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)

Hypoxia and reoxygenation are principal components of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion and have distinctive effects on the tissue. Both conditions have been associated with inflammation, necrosis, apoptosis, and myocardial infarction. Using a cell culture model of ischemia and reperfusion in which cardiac myocytes were exposed to cycles of hypoxia and reoxygenation, we report here that reoxygenation, but not hypoxia alone, caused sustained approximately 10-fold increases in phosphorylation of the amino-terminal domain of the c-jun transcription factor. The activation was similar to treatments with anisomycin or okadaic acid and correlated with the hypoxia-mediated depression of intracellular glutathione. Reoxygenation-induced c-Jun kinase activity was reduced by preincubating myocytes during the hypoxia phase with the spin-trap agent alpha-phenyl N-tert-butylnitrone or with N-acetylcysteine. The kinase activation was also inhibited by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein but not by other protein kinase inhibitors. These results implicate unquenched reactive oxygen intermediates as the stimulus that initiates a kinase pathway involving the stress-activated protein kinases (JNKs/SAPKs) in reoxygenated cardiac myocytes.
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PMID:Hypoxia/reoxygenation stimulates Jun kinase activity through redox signaling in cardiac myocytes. 904 53

Cellular ischemia results in activation of a number of kinases, including p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK); however, it is not yet clear whether p38 MAPK activation plays a role in cellular damage or is part of a protective response against ischemia. We have developed a model to study ischemia in cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. In this model, two distinct phases of p38 MAPK activation were observed during ischemia. The first phase began within 10 min and lasted less than 1 h, and the second began after 2 h and lasted throughout the ischemic period. Similar to previous studies using in vivo models, the nonspecific activator of p38 MAPK and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase, anisomycin, protected cardiac myocytes from ischemic injury, decreasing the release of cytosolic lactate dehydrogenase by approximately 25%. We demonstrated, however, that a selective inhibitor of p38 MAPK, SB 203580, also protected cardiac myocytes against extended ischemia in a dose-dependent manner. The protective effect was seen even when the inhibitor was present during only the second, sustained phase of p38 MAPK activation. We found that ischemia induced apoptosis in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes and that SB 203580 reduced activation of caspase-3, a key event in apoptosis. These results suggest that p38 MAPK induces apoptosis during ischemia in cardiac myocytes and that selective inhibition of p38 MAPK could be developed as a potential therapy for ischemic heart disease.
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PMID:An inhibitor of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase protects neonatal cardiac myocytes from ischemia. 1003 15

Three well-characterized mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) subfamilies are expressed in rodent and rabbit hearts, and are activated by pathophysiological stimuli. We have determined and compared the expression and activation of these MAPKs in donor and failing human hearts. The amount and activation of MAPKs was assessed in samples from the left ventricles of 4 unused donor hearts and 12 explanted hearts from patients with heart failure secondary to ischaemic heart disease. Total MAPKs or dually phosphorylated (activated) MAPKs were detected by Western blotting and MAPK activities were measured by in gel kinase assays. As in rat heart, c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) were detected in human hearts as bands corresponding to 46 and 54 kDa; p38-MAPK(s) was detected as a band corresponding to approximately 40 kDa, and extracellularly regulated kinases, ERK1 and ERK2, were detected as 44- and 42-kDa bands respectively. The total amounts of 54 kDa JNK, p38-MAPK and ERK2 were similar in all samples, although 46-kDa JNK was reduced in the failing hearts. However, the mean activities of JNKs and p38-MAPK(s) were significantly higher in failing heart samples than in those from donor hearts (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in phosphorylated (activated) ERKs between the two groups. In conclusion, JNKs, p38-MAPK(s) and ERKs are expressed in the human heart and the activities of JNKs and p38-MAPK(s) were increased in heart failure secondary to ischaemic heart disease. These data indicate that JNKs and p38-MAPKs may be important in human cardiac pathology.
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PMID:Activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinases and p38-mitogen-activated protein kinases in human heart failure secondary to ischaemic heart disease. 1042 41

Chagas' disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is an important cause of heart disease. Previous studies from this laboratory revealed that microvascular spasm and myocardial ischemia were observed in infected mice. Infection of endothelial cells with this parasite increased the synthesis of biologically active endothelin-1 (ET-1). Therefore. in the myocardium of T. cruzi-infected mice, we examined ET-1 expression and the p42/44-mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK)-AP-1 pathway that regulates the expression of ET-1. There was parasitism and myonecrosis in the myocardium of infected C57BL/6 mice. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis revealed elevated mRNA expression of transcription factor AP-1 (c-jun and c-fos) and increased AP-1 DNA binding activity as determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Western blot analysis demonstrated an increase in the phosphorylated forms of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2). ET-1 mRNA was upregulated in the myocardium of infected mice. Immunohistochemical and immunoelectron microscopy using anti-ET-1 antibody detected increased expression in cardiac myocytes and endothelium of these mice. These data suggest that ET-1 contributes to chagasic cardiomyopathy and that the mechanism of the increased expression of ET-1 is a result of the activation of the MAPK pathway by T. cruzi infection.
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PMID:Trypanosoma cruzi infection (Chagas' disease) of mice causes activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade and expression of endothelin-1 in the myocardium. 1107 62

As one of the signal transduction pathways related to myocardial remodeling, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) possibly play an important role in ischemic heart disease, but it is still unknown whether myocardial MAPKs are activated in the non-ischemic region of an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Therefore, the present study investigated the myocardial activity of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), c-Jun NH2 terminal kinases (JNKs) and p38MAPK during the acute phase of an infarction of the rat heart, and measured the geometrical ventricular changes by echocardiography. All MAPKs were significantly activated in the ischemic myocardium (IM), non-ischemic septal wall (SW), and right ventricular wall (RV). Furthermore, the activation patterns of MAPKs differed in each region. The activation of p44ERK, JNKs and p38MAPK in the IM occurred rapidly after myocardial ischemia, followed by those in the SW and RV. The activator protein-1 DNA binding activities of the IM, SW and RV increased significantly at I day after coronary ligation. Echocardiography showed increased SW motion and RV dilatation. In conclusion, this is the first in vivo evidence that myocardial MAPKs are activated in the non-ischemic region of an AMI. Echocardiographic results suggest that acceleration of workload and/or stretch may partially induce the activation of MAPKs.
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PMID:Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases in the non-ischemic myocardium of an acute myocardial infarction in rats. 1154 81

Early chemokine induction in the area at risk of an ischemic-reperfused (I/R) myocardium is first seen in the venular endothelium. Reperfusion is associated with several induction mechanisms including increased extracellular tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, reactive oxygen intermediate (ROI) species formation, and adhesion of leukocytes to the venular endothelium. To test the hypothesis that chemokine induction in cardiac venules can occur by ROIs in a TNF-alpha-independent manner, and in the absence of leukocyte accumulation, we utilized wild-type (WT) and TNF-alpha double-receptor knockout mice (DKO) in a closed-chest mouse model of myocardial ischemia (15 min) and reperfusion (3 h), in which there is no infarction. We demonstrate that a single brief period of I/R induces significant upregulation of the chemokines macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP) -1 alpha, -1 beta, and -2 at both the mRNA and protein levels. This induction was independent of TNF-alpha, whereas levels of these chemokines were increased in both WT and DKO mice. Chemokine induction was seen predominantly in the endothelium of small veins and was accompanied by nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B and c-Jun (AP-1) in venular endothelium. Intravenous infusion of the oxygen radical scavenger N-2-mercaptopropionyl glycine (MPG) initiated 15 min before ischemia and maintained throughout reperfusion obviated chemokine induction, but MPG administration after reperfusion had begun had no effect. The results suggest that ROI generation in the reperfused myocardium rapidly induces C-C and C-X-C chemokines in the venular endothelium in the absence of infarction or irreversible cellular injury.
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PMID:Brief murine myocardial I/R induces chemokines in a TNF-alpha-independent manner: role of oxygen radicals. 1170 22

Cardiac myocytes can undergo programmed cell death in response to a variety of insults and apoptotic elimination of myocytes from the adult myocardium can lead directly to cardiomyopathy and death. Although it remains to be shown that therapy specifically targeting apoptosis will improve the prognosis of ischemic heart disease or heart failure, a number of studies in the past year have shed light on potential ways to intervene in the process. Progress in the past year includes a better understanding of the importance of mitochondria-initiated events in cardiac myocyte apoptosis, of factors inducing apoptosis during hypoxia, and of the dual pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic effects of hypertrophic stimuli such as beta-adrenoceptor agonists, nitric oxide and calcineurin. Further evidence supports the pathophysiologic relevance of apoptosis in human heart disease. The tracking of cytoprotective and apoptotic signal transduction pathways has revealed important new insights into the roles of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases p38, extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminus kinase (JNK) in cardiac cell fate.
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PMID:Molecular mechanisms of apoptosis in the cardiac myocyte. 1171 88

The role of nitric oxide (NO) generated by the inducible NO synthase (iNOS) during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion is not understood. We investigated the role of iNOS during early reperfusion damage induced in genetically deficient iNOS (iNOS-/-) mice and wild-type littermates. In wild-type mice, ischemia (60 min) and reperfusion (60 min) induced an elevation in serum levels of creatine phosphokinase and myocardial injury characterized by the presence of scattered apoptotic myocytes and mild neutrophil infiltration. Northern blot analysis showed increased expression of iNOS, whose activity was markedly elevated after reperfusion. Immunohistochemistry showed staining for nitrotyrosine; Western blot analysis showed elevated expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), a putative cardioprotective mediator. Plasma levels of nitrite and nitrate, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and IL-10 were also increased. These events were preceded by degradation of inhibitor kappaBalpha (IkappaBalpha), activation of IkappaB kinase complex (IKK) and c-Jun-NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), and subsequently activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and activator protein 1 (AP-1) as early as 15 min after reperfusion. In contrast, iNOS-/- mice experienced 35% mortality after reperfusion. The extensive myocardial injury was associated with marked apoptosis and infiltration of neutrophils whereas expression of HSP70 was less pronounced. Nitrotyrosine formation and plasma levels of nitrite and nitrate were undetectable. TNF-alpha and IL-6 were increased and IL-10 was reduced in earlier stages of reperfusion. Activation of IKK and JNK and binding activity of NF-kappaB and AP-1 were significantly reduced. Thus, we conclude that iNOS plays a beneficial role in modulating the early defensive inflammatory response against reperfusion injury through regulation of signal transduction.
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PMID:Absence of inducible nitric oxide synthase modulates early reperfusion-induced NF-kappaB and AP-1 activation and enhances myocardial damage. 1187 82

Previously we showed that cardiac fibroblasts are cellular targets of estrogen and that there are significant differences in proliferative response of male and female cardiac fibroblasts under hypoxia, a condition of myocardial ischemia. Here, we tested the hypothesis that signaling pathways that control cell cycle progression and apoptosis in cardiac fibroblasts may be activated in a gender-specific manner. Cardiac fibroblasts from adult, age-matched male and female rat heart were exposed to hypoxia (2% O2) and normoxia. Western analysis of cell lysate was used to compare the level of basal and hypoxia-induced expression of signal transduction proteins, known to control cell cycle progression and cell death. Hypoxia led to significant activation of MAP (mitogen-activated protein) kinase and Jun kinase pathways, as shown by phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) and Jun kinase isotypes in male cells but this effect was modest in female cells. Male cells expressed higher levels of basal expression for transcription factors c-jun and NF-kB as well as the inhibitor of NF-kB (lk-B). Although hypoxia did not induce changes in the level of c-Jun in either cell type, it moderately increased the level of NF-kB in male cells but led to its decrease in female cells. Basal and hypoxia-induced expression of cyclin D1, c-fos, and PCNA seemed to be comparable in both male and female cells. However, hypoxia-induced activation of cyclin B1, which occurred in both cells, was stronger in female cells. Basal expression of apoptosis-associated transcription factor, p53, was comparable in both cells. However, under hypoxia, there was an increase in the p53 level only in female cells. Although female cells showed higher basal expression for survival-associated protein, Bcl-2, the level of this protein remained unchanged under hypoxia in both cells. Together, these data demonstrate differences in basal and hypoxia-induced expression of proteins with an established role in cell cycle progression and apoptosis in male and female cardiac fibroblasts. These differences may further point to gender-related differences in signal transduction pathways that control the proliferative response of those cells under hypoxia.
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PMID:Gender-related differences in basal and hypoxia-induced activation of signal transduction pathways controlling cell cycle progression and apoptosis, in cardiac fibroblasts. 1237 61

Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) is a most powerful endogenous mechanism for myocardial protection against ischemia/reperfusion injury. It is now apparent that reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in the mitochondrial respiratory chain act as a trigger of IPC. ROS mediate signal transduction in the early phase of IPC through the posttranslational modification of redox-sensitive proteins. ROS-mediated activation of Src tyrosine kinases serves a scaffold for interaction of proteins recruited by G protein-coupled receptors and growth factor receptors that is necessary for amplification of cardioprotective signal transduction. Protein kinase C (PKC) plays a central role in this signaling cascade. A crucial target of PKC is the mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channel, which acts as a trigger and a mediator of IPC. Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases (extracellular signal-regulated kinase, p38 MAP kinase, and c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase) are thought to exist downstream of the Src-PKC signaling module, although the role of MAP kinases in IPC remains undetermined. The late phase of IPC is mediated by cardioprotective gene expression. This mechanism involves redox-sensitive activation of transcription factors through PKC and tyrosine kinase signal transduction pathways that are in common with the early phase of IPC. The effector proteins then act against myocardial necrosis and stunning presumably through alleviation of oxidative stress and Ca(2+) overload. Elucidation of IPC-mediated complex signaling processes will help in the development of more effective pharmacological approaches for prevention of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury.
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PMID:Reactive oxygen species as mediators of signal transduction in ischemic preconditioning. 1502 47


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