Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P31749 (AKT)
 22,954 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Mutant src(-/-) mice have osteopetrosis resulting from defective osteoclasts, the cells that resorb bone. However, signaling pathways involving Src family members in osteoclasts remain unclear. We demonstrate that expression of a truncated Src molecule, Src251, lacking the kinase domain, induces osteopetrosis in wild-type and src(+/-) mice and worsens osteopetrosis in src(-/-) mice by a novel mechanism, increased osteoclast apoptosis. Induction of apoptosis by Src251 requires a functional SH2, but not an SH3, domain and is associated with reduced AKT kinase activity. Expression of Src251 dramatically reduces osteoclast survival in response to RANKL/TRANCE/OPGL, providing evidence that Src family kinases are required in vivo for survival signaling pathways downstream from TNF family receptors.
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PMID:Genetic evidence for a role for Src family kinases in TNF family receptor signaling and cell survival. 1115 79

Previous studies have demonstrated that AKT1 and AKT3 are activated by heat shock and oxidative stress via both phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent and -independent pathways. However, the activation and role of AKT2 in the stress response have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we show that AKT2 in epithelial cells is activated by UV-C irradiation, heat shock, and hyperosmolarity as well as by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) through a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent pathway. The activation of AKT2 inhibits UV- and TNF alpha-induced c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 activities that have been shown to be required for stress- and TNF alpha-induced programmed cell death. Moreover, AKT2 interacts with and phosphorylates I kappa B kinase alpha. The phosphorylation of I kappa B kinase alpha and activation of NF kappa B mediates AKT2 inhibition of JNK but not p38. Furthermore, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor or dominant negative AKT2 significantly enhances UV- and TNF alpha-induced apoptosis, whereas expression of constitutively active AKT2 inhibits programmed cell death in response to UV and TNFalpha -induced apoptosis by inhibition of stress kinases and provide the first evidence that AKT inhibits stress kinase JNK through activation of the NF kappa B pathway.
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PMID:Inhibition of JNK by cellular stress- and tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced AKT2 through activation of the NF kappa B pathway in human epithelial Cells. 2782 87

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.
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PMID:Adenovirus vectors activate survival pathways in lung epithelial cells. 1510 95

Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is upregulated in a variety of human cancers, including in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), whereas it is undetectable in most normal tissue. Evidence suggests that COX-2 is likely to be involved in hepatocarcinogenesis and, thus, COX-2 may be involved in an early process in carcinogenesis, dedifferentiation. To address this possibility, we investigated the effect of COX-2 inhibitors on TNF-related apoptosis, inducing ligand (TRAIL) sensitivity and its molecular mechanisms, with special attention to anti-apoptotic proteins. We used the highly selective COX-2 inhibitors, NS398 and CAY10404. We also used the MTT assay and cytological analysis of DAPI-stained DNA to assess viability and apoptosis in two HCC cells (SK-Hep1 and HLE). In order to ask what led to increased sensitivity to TRAIL in HCC cells, cell surface expression of TRAIL and TRAIL-receptors was investigated using flow cytometry analysis. Expression of survivin, X-chromosome-linked IAP (XIAP), Bcl-xL, AKT and phospho-AKT was also investigated using immunoblotting. COX-2 inhibitors resulted in a concentration-dependent decrease in cell viability in the two HCC cell lines tested. Subtoxic levels of COX-2 inhibitors did not significantly augment TNFalpha-induced apoptosis but did dramatically enhance TRAIL-induced apoptosis in both cell lines. TRAIL receptor 2/death receptor 5 (TRAIL-R2/DR5) expression was significantly up-regulated in SH-Hep1 and HLE cells. TRAIL receptor 1/death receptor 4 (TRAIL-R1/DR4) expression was up-regulated only in SK-Hep1. Expression of survivin and Bcl-xL was down-regulated in SK-Hep1 and HLE cells in the presence of CAY10404 but XIAP was not affected. Expression of survivin, Bcl-xL and XIAP was down-regulated in SK-Hep1 cells in the presence of NS398. Survivin expression was also down-regulated in the presence of NS398 in HLE cells. Finally, NS398 also decreased phospho-AKT in SK-Hep1 cells. These results demonstrate that COX-2 inhibitors can induce apoptosis and augment TRAIL sensitivity by up-regulation of TRAIL receptors and down-regulation of both survivin and AKT signaling.
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PMID:COX-2 inhibitors sensitize human hepatocellular carcinoma cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. 1678 54

The Nuclear Factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) family of transcription factors are ubiquitously expressed and control a wide range of cellular responses, including apoptosis, proliferation, differentiation, inflammation and immunity. Here, we investigated the function of the NF-kappaB upstream regulator IkappaB kinase 2/beta (IKK2) in apoptosis regulation in the normal physiological setting of regressing mammary gland. Conditional deletion of the gene encoding IKK2 resulted, surprisingly, in delayed apoptosis and remodelling, and abrogation of caspase 3 cleavage. This failure to induce involution was associated with reduced expression, within 24 hours of involution, of the death receptor (DR) ligand TNF and its receptor TNFR1, which are known NF-kappaB targets. This was associated with elevated levels of active AKT and phosphorylated FOXO3a. Furthermore, we show that expression of TWEAK, another DR ligand, is dramatically downregulated, even in heterozygous IKK2 mammary glands. Unlike other DR ligands, the TWEAK promoter has six consensus FOXO-binding sites, further suggesting that it is differentially regulated. Interestingly, a cleaved form of TWEAK is upregulated during involution. This unexpected function of the IKK2/NF-kappaB pathway as a regulator of TWEAK expression and inducer of apoptosis has significant consequences for future therapeutic approaches for cancer and inflammatory diseases.
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PMID:IKKbeta/2 induces TWEAK and apoptosis in mammary epithelial cells. 1688 27

Silymarin consists of a family of flavonoids (silybin, isosilybin, silychristin, silydianin and taxifoline) commonly found in the dried fruit of the milk thistle plant Silybum marianum. Although silymarin's role as an antioxidant and hepatoprotective agent is well known, its role as an anticancer agent has begun to emerge. Extensive research within the last decade has shown that silymarin can suppress the proliferation of a variety of tumor cells (e.g., prostate, breast, ovary, colon, lung, bladder); this is accomplished through cell cycle arrest at the G1/S-phase, induction of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (such as p15, p21 and p27), down-regulation of anti-apoptotic gene products (e.g., Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL), inhibition of cell-survival kinases (AKT, PKC and MAPK) and inhibition of inflammatory transcription factors (e.g., NF-kappaB). Silymarin can also down-regulate gene products involved in the proliferation of tumor cells (cyclin D1, EGFR, COX-2, TGF-beta, IGF-IR), invasion (MMP-9), angiogenesis (VEGF) and metastasis (adhesion molecules). The antiinflammatory effects of silymarin are mediated through suppression of NF-kappaB-regulated gene products, including COX-2, LOX, inducible iNOS, TNF and IL-1. Numerous studies have indicated that silymarin is a chemopreventive agent in vivo against a variety of carcinogens/tumor promoters, including UV light, 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA), phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and others. Silymarin has also been shown to sensitize tumors to chemotherapeutic agents through down-regulation of the MDR protein and other mechanisms. It binds to both estrogen and androgen receptors, and down-regulates PSA. In addition to its chemopreventive effects, silymarin exhibits antitumor activity against human tumors (e.g., prostate and ovary) in rodents. Various clinical trials have indicated that silymarin is bioavailable and pharmacologically safe. Studies are now in progress to demonstrate the clinical efficacy of silymarin against various cancers.
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PMID:Anticancer potential of silymarin: from bench to bed side. 1720 Nov 69

Extensive research within the past half-century has indicated that curcumin (diferuloylmethane), a yellow pigment in curry powder, exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and proapoptotic activities. We investigated whether the anti-inflammatory and proapoptotic activities assigned to curcumin are mediated through its prooxidant/antioxidant mechanism. We found that TNF-mediated NF-kappaB activation was inhibited by curcumin; and glutathione reversed the inhibition. Similarly, suppression of TNF-induced AKT activation by curcumin was also abrogated by glutathione. The reducing agent also counteracted the inhibitory effects of curcumin on TNF-induced NF-kappaB-regulated antiapoptotic (Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, IAP1), proliferative (cyclin D1), and proinflammatory (COX-2, iNOS, and MMP-9) gene products. The suppression of TNF-induced AP-1 activation by curcumin was also reversed by glutathione. Also, the direct proapoptotic effects of curcumin were inhibited by glutathione and potentiated by depletion of intracellular glutathione by buthionine sulfoximine. Moreover, curcumin induced the production of reactive oxygen species and modulated intracellular GSH levels. Quenchers of hydroxyl radicals, however, were ineffective in inhibiting curcumin-mediated NF-kappaB suppression. Further, N-acetylcysteine partially reversed the effect of curcumin. Based on these results we conclude that curcumin mediates its apoptotic and anti-inflammatory activities through modulation of the redox status of the cell.
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PMID:Role of pro-oxidants and antioxidants in the anti-inflammatory and apoptotic effects of curcumin (diferuloylmethane). 1764 May 67

B-cell-activating factor of the TNF family, (BAFF), and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) regulate B-lymphocyte survival and activation. We report that BAFF, but not APRIL, increased the chemotactic response of primary human B cells to CCL21, CXCL12, and CXCL13. The BAFF-induced increase in B-cell chemotaxis was totally abolished by blockade of BAFF-R and was strongly dependent on the activation of PI3K/AKT, NF-kappaB, and p38MAPK pathways. BAFF had similar effects on the chemotaxis of naive and memory B cells in response to CCL21 but increased more strongly that of memory B cells to CXCL13 than that of naive B cells. Our findings indicate a previously unreported role for the BAFF/BAFF-R pair in mature B-cell chemotaxis. The synergy between CXCL13 and BAFF produced by stromal cells and follicular dendritic cells may have important implications for B-cell homeostasis, the development of normal B-cell areas, and for the formation of germinal center-like follicles that may be observed in various autoimmune diseases.
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PMID:BAFF enhances chemotaxis of primary human B cells: a particular synergy between BAFF and CXCL13 on memory B cells. 1817 3

Extensive research within the last decade has revealed that most chronic illnesses such as cancer, cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, neurological diseases, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases exhibit dysregulation of multiple cell signaling pathways that have been linked to inflammation. Thus mono-targeted therapies developed for the last two decades for these diseases have proven to be unsafe, ineffective and expensive. Although fruits and vegetables are regarded to have therapeutic potential against chronic illnesses, neither their active component nor the mechanism of action is well understood. Resveratrol (trans-3, 5, 4'-trihydroxystilbene), a component of grapes, berries, peanuts and other traditional medicines, is one such polyphenol that has been shown to mediate its effects through modulation of many different pathways. This stilbene has been shown to bind to numerous cell-signaling molecules such as multi drug resistance protein, topoisomerase II, aromatase, DNA polymerase, estrogen receptors, tubulin and F1-ATPase. Resveratrol has also been shown to activate various transcription factor (e.g; NFkappaB, STAT3, HIF-1alpha, beta-catenin and PPAR-gamma), suppress the expression of antiapoptotic gene products (e.g; Bcl-2, Bcl-X(L), XIAP and survivin), inhibit protein kinases (e.g; src, PI3K, JNK, and AKT), induce antioxidant enzymes (e,g; catalase, superoxide dismutase and hemoxygenase-1), suppress the expression of inflammatory biomarkers (e.g., TNF, COX-2, iNOS, and CRP), inhibit the expression of angiogenic and metastatic gene products (e.g., MMPs, VEGF, cathepsin D, and ICAM-1), and modulate cell cycle regulatory genes (e.g., p53, Rb, PTEN, cyclins and CDKs). Numerous animal studies have demonstrated that this polyphenol holds promise against numerous age-associated diseases including cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer, cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. In view of these studies, resveratrol's prospects for use in the clinics are rapidly accelerating. Efforts are also underway to improve its activity in vivo through structural modification and reformulation. Our review describes various targets of resveratrol and their therapeutic potential.
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PMID:Resveratrol: a multitargeted agent for age-associated chronic diseases. 1841 53

Cancer is primarily a disease of old age, and that life style plays a major role in the development of most cancers is now well recognized. While plant-based formulations have been used to treat cancer for centuries, current treatments usually involve poisonous mustard gas, chemotherapy, radiation, and targeted therapies. While traditional plant-derived medicines are safe, what are the active principles in them and how do they mediate their effects against cancer is perhaps best illustrated by curcumin, a derivative of turmeric used for centuries to treat a wide variety of inflammatory conditions. Curcumin is a diferuloylmethane derived from the Indian spice, turmeric (popularly called "curry powder") that has been shown to interfere with multiple cell signaling pathways, including cell cycle (cyclin D1 and cyclin E), apoptosis (activation of caspases and down-regulation of antiapoptotic gene products), proliferation (HER-2, EGFR, and AP-1), survival (PI3K/AKT pathway), invasion (MMP-9 and adhesion molecules), angiogenesis (VEGF), metastasis (CXCR-4) and inflammation (NF-kappaB, TNF, IL-6, IL-1, COX-2, and 5-LOX). The activity of curcumin reported against leukemia and lymphoma, gastrointestinal cancers, genitourinary cancers, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, lung cancer, melanoma, neurological cancers, and sarcoma reflects its ability to affect multiple targets. Thus an "old-age" disease such as cancer requires an "age-old" treatment.
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PMID:Curcumin and cancer: an "old-age" disease with an "age-old" solution. 1846 66


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