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

Lipoxin A(4) (LXA(4)) is a lipid mediator that plays an important role in inflammation resolution. We assessed the anti-inflammatory effect of LXA(4) on endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) in rats. The inflammatory cell number and levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), and protein, as well as expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), in the anterior chamber of the eye were determined 24 h after lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 200 mug/paw) intradermal injection. The immunohistochemical reactivities of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and c-Jun were also examined. Topical LXA(4) (1-10 ng/eye) pretreatment decreased the number of inflammatory cells and the protein leakage into the aqueous humor (AqH). In addition, topical LXA(4) (10 ng/eye) inhibited the LPS-induced production of IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, and PGE(2), and expression of COX-2 and VEGF. A decreased activation of NF-kappaB and c-Jun was also found in LXA(4)-treated eyes. It is very interesting that an anti-inflammatory effect was achieved even when LXA(4) (10 ng/eye) was applied topically after LPS challenge, as indicated by the reduction in the cellular and protein extravasations into the AqH. Moreover, topical treatment of corticosteroid prednisolone (200 mug/eye) beginning before or after LPS injection reduced all of the molecular and biochemical alterations promoted on EIU rats in an efficacy similar to that of LXA(4). Together, the present results provide clear evidence that pharmacological activation of LXA(4) signaling pathway potently reduces the EIU in rats. Therefore, LXA(4) stable analogs could represent promising agents for the management of ocular inflammatory diseases.
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PMID:Molecular mechanisms of topical anti-inflammatory effects of lipoxin A(4) in endotoxin-induced uveitis. 1841 58

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable plasma cell malignancy. The recent successes of the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib in MM therapy have prompted investigations of its efficacy in combination with other anticancer agents. Polyamines play important roles in regulating tumor cell proliferation and angiogenesis and represent an important therapeutic target. CGC-11093 is a novel polyamine analogue that has completed a phase I clinical trial for the treatment of cancer. Here, we report that CGC-11093 selectively augments the in vitro and in vivo antimyeloma activity of bortezomib. Specifically, the combination of CGC-11093 and bortezomib compromised MM viability and clonogenic survival, and increased drug-induced apoptosis over that achieved by either single agent. Xenografts of MM tumors treated with this combination had marked increases in phospho-c-Jun-NH(2)-kinase (JNK)-positive cells and apoptosis, and corresponding reductions in tumor burden, tumor vasculature, and the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and the proangiogenic cytokine vascular endothelial growth factor. Furthermore, inhibition of JNK with a pharmacologic inhibitor or by selective knockdown blunted the efficacy of CGC-11093 and bortezomib. Therefore, CGC-11093 enhances the anticancer activity of bortezomib by augmenting JNK-mediated apoptosis and blocking angiogenesis. These findings support the study of the use of the combination of bortezomib and CGC-11093 in MM patients that fail to respond to frontline therapy.
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PMID:The novel polyamine analogue CGC-11093 enhances the antimyeloma activity of bortezomib. 1855 25

Isoliquiritigenin (ISL, 4,2',4'-trihydroxychalcone), which is found in licorice, shallot and bean sprouts, is a potent antioxidant with anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of ISL treatment on the migration, invasion and adhesion characteristics of DU145 human prostate cancer cells. DU145 cells were cultured in the presence of 0-20 micromol/L ISL with or without 10 microg/L epidermal growth factor (EGF). ISL inhibited basal and EGF-induced cell migration, invasion and adhesion dose dependently. ISL decreased EGF-induced secretion of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), but increased TIMP-2 secretion in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, ISL decreased the protein levels of integrin-alpha2, intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM) and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM), and mRNA levels of uPA, MMP-9, VEGF, ICAM and integrin-alpha2. Furthermore, basal and EGF-induced activator protein (AP)-1 binding activity and phosphorylation of Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), c-Jun and Akt were decreased after ISL treatment. However, phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase was not altered. The JNK inhibitor SP600125 inhibited basal and EGF-induced secretion of uPA, VEGF, MMP-9 and TIMP-1, as well as AP-1 DNA binding activity and cell migration. These results provide evidence for the role of ISL as a potent antimetastatic agent, which can markedly inhibit the metastatic and invasive capacity of prostate cancer cells. The inhibition of JNK/AP-1 signaling may be one of the mechanisms by which ISL inhibits cancer cell invasion and migration.
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PMID:Isoliquiritigenin inhibits migration and invasion of prostate cancer cells: possible mediation by decreased JNK/AP-1 signaling. 1882 45

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-encoded EBNA1 protein is expressed in all virus-associated tumours, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), where it plays an essential role in EBV genome maintenance, replication and transcription. Previous studies suggest that EBNA1 may have additional effects relevant to oncogenesis, including enhancement of cell survival, raising the possibility that EBNA1 may influence cellular gene expression. We have recently demonstrated by gene expression microarray profiling in an NPC cell model that EBNA1 influences the expression of a range of cellular genes, including those involved in transcription, translation and cell signalling. Here, we report for the first time that EBNA1 enhances activity of the AP-1 transcription factor in NPC cells and demonstrate that this is achieved by EBNA1 binding to the promoters of c-Jun and ATF2, enhancing their expression. In addition, we demonstrate elevated expression of the AP-1 targets interleukin 8, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha in response to EBNA1 expression, which enhances microtubule formation in an in vitro angiogenesis assay. Furthermore, we confirm elevation of VEGF and the phosphorylated isoforms of c-Jun and ATF2 in NPC biopsies. These findings implicate EBNA1 in the angiogenic process and suggest that this viral protein might directly contribute to the development and aggressively metastatic nature of NPC.
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PMID:Epstein-Barr virus-encoded EBNA1 modulates the AP-1 transcription factor pathway in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells and enhances angiogenesis in vitro. 1893 Oct 81

Neovascularization (NV) of the normally avascular cornea arises from various causes including inflammation, infection, trauma, and contact lens wear. Corneal NV, whatever the cause, impairs vision and threatens the survival of corneal allografts, thus representing a serious clinical problem for which treatment is limited. Recent interest has focused on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a key angiogenic factor whose role in corneal NV is amply documented. While experimental studies underscore the efficacy of anti-VEGF targeted agents, there exists no clear consensus on the ideal treatment for this multifaceted pathology. This review discusses the therapeutic potential of CD36, a well established anti-angiogenic receptor. We present evidence that CD36 contributes significantly to the maintenance of corneal avascularity wherein its deficiency leads to age-related corneal NV. Data further reveal that activation of CD36 substantially attenuates and induces regression of inflammatory corneal NV via concerted inhibition of VEGFA, c-Jun N terminal kinase-1, and c-Jun. In parallel studies, we demonstrate that hypoxia, a fundamental stimulus of NV, markedly elevates CD36 corneal expression in a hypoxia-inducible factor-1 and reactive oxygen species dependent manner. Collectively, our findings unveil interesting avenues for future research on the involvement of CD36 in neovascular eye disease and suggest CD36 agonists as potential therapeutic agents for the management of corneal NV, possibly in combination with anti-VEGF therapies.
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PMID:Emerging roles for the CD36 scavenger receptor as a potential therapeutic target for corneal neovascularization. 1907 79

Interleukin 7 (IL-7) is known to promote lymphangiogenesis. To study the relationship between IL-7 and the lymphangiogenic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-D, in human lung cancer cells and its impact on the prognosis of lung cancer patients, we investigated how IL-7 regulates VEGF-D. We found that, in lung cancer cell lines, IL-7/IL-7 receptor (IL-7R) increase the expression of VEGF-D and phosphorylation of c-Fos/c-Jun, induce c-Fos and c-Jun heterodimer formation, and enhance c-Fos/c-Jun DNA binding activity to regulate VEGF-D. In addition, the expression levels of IL-7 and IL-7R correlated well with that of VEGF-D, lymphatic vessels density (LVD), clinical stages, lymph node metastasis, and poor prognosis in 100 human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) specimens analysed. Taken together, our results provide evidence that IL-7/IL-7R induce VEGF-D up-regulation and promote lymphangiogenesis via c-Fos/c-Jun pathway in lung cancer.
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PMID:Interleukin 7/interleukin 7 receptor induce c-Fos/c-Jun-dependent vascular endothelial growth factor-D up-regulation: a mechanism of lymphangiogenesis in lung cancer. 1913 50

Many ocular pathologies, including retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration, result in vision loss because of aberrant neoangiogenesis. A common feature of these conditions is the presence of hypoxic areas and overexpression of the proangiogenic vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The prevailing current treatment, laser ablation of the retina, is destructive and only partially effective. Preventive and less destructive therapies are much more desirable. Here, we show that mice lacking c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1) exhibit reduced pathological angiogenesis and lower levels of retinal VEGF production in a murine model of ROP. We found that hypoxia induces JNK activation and regulates VEGF expression by enhancing the binding of phospho-c-Jun to the VEGF promoter. Intravitreal injection of a specific JNK inhibitor decreases retinal VEGF expression and reduces pathological retinal neovascularization without obvious side effects. These results strongly suggest that JNK1 plays a key role in retinal neoangiogenesis and that it represents a new pharmacological target for treatment of diseases where excessive neoangiogenesis is the underlying pathology.
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PMID:Genetic and pharmacological inhibition of JNK ameliorates hypoxia-induced retinopathy through interference with VEGF expression. 1943 84

Pterostilbene, a natural dimethylated analog of resveratrol, is known to have diverse pharmacologic activities including anticancer, anti-inflammation, antioxidant, apoptosis, anti-proliferation and analgesic potential. However, the effects of pterostilbene in preventing invasion of cancer cells have not been studied. Here, we report our finding that pterostilbene significantly suppressed 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA)-induced invasion, migration and metastasis of human hepatoma cells (HepG(2) cells). Increase in the enzyme activity, protein and messenger RNA levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 were observed in TPA-treated HepG(2) cells, and these were blocked by pterostilbene. In addition, pterostilbene can inhibit TPA-induced expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, epidermal growth factor and epidermal growth factor receptor. Transient transfection experiments also showed that pterostilbene strongly inhibited TPA-stimulated nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) and activator protein-1 (AP-1)-dependent transcriptional activity in HepG(2) cells. Moreover, pterostilbene can suppress TPA-induced activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinases 1/2 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt and protein kinase C that are upstream of NF-kappaB and AP-1. Significant therapeutic effects were further demonstrated in vivo by treating nude mice with pterostilbene (50 and 250 mg/kg intraperitoneally) after inoculation with HepG(2) cells into the tail vein. Presented data reveal that pterostilbene is a novel, effective, anti-metastatic agent that functions by downregulating MMP-9 gene expression.
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PMID:Pterostilbene inhibited tumor invasion via suppressing multiple signal transduction pathways in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. 1944 59

Activating point mutations in the K-Ras oncogene are among the most common genetic alterations in pancreatic cancer, occurring early in the progression of the disease. However, the function of mutant K-Ras activity in tumor angiogenesis remains poorly understood. Using human pancreatic duct epithelial (HPDE) and K-Ras4B(G12V)-transformed HPDE (HPDE-KRas) cells, we show that activated K-Ras significantly enhanced the production of angiogenic factors including CXC chemokines and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Western blot analysis revealed that K-Ras activation promoted the phosphorylation of Raf/mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase-1/2 (MEK1/2) and expression of c-Jun. MEK1/2 inhibitors, U0126 and PD98059, significantly inhibited the secretion of both CXC chemokines and VEGF, whereas the c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase inhibitor SP600125 abrogated only CXC chemokine production. To further elucidate the biological functions of oncogenic K-Ras in promoting angiogenesis, we did in vitro invasion and tube formation assays using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). HUVEC cocultured with HPDE-KRas showed significantly enhanced invasiveness and tube formation as compared with either control (without coculture) or coculture with HPDE. Moreover, SB225002 (a CXCR2 inhibitor) and 2C3 (an anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody) either alone or in a cooperative manner significantly reduced the degree of both Ras-dependent HUVEC invasiveness and tube formation. Similar results were obtained using another pair of immortalized human pancreatic duct-derived cells, E6/E7/st and its oncogenic K-Ras variant, E6/E7/Ras/st. Taken together, our results suggest that angiogenesis is initiated by paracrine epithelial secretion of CXC chemokines and VEGF downstream of activated oncogenic K-Ras, and that this vascular maturation is in part dependent on MEK1/2 and c-Jun signaling.
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PMID:K-Ras promotes angiogenesis mediated by immortalized human pancreatic epithelial cells through mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways. 1950 15

Acquired resistance to tamoxifen (TAM) is a serious therapeutic problem in breast cancer patients. Here, we found that TAM-resistant MCF-7 cells (TAMR-MCF-7 cells) produced higher levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) than control MCF-7 cells. Molecular analyses using reporter genes and Western blots supported the involvement of c-Jun/activator protein-1 and hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha in enhanced VEGF transcription in TAMR-MCF-7 cells. Pin1, a peptidyl prolyl isomerase, was consistently overexpressed in TAMR-MCF-7 cells, and c-Jun/activator protein-1-dependent VEGF transcription in TAMR-MCF-7 cells was almost completely inhibited by Pin1 siRNA and by the Pin1 inhibitor juglone. Chick chorioallantoic membrane assays confirmed that the increased angiogenic intensity of TAMR-MCF-7 cells was significantly suppressed by Pin1 inhibition. These results show that Pin1 overexpression is closely associated with VEGF-mediated angiogenesis and suggest that Pin1 is a potential therapeutic target of excessive angiogenesis in TAM-resistant breast cancer cases.
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PMID:Enhancement of vascular endothelial growth factor-mediated angiogenesis in tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells: role of Pin1 overexpression. 1967 42


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