Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P10415 (Bcl-2)
 33,771 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Here we describe a Rho-mediated apoptosis suppression pathway driven by Bcl-2 expression in the interleukin (IL)-4- or IL-2-dependent murine T cell line TS1 alpha beta. IL-2, but not IL-4, induces Bcl-2 expression through RhoA activation which is inhibited by the specific Rho family inhibitor, Clostridium difficile Toxin B, as well as by a dominant negative RhoA mutant. Using transient transfections of RhoA mutants tagged with the vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein, we show that a constitutively active RhoA mutant induces Bcl-2 expression and prevents apoptosis upon IL-4 withdrawal. Finally, we have identified the signaling pathway involved together with RhoA in Bcl-2 induction and show compelling evidence for the implication of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase and protein kinase C.
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PMID:Rho prevents apoptosis through Bcl-2 expression: implications for interleukin-2 receptor signal transduction. 939 1

An important prerequisite for a successful pregnancy is that the maternal immune system does not reject the fetus. Down-regulation of the T helper 1 (TH1) associated cellular immune response could therefore be essential. With flow cytometric techniques, we show on a single cell level that both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from peripheral blood produce less TH1 cytokines (i.e. IFN-gamma and IL-2) and more TH2 cytokines (i.e. IL-4) during normal human pregnancy and shortly after delivery than during non-pregnancy. The TH1/TH2 cytokine ratio in T cells of women during pregnancy and after delivery was significantly decreased. In contrast the TH1/TH2 ratio was elevated to near normal in women with recurrent spontaneous abortions, indicating a marked shift towards TH1 immunity. Fas antigen (CD95) on T cells was significantly elevated during pregnancy and in the post-delivery phase whereas the intracellular expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 remained unchanged. Nevertheless Fas-mediated apoptosis in T cells was markedly reduced during normal human pregnancy. We hypothesize that TH1 cells undergo predominantly Fas-mediated apoptosis during pregnancy as has been shown in some TH2-prone diseases (e.g. SLE, HIV) where an elevated Fas expression on peripheral T cells is observed. This could explain the exacerbated occurrence of TH2-associated diseases in pregnancy.
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PMID:Shifts in the TH1/TH2 balance during human pregnancy correlate with apoptotic changes. 958 18

Interleukin 2 (IL-2)- and IL-4-mediated stimulation of survival and growth, reflected by the induction of bcl2 and c-myc, respectively, depends on the integrity of the membrane-proximal region (S-region) in the IL-2 receptor beta-chain (IL-2R beta) and the haematopoietin homology box1-containing region of the IL-4 receptor alpha-chain (IL-4R alpha). In contrast to IL-4, IL-2 induces the expression of c-fos and c-jun family genes, mediated by the acidic region (A-region) within the cytoplasmic domain of IL-2R beta. A highly acidic motif is also present in IL-4R alpha, and evidence in favour and against its importance has been published. The authors have constructed chimeric receptors between IL-2R beta and IL-4R alpha by substitution of either the S-region or the A-region of IL-2R beta with sequences derived from IL-4R alpha. These chimeras were stably transfected into BA/F3 cells and assayed for the capacity to restore functions of IL-2 beta, such as growth mediation by IL-2 and the induction of proto-oncogenes (c-myc, c-junB and c-fos). Replacement of both the S- and A-region of IL-2R beta with IL-4R alpha derived regions of similar size and cytoplasmic location supported growth-stimulation by IL-2 as well as proto-oncogene induction. In contrast, all IL-2R functions were lost by exchange of the S-region with the corresponding part of IL-4R alpha. Induction of c-junB and c-fos RNA as an indicator of A-region function, however, was maintained in an IL-2R beta chimera containing the acidic box-bearing region of IL-4R alpha. These data indicate a functional role of the acidic region in the IL-4R alpha-chain.
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PMID:Function of the human interleukin 4 receptor (IL-4R)-derived acidic motif revealed by cytoplasmic domain chimeras of the IL-4R alpha chain and the IL-2R beta chain. 961 70

The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-signaling pathway has emerged as an important component of cytokine-mediated survival of hemopoietic cells. Recently, the protein kinase PKB/akt (referred to here as PKB) has been identified as a downstream target of PI3K necessary for survival. PKB has also been implicated in the phosphorylation of Bad, potentially linking the survival effects of cytokines with the Bcl-2 family. We have shown that granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) maintains survival in the absence of PI3K activity, and we now show that when PKB activation is also completely blocked, GM-CSF is still able to stimulate phosphorylation of Bad. Interleukin 3 (IL-3), on the other hand, requires PI3K for survival, and blocking PI3K partially inhibited Bad phosphorylation. IL-4, unique among the cytokines in that it lacks the ability to activate the p21ras-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade, was found to activate PKB and promote cell survival, but it did not stimulate Bad phosphorylation. Finally, although our data suggest that the MAPK pathway is not required for inhibition of apoptosis, we provide evidence that phosphorylation of Bad may be occurring via a MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK)-dependent pathway. Together, these results demonstrate that although PI3K may contribute to phosphorylation of Bad in some instances, there is at least one other PI3K-independent pathway involved, possibly via activation of MEK. Our data also suggest that although phosphorylation of Bad may be one means by which cytokines can inhibit apoptosis, it may be neither sufficient nor necessary for the survival effect.
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PMID:Dissociation of cytokine-induced phosphorylation of Bad and activation of PKB/akt: involvement of MEK upstream of Bad phosphorylation. 963 68

To elucidate the mechanisms by which glucocorticoids promote Th2-type responses, we investigated the influence of dexamethasone (DEX) on both cytokine production and viability of NK1.1+ T cells. The in vivo administration of DEX enhanced the IL-4 production of spleen cells and liver mononuclear cells in wild-type mice, but not in beta2m-deficient mice. DEX reduced the cellularity of conventional T cells, but not that of NK1.1+ T cells, in both spleen and liver, suggesting an increased proportion of NK1.1+ T cells. Moreover, the proportion of IL-4-producing NK.1 + T cells increased in the DEX-injected mice. These results suggest that DEX induced IL-4 production through the preferential survival of IL-4-producing NKI.1+ T cells. In investigating the reason for the preferential survival of NK1.1+ T cells, we found that NK1.1+ T cells were resistant to DEX-induced apoptosis and expressed a higher level of intracellular Bcl-2 compared with conventional NKI.1- T cells. In addition, splenic and hepatic NK1.1+ T cells were resistant to radiation-induced apoptosis. Collectively, our findings revealed an important role for NK1.1+ T cells in the regulation of Th1/Th2 balance by glucocorticoids and their possible functions under various apoptotic stimuli.
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PMID:IL-4-producing NK1.1+ T cells are resistant to glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis: implications for the Th1/Th2 balance. 968 84

Cytokine-mediated enhancement of spontaneous cytotoxicity depends, at least in part, on modulation of the expression of surface molecules responsible for recognition of target cell structures and triggering or inhibition of the cytotoxic machinery. We previously demonstrated that expression of transcription factors (e.g., Egr-1, JunB, and c-Fos) is differentially regulated by IL-2 and IL-12. Here we show that expression of CD161/NKR-P1A, a molecule involved in triggering cytotoxicity, is specifically upregulated by IL-12. CD161 transcription, mRNA accumulation, and surface expression are increased by IL-12. Other cytokines sharing the IL-2R beta- and/or common gamma-chains (i.e., IL-15, IL-4, and IL-7) do not mediate these effects. In an effort to analyze the mechanisms by which IL-2, IL-12, and IL-15 differentially regulate gene transcription, we have isolated a novel gene, 197/15a, the expression of which in NK and T cells is down-regulated by IL-2 and IL-15, up-regulated by IL-12, and not affected by IL-4 and IL-7. IL-2 and IL-15 act, at least in part, repressing 197/15a transcription; their effect on 197/15a mRNA accumulation is partially independent of novel protein synthesis, likely not mediated by JunB, Bcl-2, or Bax, and requires the activity of rapamycin-sensitive molecule(s). The observation that IL-2 and IL-12 differentially modulate CD161 expression suggests the existence of cytokine-specific mechanisms of modulation of spontaneous cytotoxicity based on the regulation of expression of surface molecules involved in target cell recognition and/or triggering of the cytolytic machinery.
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PMID:Differential transcriptional regulation of CD161 and a novel gene, 197/15a, by IL-2, IL-15, and IL-12 in NK and T cells. 975 69

The murine TS1alphabeta T cell line expresses the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 upon IL-2 stimulation, whereas IL-4-mediated growth of this cell line proceeds in the absence of Bcl-2 expression. In addition, IL-4 stimulation inhibits Bcl-2 expression and modulates its mRNA level. IL-2-induced DNA binding activity for these transcription factors is sensitive to phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase inhibitor wortmannin and to Rho inhibitor Clostridium difficile toxin B, which inhibit IL-2-induced Bcl-2 expression. NF-AT transcription factor appears to be the most important in the control Bcl-2 expression, since inhibition of the calcium-calmodulin-dependent phosphatase calcineurin, which regulates NF-AT activity, downregulates Bcl-2 expression in IL-2-stimulated cells. Constitutive expression of this phosphatase also upregulates Bcl-2 expression in IL-4-stimulated cells. In addition, a dominant negative NF-AT expression vector downregulates Bcl-2 expression in IL-2-stimulated cells. These results suggest that IL-2 induction of Bcl-2 expression may be directly or indirectly mediated by NF-AT.
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PMID:The Bcl-2 gene is differentially regulated by IL-2 and IL-4: role of the transcription factor NF-AT. 977 66

The mechanism by which early lymphoid cells are selectively transformed by v-Abl is currently unknown. Previous studies have shown constitutive activation of IL-4 and IL-7 signaling pathways, as measured by activation of Janus protein kinase (JAK)1, JAK3, STAT5, and STAT6, in pre-B cells transformed by v-Abl. To determine whether activation of these cytokine signaling pathways by v-Abl is important in the cellular events induced by the Abelson murine leukemia virus, the effects of IL-4 and IL-7 on pre-B cells transformed with a temperature-sensitive v-Abl mutant were examined. Whereas IL-4 had little or no effect, IL-7 delayed both the apoptosis and cell cycle arrest that occur upon v-Abl kinase inactivation. IL-7 also delayed the decreases in the levels of c-Myc, Bcl-2, and Bcl-xL that occur upon loss of v-Abl kinase activity. IL-7 did not maintain v-Abl-mediated differentiation arrest of the pre-B cells, as activation of NF-kappaB and RAG gene transcription was unaffected by IL-7. These results identify a potential role for IL-7 signaling pathways in transformation by v-Abl while demonstrating that a combination of IL-4 and IL-7 signaling cannot substitute for an active v-Abl kinase in transformed pre-B cells.
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PMID:IL-7 reconstitutes multiple aspects of v-Abl-mediated signaling. 979 89

We have investigated the regulation of adult and cord blood CD45RA+ T cell proliferation and apoptosis to identify factors that may control the naive T cell pool. Cord CD45RA+ T cells were highly susceptible to spontaneous apoptosis as compared with CD45RA+ T cells from adults. Apoptosis was prevented by the addition of IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, and IL-15 which signal via the gamma-chain of the IL-2 receptor. IL-7 prevented the decrease in Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL and induced cell cycling in up to 20% of cord T cells after 8 days, resulting in a threefold increase in cord T cell numbers. However, the expanded cells retained a CD45RA+ CD45RO- phenotype. Similar results were obtained with adult CD45RA+ T cells. IL-7-expanded CD45RA+ RO- T cells expressed CD45RO after stimulation through the TCR. Investigations into the regulation of replicative senescence showed that after 12 days in culture with IL-7, cord blood CD45RA+ T cell proliferation resulted in telomere shortening. Nevertheless, IL-7-expanded cord blood T cells still maintained longer telomeres than unstimulated adult T cells. IL-7 but not IL-2 could directly induce high telomerase activity which probably retarded the rate of telomere shortening in cord blood T cells. These results suggest that proliferation induced by IL-7 may be important for extrathymic expansion of neonatal CD45RA+ T cells and may also contribute to the maintenance of the adult CD45RA+ T cell pool.
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PMID:IL-7-dependent extrathymic expansion of CD45RA+ T cells enables preservation of a naive repertoire. 983 71

Why a primary lymphoid organ such as the thymus involutes during aging remains a fundamental question in immunology. Aging is associated with a decrease in plasma growth hormone (somatotropin) and IGF-I, and this somatopause of aging suggests a connection between the neuroendocrine and immune systems. Several investigators have demonstrated that treatment with either growth hormone or IGF-I restores architecture of the involuted thymus gland by reversing the loss of immature cortical thymocytes and preventing the decline in thymulin synthesis that occurs in old or GH-deficient animals and humans. The proliferation, differentiation and functions of other components of the immune system, including T and B cells, macrophages and neutrophils, also demonstrate age-associated decrements that can be restored by IGF-I. Knowledge of the mechanism by which cytokines and hormones influence hematopoietic cells is critical to improving the health of aged individuals. Our laboratory has recently demonstrated that IGF-I prevents apoptosis in promyeloid cells, which subsequently permits these cells to differentiate into neutrophils. We also demonstrated that IL-4 acts much like IGF-I to promote survival of promyeloid cells and to activate the enzyme phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI 3-kinase). However, the receptors for IGF-I and IL-4 are completely different, with the intracellular beta chains of the IGF receptor possessing intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity and the alpha and gammac subunit of the heterodimeric IL-4 receptor utilizing the Janus kinase family of nonreceptor protein kinases to tyrosine phosphorylate downstream targets. Both receptors share many of the components of the PI 3-kinase signal transduction pathway, converging at the level of insulin receptor substrate-1 or insulin receptor subtrate-2 (formally known as 4PS, or IL-4 Phosphorylated Substrate). Our investigations with IGF-I and IL-4 suggest that PI 3-kinase inhibits apoptosis by maintaining high levels of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. The sharing of common activation molecules, despite vastly different protein structures of their receptors, forms a molecular explanation for the possibility of cross talk between IL-4 and IGF-I in regulating many of the events associated with hematopoietic differentiation, proliferation and survival.
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PMID:The immune-endocrine loop during aging: role of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I. 987 36


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