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Query: UNIPROT:P31749 (
AKT
)
22,954
document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)
Recently, we observed that epidermal growth factor receptor (
EGFR
or erbB1) endocytosis and associated mitogenic signaling occur in human prostate cancer (PCA) cells, suggesting that erbB1 endocytosis might be involved in advanced and androgen-independent PCA growth. Based on these findings, and the fact that aberrant expression of erbB family members is common in human prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive PCA, we reasoned that impairment of erbB1 endocytosis and associated mitogenic signaling might inhibit PCA growth. Inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) interacts with plasma membrane clathrin-associated protein complex 2 (AP2) and inhibits phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). As these are essential components of receptor-mediated and fluid-phase endocytosis, respectively, we reasoned that IP6 might impair erbB1 endocytosis and associated signaling in human PCA cells, leading to their growth inhibition. IP6 strongly to completely inhibited (26-100%; P < 0.05) transforming growth factor alpha-induced binding of activated erbB1 to AP2 in human PCA DU145 cells, demonstrating the impairment of the initial step in ligand-induced erbB1 endocytosis. IP6 treatment of cells resulted in a dose-dependent increase (1.8- to 7. 7-fold compared with cells treated with ligand alone; P < 0.05) in levels of activated erbB1. These two findings suggest that the inhibitory effect of IP6 on receptor endocytosis is independent of its lack of effect on ligand-induced erbB1 activation. These effects of IP6, however, were associated with strong inhibition of ligand-induced Shc phosphorylation (77-84% decrease; P < 0.05) and its binding to erbB1 (58-100% decrease; P < 0.05). IP6 also significantly and dose-dependently inhibited fluid-phase endocytosis (19-52%; P < 0.05). It inhibited PI3K-
AKT
signaling pathway as an upstream response in its effect on the inhibition of fluid-phase endocytosis. The inhibition of erbB1 receptor and fluid-phase endocytosis, and associated signaling by IP6, was corroborated by very strong to complete inhibition (70-100%; P < 0.05) of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 activation by IP6. IP6 significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited anchorage-dependent and -independent inhibition (50-100% and 30-75%, respectively) in DU145 cells. Targeting the impairment of erbB1 endocytosis and associated mitogenic signaling by IP6 in advanced and androgen-independent human PCA DU145 cells could be a useful approach for treating PCA.
...
PMID:Impairment of erbB1 receptor and fluid-phase endocytosis and associated mitogenic signaling by inositol hexaphosphate in human prostate carcinoma DU145 cells. 1113 12
Growth factors interact with their cell surface receptors and activate the enzyme PI 3-kinase (PI 3-K) resulting in the formation of 3-phosphorylated phosphatidylinositols, which in turn activate the serine/threonine kinase
AKT
/PKB.
AKT
functions, in part, to promote cell survival by phosphorylating the BCL-2 family member BAD and the cell death pathway enzyme, caspase-9. Although induction of apoptosis by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation is well documented, little is known about UV activation of cell survival pathways in human skin cells. We have investigated whether UV activates the PI 3-K/
AKT
pathway in human skin in vivo. UV irradiation (2MED from UVB source) stimulated PI 3-kinase activity within 15 min. PI 3-K activity was maximal (2.5-fold, n=6) 30 min post UV and remained elevated for 4 h. UV stimulated
AKT
activity within 30 min. Maximal activity (4-fold, n=11) was observed 1 h post UV. UV also stimulated phosphorylation of the downstream
AKT
effectors, S6 kinase and BAD. S6 kinase was maximally stimulated 4 h post UV (15-fold, n=6). Increased BAD phosphorylation was observed 1 h post UV and remained elevated for 4 h. Western blot analysis revealed that UV-induced phosphorylation of BAD at Ser112, a site known to be phosphorylated by
AKT
. Inhibitors of
EGFR
and PI 3-kinase blocked UV-induced phosphorylation of BAD, suggesting that
EGFR
mediates UV-activated cell survival pathway. Collectively, both positive and negative roles for UV activation of the PI 3-K/
AKT
pathway in human skin can be envisioned. The PI 3-K/
AKT
pathway likely plays a critical role in balancing UV-induced apoptotic signals, thereby preventing widespread skin cell death. Conversely UV activation of the PI 3-K/
AKT
pathway may enhance survival of mutated cells, thereby promoting skin cancer, as has been found in several other types of cancer.
...
PMID:Ultraviolet irradiation activates PI 3-kinase/AKT survival pathway via EGF receptors in human skin in vivo. 1117 72
Dual
EGFR
/erbB2 inhibition is an attractive therapeutic strategy for epithelial tumors, as ligand-induced erbB2/
EGFR
heterodimerization triggers potent proliferative and survival signals. Here we show that a small molecule, GW572016, potently inhibits both
EGFR
and erbB2 tyrosine kinases leading to growth arrest and/or apoptosis in
EGFR
and erbB2-dependent tumor cell lines. GW572016 markedly reduced tyrosine phosphorylation of
EGFR
and erbB2, and inhibited activation of Erk1/2 and
AKT
, downstream effectors of proliferation and cell survival, respectively. Complete inhibition of activated
AKT
in erbB2 overexpressing cells correlated with a 23-fold increase in apoptosis compared with vehicle controls. EGF, often elevated in cancer patients, did not reverse the inhibitory effects of GW572016. These observations were reproduced in vivo, where GW572016 treatment inhibited activation of
EGFR
, erbB2, Erk1/2 and
AKT
in human tumor xenografts. Erk1/2 and
AKT
represent potential biomarkers to assess the clinical activity of GW572016. Inhibition of activated
AKT
in
EGFR
or erbB2-dependent tumors by GW572016 may lead to tumor regressions when used as a monotherapy, or may enhance the anti-tumor activity of chemotherapeutics, since constitutive activation of
AKT
has been linked to chemo-resistance.
...
PMID:Anti-tumor activity of GW572016: a dual tyrosine kinase inhibitor blocks EGF activation of EGFR/erbB2 and downstream Erk1/2 and AKT pathways. 1221 66
The constitutively active, truncated epidermal growth factor receptor EGFRvIII lacks the ability of EGF binding due to a deletion of the NH(2)-terminal domain. EGFRvIII confers increased tumorigenicity, is coexpressed with
EGFR
wild type (wt) in human carcinoma and malignant glioma cells when grown as xenografts, but is not expressed in vitro. The effects of EGFRvIII expression on cellular radiation responses were studied in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with plasmids expressing EGFRvIII (CHO.EGFRvIII) or EGFRwt (CHO.EGFRwt). CHO cells expressing similar levels of either receptor were employed to define their roles in response to EGF and ionizing radiation. EGF activated EGFRwt with no effect on EGFRvIII. In contrast, a single radiation exposure of 2 Gy resulted in a 2.8- and 4.3-fold increase in Tyr phosphorylation of EGFRwt and EGFRvIII, respectively. Downstream consequences of this radiation-induced activation were examined by inhibiting EGFRwt and EGFRvIII with AG1478 (kinase inhibitor). The radiation-induced 8.5-fold activation of the pro-proliferative mitogen-activated protein kinase and the 3.2-fold stimulation of the antiapoptotic
AKT
/phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase pathways by EGFRvIII far exceeded that in CHO.
EGFR
wt cells. Thus, based on colony formation and apoptosis assays, EGFRvIII expression conferred a stronger cytoprotective response to radiation than EGFRwt, resulting in relative radioresistance. Therefore, disabling EGFRvIII in addition to EGFRwt needs to be considered in any therapeutic approach aimed at targeting
EGFR
for tumor cell radiosensitization.
...
PMID:EGFRvIII-mediated radioresistance through a strong cytoprotective response. 1294 1
RAS has been shown to increase radiation resistance. Upstream and downstream pathways from RAS could thus be targets for manipulation of radiosensitivity.
EGFR
expression and
AKT
phosphorylation are also associated with the response to radiation. A retrospective study evaluating
EGFR
and
AKT
in patients treated with multimodality therapy found a significant association between P-
AKT
and treatment failure. Moreover, these data are strengthened by in vitro studies showing that inhibition of
EGFR
, RAS, PI3K, and
AKT
radiosensitized cancer cell lines. We have previously shown that PI3K is a mediator of RAS-induced radiation resistance. We now suggest that
EGFR
, which is upstream of PI3K, may also mediate resistance through a common pathway. In addition to
EGFR
and RAS, PTEN can also regulate the PI3K pathway. Identifying a common signal for
EGFR
, RAS, or PTEN that results in radiation resistance may uncover targets for developing molecular-based radiosensitization protocols for tumors resistant to radiation and thus improve local control.
...
PMID:The RAS signal transduction pathway and its role in radiation sensitivity. 1294 93
Epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (
EGFR
) is commonly amplified and/or mutated in high-grade gliomas. Abnormal signaling from this receptor tyrosine kinase is believed to contribute to the malignant phenotypes seen in these tumors. Highly specific small molecule inhibitors of this receptor tyrosine kinase have been developed and may potentially improve the treatment of these highly aggressive brain tumors. A glioma cell line overexpressing
EGFR
was developed to mimic the situation of a malignant glioma with amplified
EGFR
, and this line was used to characterize the response to specific
EGFR
inhibitors. Treatment of our in vitro glioma model with the
EGFR
kinase inhibitors ZD1839 (Iressa) or PD153035, synthetic anilinoquinazolines with high specificity for
EGFR
, resulted in significant suppression of
EGFR
autophosphorylation even with very low levels of drug. However, significantly higher levels of drug were required to fully inhibit signaling through the phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase/
AKT
and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathways. Interestingly, not all downstream signaling pathways displayed this resistance to inhibition. EGF-dependent activation of signal transducers and activators of transcription-3 occurred at low doses of
EGFR
inhibitors. The uncoupling of
EGFR
autophosphorylation and signaling through
AKT
and ERK was not dependent on
EGFR
overexpression. In addition, although this response was seen in other glioma and the SK-BR3 breast cancer cell lines, it was not universally present. The SQ20B head and neck squamous carcinoma cell line demonstrated loss of EGF-dependent
AKT
and ERK activation even at low doses of inhibitor. Despite significant loss of EGF-dependent autophosphorylation, the inability of low levels of
EGFR
inhibitor to suppress some downstream signaling pathways in our model glioma cell line permitted continued EGF-responsive decreases in the expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27KIP and EGF-dependent proliferation/cell cycle progression. Although the mechanism responsible for the differential sensitivity of the various signal transduction pathways to
EGFR
inhibitors remains unclear, signaling through erbB2 does not appear to be involved. The ability of certain tumor cells to maintain signaling through
AKT
and ERK under
EGFR
inhibition may represent a potential mechanism of resistance by which a tumor cell may escape the antiproliferative activity of this new class of drugs.
...
PMID:Resistance to small molecule inhibitors of epidermal growth factor receptor in malignant gliomas. 1461 44
The expression of the NH2 terminally truncated ErbB2 receptor (p95ErbB2) in breast cancer correlates with metastatic disease progression compared with the expression of full-length p185ErbB2. We now show that heregulin (HRG), but not EGF, stimulates p95ErbB2 phosphorylation in BT474 breast cancer cells. Furthermore, phospho-p95ErbB2 forms heterodimers with ErbB3, but not
EGFR
, while p185ErbB2 heterodimerizes with both
EGFR
and ErbB3. The predilection of p95ErbB2 to heterodimerize with ErbB3 provides an explanation for its regulation by HRG, an ErbB3 ligand. GW572016, a reversible small molecule inhibitor of
EGFR
and ErbB2 tyrosine kinases, inhibits baseline p95ErbB2 phosphorylation in BT474 cells and tumor xenografts. Inhibition of p95ErbB2, p185ErbB2, and
EGFR
phosphorylation by GW572016 resulted in the inhibition of downstream phospho-Erk1/2, phospho-
AKT
, and cyclin D steady-state protein levels. Increased phosphorylation of p95ErbB2 and
AKT
in response to HRG was abrogated to varying degrees by GW572016. In contrast, trastuzumab did not inhibit p95ErbB2 phosphorylation or the expression of downstream phospho-Erk1/2, phospho-
AKT
, or cyclin D. It is tempting to speculate that trastuzumab resistance may be mediated in part by the selection of p95ErbB2-expressing breast cancer cells capable of exerting potent growth and prosurvival signals through p95ErbB2-ErbB3 heterodimers. Thus, p95ErbB2 represents a target for therapeutic intervention, and one that is sensitive to GW572016 therapy.
...
PMID:Truncated ErbB2 receptor (p95ErbB2) is regulated by heregulin through heterodimer formation with ErbB3 yet remains sensitive to the dual EGFR/ErbB2 kinase inhibitor GW572016. 1473
Gliomas are the most common primary neoplasm of the brain. Unfortunately, they are often refractory to treatment and portend a poor prognosis. However, recent discoveries have shed light on the molecular events driving glioma growth, including abnormalities of three major molecular pathways: extracellular growth factors and their receptors (eg, EGF/
EGFR
and PDGF/PDGFR), signal transduction cascades (eg, RAS and
AKT
), and cell proliferation controls (eg, INK4A-ARF). Each of these abnormalities is described in detail. Efforts to inhibit abnormally activated pathways are underway through multi-institutional clinical trials.
...
PMID:Molecular biology of gliomas. 1510 49
Ionizing or ultraviolet radiation-induced cellular survival signaling pathways induce development of cancer and insensitivity of tumor cells to radiation therapy. Accumulating evidence suggests that the phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/
AKT
signal pathway is a major contributor to radioresistance. In many cell types PI3K/
AKT
signaling is a key cytoprotective response downstream of the
EGFR
family receptors and mediated carcinogenesis. Cytokines, such as HGF, IGF-I, and IL-6 also protects cells against apoptosis induced by radiation through PI3K/
AKT
pathway. The mechanics by which PI3K/
AKT
signaling functions in radiation responses may include its regulation of mitochondrial proteins, transcription factors, translation machinery, and cell-cycle progression. In addition, cross-talk between the PI3K/
AKT
pathway and mitogen-activated protein kinases, protein kinase A, and protein kinase C signal pathway may also play an important role.
...
PMID:Phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase/AKT in radiation responses. 1516 54
We examined the impact of purified bacterially synthesized GST-MDA-7 (IL-24) and ionizing radiation on the proliferation and survival of nonestablished human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells. Glioma cell types expressing mutated PTEN and p53 molecules, activated ERBB1VIII, overexpressing wild type ERBB1 or without receptor overexpression were selected. In MTT assays, GST-MDA-7 caused a dose-dependent reduction in the proliferation of nonestablished glioma cells; however only at higher concentrations did GST-MDA-7 reduce cell viability. The anti-proliferative and cytotoxic effects of GST-MDA-7 were enhanced by radiation in a greater than additive fashion that correlated with JNK1/2/3 activation. The reduction in cell growth and enhancement in cell killing by the combination of GST-MDA-7 and radiation were blocked by an ROS scavenger, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), a JNK1/2/3 inhibitor SP600125, a pan-caspase inhibitor (zVAD) and by an inhibitor of caspase 9 (LEHD), but not by an inhibitor of caspase 8 (IETD). Low concentrations of either GST-MDA-7 or radiation reduced clonogenic survival, however colony formation ability was significantly further decreased when the two treatments were combined, which was also blocked by inhibition of caspase 9 function. In general agreement with activation of the intrinsic caspase pathway, cell death correlated with reduced BCL-XL expression and with increased levels of the pro-apoptotic proteins BAD and BAX. Inhibition of caspase 9 after combination treatment blunted neither JNK1/2/3 activation nor the enhanced expression of BAD and BAX, but did block caspase 3 cleavage, reduced expression of BCL-XL and inhibition of ERK1/2 activity. In contrast, incubation with NAC blocked JNK1/2/3 activation and cell killing, but not the increases in BAD and BAX expression. These findings argue that after combination treatment JNK1/2/3 activation is a primary pro-apoptotic event and loss of BCL-XL expression and ERK1/2 activity are secondary caspase-dependent processes. This data also argues that GST- MDA-7 induces two parallel pro-apoptotic pathways via ROS-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Infection of primary human astrocytes with a recombinant adenovirus to express MDA-7, Ad.mda-7, but not infection with either Ad.cmv or Ad.mda-7SP- lacking MDA-7 secretion, resulted in the suppression of GBM cell colony formation in soft agar overlay assays, an effect that was enhanced in a greater than additive fashion by radiation. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that MDA-7 reduces proliferation and enhances the radiosensitivity of nonestablished human GBM cells in vitro, and when grown in 3 dimensions, and that sensitization occurs independently of basal
EGFR
/ERK1/2/
AKT
activity or the functions of PTEN and p53.
...
PMID:MDA-7 regulates cell growth and radiosensitivity in vitro of primary (non-established) human glioma cells. 1532 89
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