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Biomedical subjects

Gilles Pagès

Publications and source records attributed to Gilles Pagès.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1)-dependent signaling contributes to epithelial skin carcinogenesis.

Extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) regulate cellular functions in response to a variety of external signals. However, the specific functions of individual ERK isoforms are largely unknown. Hence, we have investigated the specific function of ERK1 in skin homeostasis and tumorigenesis in ERK1 knockout mice. They spontaneously develop cutaneous lesions and hyperkeratosis with epidermis thickness. Skin hyperproliferation and inflammation induced by application of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) is strongly reduced in mutant mice. ERK1(-/-) mice are resistant to development of skin papillomas induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) and promoted by TPA. Tumor appearance was delayed, their formation was less frequent, and their number and size were reduced. Keratinocytes obtained from knockout mice showed reduced growth and resistance to apoptotic signals, accompanied by an impaired expression of genes implicated in growth control and invasiveness. These results highlight the importance of ERK1 in skin homeostasis and in the process of skin tumor development.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗
PubMed2006

Differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells into endothelial cells: genetic selection and potential use in vivo.

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are pluripotent cells derived from blastocyst-stage embryos. They are characterized by their infinite self-renewal capacity and their ability to differentiate into many cell types in vitro as well as in vivo. The present protocol describes culture conditions that allow efficient differentiation of mouse ES cells toward the endothelial lineage, both in two-dimensional cultures and in three-dimensional, multicellular embryoid bodies. We also provide a protocol for establishing recombinant ES cell clones, giving the example of cells expressing green fluorescent protein and an antibiotic resistance gene under the control of an endothelial-specific promoter. These transgenes allow the visualization and the genetic selection of endothelial cells from a heterogeneous population of differentiating ES cells. Potential applications for these differentiation models are given, including the study of the endothelial cell lineage and its derivatives, the testing of molecules involved in angiogenesis, and the potential use of selected endothelial cells in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Transcriptional regulation of the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor gene--a concert of activating factors.

The vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) is essential during embryonic development as inactivation of only one allele of its gene results in embryonic lethality. Up-regulation of VEGF under physiological situations allows for adaptation to hypoxic stress, to transient inflammatory processes, and to wounding. Its expression also increases all along the process of neovascularization of solid and hematological tumors. The object of this article is to focus on the transcriptional regulation of its gene. The major cis-acting sequences and trans-activating factors will be described as well as the physiological and pathological situations leading to the intervention of such sequences and factors. We will also focus on two transcription factors essential to VEGF gene transcription: the hypoxia-inducible factor-1, which is responsible for its increased by hypoxia, as well as Sp1, which is implicated in the response to various extracellular stimuli.

DNA-Binding Proteins↗
PubMed2005

Extracellular signal-regulated kinases phosphorylate mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase 3/DUSP6 at serines 159 and 197, two sites critical for its proteasomal degradation.

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase phosphatases (MKPs) are dual-specificity phosphatases that dephosphorylate phosphothreonine and phosphotyrosine residues within MAP kinases. Here, we describe a novel posttranslational mechanism for regulating MKP-3/Pyst1/DUSP6, a member of the MKP family that is highly specific for extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) inactivation. Using a fibroblast model in which the expression of either MKP-3 or a more stable MKP-3-green fluorescent protein (GFP) chimera was induced by tetracycline, we found that serum induces the phosphorylation of MKP-3 and its subsequent degradation by the proteasome in a MEK1 and MEK2 (MEK1/2)-ERK1/2-dependent manner. In vitro phosphorylation assays using glutathione S-transferase (GST)-MKP-3 fusion proteins indicated that ERK2 could phosphorylate MKP-3 on serines 159 and 197. Tetracycline-inducible cell clones expressing either single or double serine mutants of MKP-3 or MKP-3-GFP confirmed that these two sites are targeted by the MEK1/2-ERK1/2 module in vivo. Double serine mutants of MKP-3 or MKP-3-GFP were more efficiently protected from degradation than single mutants or wild-type MKP-3, indicating that phosphorylation of either serine by ERK1/2 enhances proteasomal degradation of MKP-3. Hence, double mutation caused a threefold increase in the half-life of MKP-3. Finally, we show that the phosphorylation of MKP-3 has no effect on its catalytic activity. Thus, ERK1/2 exert a positive feedback loop on their own activity by promoting the degradation of MKP-3, one of their major inactivators in the cytosol, a situation opposite to that described for the nuclear phosphatase MKP-1.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

The extracellular signal-regulated kinase isoform ERK1 is specifically required for in vitro and in vivo adipogenesis.

Hyperplasia of adipose tissue is critical for the development of obesity, but molecular mechanisms governing normal or pathological recruitment of new adipocytes remain unclear. The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway plays a pivotal role in many essential cellular functions, such as proliferation and differentiation. Using ERK1(-/-) mice, we investigated the role of this isoform in adipose tissue development. Mice lacking ERK1 have decreased adiposity and fewer adipocytes than wild-type animals. Furthermore, ERK1(-/-) mice challenged with high-fat diet are resistant to obesity, are protected from insulin resistance, and have a higher postprandial metabolic rate. To get insights into cellular mechanisms implicated in reduced adiposity in ERK1(-/-) animals, we analyzed adipocyte differentiation in ERK1(-/-) cells. Compared with wild-type control cells, mouse embryo fibroblasts and cultures of adult preadipocytes isolated from ERK1(-/-) adult animals exhibit impaired adipogenesis. An inhibitor of the ERK pathway does not affect the residual adipogenesis of the ERK1(-/-) cells, suggesting that ERK2 is not implicated in adipocyte differentiation. Our results clearly link ERK1 to the regulation of adipocyte differentiation, adiposity, and high-fat diet-induced obesity. This suggests that a therapeutic approach of obesity targeting specifically the ERK1 isoform and not ERK2 would be of particular interest.

Adipocytes↗
PubMed2004

Poly(A)-binding protein-interacting protein 2, a strong regulator of vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA.

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is tightly regulated, particularly at the level of its mRNA stability, which is essentially mediated through the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of VEGF mRNA. To identify new protein partners regulating VEGF mRNA stability, we screened a cDNA expression library with an RNA probe corresponding to the entire VEGF mRNA 3'-UTR. We identified the "poly(A)-binding protein-interacting protein 2" (PAIP2) as a new VEGF mRNA 3'-UTR interacting protein. By RNA electromobility shift assays, we showed that PAIP2 binds to two distinct regions of a domain encompassing base 1 to 1280 of the VEGF 3'-UTR. Such in vitro interaction was confirmed using cell extracts in which PAIP2 expression is induced by tetracycline (Tet-on cells). Moreover, we demonstrated by RNA affinity purification as well as by ribonucleoprotein complexes immunoprecipitation, that PAIP2 interacts with VEGF mRNA in vivo. Using an in vitro RNA degradation assay, the half-life of VEGF 3'-UTR was found to be increased by overexpressing PAIP2. PAIP2 stabilizes endogenous VEGF mRNA in Tet-on cells, leading to increased VEGF secretion. Moreover, RNAi-mediated knock-down of PAIP2 significantly reduces the steady-state levels of endogenous VEGF mRNA. We also showed, by in vitro protein-protein interactions and co-immunoprecipitation experiments, that PAIP2 interacts with HuR, an already known VEGF mRNA-binding protein, suggesting cooperation of both proteins for VEGF mRNA stabilization. Hence, PAIP2 appears to be a crucial regulator of VEGF mRNA and as a consequence, any variation in its expression could modulate angiogenesis.

3' Untranslated Regions↗
PubMed2004

MEK1-ERK2 signaling pathway protects myocardium from ischemic injury in vivo.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial infarction causes a rapid and largely irreversible loss of cardiac myocytes that can lead to sudden death, ventricular dilation, and heart failure. Members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade have been implicated as important effectors of cardiac myocyte cell death in response to diverse stimuli, including ischemia-reperfusion injury. Specifically, activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) has been associated with cardioprotection, likely through antagonism of apoptotic regulatory pathways. METHODS AND RESULTS: To establish a causal relationship between ERK1/2 signaling and cardioprotection, we analyzed Erk1 nullizygous gene-targeted mice, Erk2 heterozygous gene-targeted mice, and transgenic mice with activated MEK1-ERK1/2 signaling in the heart. Although MEK1 transgenic mice were largely resistant to ischemia-reperfusion injury, Erk2+/- gene-targeted mice showed enhanced infarction areas, DNA laddering, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL) compared with littermate controls. In contrast, enhanced MEK1-ERK1/2 signaling protected hearts from DNA laddering, TUNEL, and preserved hemodynamic function assessed by pressure-volume loop recordings after ischemia-reperfusion injury. CONCLUSIONS: These data are the first to demonstrate that ERK2 signaling is required to protect the myocardium from ischemia-reperfusion injury in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

MAPK and JNK transduction pathways can phosphorylate Sp1 to activate the uPA minimal promoter element and endogenous gene transcription.

Two upstream regions of the human urokinase (uPA) gene regulate its transcription: the minimal promoter (MP) and the enhancer element. The activity of the minimal promoter is essential for basal uPA transcription in prostate adenocarcinoma PC3 cells. Binding of a phosphorylated Sp1 transcription factor is, in turn, essential for the activity of the MP. Here we report that the Jun kinase (JNK) pathway is required for the basal activity of the MP and for the expression of the endogenous uPA gene in PC3 cells and for activated transcription in LNCaP cells. On the other hand, the p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway activates uPA gene expression through Sp1 phosphorylation in HeLa, LNCaP, and CCL39-derivative cells that do not typically express uPA in basal conditions. In HeLa cells the dominant-negative form of JNK interferes with the p42/p44 MAPK activation of the uPA-MP. The results suggest that the stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK)/JNK pathway plays an important role in the phosphorylation of Sp1, which, in turn, leads to basal or activated transcription from the uPA-MP element.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Imatinib mesylate (STI571) decreases the vascular endothelial growth factor plasma concentration in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.

Increased angiogenesis in bone marrow (BM) is one of the characteristics of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), a clonal myeloproliferative disorder that expresses a chimeric Bcr/Abl protein. Recently, the therapeutic strategy in CML has been totally modified with the development of a new drug: imatinib mesylate (STI571), a specific inhibitor of Bcr/Abl tyrosine kinase activity. The aim of our study was to determine, in patients with CML, the capacity of imatinib mesylate to modulate one of the most potent regulators of angiogenesis, the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In newly diagnosed CML, we observed significantly increased VEGF secretion by CML BM cells and significantly increased VEGF plasma concentrations. We showed that low plasma VEGF concentrations could be one of the characteristics of complete cytogenetic remission. To understand the molecular mechanisms leading to the inhibition of VEGF production by imatinib, we focused our experiments on the human cell line K562, which is Bcr/Abl positive. We demonstrated that imatinib inhibits VEGF gene transcription by targeting the Sp1 and Sp3 transcription factors. Taken together, our results highlight the potential prognostic value of VEGF concentrations in evaluating the evolution of CML patients treated with imatinib.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed2004

Inducible expression of a MAP kinase phosphatase-3-GFP chimera specifically blunts fibroblast growth and ras-dependent tumor formation in nude mice.

The p42/p44 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway participates in a wide range of cellular programs including proliferation, migration, differentiation, and survival. Specific pharmacological inhibitors, like PD98059 and U0126, are often used to inhibit p42/p44 MAPK signaling. However, these inhibitors are not appropriate to study the function of these kinases in whole organisms. We thus developed an inducible system designed to inhibit p42/p44 MAPK activity through the expression of a phosphatase specific for these two kinases, the MAPK phosphatase 3 (MKP-3). A fibroblast cell line was established in which MKP-3 expression is controlled by tetracycline. Tetracycline-induced MKP-3 resulted in partial de-phosphorylation of p42/p44 MAPKs in serum-stimulated cells. However, we could improve MKP-3 stability and thereby the rate of MAPK de-phosphorylation, when the C-terminal end of MKP-3 was fused to the green fluorescent protein (GFP). Importantly, the fusion of GFP to MKP-3 did not alter the specificity of the phosphatase towards its MAPK substrates. We further show that conditional expression of MKP-3-GFP in this fibroblast cell line results in the inhibition of: (a) the phosphorylation of the p42/p44 MAPK substrates Elk1 and HIF-1alpha, (b) vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), cyclin D1, and c-fos gene transcription in response to MAPK pathway activation, and (c) cell proliferation. Finally, the MKP-3-GFP inducible cell line was transformed by Ha-ras and injected into nude mice. Treatment of mice with the tetracycline analog doxycycline resulted in a large delay in tumor emergence and growth as compared to the untreated control group, indicating that MKP-3-GFP activity is maintained in vivo. Altogether, these results show that inducible expression of MKP-3-GFP constitutes a valuable tool to study the role of p42/p44 MAPKs in various cellular responses in both cultured cell and animal models, a tool that may also be used to block unwanted cell growth in pathological conditions.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Knockout of ERK1 MAP kinase enhances synaptic plasticity in the striatum and facilitates striatal-mediated learning and memory.

Extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1 and 2) are synaptic signaling components necessary for several forms of learning. In mice lacking ERK1, we observe a dramatic enhancement of striatum-dependent long-term memory, which correlates with a facilitation of long-term potentiation in the nucleus accumbens. At the cellular level, we find that ablation of ERK1 results in a stimulus-dependent increase of ERK2 signaling, likely due to its enhanced interaction with the upstream kinase MEK. Consistently, such activity change is responsible for the hypersensitivity of ERK1 mutant mice to the rewarding properties of morphine. Our results reveal an unexpected complexity of ERK-dependent signaling in the brain and a critical regulatory role for ERK1 in the long-term adaptive changes underlying striatum-dependent behavioral plasticity and drug addiction.

Amygdala↗
PubMed2002

Endothelial cells genetically selected from differentiating mouse embryonic stem cells incorporate at sites of neovascularization in vivo.

Large scale purification of endothelial cells is of great interest as it could improve tissue transplantation, reperfusion of ischemic tissues and treatment of pathologies in which an endothelial cell dysfunction exists. In this study, we describe a novel genetic approach that selects for endothelial cells from differentiating embryonic stem (ES) cells. Our strategy is based on the establishment of ES-cell clones that carry an integrated puromycin resistance gene under the control of a vascular endothelium-specific promoter, tie-1. Using EGFP as a reporter gene, we first confirmed the endothelial specificity of the tie-1 promoter in the embryoid body model and in cells differentiated in 2D cultures. Subsequently, tie-1-EGFP ES cells were used as recipients for the tie-1-driven puror transgene. The resulting stable clones were expanded and differentiated for seven days in the presence of VEGF before puromycin selection. As expected, puromycin-resistant cells were positive for EGFP and also expressed several endothelial markers, including CD31, CD34, VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, Tie-1, VE-cadherin and ICAM-2. Release from the puromycin selection resulted in the appearance of alpha-smooth muscle actin-positive cells. Such cells became more numerous when the population was cultured on laminin-1 or in the presence of TGF-beta1, two known inducers of smooth muscle cell differentiation. The hypothesis that endothelial cells or their progenitors may differentiate towards a smooth muscle cell phenotype was further supported by the presence of cells expressing both CD31 and alpha-smooth muscle actin markers. Finally, we show that purified endothelial cells can incorporate into the neovasculature of transplanted tumors in nude mice. Taken together, these results suggest that application of endothelial lineage selection to differentiating ES cells may become a useful approach for future pro-angiogenic and endothelial cell replacement therapies.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Identification of two Sp1 phosphorylation sites for p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinases: their implication in vascular endothelial growth factor gene transcription.

Sp1 regulates activation of many genes implicated in tumor growth and cell cycle progression. We have previously demonstrated its implication in the up-regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene transcription following growth factor stimulation of quiescent cells, a situation where p42/p44 mitogen-activate protein kinase (MAPK) activity is dramatically increased. Here we show that p42/p44 MAPK directly phosphorylates Sp1 on threonines 453 and 739 both in vitro and in vivo. Mutation of these sites to alanines decreases by half the MAPK-dependent transcriptional activity of Sp1, in the context of the VEGF promoter, in SL2 Drosophila cells devoid of the endogenous Sp1 protein. Moreover, inducible overexpression of the (T453A,T739A) Sp1 double mutant compromises MAPK-driven VEGF mRNA transcription in fibroblasts. These results highlight Sp1 as a key molecular link between elevated activation of the Ras >> p42/p44MAPK signaling pathway and increased VEGF expression, two major steps deregulated in tumor cells.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Approximations of Functions by a Multilayer Perceptron: a New Approach.

We provide a radically elementary proof of the universal approximation property of the one-hidden layer perceptron based on the Taylor expansion and the Vandermonde determinant. It works for both L(q) and uniform approximation on compact sets. This approach naturally yields some bounds for the design of the hidden layer and convergence results (including some rates) for the derivatives. A partial answer to Hornik's conjecture on the universality of the bias is proposed. An extension to vector valued functions is also carried out. Copyright 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

About the Kohonen Algorithm: Strong or Weak Self-organization?

The question of self-organization for the Kohonen algorithm is investigated. First the notions of organized states, weak and strong self-organizations are precisely defined. Then, combining mathematical and simulation results we prove that the Kohonen algorithm has not the strong self-organization property at least in two well-known cases: the stimuli space is [0, 1](2), the unit set is a line (resp. a grid) with the two nearest (resp. eight nearest) neighbourhood function. Copyright 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd

Journal Article↗