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)

Spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) is a key regulator of cell signaling induced by cytokines or Fc receptor engagement. However, the role of Syk in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is not known yet. We investigated the pathways activated by Syk in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha)-stimulated fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) using the novel Syk inhibitor N4-(2,2-dimethyl-3-oxo-4H-pyrid[1,4]oxazin-6-yl)-5-fluoro-N2-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2,4-pyrimidinediamine (R406). Using immunohistochemistry, Syk was detected in RA synovial tissue (ST), primarily in the synovial intimal lining. Western blot analysis demonstrated significantly greater amounts of phospho-Syk expression in RA ST compared with osteoarthritis ST. The kinase was expressed and functionally activated by TNFalpha in FLS and was blocked by R406. Western blot analysis demonstrated that Syk inhibition by R406 markedly suppressed TNFalpha-induced c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation in FLS, with a modest decrease in extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation. Surprisingly, p38 activation was not affected by R406. The Syk inhibitor also decreased TNFalpha-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MKK) 4 phosphorylation but not MKK3 and MKK6 phosphorylation, which is consistent with its selective sparing of p38. The connection between Syk and JNK was confirmed by demonstrating decreased phospho-c-Jun protein expression and complete inhibition of JNK function in R406-treated cells. R406 also suppressed downstream actions of JNK, as determined by activator protein 1 binding, as well as matrix metalloproteinase 3 gene expression. These data demonstrate that Syk activation plays an essential role in TNFalpha-induced cytokine and matrix metalloproteinase production in RA FLS, especially by suppressing activation of the JNK pathway.
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PMID:A novel spleen tyrosine kinase inhibitor blocks c-Jun N-terminal kinase-mediated gene expression in synoviocytes. 1645 91

Despite considerable efforts to improve early detection of ovarian cancer, the majority of women at time of diagnosis will have metastatic disease. Understanding and targeting the molecular underpinnings of metastasis continues to be the principal challenge in the clinical management of ovarian cancer. Whereas the multistep process of metastasis development has been well established in both clinical and experimental models, the molecular factors and signaling pathways involved in successful colonization of a secondary site by disseminated cancer cells are not well defined. We have previously identified mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase 4/c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK)-activating kinase (MKK4/JNKK1/SEK1, hereafter referred to as MKK4) as a metastasis suppressor protein in ovarian carcinoma. In this study, we elucidate key mechanisms of MKK4-mediated metastasis suppression. Through the use of a kinase-inactive mutant, we show that MKK4 kinase activity is essential for metastasis suppression and prolongation of animal survival. Because MKK4 can activate either of two MAPKs, p38 or JNK, we expressed MKK6 or MKK7, specific activators of these MAPKs, respectively, to delineate which MAPK signaling module was involved in MKK4-mediated metastasis suppression. We observed that MKK6 expression suppressed metastatic colonization whereas MKK7 had no effect. Our finding that MKK4 and MKK6 both suppress metastasis points to the p38 pathway as an important regulatory pathway for metastatic colonization in ovarian cancer.
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PMID:The p38 kinases MKK4 and MKK6 suppress metastatic colonization in human ovarian carcinoma. 1648 30

D-sites are a class of MAPK-docking sites that have been found in many MAPK regulators and substrates. A single functional, high affinity D-site has been identified near the N terminus of each of the MAPK kinases (MKKs or MEKs) MEK1, MEK2, MKK3, MKK4, and MKK6. Here we demonstrated that MKK7 recognizes its target JNK by a novel mechanism involving a partially cooperative interaction of three low affinity D-sites in the N-terminal domain of MKK7. Mutations of the conserved residues within any one of the three docking sites (D1, D2, and D3) disrupted the ability of the N-terminal domain of MKK7beta to bind JNK1 by about 50-70%. Moreover, mutation of any two of the three D-sites reduced binding by about 80-90%, and mutation of all three reduced binding by 95%. Full-length MKK7 containing combined D1/D2 mutations was compromised for binding to JNK1 and exhibited reduced JNK1 kinase activity when compared with wild-type MKK7. Peptide versions of the D-sites from MKK4 or the JIP-1 scaffold protein inhibited MKK7-JNK binding, suggesting that all three JNK regulators bind to the same region of JNK. Moreover, peptide versions of any of the three D-sites of MKK7 inhibited the ability of JNK1 and JNK2 to phosphorylate their transcription factor substrates c-Jun and ATF2, suggesting that D-site-containing substrates also compete with MKK7 for docking to JNK. Finally, MKK7-derived D-site peptides exhibited selective inhibition of JNK1 versus ERK2. We conclude that MKK7 contains three JNK-docking sites that interact to selectively bind JNK and contribute to JNK signal transmission and specificity.
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PMID:Interacting JNK-docking sites in MKK7 promote binding and activation of JNK mitogen-activated protein kinases. 1653 5

Gemin5 is a 170-kDa WD-repeat-containing protein that was initially identified as a component of the survival of motor neurons (SMN) complex. We now show that Gemin5 facilitates the activation of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) and downstream signaling. Gemin5 physically interacted with ASK1 as well as with the downstream kinases SEK1 and c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK1), and it potentiated the H(2)O(2)-induced activation of each of these kinases in intact cells. Moreover, Gemin5 promoted the binding of ASK1 to SEK1 and to JNK1, as well as the ASK1-induced activation of JNK1. In comparison, Gemin5 did not physically associate with MKK7, MKK3, MKK6, or p38. Furthermore, depletion of endogenous Gemin5 by RNA interference (RNAi) revealed that Gemin5 contributes to the activation of ASK1 and JNK1, and to apoptosis induced by H(2)O(2) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) in HeLa cells. Together, our results suggest that Gemin5 functions as a scaffold protein for the ASK1-JNK1 signaling module and thereby potentiates ASK1-mediated signaling events.
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PMID:Positive regulation of ASK1-mediated c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase signaling pathway by the WD-repeat protein Gemin5. 1754 29

Activation of receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) by its ligand, HMGB1, stimulates myogenesis via a Cdc42-Rac1-MKK6-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. In addition, functional inactivation of RAGE in myoblasts results in reduced myogenesis, increased proliferation, and tumor formation in vivo. We show here that TE671 rhabdomyosarcoma cells, which do not express RAGE, can be induced to differentiate on transfection with RAGE (TE671/RAGE cells) but not a signaling-deficient RAGE mutant (RAGEDeltacyto) (TE671/RAGEDeltacyto cells) via activation of a Cdc42-Rac1-MKK6-p38 pathway and that TE671/RAGE cell differentiation depends on RAGE engagement by HMGB1. TE671/RAGE cells also show p38-dependent inactivation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 and c-Jun NH(2) terminal protein kinase and reduced proliferation, migration, and invasiveness and increased apoptosis, volume, and adhesiveness in vitro; they also grow smaller tumors and show a lower tumor incidence in vivo compared with wild-type cells. Two other rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines that express RAGE, CCA and RMZ-RC2, show an inverse relationship between the level of RAGE expression and invasiveness in vitro and exhibit reduced myogenic potential and enhanced invasive properties in vitro when transfected with RAGEDeltacyto. The rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines used here and C2C12 myoblasts express and release HMGB1, which activates RAGE in an autocrine manner. These data suggest that deregulation of RAGE expression in myoblasts might concur in rhabdomyosarcomagenesis and that increasing RAGE expression in rhabdomyosarcoma cells might reduce their tumor potential.
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PMID:RAGE expression in rhabdomyosarcoma cells results in myogenic differentiation and reduced proliferation, migration, invasiveness, and tumor growth. 1764 Sep 70

The amyloid precursor protein (APP) is a type I transmembrane protein translocated to neuronal terminals, whose function is still unknown. The C-terminus of APP mediates its interaction with cellular adaptor and signaling proteins, some of which signal to the stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK) pathway. Here we show that ASK1, a MAPKKK that activates two SAPKs, c-Jun N-terminal-kinase (JNK) and p38, is present in a complex containing APP, phospho-MKK6, JIP1 and JNK1. In primary neurons deprived of growth factors, as well as in brains of (FAD)APP-transgenic mice, ASK1 was upregulated in neuronal projections, where it interacted with APP. In non-transgenic brains, ASK1 and APP associated mainly in the ER. Our results indicate that recruitment of ASK1 to stress-signaling complexes assembled with APP may be triggered and enhanced by cellular stress. Thus, ASK1 may be the apical MAPKKK in a signaling complex assembled with APP as a response to stress.
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PMID:Interaction of ASK1 and the beta-amyloid precursor protein in a stress-signaling complex. 1771 30

NAG-1 (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-activated gene), a member of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily, is involved in many cellular processes, such as inflammation, apoptosis/survival, and tumorigenesis. Vitamin E succinate (VES) is the succinate derivative of alpha-tocopherol and has antitumorigenic activity in a variety of cell culture and animal models. In the current study, the regulation and role of NAG-1 expression in PC-3 human prostate carcinoma cells by VES was examined. VES treatment induced growth arrest and apoptosis as well as an increase in NAG-1 protein and mRNA levels in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. VES treatment induced nuclear translocation and activation of p38 kinase. Pretreatment with p38 kinase inhibitor blocked the VES-induced increase in NAG-1 protein and mRNA levels, whereas an inhibition of protein kinase C, Akt, c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase, or MEK activity had no effect on VES-induced NAG-1 levels. Forced expression of constitutively active MKK6, an upstream kinase for p38, induced an increase in NAG-1 promoter activity, whereas p38 kinase inhibitor blocked MKK6-induced increase in NAG-1 promoter activity. VES treatment resulted in >3-fold increase in the half-life of NAG-1 mRNA in a p38 kinase-dependent manner and transient transfection experiment showed that VES stabilizes NAG-1 mRNA through AU-rich elements in 3'-untranslated region of NAG-1 mRNA. The inhibition of NAG-1 expression by small interfering RNA significantly blocked VES-induced poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, suggesting that NAG-1 may play an important role in VES-induced apoptosis. These results indicate that VES-induced expression of NAG-1 mRNA/protein is regulated by transcriptional/post-transcriptional mechanism in a p38 kinase-dependent manner and NAG-1 can be chemopreventive/therapeutic target in prostate cancer.
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PMID:Vitamin E succinate induces NAG-1 expression in a p38 kinase-dependent mechanism. 1841 10

Activation of the double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases. We find that a compound widely used as a pharmacological inhibitor of this enzyme, referred to as PKR inhibitor (PKRi), {8-(imidazol-4-ylmethylene)-6H-azolidino[5,4-g]benzothiazol-7-one}, protects against the death of cultured cerebellar granule and cortical neurons. PKRi also prevents striatal neurodegeneration and improves behavioral outcomes in a chemically induced mouse model of Huntington's disease. Surprisingly, PKRi fails to block the phosphorylation of eIF2alpha, a downstream target of PKR, and does not reduce the autophosphorylation of PKR enzyme immunoprecipitated from neurons. Furthermore, neurons lacking PKR are fully protected from apoptosis by PKRi, demonstrating that neuroprotection by this compound is not mediated by PKR inhibition. Using in vitro kinase assays we investigated whether PKRi affects any other protein kinase. These analyses demonstrated that PKRi has no major inhibitory effect on pro-apoptotic kinases such as the c-Jun N-terminal kinases, the p38 MAP kinases and the death-associated protein kinases, or on other kinases including c-Raf, MEK1, MKK6 and MKK7. PKRi does, however, inhibit the activity of certain cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), including CDK1, CDK2 and CDK5 both in vitro and in low potassium-treated neurons. Consistent with its inhibitory action on mitotic CDKs, the treatment of HT-22 and HEK293T cell lines with PKRi sharply reduces the rate of cell cycle progression. Taken together with the established role of CDK activation in the promotion of neurodegeneration, our results suggest that PKRi exerts its neuroprotective action by inhibiting CDK.
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PMID:A chemical compound commonly used to inhibit PKR, {8-(imidazol-4-ylmethylene)-6H-azolidino[5,4-g] benzothiazol-7-one}, protects neurons by inhibiting cyclin-dependent kinase. 1904 82

Clinical and basic science data support an integral role of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the pathophysiology of temporomandibular joint disorders. Recently, we have shown that CGRP can stimulate the synthesis and release of nitric oxide (NO) from trigeminal ganglion glial cells. The goal of this study was to determine the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways in CGRP regulation of iNOS expression and NO release from cultured trigeminal ganglion glial cells from Sprague-Dawley rats. CGRP treatment for 2 h significantly increased activity of the MAPK reporter genes, Elk, ATF-2, and CHOP. In addition, CGRP increased nuclear staining for the active forms of the MAPKs: extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun amino-terminal kinase, and p38. This stimulatory event was not observed in cultures pre-treated with the CGRP receptor antagonist peptide CGRP(8-37). Similarly, pre-treatment with selective MAPK inhibitors repressed increases in reporter gene activity as well as CGRP-induced increases in iNOS expression and NO release mediated by MAPKs. In addition, over-expression of MAPK kinase 1 (MEK1), MEK3, MEK6, and MEK kinase significantly increased iNOS expression and NO production in glial cells. Results from our study provide evidence that CGRP binding to its receptor can stimulate iNOS gene expression via activation of MAPK pathways in trigeminal ganglion glial cells.
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PMID:CGRP stimulation of iNOS and NO release from trigeminal ganglion glial cells involves mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. 1945 95

We were interested in analyzing the regulation by mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) of cisplatin-provoked toxicity in epithelial renal tubule cell lines, when assayed under culture conditions (cell confluence plus serum deprivation), which mimic the characteristics of a nonproliferating epithelium. Under these restrictive growth conditions, cisplatin induced apoptosis with lower efficacy than in exponentially growing cells, and decreased p38-MAPK phosphorylation in NRK-52E and other (LLC-PK1, MDCK, HK2) cell lines. Moreover, cisplatin-provoked apoptosis was potentiated by cotreatment with p38-MAPK-specific inhibitors (SB203580, SB220025) or transfection with a kinase-negative mutant of MKK6, whereas c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase or extracellular signal-regulated kinase/MAPK and ERK Kinase inhibitors were ineffective. By contrast, when applied to exponentially growing cells, cisplatin stimulated p38-MAPK phosphorylation and apoptosis, was attenuated by kinase inhibitors. Treatment of confluent/serum-deprived cells with cisplatin caused mitochondrial transmembrane potential disruption and activated the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, as indicated by the decrease in Bcl-X(L) expression, increase in Bax expression and cytochrome c release, and these effects were potentiated by cotreatment with SB203580. Treatment of confluent/serum-deprived cells with cisplatin plus SB203580 decreased the intracellular reduced glutathione (GSH) content, and increased intracellular cisplatin accumulation as well as cisplatin binding to DNA. Cotreatment with the GSH-depleting agent D,L-buthionine-R,S-sulfoximine also potentiated cisplatin-provoked apoptosis. In summary, p38-MAPK inhibition potentiates cisplatin-provoked apoptosis in growth-arrested epithelial renal tubule cells, a result that may be explained at least in part by GSH depletion and drug transport alteration.
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PMID:Inhibition of p38-MAPK potentiates cisplatin-induced apoptosis via GSH depletion and increases intracellular drug accumulation in growth-arrested kidney tubular epithelial cells. 1957 54


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