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Query: UNIPROT:P06889 (Mol)
 630,302 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Airway epithelial cells are often the sites of targeted adenovirus vector delivery. Activation of the host inflammatory response and modulation of signal transduction pathways by adenovirus vectors have been previously documented, including activation of MAP kinases and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase). The effect of activation of these pathways by adenovirus vectors on cell survival has not been examined. Both the PI3-kinase/Akt and ERK/MAP kinase signaling pathways have been linked to cell survival. Akt has been found to play a role in cell survival and apoptosis through its downstream effects on apoptosis-related proteins. Constitutive activation of either PI3-kinase or Akt blocks apoptosis induced by c-Myc, UV radiation, transforming growth factor-beta, Fas, and respiratory syncytial virus infection. We examined the effect of adenovirus vector infection on activation of these prosurvival pathways and its downstream consequences. Airway epithelial cells were transduced with replication-deficient adenoviral vectors containing a nonspecific transgene, green fluorescent protein driven by the cytomegalovirus promoter, or an empty vector with no transgene. They were then exposed to the proapoptotic stimulus actinomycin D plus TNF-alpha, and evidence of apoptosis was evaluated. Compared with the cells treated with actinomycin/TNF alone, the adenovirus vector-infected cells had a 50% reduction in apoptosis. When we examined induction of the prosurvival pathways, ERK and AKT, in the viral vector-infected cells, we found that there was significant activation of both Akt and ERK.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2004 Aug
PMID:Adenovirus vectors activate survival pathways in lung epithelial cells. 1510 95

The multichaperone heat shock protein (Hsp) 90 complex mediates the maturation and stability of a variety of proteins, many of which are crucial in oncogenesis, including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R), Her-2, AKT, Raf, p53, and cdk4. These proteins are referred to as "clients" of Hsp90. Under unstressed conditions these proteins form complexes with Hsp90 and the cochaperones to attain their active conformations or enhance stability. Inhibition of Hsp90 function disrupts the complex and leads to degradation of client proteins in a proteasome-dependent manner. This results in simultaneous interruption of many signal transduction pathways pivotal to tumor progression and survival. Based on the unique role of the Hsp90 complex, extensive effort has been made in identifying Hsp90 inhibitors. Several compounds have been shown to inhibit Hsp90 in vitro and in vivo and the most advanced, 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (AAG), is in phase I/II clinical trials. Recent findings with 17-AAG indicate that tumor cells utilize Hsp90 quite differently from normal cells, explaining the selectivity of the drug and suggesting a central role of Hsp90 in malignant progression. Thus these small molecule inhibitors have proved not only to be of great value in identifying new Hsp90 client proteins and in understanding the biology of Hsp90 but are also promising therapeutics in a variety of tumors.
J Mol Med (Berl) 2004 Aug
PMID:Targeting multiple signal transduction pathways through inhibition of Hsp90. 1516 26

Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecological malignancy and has the worst prognosis of all gynecological cancers. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays an important role in ovarian cancer development. 9-beta-D-Arabinofuranosyl-2-fluoroadenine (Fara-A), a nucleotide analog, is frequently used in treating certain types of cancer. However, the effectiveness of Fara-A on ovarian cancer cells is unknown. In this study, we found that Fara-A inhibited VEGF expression in human ovarian cancer cells. Fara-A inhibited VEGF transcriptional activation through hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1). HIF-1 is composed of HIF-1alpha and -1beta subunits. Fara-A inhibited expression of HIF-1alpha but not HIF-1beta. Overexpression of HIF-1alpha reversed Fara-A-inhibited VEGF transcriptional activation. Our results demonstrated that Fara-A inhibited VEGF transcriptional activation through HIF-1alpha expression. Fara-A partly inhibited HIF-1alpha mRNA levels. Fara-A blocked the activation of AKT but not of ERK1/2. Overexpression of AKT reversed the Fara-A-inhibited VEGF transcriptional activation, suggesting that Fara-A inhibits VEGF expression via phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT signaling. These results demonstrate a new function of Fara-A in inhibiting VEGF and HIF-1alpha expression and identify a potential molecular mechanism of the regulation.
Mol Pharmacol 2004 Jul
PMID:9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl-2-fluoroadenine inhibits expression of vascular endothelial growth factor through hypoxia-inducible factor-1 in human ovarian cancer cells. 1521 10

Overexpression of CD44, especially its variant isoforms, occurs consistently in colon cancer, as compared to autologous normal colon, and this change occurs also in most other types of cancer. One of the basic features of malignant transformation is the acquisition of resistance to apoptosis. In this study, we asked whether the expression of CD44 and some of its variant isoforms commonly found in colon cancer participate in resistance to apoptosis and what are the mechanisms involved. A human colon cancer cell line, SW620, which does not express CD44 was stably transfected with standard, v3-10, and v8-10 containing isoforms of CD44. Mock-transfected and CD44-transfected cells were exposed to etoposide to induce apoptosis. Apoptotic and concomitant changes relevant to the mechanisms of apoptosis were monitored by flow cytometry, DNA fragmentation, and immunoblot analyses. It was observed that resistance to apoptosis induced by etoposide is promoted by CD44 expression in SW620, and this resistance is better sustained by the full variant isoform, v3-10. Concomitant alterations in caspase 9, caspase 3, Bcl-xl, and Bak indicated that the resistance to apoptosis in this model involved the mitochondrial pathway. The differential response of CD44 transfectants was associated with a downregulation of pRb and phosphorylated AKT. The results of this study are consistent with the conclusion that expression of variant CD44 isoforms which is characteristic of colon cancer, and most other types of cancer, confers a selective advantage to resist apoptosis, thereby promoting cell transformation into a malignant phenotype, in conjunction with other anti-apoptotic factors.
Exp Mol Pathol 2004 Aug
PMID:CD44 promotes resistance to apoptosis in human colon cancer cells. 1521 46

Adequate extravillous trophoblast (EVT) invasion is an essential step for placental formation. The aim of this study was to examine the possible role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling in epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced EVT migration and to determine if the 70 kDa ribosomal S6 kinase (p70S6K) is involved in this process. In this study, EGF significantly stimulated HTR8/SVneo cell migration and the phosphorylation of AKT, ERK1/2 and p70S6K in a concentration-dependent manner. The MAPK inhibitor U0126 decreased cell migration and ERK phosphorylation, but it did not influence p70S6K phosphorylation in response to EGF. In the presence of PI3K inhibitors (Wortmannin), EGF-stimulated trophoblast migration and phosphorylation of AKT and P70S6K (Thr(389) and Thr(421)/Ser(424)) were decreased, while EGF-induced ERK phosphorylation was not affected. Expression of an activated AKT (Myr-AKT2) increased basal phospho-p70S6K (Thr(389) and Thr(421)/Ser(424)) content, but failed to stimulate cell migration. However, it induced cell migration in the presence of EGF and Wortmannin, in which both AKT and MAPK pathways were activated. In addition, there was a concentration-dependent inhibition of cell migration and p70S6K phosphorylation (Thr(389) and Thr(421)/Ser(424)) in the presence of Rapamycin, a specific inhibitor of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR, a downstream of AKT). Taken together, our data suggest that EGF-induced trophoblast migration involves the coordinated regulation of both PI3K/AKT and MAPK signalling pathways. mTOR/p70S6K is important in PI3K- but not MAPK-mediated trophoblast migration in response to EGF.
Mol Hum Reprod 2004 Sep
PMID:Both mitogen-activated protein kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signalling are required in epidermal growth factor-induced human trophoblast migration. 1523 5

In this study, we have characterized the signaling pathways mediated by CXCR4 in breast cancer cells and its role in breast cancer cell invasion and migration. Stromal cell-derived factor 1alpha (SDF-1alpha; CXCL12) stimulation of breast cancer cells resulted in phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI-3K) activation, AKT phosphorylation, and activation of the FKHRL1 transcription factor. In addition, SDF-1alpha induced activation of the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) as well as the migration of breast cancer cells. Expression of SDF-1alpha, the ligand of CXCR4, was about 2-fold higher in microdissected human breast epithelial cancer cells as compared with normal epithelial cells. Immunohistochemical analysis indicated that SDF-1alpha expression is consistently higher in primary breast tumor cells than in normal breast epithelial cells. Furthermore, SDF-1alpha induced blood vessel instability, through increased vascular permeability, resulting in the penetration of breast tumor cells through the human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC). Notably, the migration of breast cancer cells was inhibited by the PI-3K inhibitor, Wortmannin, and the Ca(2+) inhibitor BAPTA/AM, indicating that transendothelial breast cancer cell migration induced by SDF-1alpha is mediated by activation of the PI-3K/AKT pathway and Ca(2+)-mediated signaling. Blockade of the CXCR4/SDF1 signaling pathway with anti-CXCR4 antibody also decreased transendothelial breast cancer cell migration as well as vascular permeability. This study focuses on novel interactions between highly relevant signaling pathways in breast cancer cells and brain microvascular endothelial cells and may provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of CXCR4/SDF-1alpha-mediated breast cancer metastasis to the brain.
Mol Cancer Res 2004 Jun
PMID:Involvement of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 and its ligand stromal cell-derived factor 1alpha in breast cancer cell migration through human brain microvascular endothelial cells. 1523 8

Aging and diabetes in women increase their susceptibility to myocardial ischemic injury, but the cellular mechanisms involved are not understood. Consequently, we studied the influence of gender on cardiac insulin resistance and ischemic injury in the aging of Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rat, a model of type 2 diabetes. Male and female GK rats had heart/body weight ratios 29% (P < 0.0001) and 53% (P < 0.0001) higher, respectively, than their sex-matched controls, with the female GK rat hearts significantly more hypertrophied than the male (P < 0.001). Glucose transporter (GLUT) 1 protein levels were the same in all hearts, but GLUT4 protein levels were 28% lower (P < 0.01) in all GK rat hearts compared with their sex-matched controls. In isolated, perfused hearts, insulin-stimulated (3)H-glucose uptake rates were decreased by 23% (P < 0.05) and 40% (P < 0.05) in male and female GK rat hearts, respectively, compared with their controls, with the female significantly more insulin resistant than the male GK rat hearts (P < 0.05). Protein kinase B protein levels and insulin-stimulated phosphorylation were the same in all hearts. During low-flow ischemia, glucose uptake was 59% lower (P < 0.001) in female, but the same as controls in male, GK rat hearts. Consequently, recovery of contractile function during reperfusion was 30% lower (P < 0.05) in female, but the same as controls in male GK rat hearts. We conclude that the aging female type 2 diabetic rat heart has increased insulin resistance and greater susceptibility to ischemic injury, than non-diabetic or male type 2 diabetic rat hearts.
J Mol Cell Cardiol 2004 Aug
PMID:Gender differences in hypertrophy, insulin resistance and ischemic injury in the aging type 2 diabetic rat heart. 1527 24

The Ret receptor tyrosine kinase plays a crucial role in the development of the enteric nervous system and the kidney. Tyrosine 1062 in Ret represents a binding site for the phosphotyrosine-binding domains of several adaptor and effector proteins that are important for the activation of intracellular signaling pathways, such as the RAS/ERK, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT, and Jun-associated N-terminal kinase pathways. To investigate the importance of tyrosine 1062 for organogenesis in vivo, knock-in mice in which tyrosine 1062 in Ret was replaced with phenylalanine were generated. Although homozygous knock-in mice were born normally, they died by day 27 after birth and showed growth retardation. The development of the enteric nervous system was severely impaired in homozygous mutant mice, about 40% of which lacked enteric neurons in the whole intestinal tract, as observed in Ret-deficient mice. The rest of the mutant mice developed enteric neurons in the intestine to various extents, although the size and number of ganglion cells were significantly reduced. Unlike Ret-deficient mice, a small kidney developed in all knock-in mice, accompanying a slight histological change. The reduction of kidney size was due to a decrease of ureteric bud branching during embryogenesis. Thus, these findings demonstrated that the signal via tyrosine 1062 plays an important role in histogenesis of the enteric nervous system and nephrogenesis.
Mol Cell Biol 2004 Sep
PMID:A targeting mutation of tyrosine 1062 in Ret causes a marked decrease of enteric neurons and renal hypoplasia. 1534 65

Differences in the concentrations of signal transduction proteins often alter cellular function and phenotype, as is evident from numerous, heterozygous knockout mouse models for signal transduction proteins. Here, we measured signal transduction proteins involved in the adaptation to exercise and insulin signalling in fast rat extensor digitorum longus (EDL; 3% type I fibres) and the slow soleus muscles (84% type I fibres). The EDL and soleus were excised from four rats, the proteins extracted and subjected to Western blots for various signal transduction proteins. Our results show major differences in signal transduction protein concentrations between EDL and soleus. The EDL to soleus concentration ratios were: Calcineurin: 1.43 +/- 0.10; ERK1: 0.38 +/- 0.18; ERK2: 0.61 +/- 0.16; p38alpha, beta: 1.36 +/- 0.15; p38gamma/ERK6: 0.95 +/- 0.11; PKB/AKT: 1.44 +/- 0.08; p70S6k: 6.86 +/- 3.58; GSK3beta: 0.69 +/- 0.03; myostatin: 1.95 +/- 0.43; NF-kappaB: 0.32 +/- 0.10 (values >1 indicate higher expression in the EDL, and values < 1 indicate higher expression in the soleus). With the exception of p38gamma/ERK6, the concentration of each signal transduction protein was uniformly higher in one muscle than in the other in all four animals. These experiments show that signal transduction protein concentrations vary between fast and slow muscles, presumably reflecting a concentration difference on a fibre level. Proteins that promote particular functions such as growth or slow phenotype are not necessarily higher in muscles with that particular trait (e.g. higher in larger fibres or slow muscle). Interindividual differences in fibre composition might explain variable responses to training and insulin.
Mol Cell Biochem 2004 Jun
PMID:Concentrations of signal transduction proteins exercise and insulin responses in rat extensor digitorum longus and soleus muscles. 1536 93

We designed our experiments to evaluate whether fatty acid synthase (FAS), a lipogenic enzyme linked to tumor virulence in population studies of human cancer, is necessary for the malignant transformation induced by Her-2/neu (erbB-2) oncogene, which is overexpressed not only in invasive breast cancer but also in premalignant atypical duct proliferations and in ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast. To avoid the genetic complexities associated with established breast cancer cell lines, we employed NIH-3T3 mouse fibroblasts engineered to overexpress human Her-2/neu coding sequence. NIH-3T3/Her-2 cells demonstrated a significant upregulation of FAS protein expression, which was dependent on the upstream activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase/AKT pathways. Remarkably, pharmacological FAS blockade using the mycotoxin cerulenin or the novel small compound C75 completely suppressed the state of Her-2/neu-induced malignant transformation by inhibiting the ability of NIH-3T3/Her-2 cells to grow under either anchorage-independent (i.e., to form colonies in soft agar) or low-serum monolayer conditions. Moreover, NIH-3T3/Her-2 fibroblasts were up to three times more sensitive to chemical FAS inhibitors relative to untransformed controls as determined by MTT-based cell viability assays. In addition, pharmacological FAS blockade preferentially induced apoptotic cell death of NIH-3T3/Her-2 fibroblasts, as determined by an ELISA for histone-associated DNA fragments and by the terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase (TdT)-mediated nick end labeling assay (TUNEL). Interestingly, the degree of Her-2/neu oncogene expression in a panel of breast cancer cell lines was predictive of sensitivity to chemical FAS inhibitors-induced cytotoxicity, while low-FAS expressing and chemical FAS inhibitors-resistant MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells became hypersensitive to FAS blockade when they were engineered to overexpress Her-2/neu. Our observations strongly suggest that inhibition of FAS activity may provide a new molecular avenue for chemotherapeutic prevention and/or treatment of Her-2/neu-related breast carcinomas.
Mol Carcinog 2004 Nov
PMID:Pharmacological inhibition of fatty acid synthase (FAS): a novel therapeutic approach for breast cancer chemoprevention through its ability to suppress Her-2/neu (erbB-2) oncogene-induced malignant transformation. 1539 78


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