Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UNIPROT:P42345 (mTOR)
 26,049 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Mutations and chromosomal translocations occur in leukemic cells that result in elevated expression or constitutive activation of various growth factor receptors and downstream kinases. The Raf/MEK/ERK, PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTOR and Jak/STAT pathways are often activated by mutations in upstream genes. The Raf/MEK/ERK and PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTOR pathways are regulated by upstream Ras that is frequently mutated in human cancer. Recently, it has been observed that the FLT-3 and Jak kinases and the phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) phosphatase are also frequently mutated or their expression is altered in certain hematopoietic neoplasms. Many of the events elicited by the Raf/MEK/ERK, PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTOR and Jak/STAT pathways have direct effects on survival pathways. Aberrant regulation of the survival pathways can contribute to uncontrolled cell growth and lead to leukemia. In this review, we describe the Raf/MEK/ERK, PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTOR and Jak/STAT signaling cascades and summarize recent data regarding the regulation and mutation status of these pathways and their involvement in leukemia.
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PMID:Contributions of the Raf/MEK/ERK, PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTOR and Jak/STAT pathways to leukemia. 1833 67

The LKB1 tumour suppressor phosphorylates and activates AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) when cellular energy levels are low, thereby suppressing growth through multiple pathways, including inhibiting the mTORC1 (mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1) kinase that is activated in the majority of human cancers. Blood glucose-lowering Type 2 diabetes drugs also induce LKB1 to activate AMPK, indicating that these compounds could be used to suppress growth of tumour cells. In the present study, we investigated the importance of the LKB1-AMPK pathway in regulating tumorigenesis in mice resulting from deficiency of the PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10) tumour suppressor, which drives cell growth through overactivation of the Akt and mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) kinases. We demonstrate that inhibition of AMPK resulting from a hypomorphic mutation that decreases LKB1 expression does not lead to tumorigenesis on its own, but markedly accelerates tumour development in PTEN(+/-) mice. In contrast, activating the AMPK pathway by administration of metformin, phenformin or A-769662 to PTEN(+/-) mice significantly delayed tumour onset. We demonstrate that LKB1 is required for activators of AMPK to inhibit mTORC1 signalling as well as cell growth in PTEN-deficient cells. Our findings highlight, using an animal model relevant to understanding human cancer, the vital role that the LKB1-AMPK pathway plays in suppressing tumorigenesis resulting from loss of the PTEN tumour suppressor. They also suggest that pharmacological inhibition of LKB1 and/or AMPK would be undesirable, at least for the treatment of cancers in which the mTORC1 pathway is activated. Most importantly, our results demonstrate the potential of AMPK activators, such as clinically approved metformin, as anticancer agents, which will suppress tumour development by triggering a physiological signalling pathway that potently inhibits cell growth.
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PMID:Important role of the LKB1-AMPK pathway in suppressing tumorigenesis in PTEN-deficient mice. 1846 13

PTEN, a tumor suppressor whose function is frequently lost in human cancers, possesses a lipid phosphatase activity that represses phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling, controlling cell growth, proliferation, and survival. The potential for PTEN to regulate the synthesis of RNA polymerase (Pol) III transcription products, including tRNAs and 5S rRNAs, was evaluated. The expression of PTEN in PTEN-deficient cells repressed RNA Pol III transcription, whereas decreased PTEN expression enhanced transcription. Transcription repression by PTEN was uncoupled from PTEN-mediated effects on the cell cycle and was independent of p53. PTEN acts through its lipid phosphatase activity, inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR/S6K pathway to decrease transcription. PTEN, through the inactivation of mTOR, targets the TFIIIB complex, disrupting the association between TATA-binding protein and Brf1. Kinetic analysis revealed that PTEN initially induces a decrease in the serine phosphorylation of Brf1, leading to a selective reduction in the occupancy of all TFIIIB subunits on tRNA(Leu) genes, whereas prolonged PTEN expression results in the enhanced serine phosphorylation of Bdp1. Together, these results demonstrate a new class of genes regulated by PTEN through its ability to repress the activation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR/S6K signaling.
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PMID:PTEN represses RNA polymerase III-dependent transcription by targeting the TFIIIB complex. 1839 Oct 23

The SR protein SF2/ASF has been initially characterized as a splicing factor but has also been shown to mediate postsplicing activities such as mRNA export and translation. Here we demonstrate that SF2/ASF promotes translation initiation of bound mRNAs and that this activity requires the presence of the cytoplasmic cap-binding protein eIF4E. SF2/ASF promotes translation initiation by suppressing the activity of 4E-BP, a competitive inhibitor of cap-dependent translation. This activity is mediated by interactions of SF2/ASF with both mTOR and the phosphatase PP2A, two key regulators of 4E-BP phosphorylation. These findings suggest the model whereby SF2/ASF functions as an adaptor protein to recruit the signaling molecules responsible for regulation of cap-dependent translation of specific mRNAs. Taken together, these data suggest a novel mechanism for the activation of translation initiation of a subset of mRNAs bound by the shuttling protein SF2/ASF.
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PMID:The splicing factor SF2/ASF regulates translation initiation by enhancing phosphorylation of 4E-BP1. 1847 71

The Ser/Thr phosphatase PP2A is a set of multisubunit enzymes that regulate many cellular processes. In yeast, the PP2A regulatory subunit Tap42 forms part of the target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling pathway that links nutrient and energy availability to cell growth. The physiological intersection between the mammalian orthologs of Tap42 and TOR, alpha4 and mTOR, has not been fully characterized. We used two in vivo models of liver growth in the rat, late gestation fetal development and regeneration after partial hepatectomy, to explore the regulation of the alpha4-containing form of PP2A. The alpha4/PP2A catalytic subunit (alpha4/PP2A-C) complex was present in both fetal and adult liver extracts. There was a trend towards higher levels of alpha4 protein in fetal liver, but the complex was more abundant in adult liver. Fractionation of extracts by ion exchange chromatography and transient transfection of the AML12 mouse hepatic cell line indicated that alpha4 associates with PP2A-C but that these complexes have low catalytic activity with both peptide and protein substrates. alpha4 was able to associate with forms of PP2A-C that were both methylated and non-methylated at the carboxy-terminus. The mTOR inhibitor rapamycin did not block the formation of alpha4/PP2A-C in liver or hepatic cells, nor did it appear to modulate PP2A activity. Furthermore, sensitivity to the growth inhibitory effects of rapamycin among a panel of hepatic cell lines did not correlate with levels of alpha4 or alpha4/PP2A-C. Our results indicate that the yeast Tap42/TOR paradigm is not conserved in hepatic cells.
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PMID:The alpha4-containing form of protein phosphatase 2A in liver and hepatic cells. 1854 52

Immunosuppressive drugs modulate cellular and humoral immune response in the acute allograft rejection. The panel of drugs, which has been recently extended, allowed a significant progress for immunosuppressive treatment. These drugs help us to improve our knowledge of lymphocyte activation pathways. Corticoids, the oldest immunosuppresive drugs, inhibit many cytokines such as interleukin 2 (IL2) and interleukin 6. They represent the treatment of acute rejection. The other immunosuppressive drugs are used for preventing acute rejection. After binding to a specific immunophillin, cyclosporin and tacrolimus inhibit calcineurine, a serine/threonine phosphatase which plays a major role in cytokines transcription notably IL2 after T-cell activation. Anti-IL2 receptor monoclonal antibodies block IL2 activity following T-cell activation. Protein mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors avoid the transcription of different mRNA involved in the regulation of the cellular cycle. These new agents are rapamycin or sirolimus and everolimus. The inhibitors of pyrimidic and puric bases synthesis, mycophenolic acid and azathioprin, inhibit T- and B-cell proliferation. The wide variety of immunosuppressive drugs permits the use of combinations, which aims at decreasing the immunologic risk and their own toxicities, notably nephrotoxicity. Before transplant, the pharmacist plays an important role in the prevention of initial pathologies and in the politic of organ donation. After transplant, the pharmacist has a role in the pharmacological and biological monitoring of immunosuppressive drugs. But the pharmacist must be involved in the optimization of therapeutics and in the education of transplant patients.
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PMID:[Today in molecular mechanisms of immunosuppressive drugs actions: roles of pharmacist]. 1857 Sep 9

Honokiol, an active component isolated and purified from Chinese traditional herb magnolia, was demonstrated to inhibit growth and induce apoptosis of different cancer cell lines such as human leukaemia, colon, and lung cancer cell lines; to attenuate the angiogenic activities of human endothelial cells in vitro; and to efficiently suppress the growth of angiosarcoma in nude mice. In this study, we have demonstrated that treatment of different human breast cancer cell lines with honokiol resulted in a time- and concentration-dependent growth inhibition in both estrogen receptor-positive and -negative breast cancer cell lines, as well as in drug-resistant breast cancer cell lines such as adriamycin-resistant and tamoxifen-resistant cell lines. The inhibition of growth was associated with a G1-phase cell cycle arrest and induction of caspase-dependent apoptosis. The effects of honokiol might be reversely related to the expression level of human epidermal growth receptor 2, (HER-2, also known as erbB2, c-erbB2) since knockdown of her-2 expression by siRNA significantly enhanced the sensitivity of the her-2 over-expressed BT-474 cells to the honokiol-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, inhibition of HER-2 signalling by specific human epidermal growth receptor 1/HER-2 (EGFR/HER-2) kinase inhibitor lapatinib synergistically enhanced the anti-cancer effects of honokiol in her-2 over-expressed breast cancer cells. Finally, we showed that honokiol was able to attenuate the PI3K/Akt/mTOR (Phosphoinositide 3-kinases/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin) signalling by down-regulation of Akt phosphorylation and upregulation of PTEN (Phosphatase and Tensin homolog deleted on chromosome Ten) expression. Combination of honokiol with the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin presented synergistic effects on induction of apoptosis of breast cancer cells. In conclusion, honokiol, either alone or in combination with other therapeutics, could serve as a new, promising approach for breast cancer treatment.
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PMID:Anti-tumor effect of honokiol alone and in combination with other anti-cancer agents in breast cancer. 1858 72

Significant discoveries have recently contributed to our knowledge of intracellular growth factor and nutrient signaling via mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin). This signaling pathway is essential in cellular metabolism and cell survival by enhancing protein translation through phosphorylation of 4EBP-1 and p70S6K. Growth factors like insulin-like growth factor-I induce mTOR to prevent cell death during cellular stress. Agents targeting mTOR are of major interest as anticancer agents. We show here, using human breast cancer cells, that certain types of stress activate mTOR leading to 4E-BP1 and p70S6K phosphorylation. UV treatment increased phosphorylation of the translation inhibitor eIF2alpha, suggesting a potential mechanism for UV activation of Akt and mTOR. c-Myc, a survival protein regulated by cap-dependent protein translation, increased with IGF-I treatment, but this response was not inhibited by rapamycin. Additionally, UV treatment potently increased c-Myc degradation, which was reduced by co-treatment with the proteasomal inhibitor, MG-132. Together, these data suggest that protein translation does not strongly mediate cell survival in these models. In contrast, the phosphorylation status of retinoblastoma protein (pRB) was mediated by mTOR through its inhibitory effects on phosphatase activity. This effect was most notable during DNA damage and rapamycin treatment. Hypophosphorylated pRB was susceptible to inactivation by caspase-mediated cleavage, resulting in cell death. Reduction of pRB expression inhibited IGF-I survival effects. Our data support an important role of phosphatases and pRB in IGF-I/mTOR-mediated cell survival. These studies provide new directions in optimizing anticancer efficacy of mTOR inhibitors when used in combination with DNA-damaging agents.
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PMID:Stress and IGF-I differentially control cell fate through mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and retinoblastoma protein (pRB). 1869 43

The phospho-PKB/Akt status is often used as surrogate marker to measure activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signal transduction pathway. Though, inconsistencies of the p-Ser(473)-PKB/Akt status have raised doubts in the validity of p-Ser(473)-PKB/Akt phosphorylation as endpoint. Here, we determined that p-Ser(473)-PKB/Akt but not p-Thr(308)-PKB/Akt phosphorylation is highly temperature sensitive. p-Ser(473)-PKB/Akt phosphorylation was rapidly reduced to levels below 50% on exposure to 20-25 degrees C in murine and human cell lines including cells expressing constitutively active PI3K or lacking PTEN. Down-regulation of p-Ser(473)-PKB/Akt was reversible and re-exposure to physiological temperature resulted in increased p-Ser(473)-PKB/Akt phosphorylation levels. Phosphatase activity at low temperature was sustained at 75% baseline level and phosphatase inhibition prevented p-Ser(473)-PKB/Akt dephosphorylation induced by the low temperature shift. Interestingly temperature-dependent deregulation of the p-Ser(473)-PKB/Akt status was also observed in response to irradiation. Thus our data demonstrate that minimal additional stress factors deregulate the PI3K/Akt-survival pathway and the p-Ser(473)-PKB/Akt status as experimental endpoint.
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PMID:Temperature sensitivity of phospho-Ser(473)-PKB/AKT. 1872 97

Cowden's disease is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by the development of multiple mucocutaneous lesions and benign tumors, and enhanced cancer predisposition. Most Cowden's disease patients harbor inactivating mutations in the PTEN tumor suppressor gene which encodes a lipid phosphatase, PTEN, which restrains the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-Akt signaling pathway. We observed that the epithelial-specific deletion of Pten in mice causes multiple hyperproliferative and tumor lesions that strikingly resemble Cowden's disease. This animal model system provided an opportunity to explore novel therapeutic approaches in Cowden's disease. Indeed, we show here that rapamycin administration, which inhibits a key downstream target of Akt, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), promotes the rapid regression of advanced mucocutaneous lesions. Furthermore, when administered before disease manifestation, rapamycin can halt the development of Cowden's disease-like lesions, thereby prolonging animal survival. These findings suggest that mTOR inhibition with rapamycin may represent a suitable therapeutic option for the chemoprevention and treatment of Cowden disease patients and others tumor syndromes that involve defective PTEN function.
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PMID:Chemoprevention and treatment of experimental Cowden's disease by mTOR inhibition with rapamycin. 1875 21


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