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)

In our previous study, we showed that prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) stimulates vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) synthesis via activation of p44/p42 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase via protein kinase C (PKC) in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells. In addition, we demonstrated that incadronate amplified, and tiludronate suppressed PGF2alpha-induced VEGF synthesis among bisphosphonates, while alendronate or etidronate had no effect. In the present study, we investigated the effects of minodronate, a newly developed bisphosphonate, on PGF (2alpha)-induced VEGF synthesis in MC3T3-E1 cells. Minodronate significantly reduced VEGF synthesis induced by PGF2alpha dose-dependently at levels between 3 and 100 microM. PGF2alpha-stimulated phosphorylation of Raf-1, MEK1/2 and p44/p42 MAP kinase were suppressed by minodronate. 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a direct activator VEGF synthesis induced by PKC, was inhibited by minodronate. Minodronate inhibited Raf-1, MEK1/2 and p44/p42 MAP kinase phosphorylation induced by TPA. Mevalonate failed to affect the suppressive effect of minodronate on PGF2alpha-induced VEGF synthesis. Taken together, these results indicate that minodronate suppresses PGF2alpha-stimulated VEGF synthesis at the point between PKC and Raf-1 in osteoblasts.
 ...
PMID:Minodronate suppresses prostaglandin F2alpha-induced vascular endothelial growth factor synthesis in osteoblasts. 1667 5

Elevated focal adhesion kinase (FAK) expression occurs in advanced cancers, yet a signaling role for FAK in tumor progression remains undefined. Here, we suppressed FAK activity in 4T1 breast carcinoma cells resulting in reduced FAK Y925 phosphorylation, Grb2 adaptor protein binding to FAK, and signaling to mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase (MAPK). Loss of a FAK-Grb2-MAPK linkage did not affect 4T1 cell proliferation or survival in culture, yet FAK inhibition reduced vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and resulted in small avascular tumors in mice. This FAK-Grb2-MAPK linkage was essential in promoting angiogenesis as reconstitution experiments using Src-transformed FAK-null fibroblasts revealed that point mutations affecting FAK catalytic activity (R454) or Y925 phosphorylation (F925) disrupted the ability of FAK to promote MAPK- and VEGF-associated tumor growth. Notably, in both FAK-inhibited 4T1 and Src-transformed FAK-null cells, constitutively activated (CA) mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 (MEK1) restored VEGF production and CA-MEK1 or added VEGF rescued tumor growth and angiogenesis. These studies provide the first biological support for Y925 FAK phosphorylation and define a novel role for FAK activity in promoting a MAPK-associated angiogenic switch during tumor progression.
 ...
PMID:Intrinsic FAK activity and Y925 phosphorylation facilitate an angiogenic switch in tumors. 1668 56

Statins, specific inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase, are now widely used for treatment of patients with hypercholesterolemia. In addition to the reduction of cholesterol biosynthesis, accumulating evidence indicates that statins have several pleiotropic effects especially on cardiovascular system. However, the exact role of statin in cardiac myocytes remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated whether atorvastatin induces vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) release in cardiac myocytes, and the underlying mechanism. We observed that atorvastatin significantly stimulated VEGF release in a dose-dependent manner. It induced the phosphorylation of p44/p42 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase and p38 MAP kinase but not SAPK (stress-activated protein kinase)/JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase). The atorvastatin-induced VEGF release was enhanced by PD98059, which is a specific inhibitor of the upstream kinase that activates p44/p42 MAP kinase (MEK). Further, it was significantly reduced by SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38 MAP kinase. Furthermore, the atorvastatin-induced phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase was attenuated by SB203580, whereas it was enhanced by PD98059. Taken together, these results suggest that the atorvastatin-induced VEGF release in cardiac myocytes is positively regulated by p38 MAP kinase and negatively regulated byp44/p42 MAP kinase and that the atorvastatin-induced phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase is regulated by p44/p42 MAP kinase in these cells.
 ...
PMID:Differential roles of MAP kinases in atorvastatin-induced VEGF release in cardiac myocytes. 1670 7

Angiopoietins are ligands for endothelial cell-specific Tie-2 receptors. Whereas angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) activates these receptors and promotes cell survival, migration, and sprouting, little information is available regarding how Ang-2 influences these cells. In this study, we evaluated signaling pathways and biological effects of physiological concentrations of Ang-2 in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Ang-2 at 150 and 300 ng/ml elicited a transient (reaching peak values within 15 min of exposure) increase in the phosphorylation of Tie-2 receptors, protein kinase B (Akt), ERK1/2, and p38 members of the mitogen-activated protein kinases. However, unlike Ang-1, Ang-2 significantly inhibited JNK/SAPK phosphorylation. When vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was present along with Ang-2, ERK1/2 phosphorylation was inhibited, whereas augmentation of Ang-1-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation was triggered by VEGF. Ang-2 treatment had no effect on cell migration and in vitro wound healing but significantly attenuated serum deprivation-induced apoptosis and promoted survival. These effects were completely reversed by phosphatidylinositol 3 (PI3)-kinase and ERK1/2 inhibitors but were augmented by an inhibitor of the p38 pathway. These results suggest that Ang-2 promotes endothelial cell survival through the ERK1/2 and PI3-kinase pathways and that this angiopoietin is not a strong promoter of endothelial cell migration. We also conclude that the nature of interactions in terms of ERK1/2 activation between Ang-2 and VEGF is different from that of Ang-1 and VEGF.
 ...
PMID:Signaling and regulation of endothelial cell survival by angiopoietin-2. 1671 55

Two high-affinity receptors for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A, VEGFR1 and VEGFR2, cooperate for physiological vasculogenesis and angiogenesis in embryogenesis. VEGFR2 transduces the major signals for angiogenesis via its strong tyrosine kinase activity. However, unlike other representative tyrosine kinase receptors, VEGFR2 does not use the Ras pathway as a major downstream signaling but rather uses the phospholipase C-protein kinase C pathway to signal mitogen-activated protein (MAP)-kinase activation and DNA synthesis. Cell migration signals from VEGFR2 were recently shown to use, at least partly, a pathway dependent on the adaptor molecule TSAd from the kinase-insert region of VEGFR2. VEGFR2 is a direct and major signal transducer for pathological angiogenesis, including cancer and diabetic retinopathy, in cooperation with many other signaling partners; thus, VEGFR2 and its downstream signaling appear to be critical targets for the suppression of these diseases. More than 10 antagonists of VEGFR2, including kinase inhibitors and neutralizing antibodies, are now under clinical trials. Recently, the VEGFR2-specific ligand VEGF-E (also known as Orf-VEGF) family was extensively characterized. Interestingly, activation of VEGFR2 via VEGF-E in vivo results in a strong angiogenic response in mice, with minor effects on inflammation and hypervascular permeability compared with VEGF-A, suggesting that VEGF-E is a useful tool for proangiogenic therapy in ischemic diseases.
 ...
PMID:Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-Receptor2: its biological functions, major signaling pathway, and specific ligand VEGF-E. 1672 25

The polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the principal mediator of the green tea, has been known to possess antitumor effect. The endothelin A receptor (ET(A)R)/endothelin-1 (ET-1) axis is overexpressed in ovarian carcinoma representing a novel therapeutic target. In this study, we examined the green tea and EGCG effects on two ovarian carcinoma cell lines, HEY and OVCA 433. EGCG inhibited ovarian cancer cell growth and induced apoptosis that was associated with a decrease in Bcl-X(L) expression and activation of caspase-3. Treatment with green tea or EGCG inhibited ET(A)R and ET-1 expression and reduced the basal and ET-1-induced cell proliferation and invasion. The EGCG-induced inhibitory effects were associated with a decrease of ET(A)R-dependent activation of the p42/p44 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway. Remarkably, EGCG treatment resulted in a lowering of basal and ET-1-induced angiogenesis and invasiveness mediators, such as vascular endothelial growth factor and tumor proteinase activation. Finally, in HEY ovarian carcinoma xenografts, tumor growth was significantly inhibited by oral administration of green tea. This effect was associated with a reduction in ET-1, ET(A)R, and vascular endothelial growth factor expression, microvessel density, and proliferation index. These results provide a novel insight into the mechanism by which EGCG, affecting multiple ET(A)R-dependent pathways, may inhibit ovarian carcinoma growth, suggesting that EGCG may be useful in preventing and treating ovarian carcinoma in which ET(A)R activation by ET-1 plays a critical role in tumor growth and progression.
 ...
PMID:Green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibits the endothelin axis and downstream signaling pathways in ovarian carcinoma. 1681 7

Adrenomedullin (AM) is a multifunctional peptide hormone, which plays a significant role in vasodilation and angiogenesis, implicating it in hypertension as well as in carcinogenesis. AM exerts its effects via the calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CRLR, now known as CL) complexed with either receptor activity modifying protein (RAMP) 2 or 3. We have investigated the effect of AM on immortalized human microvascular endothelial cells 1, since endothelial cells are a major source as well as a target of AM actions in vivo. Cells treated with AM showed elevated cAMP in a time (5-45 min)-dependent and dose (10(-6)-10(-14) M)-dependent manner. Pre-treatment with the AM receptor antagonist AM(22-52) partially suppressed the AM-induced increase in cAMP levels. An increase in extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 phosphorylation was observed after 5 min of treatment with 10(-8) M AM. This phosphorylation was specific, since we were able to block the AM-induced effect with 1 microM U0126, a specific mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase inhibitor. Using real-time PCR, we were able to show for the first time that AM upregulates peptide and mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). However, AM treatment of cells did not result in increased cell proliferation. Instead, we observed that AM and VEGF induced cell migration, which could be inhibited by the AM(22-52) and anti-VEGF antibody respectively. AM also significantly elevated mRNA levels of CL (after 2 and 24 h treatment) and RAMP2 (after 1 and 24 h treatment). The upregulation of the AM receptor at two time points reflects possibly different cellular responses to short- and long-term exposure to AM.
 ...
PMID:Adrenomedullin increases the expression of calcitonin-like receptor and receptor activity modifying protein 2 mRNA in human microvascular endothelial cells. 1689 83

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the most potent stimulatory factor of angiogenesis. Its expression is induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) in hypoxic conditions and by insulin in normoxic cells. Both ROS and insulin can activate mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and induce the transcriptional factor Sp1, components that are essential for VEGF gene expression. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of ROS producing NADPH oxidase enzymes (NOX-es) in insulin-regulated VEGF gene activation. To achieve this goal we chose HepG2 cells as our model system as these cells express the NADPH oxidase isoform NOX3 and respond to insulin stimulation with enhanced ROS production and mRNA transcription and production of VEGF. We demonstrate that in control cells insulin stimulation leads to H2O2 generation, a biphasic activation of p42/44 MAPK and the induction of both Sp1 and HIF-1alpha. Transfection of NOX3-specific siRNA abrogates H2O2 production and inhibits exclusively the second phase of p42/44 MAPK phosphorylation and Sp1 DNA binding and thus prevents upregulation of VEGF-A mRNA expression. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that NOX3, a ROS generating NADPH oxidase, plays an integral role in insulin-induced p42/44 MAPK signal transmission and VEGF-A production.
 ...
PMID:Insulin-induced vascular endothelial growth factor expression is mediated by the NADPH oxidase NOX3. 1694 73

Drinking green tea is associated with decreased frequency of cancer development. This review outlines the wide range of mechanisms by which epigallocatechin gallate (ECGC) and other green and black tea polyphenols inhibit cancer cell survival. EGCG suppressed androgen receptor expression and signalling via several growth factor receptors. Cell cycle arrest or apoptosis involved caspase activation and altered Bcl-2 family member expression. EGCG inhibited telomerase activity and led to telomere fragmentation. While at high concentrations polyphenols had pro-oxidative activities, at much lower levels, anti-oxidative effects occurred. Nitric oxide production was reduced by EGCG and black tea theaflavins by suppressing inducible nitric oxide synthase via blocking nuclear translocation of the transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB as a result of decreased IkappaB kinase activity. Polyphenols up- or down-regulated activity of a number of key enzymes, including mitogen-activated protein kinases and protein kinase C, and increased or decreased protein/mRNA levels, including that of cyclins, oncogenes, and tumor suppressor genes. Metastasis was inhibited via effects on urokinase and matrix metalloproteinases. Polyphenols reduced angiogenesis, in part by decreasing vascular endothelial growth factor production and receptor phosphorylation. Recent work demonstrated that EGCG reduced dihydrofolate reductase activity, which would affect nucleic acid and protein synthesis. It also acted as an aryl hydrocarbon receptor an-tagonist by directly binding the receptor's molecular chaperone, heat shock protein 90. In conclusion, green and black tea polyphenols act at numerous points regulating cancer cell growth, survival, and metastasis, including effects at the DNA, RNA, and protein levels.
 ...
PMID:Mechanisms of cancer prevention by green and black tea polyphenols. 1701 50

We previously reported that basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) activates stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK) and p44/p42 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase resulting in the stimulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) release in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells. In the present study, we investigated whether zinc affects the VEGF release by FGF-2 in MC3T3-E1 cells. The FGF-2-induced VEGF release was significantly enhanced by ZnSO(4) but not Na(2)SO(4). The enhancing effect of ZnSO(4) was dose-dependent between 1 and 100 muM. ZnSO(4) markedly enhanced the FGF-2-induced phosphorylation of p44/p42 MAP kinase while having little effect on the SAPK/JNK phosphorylation. PD98059 significantly reduced the amplification by ZnSO(4) of the FGF-2-stimulated VEGF release. Taken together, our findings strongly suggest that zinc enhances FGF-2-stimulated VEGF release resulting from up-regulating activation of p44/p42 MAP kinase in osteoblasts.
 ...
PMID:Up-regulation by zinc of FGF-2-induced VEGF release through enhancing p44/p42 MAP kinase activation in osteoblasts. 1702 Jul 73


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>