMID:JNK signalling: a possible target to prevent neurodegeneration. 1758 14

The sole known genetic risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the gene encoding apolipoprotein E (APOE), but the underlying mechanism is still under debate. One hypothesis relies on an interaction between APOE and its receptors. Previous studies have shown association of LDL receptor-related protein (LRP1) with AD and we previously reported a modulation by LRP1 of the risk of AD conferred by the -499A>G promoter polymorphism of the MAPK8IP1, a gene encoding Islet-brain-1 (IB1), the human counterpart of c-Jun NH(2) terminal kinase interacting protein-1 (JIP-1). Here we tested in two independent population samples a possible impact of another receptor for APOE, namely the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 8 (LRP8), on the risk of dementia. Our results did not reveal any direct impact of a LRP8 coding (Arg952Gln) mutation on the risk of AD. However, this polymorphism increased the risk of AD conferred by the MAPK8IP1 G allele.
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PMID:Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 8 gene polymorphisms and dementia. 1761 63


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