Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UNIPROT:P51812 (mitogen-activated protein)
 10,636 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

One of the principal functions of erythropoietin (EPO) is to stimulate the survival, proliferation, and differentiation of immature erythroid cells. Yet, EPO has recently been shown to modulate cellular signal transduction pathways to perform multiple functions other than erythropoiesis. EPO is cytoprotective through the prevention of programmed cell death in both vascular and neuronal systems by modulating two distinct components of programmed cell death that involve the degradation of genomic DNA and the externalization of cellular membrane phosphatidylserine (PS) residues. Cytoprotection by EPO is initiated by the activation of the EPO receptor (EPOR) and subsequent signal transduction pathways that originate with the Janus-tyrosine kinase 2 (Jak2) protein. Further down-stream cellular pathways include the activation of signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs), Bcl-x(L), phosphoinositide-3-kinase/Akt, mitogen-activated protein kinases, cysteine proteases, protein tyrosine phosphatases, and nuclear factor kappaB. Further understanding of the cellular pathways that modulate EPO cytoprotection in the nervous system will be crucial for the development of therapeutic strategies against neurodegenerative diseases.
Curr Drug Targets Cardiovasc Haematol Disord 2003 Jun
PMID:Erythropoietin: cytoprotection in vascular and neuronal cells. 1276 40

High-density lipoprotein (HDL), apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), and the principal high-affinity HDL receptor, scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI), are antiatherogenic and beneficial to the response to vascular injury. However, the fundamental mechanisms underlying these properties remain complex and not well understood. Recent work in both cell culture and in mice indicates that HDL causes robust activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and that this effect is mediated in endothelial cell caveolae by SR-BI through a process that requires apoA-I binding. Further studies have revealed that HDL stimulates eNOS through src- and PI3 kinase-mediated signaling, which leads to parallel activation of Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinases and their resultant independent modulation of the enzyme. As such, signaling initiated by HDL increases the production of the potent atheroprotective molecule nitric oxide, and this novel mechanism of action may be critically involved in the impact of the lipoprotein on vascular health and disease.
Trends Cardiovasc Med 2003 Aug
PMID:HDL stimulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase: a novel mechanism of HDL action. 1292 18

Four corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-related peptides have been found in mammals and are known as CRF, urocortin, urocortin II, and urocortin III (also known as stresscopin). The three urocortins have considerably higher affinities for CRF receptor type 2 (CRF R2) than CRF, and urocortin II and urocortin III are highly selective for CRF R2. In the present study, the authors examined the hypothesis that urocortin II or urocortin III, in addition to urocortin, produces vasodilation as a candidate for natural ligands of CRF R2beta in rat thoracic aorta. Involvement of protein kinases on urocortin-induced vasodilation was also explored. The vasodilative effects of urocortin II and urocortin III were more potent than that of CRF, but less potent than that of urocortin. Urocortin II-induced vasodilation was significantly attenuated by a CRF R2-selective antagonist, antisauvagine-30. Both SQ22536, an adenylate cyclase inhibitor, and Rp-8-Br-cAMPS, a protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, were found to attenuate the urocortin II-induced vasodilation. SB203580, a p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase inhibitor, also inhibited the effects of urocortin and urocortin II on vasodilation. Thus, urocortins contribute to vasodilation via p38 MAP kinase as well as PKA pathways.
J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 2003 Oct
PMID:Vasodilative effects of urocortin II via protein kinase A and a mitogen-activated protein kinase in rat thoracic aorta. 1450 43

As other preconditioning phenomena, heat stress is able to induce a delayed myocardial protection against ischaemia-reperfusion injury by preserving ventricular function, preventing arrhythmia occurrence and reducing cellular necrosis. The development of heat stress response has been extensively studied in order to characterize the different steps of this form of preconditioning. It appears that chemical signals (such as nitric oxide, reactive oxygen species (ROS)) released by sublethal hyperthermic stress trigger a complex cascade of signalling events that include activation of protein kinase C (PKC) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and culminate in increased synthesis of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, antioxidant enzymes and protective proteins such as heat stress proteins (Hsps). A better understanding of this powerful protective adaptation of the cardiomyocyte is essential for the development of clinical applications and the design of cardioprotective pharmacological agents. The purpose of this letter is to review current information regarding the characteristics of heat stress preconditioning compared to other forms of late preconditioning.
Cardiovasc Res 2003 Dec 01
PMID:Heat stress preconditioning and delayed myocardial protection: what is new? 1465 92

p38 is a mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase with structural and functional characteristics that distinguish it from JNK and ERK MAP kinases. p38 activity is upregulated when cells are exposed to a variety of stimuli including bacterial pathogens, proinflammatory cytokines, certain growth factors, and other forms of environmental stress. By regulating downstream substrates that include protein kinases and transcription factors, p38 participates in transmission, amplification, and diversification of the extracellular signal, initiating several different cellular responses. Studies have revealed that activation of p38 pathway is related to many pathological changes that occur in the course of inflammatory/immunologic and cardiovascular diseases.
Trends Cardiovasc Med 1998 Jul
PMID:The p38 MAP kinase pathway and its biological function. 1498 68

Activation of stress-activated mitogen-activated protein kinases (SAPKs), mainly c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38, have long been associated with different forms of cardiac pathology across a wide spectrum of species. However, their specific roles in the development of heart failure are still unclear. Previous studies in neonatal myocytes in culture suggest a critical role for both JNK and p38 in hypertrophy and apoptosis. A far more complex picture has been provided by recent observations from both cellular and transgenic models that have not only challenged their role in hypertrophy and cell death but have also pointed out novel functions of SAPKs in different aspects of cardiac pathology, including contractile function, extracellular matrix remodeling, intercellular communication, and metabolic regulation.
Trends Cardiovasc Med 2004 Feb
PMID:Stress-activated MAP kinases in cardiac remodeling and heart failure; new insights from transgenic studies. 1503 Jul 89

Phytoestrogens have recently been proposed as alternatives to estrogens for cardiovascular protection; however, the effect of their metabolites on vascular biology is unclear. We studied the effect of a red clover-derived isoflavone metabolite cis-tetrahydrodaidzein (cis-THD) on human vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation. Cis-THD significantly inhibited platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) BB-induced DNA synthesis (10% at 1 nmol/L, 17% at 10, 100 nmol/L; 17beta-estradiol: 27% inhibition at 1, 10 nmol/L, 33% at 100 nmol/L). Cis-THD reduced PDGF BB-induced increase in cell numbers. Cis-THD showed high binding affinity to estrogen receptors (ER) by ER competitor assays; its inhibitory effect on DNA synthesis was abolished by the ER antagonist ICI 182780 (100 nmol/L), indicating ER-mediation. Immunoprecipitation assays revealed that cis-THD inhibited PDGF BB-stimulated activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase ERK-1 by 34% at 1 nmol/L, 58% at 10 nmol/L, and 81% at 100 nmol/L, while MAP kinase JNK and p38 activities were unaltered. Thus, the isoflavone metabolite cis-THD inhibits PDGF-induced ERK-1 activation and cell proliferation in human VSMC, suggesting a potential beneficial effect in cardiovascular protection.
J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 2004 May
PMID:The isoflavone metabolite cis-tetrahydrodaidzein inhibits ERK-1 activation and proliferation in human vascular smooth muscle cells. 1507 48

Prolonged cardiac hypertrophy of pathologic etiology is associated with arrhythmia, sudden death, decompensation, and dilated cardiomyopathy. In an attempt to understand the mechanisms that underlie the hypertrophic response, extensive investigation has centered on a characterization of the molecular pathways that initiate or maintain the pathologic growth of individual cardiac myocytes. While a large number of signal transduction cascades have been identified as critical regulators of cardiac hypertrophy, here the scientific evidence implicating the protein phosphatase calcineurin (PP2B) and the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) as co-regulators of reactive hypertrophy will be discussed. Gain- and loss-of-function studies in genetically altered mice and in cultured cardiomyocytes have demonstrated the necessity and sufficiency of calcineurin to regulate pathologic cardiac hypertrophy. However, using similar approaches, the hypertrophic regulatory role attributed to various branches of the MAPK signaling pathway has been less conclusive, although a loose consensus suggests that the c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) and p38 kinases function as mediators of dilated cardiomyopathy, while extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) function as regulators of hypertrophy. More recently, the actions of calcineurin and MAPK signaling pathways have been shown to be co-dependent such that unitary activation of calcineurin in myocytes leads to up-regulation in ERK and JNK signaling, but down-regulation in p38 signaling. Conversely, unitary activation of JNK or p38 in cardiac myocytes leads to down-regulation of calcineurin effectiveness by directly antagonizing nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) nuclear occupancy. Thus, an emerging paradigm suggests that calcineurin-NFAT and MAPK signaling pathways are inter-dependent and together orchestrate the cardiac hypertrophic response.
Cardiovasc Res 2004 Aug 15
PMID:Calcineurin-NFAT signaling regulates the cardiac hypertrophic response in coordination with the MAPKs. 1527 72

p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase is activated during ischemic/hypoxic myocardial injury. However, the role of activated p38 MAP kinase on cardiac function after myocardial injury is not well understood. In the present study, we investigated the cardioprotective effects of p38 MAP kinase inhibition in a rat model of acute myocardial injury, induced by subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol (ISO, 20 mg/kg/d for 3 days). A synthetic p38 alpha MAP kinase inhibitor, SD-282 (40 mg/kg) or vehicle (0.25% Tween 80 in saline) was given intraperitoneally twice a day for 3 days, concomitant with ISO treatment. Cardiac function, systolic blood pressure, gene expression including collagen I and III, fibronectin and COX-2, and the myocardial injury were analyzed. Results showed that administration of SD-282 remarkably improved ISO-induced reduction of cardiac function with increases in ejection fraction (P < 0.001), cardiac output (P < 0.05), stroke volume (P < 0.001), and cardiac index (P < 0.01). SD-282 abolished ISO-induced reduction of systolic blood pressure (106.7 +/- 2.2 versus 123.1 +/- 5.3 mm Hg, P < 0.05). The ISO-induced expression of COX-2, collagen I and III, and fibronectin genes was reduced significantly (P < 0.05 in all cases) by administration of SD-282. The myocardial injury induced by ISO was significantly reduced by the treatment of SD-282 as judged by the reduction of myocardial necrosis. Data suggest that p38 alpha MAP kinase may be involved in the pathogenesis of cardiac dysfunction in ischemic myocardial injury. Inhibition of this enzyme may improve cardiac function and protect myocardium from ischemic/hypoxic injury that occurs during ischemic heart disease.
J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 2004 Oct
PMID:p38 alpha mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibition improves cardiac function and reduces myocardial damage in isoproterenol-induced acute myocardial injury in rats. 1545 58

Oxygen-derived free radicals have been demonstrated to contribute to the pathogenesis of myocardial dysfunction, although the underlying mechanism remains not fully understood. This study was designed to examine the role of the superoxide generator pyrogallol on cardiac contractile function and possible intervention with herbal medicines anisodamine and tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) on pyrogallol-induced cardiac contractile response. Adult rat ventricular myocytes were isolated and stimulated to contract at 0.5 Hz. Mechanical properties were evaluated using an IonOptix system including peak shortening (PS), time-to-PS (TPS), time-to-90% relengthening (TR(90)), and maximal velocity of shortening/relengthening (+/-dL/dt). A 10-min exposure of pyrogallol (0 to 10(-2) M) did not affect cardiac contractile mechanics. However, longer duration of pyrogallol exposure (1, 3, and 6 h) significantly shortened resting cell length, reduced PS and +/-dL/dt, and prolonged TPS and TR90 in time- and concentration-dependent manners. The pyrogallol (10(-4) M with 6-h incubation)-induced mechanical defects were prevented by the p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase inhibitor SB203580 (1 microM) and superoxide dismutase (SOD, 500 U/mL) with the exception that pyrogallol-induced PS depression was unaffected by SOD. Interestingly, incubation of herbal antioxidants anisodamine (10(-7) M) and TMP (10(-7) M) effectively attenuated the pyrogallol-induced cardiac mechanical defects with the exception of PS unaffected by TMP. Our data demonstrate a direct inhibitory effect of pyrogallol on cardiac contraction, probably in a superoxide- and p38 MAP kinase-dependent manner. The antioxidant medicines anisodamine and TMP may be useful in the treatment of oxygen free radical-induced myocardial dysfunction.
Cardiovasc Toxicol 2004
PMID:The oxygen radical generator pyrogallol impairs cardiomyocyte contractile function via a superoxide and p38 MAP kinase-dependent pathway: protection by anisodamine and tetramethylpyrazine. 1553 80


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