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)

Insulin, like leptin, is considered as a lipostatic signal acting at a central level. Aging and age-associated adiposity have been related to the development of leptin resistance in Wistar rats. In the present article, hypothalamic insulin response during aging has been studied in Wistar rats. Thus, the effects of intracerebroventricular infusion of insulin during a week on food intake and body weight as well as insulin signal transduction after acute intracerebroventricular insulin administration have been studied in 3-, 8-, and 24-month-old rats. To explore the possible role of age-associated adiposity, these experiments were also performed in 8- and 24-month-old rats after 3 months of food restriction to reduce visceral adiposity index to values below those of young animals. Intracerebroventricular administration of insulin during a week was more efficient at reducing food intake and body weight in 3-month-old rats than in 8- and 24-month-old rats. Hypothalamic insulin-stimulated insulin receptor, GSK3, AKT, and p70S6K phosphorylation decreased with aging. Insulin receptor and IRS-2 phosphoserine was increased in 24-month-old rats. Food restriction improved both insulin responsiveness and insulin signaling. These data suggest that Wistar rats develop hypothalamic insulin resistance with aging. This can be explained by alterations of the signal transduction pathway. The fact that food restriction improves central insulin response and signal transduction points to the age-associated adiposity as a key player in the development of central insulin resistance.
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PMID:Impaired central insulin response in aged Wistar rats: role of adiposity. 1767 15

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are embryonic germ cell precursors. Although the developmental potency of PGCs is restricted to the germ lineage, PGCs can acquire pluripotency, as verified by the in vitro establishment of embryonic germ (EG) cells and the in vivo production of testicular teratomas. PGC-specific inactivation of PTEN, which is a lipid phosphatase antagonizing phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K), enhances both EG cell production and testicular teratoma formation. Here, we analyzed the effect of the serine/threonine kinase AKT, one of the major downstream effectors of PI3K, on the developmental potency of PGCs. We used transgenic mice that expressed an AKT-MER fusion protein, the kinase activity of which could be regulated by the ligand of modified estrogen receptor (MER), 4-hydroxytamoxifen. We found that hyperactivation of AKT signaling in PGCs at the proliferative phase dramatically augmented the efficiency of EG cell establishment. Furthermore, AKT signaling activation substituted to some extent for the effects of bFGF, an essential growth factor for EG cell establishment. By contrast, AKT activation had no effect on germ cells that were in mitotic arrest or that began meiosis at a later embryonic stage. In the transgenic PGCs, AKT activation induced phosphorylation of GSK3, which inhibits its kinase activity; enhanced the stability and nuclear localization of MDM2; and suppressed p53 phosphorylation, which is required for its activation. The p53 deficiency, but not GSK3 inhibition, recapitulated the effects of AKT hyperactivation on EG cell derivation, suggesting that p53 is one of the crucial downstream targets of the PI3K/AKT signal and that GSK3 is not.
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PMID:AKT signaling promotes derivation of embryonic germ cells from primordial germ cells. 1821 73

Deregulation of the protein kinase C (PKC) signalling pathway has been implicated in tumor progression. Here we investigated the PKC inhibitor enzastaurin for its activity against multiple myeloma (MM) cells. Enzastaurin suppresses cell proliferation in a large panel of human myeloma cell lines (HMCLs), with IC50 values ranging from 1.3 to 12.5 microM and induces apoptosis, which is prevented by the ZVAD-fmk broad caspase inhibitor. These results are consistent with decreased phosphorylation of AKT and GSK3-beta, a downstream target of the AKT pathway and a pharmacodynamic marker for enzastaurin. Furthermore, enzastaurin cytotoxicity is retained when HMCLs were cocultured with multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells. Enzastaurin has additive or synergistic cytotoxic effects with bortezomib or thalidomide. Considering the strong anti-myeloma activity of enzastaurin in vitro and in animal models and its safe toxicity profile, phase II studies in MM patients of enzastaurin alone or in combination with other drugs are warranted.
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PMID:The oral protein-kinase C beta inhibitor enzastaurin (LY317615) suppresses signalling through the AKT pathway, inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in multiple myeloma cell lines. 1845 78

Common genetic variation may play an important role in altering lung cancer risk. We conducted a pathway-based candidate gene evaluation to identify genetic variations that may be associated with lung cancer in a population-based case-control study in Xuan Wei, China (122 cases and 111 controls). A total of 1260 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 380 candidate genes for lung cancer were successfully genotyped and assigned to one of 10 pathways based on gene ontology. Logistic regression was used to assess the marginal effect of each SNP on lung cancer susceptibility. The minP test was used to identify statistically significant associations at the gene level. Important pathways were identified using a test of proportions and the rank truncated product methods. The cell cycle pathway was found as the most important pathway (P = 0.044) with four genes significantly associated with lung cancer (PLA2G6 minP = 0.001, CCNA2 minP = 0.006, GSK3 beta minP = 0.007 and EGF minP = 0.013), after adjusting for multiple comparisons. Interestingly, most cell cycle genes that were associated with lung cancer in this analysis were concentrated in the AKT signaling pathway, which is essential for regulation of cell cycle progression and cellular survival, and may be important in lung cancer etiology in Xuan Wei. These results should be viewed as exploratory until they are replicated in a larger study.
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PMID:Pathway-based evaluation of 380 candidate genes and lung cancer susceptibility suggests the importance of the cell cycle pathway. 1867 80

Protein kinase B (PKB; also known as Akt) is important for mediating survival and proliferation signals. Following activation, PKB shuttles to various compartments of the cell, including the nucleus, where it phosphorylates an array of targets. PKB is phosphorylated at T308 by its activator PDK1. PDK1 is normally excluded from the nucleus via a nuclear exclusion sequence (NES), and our previous work suggested that nuclear exclusion can be attenuated by IGF-1-induced phosphorylation of S396 proximal to the NES. No studies have been done to test the significance of S396 phosphorylation or the impact of nuclear accumulation of PDK1 on PKB activation. To address these questions, we created isogenic embryonic stem cell (ESC) lines expressing various alleles of PDK1 within a PDK1-/- background. Disruption of the NES domain of PDK1 correlated with elevated PKB phosphorylation at both T308 and S473. In contrast, mutation of S396 to alanine reduced PDK1 nuclear localization and reduced PKB phosphorylation and activation. The loss of phosphorylation of PKB by S396A mutation was rescued by forcing nuclear PDK1 or by conversion of S396 to an aspartic acid. The phosphorylation of the PKB substrate FOXO3alpha was reduced in S396A PDK1 ESC. Other known and suspected PKB substrates, including GSK3 and Raf1, were unaffected. This study therefore reveals that S396 plays a role in the activation of PKB leading to the regulated phosphorylation of some PKB substrates including FOXO3alpha.
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PMID:Serine 396 of PDK1 is required for maximal PKB activation. 1871 28

Accumulation of HIF-1alpha during normoxic conditions at high cell density has previously been shown to occur and can be used to stabilize HIF-1alpha protein in the absence of a specific anaerobic chamber. However, the impact and origin of this pool of HIF-1alpha, obtained under normoxia, has been underestimated. In this study, we have systematically compared the related pools of HIF-1alpha stabilized in normoxia by high cell density to those obtained at low density in hypoxia. At first glance, these two stimuli appear to have similar outcomes: HIF-1alpha stabilization and induction of HIF-1-dependent genes. However, upon careful analysis, we observed that molecular mechanisms involved are different. We clearly demonstrate that density-dependant HIF-1alpha accumulation during normoxia is due to the cells high consumption of oxygen, as demonstrated by using a respiration inhibitor (oligomycin) and respiratory-defective mutant cells (GSK3). Finally and most importantly, our data indicate that a decrease in AKT activity followed by a total decrease in p70(S6K) phosphorylation reflecting a decrease in mTOR activity occurs during high oxygen consumption, resulting from high cell density. In contrast, hypoxia, even at severe low O(2) levels, only slightly impacts upon the mTOR pathway under low cell density conditions. Thus, activation of HIF-1alpha in exponentially growing cells via hypoxic stimulation is independent of the Akt/mTOR pathway whereas HIF-1alpha activation obtained in high confluency is totally dependent on mTOR pathway as rapamycin totally impaired (i) HIF-1alpha stabilization and (ii) mRNA levels of CA9 and BNIP3, two HIF-target genes.
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PMID:Activation of HIF-1alpha in exponentially growing cells via hypoxic stimulation is independent of the Akt/mTOR pathway. 1878 96

p66Shc is an adapter protein that is induced by hypertrophic stimuli and has been implicated as a major regulator of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and cardiovascular oxidative stress responses. This study implicates p66Shc in an alpha(1)-adrenergtic receptor (alpha(1)-AR) pathway that requires the cooperative effects of protein kinase (PK)Cepsilon and PKCdelta and leads to AKT-FOXO3a phosphorylation in cardiomyocytes. alpha(1)-ARs promote p66Shc-YY(239/240) phosphorylation via a ROS-dependent mechanism that is localized to caveolae and requires epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and PKCepsilon activity. alpha(1)-ARs also increase p66Shc-S(36) phosphorylation via an EGFR transactivation pathway involving PKCdelta. p66Shc links alpha(1)-ARs to an AKT signaling pathway that selectively phosphorylates/inactivates FOXO transcription factors and downregulates the ROS-scavenging protein manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD); the alpha(1)-AR-p66Shc-dependent pathway involving AKT does not regulate GSK3. Additional studies show that RNA interference-mediated downregulation of endogenous p66Shc leads to the derepression of FOXO3a-regulated genes such as MnSOD, p27Kip1, and BIM-1. p66Shc downregulation also increases proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression and induces cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, suggesting that p66Shc exerts an antihypertrophic action in neonatal cardiomyocytes. The novel alpha(1)-AR- and ROS-dependent pathway involving p66Shc identified in this study is likely to contribute to cardiomyocyte remodeling and the evolution of heart failure.
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PMID:p66Shc links alpha1-adrenergic receptors to a reactive oxygen species-dependent AKT-FOXO3A phosphorylation pathway in cardiomyocytes. 1916 39

Enzastaurin, an oral serine/threonine kinase inhibitor, suppresses signaling through protein kinase C (PKC)-beta and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT pathways. We preclinically evaluated enzastaurin alone and in combination with gemcitabine for transitional cell cancer (TCC). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was done on 105 human samples from a microarray to show the expression of PKC-beta. The preclinical antitumor activity of enzastaurin and gemcitabine as single agents and in combination against aggressive human -lines (-SUP and 5637) and murine subcutaneous xenografts bearing 5637 cells was determined. Western Blot was done on tumor cells in vitro to detect signaling through PKC-beta, GSK-3beta, and AKT. The effect on cell migration was determined in vitro. Modulation of proliferation (Ki-67), apoptosis (cleaved caspase-3), and angiogenesis (CD31) in vivo was determined by IHC. IHC done on human TCC samples from a microarray showed the expression of PKC-beta in 33% of tumors. Enzastaurin induced significant apoptosis and inhibited proliferation in vitro at low micromolar concentrations. The in vitro inhibitory activity of combination enzastaurin and gemcitabine by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay seemed synergistic. Western Blotting revealed down-regulation of Akt, PKC-beta, and GSK-3 beta phosphorylation. Enzastaurin inhibited migration at an earlier time point independent of antiproliferative activity. Combination therapy had significantly superior antitumor activity in murine xenografts compared with untreated controls, whereas single agents did not. IHC showed reduced Ki-67 and CD31 and increased cleaved caspase-3 with combination therapy compared with controls. Enzastaurin showed preclinical antitumor activity against human TCC and enhanced the activity of gemcitabine.
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PMID:Enzastaurin shows preclinical antitumor activity against human transitional cell carcinoma and enhances the activity of gemcitabine. 1950 73

The pancreatic beta cell is sensitive to even small changes in PDX1 protein levels; consequently, Pdx1 haploinsufficiency can inhibit beta cell growth and decrease insulin biosynthesis and gene expression, leading to compromised glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Using metabolic labeling of primary islets and a cultured beta cell line, we show that glucose levels modulate PDX1 protein phosphorylation at a novel C-terminal GSK3 consensus that maps to serines 268 and 272. A decrease in glucose levels triggers increased turnover of the PDX1 protein in a GSK3-dependent manner, such that PDX1 phosphomutants are refractory to the destabilizing effect of low glucose. Glucose-stimulated activation of AKT and inhibition of GSK3 decrease PDX1 phosphorylation and delay degradation. Furthermore, direct pharmacologic inhibition of AKT destabilizes, and inhibition of GSK3 increases PDX1 protein stability. These studies define a novel functional role for the PDX1 C terminus in mediating the effects of glucose and demonstrate that glucose modulates PDX1 stability via the AKT-GSK3 axis.
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PMID:Glucose regulates steady-state levels of PDX1 via the reciprocal actions of GSK3 and AKT kinases. 1983 27

Hedgehog signaling is aberrantly activated in glioma, medulloblastoma, basal cell carcinoma, lung cancer, esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, and other tumors. Hedgehog signals activate GLI family members via Smoothened. RTK signaling potentiates GLI activity through PI3K-AKT-mediated GSK3 inactivation or RAS-STIL1-mediated SUFU inactivation, while GPCR signaling to Gs represses GLI activity through adenylate cyclase-mediated PKA activation. GLI activators bind to GACCACCCA motif to regulate transcription of GLI1, PTCH1, PTCH2, HHIP1, MYCN, CCND1, CCND2, BCL2, CFLAR, FOXF1, FOXL1, PRDM1 (BLIMP1), JAG2, GREM1, and Follistatin. Hedgehog signals are fine-tuned based on positive feedback loop via GLI1 and negative feedback loop via PTCH1, PTCH2, and HHIP1. Excessive positive feedback or collapsed negative feedback of Hedgehog signaling due to epigenetic or genetic alterations leads to carcinogenesis. Hedgehog signals induce cellular proliferation through upregulation of N-Myc, Cyclin D/E, and FOXM1. Hedgehog signals directly upregulate JAG2, indirectly upregulate mesenchymal BMP4 via FOXF1 or FOXL1, and also upregulate WNT2B and WNT5A. Hedgehog signals induce stem cell markers BMI1, LGR5, CD44 and CD133 based on cross-talk with WNT and/or other signals. Hedgehog signals upregulate BCL2 and CFLAR to promote cellular survival, SNAI1 (Snail), SNAI2 (Slug), ZEB1, ZEB2 (SIP1), TWIST2, and FOXC2 to promote epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and PTHLH (PTHrP) to promote osteolytic bone metastasis. KAAD-cyclopamine, Mu-SSKYQ-cyclopamine, IPI-269609, SANT1, SANT2, CUR61414 and HhAntag are small-molecule inhibitors targeted to Smoothened, GANT58, GANT61 to GLI1 and GLI2, and Robot-nikinin to SHH. Hedgehog signaling inhibitors should be used in combination with RTK inhibitors, GPCR modulators, and/or irradiation for cancer therapy.
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PMID:Hedgehog target genes: mechanisms of carcinogenesis induced by aberrant hedgehog signaling activation. 1986 Jun 66


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