UNIPROT:P31749 - FACTA Search

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Query: UNIPROT:P31749 (AKT)
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Inhibiting the mitogenic response of vascular endothelial cells may in part mediate the antiangiogenic and anticancer activity of supranutritional selenium supplements. Our previous work had shown that methylseleninic acid (MSeA), a precursor of the critical anticancer methylselenol metabolite pool, was a potent inhibitor of the growth and survival of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Here we investigated the effects of MSeA on selected protein kinase signaling transduction pathways to characterize their role in methylselenium induction of HUVEC cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Exposure of asynchronous HUVECs for 30 h to 3-5 microM MSeA led to a profound G(1) arrest, and exposure to higher levels of MSeA not only led to G(1) arrest but also to DNA fragmentation and caspase-mediated cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase, both biochemical hallmarks of apoptosis. Immunoblot analyses indicated that G(1) arrest induced by the sublethal doses of MSeA was associated with dose-dependent reductions of the levels of phospho-protein kinase B (also known as AKT or PKB), phospho-extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2, and phospho-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinases 1/2 in the absence of any change in p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation. Apoptosis induced by MSeA was associated with an increased phosphorylation of p38 MAPK in addition to the dephosphorylation of the above kinases. In HUVECs deprived of endothelial cell growth supplement (ECGS) for 48 h, resumption of ECGS stimulation resulted in an approximately 10-fold increase in mitogenic response, as indicated by [(3)H]thymidine incorporation into DNA. The ECGS-stimulated mitogenic response was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by MSeA exposure with a IC(50) approximately 1 microM and a complete blockage at 3 microM. Wortmannin, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) upstream of AKT, potently inhibited the ECGS-stimulated DNA synthesis (IC(50), approximately 40 nM). Combining MSeA with Wortmannin showed an additive antimitogenic effect. An inhibitor of MAPK/ERK kinase 1, PD98059, also inhibited ECGS-stimulated DNA synthesis (IC(50), approximately 55 microM), but combining PD98059 with MSeA had an effect similar to that when PD98059 was used alone. A time-course experiment indicated that PI3K (AKT and ribosomal protein S6 kinase) activation occurred between 6 and 12 h of ECGS stimulation, and 3 microM MSeA exposure decreased AKT phosphorylation after 12 h of exposure, whereas no inhibitory effect was observed for ERK1/2 phosphorylation throughout the 30-h exposure duration. Additional experiments indicated that MSeA, Wortmannin, or a more specific PI3K inhibitor, LY294002, seemed to target, in the mid- to late-G(1) phase, a common mechanism(s) controlling G(1) progression to S while having no inhibitory effect on DNA synthesis once S-phase had initiated. Taken together, the results support a potent inhibitory activity at achievable serum levels of MSeA on ECGS-stimulated mitogenesis in the mid- to late-G(1) phase, and the target(s) of this inhibitory activity seems to be PI3K or components of this signal pathway. At pharmacological levels of exposure, modulation of ERK1/2 and other protein kinases may be relevant for the proapoptotic action of MSeA.
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PMID:Antimitogenic and proapoptotic activities of methylseleninic acid in vascular endothelial cells and associated effects on PI3K-AKT, ERK, JNK and p38 MAPK signaling. 1158 51

Selenium has been implicated as a promising chemopreventive agent for prostate cancer. Whereas the anticancer mechanisms have not been clearly defined, one hypothesis relates to selenium metabolites, especially the monomethyl selenium pool, generated under supranutritional selenium supplementation. To explore potential molecular targets for mediating the chemopreventive activity, we contrasted the effects of methylseleninic acid (MSeA), a novel precursor of methylselenol, versus sodium selenite, a representative of the hydrogen selenide metabolite pool, on apoptosis execution, cell cycle distribution, and selected protein kinases in DU145 human prostate cancer cells. Exposure of DU145 cells to 3 microM MSeA led to a profound G1 arrest at 24 h, and exposure to greater concentrations led to not only G1 arrest, but also to DNA fragmentation and caspase-mediated cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), two biochemical hallmarks of apoptosis. Immunobiot analyses indicated that G1 arrest induced by the subapoptogenic doses of MSeA was associated with increased expression of p27kip1 and p21cip1, but apoptosis was accompanied by dose-dependent decreases of phosphorylation of protein kinase AKT and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) in the absence of any phosphorylation change in p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK1/2). In contrast, selenite exposure caused S-phase arrest and caspase-independent apoptotic DNA fragmentation, which were associated with decreased expression of p27kip1 and p21cip1 and increased phosphorylation of AKT, JNK1/2, and p38MAPK. Although apoptosis induction by MSeA exposure was not sensitive to superoxide dismutase added into the cell culture medium, cell detachment and DNA nucleosomal fragmentation induced by selenite exposure were greatly attenuated by this enzyme, supporting a chemical mediator role of superoxide for these processes. Despite a temporal relationship of AKT and ERK1/2 de-phosphorylation changes before the onset of PARP cleavage in MSeA-exposed cells, experiments with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors wortmannin and LY294002 did not show an enhancing effect of specific blocking of AKT on MSeA-induction of PARP cleavage. Taken together, exposure of DU145 cells to MSeA versus selenite induced differential patterns of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis execution as well as distinct patterns of effects on AKT, ERK1/2, JNK1/2, and p38MAPK phosphorylation and p27kip1 and p21cip1 expression. Multiple molecular pathways are likely differentially targeted by selenium metabolite pools to mediate cancer chemoprevention.
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PMID:Distinct effects of methylseleninic acid versus selenite on apoptosis, cell cycle, and protein kinase pathways in DU145 human prostate cancer cells. 1248 29

Acute BCR-ABL expression during in vitro hematopoietic development of embryonic stem (ES) cells causes expansion of multipotent and myeloid progenitors with a concomitant reduction in differentiation toward erythroblasts. Progenitor cell expansion is due to a rapid, cell autonomous, suppression of programmed cell death with an increase in expression of the antiapoptotic molecule BCL-X(L). Other antiapoptotic effectors, including AKT, STAT5, and BCL-2 are not up-regulated by BCR-ABL in this system. In addition, the proapoptotic p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is suppressed by BCR-ABL expression in ES-derived hematopoietic progenitors. Inhibition of p38 MAPK by the small molecule inhibitor SB203580 expanded ES-derived hematopoietic progenitors by an antiapoptotic mechanism and is sufficient to expand ES-derived hematopoietic progenitors to levels approaching 80% of that seen following BCR-ABL expression. In the cellular context of ES-derived hematopoietic progenitors, BCR-ABL expression expands cells by suppressing programmed cell death with a set of antiapoptotic pathways distinct from those previously reported in continuous cell line studies.
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PMID:Cell context-specific effects of the BCR-ABL oncogene monitored in hematopoietic progenitors. 1252 91

All vascular cells, including endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells, express components of the leukocyte NADPH oxidase such as p22phox, p47phox, and Rac. Endothelial cells and fibroblasts also express the leukocyte NADPH oxidase subunit gp91phox/nox2, whereas in smooth muscle cells nox1 and nox4 are found. The different vascular NADPH oxidases represent important sources for the basal as well as the agonist-induced superoxide anion (O(2) .-) generation in the vasculature. In vascular smooth muscle cells, activation of the NADPH oxidases and the subsequent formation of O(2) .- has been demonstrated for various agents including angiotensin II, thrombin, lysophosphatidylcholine, and tumor necrosis factor alpha. By influencing the activity of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and AKT, NADPH oxidase-derived O(2) .- increases the expression of several pro-arteriosclerotic genes, such as monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, tissue factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor. Thus, the vascular NADPH oxidases play an important role in mediating the signal transduction cascade of pro-arteriosclerotic stimuli.
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PMID:Role of NADPH oxidases in the control of vascular gene expression. 1458 54

Capsaicin (trans-8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide), a natural product of Capsicum species, is known to induce excitation of nociceptive terminals involved in pain perception. Recent studies have also shown that capsaicin not only has chemopreventive properties against certain carcinogens and mutagens but also exerts anticancer activity. Here, we demonstrated the antiangiogenic activity of capsaicin using in vitro and in vivo assay systems. In vitro, capsaicin inhibited vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) -induced proliferation, DNA synthesis, chemotactic motility, and capillary-like tube formation of primary cultured human endothelial cells. Capsaicin inhibited both VEGF-induced vessel sprouting in rat aortic ring assay and VEGF-induced vessel formation in the mouse Matrigel plug assay. Moreover, capsaicin was able to suppress tumor-induced angiogenesis in chick chorioallantoic membrane assay. Capsaicin caused G(1) arrest in endothelial cells. This effect correlated with the down-regulation of the expression of cyclin D1 that led to inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase 4-mediated phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein. Signaling experiments show that capsaicin inhibits VEGF-induced p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, p125(FAK), and AKT activation, but its molecular target is distinct from the VEGF receptor KDR/Flk-1. Taken together, these results demonstrate that capsaicin is a novel inhibitor of angiogenesis and suggest that it may be valuable to develop pharmaceutical drugs for treatment of angiogenesis-dependent human diseases such as tumors.
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PMID:Capsaicin inhibits in vitro and in vivo angiogenesis. 1474 80

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), a ligand of RET tyrosine kinase, and its family ligands promote the survival and differentiation of a variety of neurons. Gene ablation studies have revealed that the GDNF-RET receptor system is essential for the development of kidney and peripheral neurons, including sympathetic, parasympathetic and enteric neurons. RET can activate various signaling pathways such as RAS/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathways. These signaling pathways are activated via binding of adaptor proteins to intracellular tyrosine residues of RET phosphorylated by its own kinase activity. The RET is profoundly involved in the development of several human neuroendocrine diseases. The constitutive activation of the RET by somatic rearrangement with other partner genes or germ-line mutations causes a considerable population of human papillary thyroid carcinomas or multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type 2A and 2B, respectively, whereas the dysfunction of RET by germ-line missense and/or nonsense mutations causes Hirschsprung's disease. Biological properties of mutant RET protein determine the disease phenotype. For example, the MEN 2B mutation alters the substrate specificity of RET tyrosine kinase and RET carrying the MEN 2B mutation hereby induces the different set of genes from that carrying the MEN 2A mutation. In this review, we describe the current knowledge about the molecular mechanism of RET activation in human neuroendocrine tumors as well as the physiological roles and signal transduction of RET tyrosine kinase.
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PMID:RET and neuroendocrine tumors. 1501 19

Expression of the chitinase 3-like protein HC-gp39 (human cartilage glycoprotein 39) is associated with conditions of increased matrix turnover and tissue remodelling. High levels of this protein have been found in sera and synovial fluids of patients with inflammatory and degenerative arthritis. In order to assess the role of HC-gp39 in matrix degradation induced by inflammatory cytokines, we have examined its effect on the responses of connective tissue cells to TNF-alpha (tumour necrosis factor-alpha) and IL-1 (interleukin-1) with respect to activation of signalling pathways and production of MMPs (matrix metalloproteases) and chemokines. Stimulation of human skin fibroblasts or articular chondrocytes with IL-1 or TNF-alpha in the presence of HC-gp39 resulted in a marked reduction of both p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and stress-activated protein kinase/Jun N-terminal kinase phosphorylation, whereas nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappaB proceeded unimpeded. HC-gp39 suppressed the cytokine-induced secretion of MMP1, MMP3 and MMP13, as well as secretion of the chemokine IL-8. The suppressive effects of HC-gp39 were dependent on phosphoinositide 3-kinase activity, and treatment of cells with HC-gp39 resulted in AKT-mediated serine/threonine phosphorylation of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1. This process could therefore be responsible for the down-regulation of cytokine signalling by HC-gp39. These results suggest a physiological role for HC-gp39 in limiting the catabolic effects of inflammatory cytokines.
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PMID:The chitinase 3-like protein human cartilage glycoprotein 39 inhibits cellular responses to the inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha. 1501 34

The proto-oncogene c-myc encodes a transcription factor that plays a pivotal role in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. The signaling mechanism of c-Myc-induced apoptosis was investigated on the human hepatoma Huh7 cells under growth factor-deprived conditions. The apoptotic process did not involve p53. Rather it was dependent on the expression of c-Fos. Activation of caspases 3 and 9 and down-regulation of Bcl2 were observed in the apoptotic process, indicating it to be a mitochondria-dependent event. An increase in the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase that was mediated by a Rac1-dependent and cdc42-independent pathway eventually leading to up-regulation of c-Fos activity was also observed. Deletion analysis of the promoter region of the c-fos gene indicated that the ATF2-responsive element conferred the Myc-induced expression of c-Fos. Co-expression of the dominant-negative mutants of c-Fos, p38, and Rac1 blocked the Myc-mediated apoptosis. SB20358, a chemical inhibitor of p38 pathway, also specifically blocked the apoptotic signaling by c-Myc. Furthermore, co-expression of the hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) along with Myc abrogated the apoptotic signals. The HBx expression was associated with an increase in the levels of phosphorylated AKT and down-regulation of c-Fos by Myc. Thus, c-Fos seems be a new mediator of c-Myc-induced apoptosis.
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PMID:c-Fos is a mediator of the c-myc-induced apoptotic signaling in serum-deprived hepatoma cells via the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. 1507 69

Interaction of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) with arterial smooth muscle cells (SMC) is believed to play a key role in the development of atherosclerosis. Depending on the extent of oxidation, apolipoproteins and/or lipids in the particle may be modified and thus lead to different cellular responses (e.g. proliferation or cell death). Here we report on the signaling effects of LDL, in which only the lipids were oxidized. This so-called minimally modified LDL (mmLDL) mainly activated components involved in stress response and apoptotic cell death including p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase (JNK) as well as neutral and acid sphingomyelinase. In contrast, proliferative signaling elements such as extracellular regulated kinase, AKT-kinase and phospho-BAD seem to play a minor role as they were only slightly stimulated by mmLDL. Ceramide, the hydrolysis product of sphingomyelin, seems to be a key mediator as it mimics mmLDL by inducing activation of the same signaling components. Moreover, mmLDL- and ceramide-associated effects on apoptotic protein kinases were abolished by NB6, a specific inhibitor of acid sphingomyelinase. Thus, acid sphingomyelinase is very likely to be primarily responsible for triggering intracellular signal transduction in SMC after exposure to mmLDL via formation of ceramide by an autocatalytic mechanism.
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PMID:Role of ceramide in activation of stress-associated MAP kinases by minimally modified LDL in vascular smooth muscle cells. 1546 4

Expression of neuronal pentraxin 1 (NP1) is part of the apoptotic cell death program activated in mature cerebellar granule neurons when potassium concentrations drop below depolarizing levels. NP1 is a glycoprotein homologous to the pentraxins of the acute phase immune response, and it is involved in both synaptogenesis and synaptic remodeling. However, how it participates in the process of apoptotic neuronal death remains unclear. We have studied whether the signaling pathways known to control neuronal cell death and survival influence NP1 expression. Both activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt (PI-3-K/AKT) pathway by insulin-like growth factor I and pharmacological blockage of the stress activated c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) offer transitory neuroprotection from the cell death evoked by nondepolarizing concentrations of potassium. However, neither of these neuroprotective treatments prevents the overexpression of NP1 upon potassium depletion, indicating that nondepolarizing conditions activate additional cell death signaling pathways. Inhibiting the phosphorylation of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase without modifying JNK, neither diminishes cell death nor inhibits NP1 overexpression in nondepolarizing conditions. In contrast, impairing the activity of glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) completely blocks NP1 overexpression induced by potassium depletion and provides transient protection against cell death. Moreover, simultaneous pharmacological blockage of both JNK and GSK3 activities provides long-term protection against the cell death evoked by potassium depletion. These results show that both the JNK and GSK3 signaling pathways are the main routes by which potassium deprivation activates apoptotic cell death, and that NP1 overexpression is regulated by GSK3 activity independently of the PI-3-K/AKT or JNK pathway.
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PMID:Glycogen synthase kinase 3 activity mediates neuronal pentraxin 1 expression and cell death induced by potassium deprivation in cerebellar granule cells. 1563 79

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