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At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Targeting the DNA repair defect in BRCA mutant cells as a therapeutic strategy.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 are important for DNA double-strand break repair by homologous recombination, and mutations in these genes predispose to breast and other cancers. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) is an enzyme involved in base excision repair, a key pathway in the repair of DNA single-strand breaks. We show here that BRCA1 or BRCA2 dysfunction unexpectedly and profoundly sensitizes cells to the inhibition of PARP enzymatic activity, resulting in chromosomal instability, cell cycle arrest and subsequent apoptosis. This seems to be because the inhibition of PARP leads to the persistence of DNA lesions normally repaired by homologous recombination. These results illustrate how different pathways cooperate to repair damage, and suggest that the targeted inhibition of particular DNA repair pathways may allow the design of specific and less toxic therapies for cancer.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

c-Myc binds to human ribosomal DNA and stimulates transcription of rRNA genes by RNA polymerase I.

c-Myc coordinates cell growth and division through a transcriptional programme that involves both RNA polymerase (Pol) II- and Pol III-transcribed genes. Here, we demonstrate that human c-Myc also directly enhances Pol I transcription of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. rRNA synthesis and accumulation occurs rapidly following activation of a conditional MYC-ER allele (coding for a Myc-oestrogen-receptor fusion protein), is resistant to inhibition of Pol II transcription and is markedly reduced by c-MYC RNA interference. Furthermore, by using combined immunofluorescence and rRNA-FISH, we have detected endogenous c-Myc in nucleoli at sites of active ribosomal DNA (rDNA) transcription. Our data also show that c-Myc binds to specific consensus elements located in human rDNA and associates with the Pol I-specific factor SL1. The presence of c-Myc at specific sites on rDNA coincides with the recruitment of SL1 to the rDNA promoter and with increased histone acetylation. We propose that stimulation of rRNA synthesis by c-Myc is a key pathway driving cell growth and tumorigenesis.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed2025

Identification of plasma proteomic markers underlying polygenic risk of type 2 diabetes and related comorbidities.

Genomics can provide insight into the etiology of type 2 diabetes and its comorbidities, but assigning functionality to non-coding variants remains challenging. Polygenic scores, which aggregate variant effects, can uncover mechanisms when paired with molecular data. Here, we test polygenic scores for type 2 diabetes and cardiometabolic comorbidities for associations with 2,922 circulating proteins in the UK Biobank. The genome-wide type 2 diabetes polygenic score associates with 617 proteins, of which 75% also associate with another cardiometabolic score. Partitioned type 2 diabetes scores, which capture distinct disease biology, associate with 342 proteins (20% unique). In this work, we identify key pathways (e.g., complement cascade), potential therapeutic targets (e.g., FAM3D in type 2 diabetes), and biomarkers of diabetic comorbidities (e.g., EFEMP1 and IGFBP2) through causal inference, pathway enrichment, and Cox regression of clinical trial outcomes. Our results are available via an interactive portal ( https://public.cgr.astrazeneca.com/t2d-pgs/v1/ ).

Humans↗
PubMed2005

ZD6474--clinical experience to date.

ZD6474 selectively targets two key pathways in tumour growth by inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-dependent tumour angiogenesis and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-dependent tumour cell proliferation and survival. Phase I clinical evaluation has shown ZD6474 to be generally well tolerated, with a pharmacokinetic profile appropriate for once-daily oral dosing. Phase II evaluation of ZD6474 at doses of 100-300 mg is ongoing in a range of patient types in single and combination regimens. These include three randomised studies of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. In one of these trials, the efficacy of ZD6474 monotherapy is being compared with that of the EGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib (Iressa) in previously treated patients. In the other two trials, the efficacy of ZD6474 in combination with certain standard chemotherapy regimens is being compared with that of standard chemotherapy alone: one with carboplatin and paclitaxel in previously untreated patients, and the second with docetaxel in patients who progressed after platinum-containing therapy. The advent of novel molecular-targeted agents such as ZD6474 has necessitated a re-evaluation of conventional cancer study design in order to optimise appraisal of this new generation of anticancer agents. The specific considerations of the ZD6474 clinical programme are discussed.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2004

Antitumor efficacy and tumor-selective replication with a single intravenous injection of OAS403, an oncolytic adenovirus dependent on two prevalent alterations in human cancer.

A potentially promising treatment of metastatic cancer is the systemic delivery of oncolytic adenoviruses. This requires engineering viruses which selectively replicate in tumors. We have constructed such an oncolytic adenovirus, OAS403, in which two early region genes are under the control of tumor-selective promoters that play a role in two key pathways involved in tumorigenesis. The early region E1A is controlled by the promoter for the E2F-1 gene, a transcription factor that primarily upregulates genes for cell growth. The E4 region is under control of the promoter for human telomerase reverse transcriptase, a gene upregulated in most cancer cells. OAS403 was evaluated in vitro on a panel of human cells and found to elicit tumor-selective cell killing. Also, OAS403 was less toxic in human hepatocyte cultures, as well as in vivo when compared to an oncolytic virus that lacked selective E4 control. A single intravenous injection of 3 x 10(12) vp/kg in a Hep3B xenograft mouse tumor model led to significant antitumor efficacy. Additionally, systemic administration in a pre-established LNCaP prostate tumor model resulted in over 80% complete tumor regressions at a tolerable dose. Vector genome copy number was measured in tumors and livers at various times following tail vein injection and showed a selective time-dependent increase in tumors but not livers over 29 days. Furthermore, efficacy was significantly improved when OAS403 treatment was combined with doxorubicin. This virus holds promise for the treatment of a broad range of human cancers including metastatic disease.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed2002

Modeling cancer in mice.

The laboratory mouse is one of the most powerful tools for both gene discovery and validation in cancer genetics. Recent technological advances in engineering the mouse genome with chromosome translocations, latent alleles, and tissue-specific and temporally regulated mutations have provided more exacting models of human disease. The marriage of mouse tumor models with rapidly evolving methods to profile genetic and epigenetic alterations in tumors, and to finely map genetic modifier loci, will continue to provide insight into the key pathways leading to tumorigenesis. These discoveries hold great promise for identifying relevant drug targets for treating human cancer.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Cyclo-oxygenase 2 expression impairs serum-withdrawal-induced apoptosis in liver cells.

We have investigated the mechanism of COX-2 (cyclo-oxygenase 2)-dependent inhibition of apoptosis in liver, a key pathway underlying proliferative actions of COX-2 in liver cancers, cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis C infection and regeneration after partial hepatectomy. Stable expression of COX-2 in CHL (Chang liver) cells induced proliferation, with an increase in the proportion of cells in S-phase, but no other significant changes in cell-cycle distribution. This was associated with a marked inhibition of the apoptotic response to serum deprivation, an effect mimicked by treating empty-vector-transfected control cells (CHL-V cells) with prostaglandin E2 and prevented in COX-2-expressing cells (CHL-C cells) treated with selective inhibitors of COX-2. Serum-deprived CHL-V cells displayed several indicators of activation of intrinsic apoptosis: caspases 9 and 3 activated within 6 h and caspase 8 within 18 h, Bax expression was induced, cytochrome c was released to the cytosol, and PARP-1 [poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1] cleavage was evident in nuclei. COX-2 expression blocked these events, concomitant with reduced expression of p53 and promotion of Akt phosphorylation, the latter indicating activation of survival pathways. CHL cells were resistant to stimulation of the extrinsic pathway with anti-Fas antibody. Moreover, in vivo expression of GFP (green fluorescent protein)-labelled COX-2 in mice by hydrodynamics-based transient transfection conferred resistance to caspase 3 activation and apoptosis induced by stimulation of Fas.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed1994

Wortmannin inhibits the effects of insulin and serum on the activities of glycogen synthase kinase-3 and mitogen-activated protein kinase.

We have previously shown that insulin causes inactivation of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) in Chinese hamster ovary cells over-expressing the human insulin receptor (CHO.T cells). We now show that serum and phorbol ester also cause rapid inactivation of GSK-3, both in CHO.T cells and in the nontransfected parental cell line, CHO.K1 cells. Rapamycin was without effect on the inactivation of GSK-3 by insulin, serum or phorbol ester, indicating that the p70 S6 kinase pathway is not involved. In contrast, wortmannin, a potent inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, blocked the effects of both insulin and serum on GSK-3 activity, and also substantially reduced the activation of both p90 S6 kinase (by insulin) and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase (by insulin and serum). These findings imply (i) that GSK-3 activity is regulated by a cascade involving MAP kinase and p90 S6 kinase and (ii) that wortmannin affects an early step in the MAP kinase pathway. One can infer from this that GSK-3 may be an important regulatory enzyme for the control of several biosynthetic pathways, key enzymes in which are regulated by GSK-3-mediated phosphorylation. Wortmannin had a smaller effect on the activation of MAP kinase by phorbol ester, indicating that phorbol esters may stimulate MAP kinase by a different or additional mechanism to that employed by insulin or serum. Wortmannin had very little effect on the inactivation of GSK-3 by phorbol ester: possible reasons for this are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Functional analysis of the T-cell-restricted protein tyrosine kinase Txk.

T lymphocytes express a range of tyrosine kinases that are involved in signalling processes driving cell activation, proliferation and differentation. Two tyrosine kinases expressed only in T cells, the Itk/Emt and Txk gene products, are members of the Tec family of kinases. The role of Tec kinases in cellular function is poorly understood, although a Tec kinase specific to B cells, Btk, is essential for B-cell development. To explore the contribution of the T-cell-specific Tec kinases to lymphocyte function, we have expressed human Txk in the baculovirus system and conducted the first characterization of its activity. We find that Txk exhibits a substrate preference in vitro quite distinct from that of the major T-cell kinases Lck and ZAP70, suggesting that Tec-family kinases might act on a distinct range of substrates. We also investigated the interactions of Txk with the cytoplasmic domains of the key signalling molecules CD3zeta, CD28 and CTLA4 and find that none of these are phosphorylated by Txk, nor are they ligands for the SH2 or SH3 domains of Txk. We conclude that it is unlikely that Txk has a role in the early signal transduction events associated with these key pathways controlling T-cell activation.

Abatacept↗
PubMed1999

Alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone inhibits NF-kappaB activation in human melanocytes and melanoma cells.

Alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone is produced by several different cell types including neural cells, endothelial cells, monocytes, and keratinocytes. A biologic role in melanocyte pigmentation is widely recognized, but more recent studies describe a part in modulating inflammatory and immune responses. The aim of the this study was to investigate the mechanism by which alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone antagonizes proinflammatory cytokine action. We report that alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (10-9 M) was effective in opposing a tumor necrosis factor-alpha stimulated increase in NF-kappaB DNA binding activity in: (i) normal ocular melanocytes; (ii) cells cultured from ocular melanoma tumors; and (iii) two cutaneous melanoma cell lines. NF-kappaB is activated by many inflammatory mediators and controls transcription of genes required for immune and inflammatory responses. The transcription factor complex was positively identified as the p50/p65 heterodimer, recognized to have transcriptional activating potential. Maximum reduction of NF-kappaB DNA binding activity with alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone was detected 2 h after cellular stimulation and varied from between 53% and 18% depending on cell type. Whereas the acute inhibitory effects could be mimicked by elevating cyclic adenosine monophosphate, alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone was not found to have any effect on the relative level of IkappaBalpha protein expression over 24 h. These data show that alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone has a pronounced effect on NF-kappaB activity in melanocytes and melanoma cells, identifying a specific dimeric complex, and suggest this to be a key pathway by which immunomodulation/anti-inflammation may operate. The results may also be considered in the broader context of general inflammatory pathologies concerning cells which express alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone receptors and utilize the NF-kappaB signaling pathway.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed2003

Role of TGF-beta signaling in extracellular matrix production under high glucose conditions.

BACKGROUND: Hyperglycemia has been shown to play an important role in diabetic renal and vascular complications. Some studies show that high glucose may mediate diabetic complications by stimulating extracellular matrix (ECM) production. We hypothesize that this may be mediated by activating transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta)/Smads signaling. METHODS: Renal and vascular cells were cultured under high glucose conditions in the presence or absence of a neutralizing TGF-beta antibody and examined for activation of Smad signaling and collagen production. The regulating role of Smad signaling in high glucose-induced collagen synthesis was determined by inducing overexpression of the inhibitory Smad7 in a stable Smad7-expressing tubular cell line. RESULTS: Activation of Smad signaling, as evidenced by Smad2 and Smad3 nuclear translocation and phosphorylation, was found in renal and vascular cells at 24 hours after high glucose stimulation (up to 55% increased). This was associated with de novo synthesis of collagen I at day 3 by all cell types. High glucose-induced activation of Smad signaling and collagen synthesis were TGF-beta-dependent since these were associated with a significant increase in TGF-beta production at 24 hours (P < 0.01) and were blocked by a neutralizing TGF-beta antibody. Importantly, overexpression of Smad7 resulted in marked inhibition of high glucose-induced Smad2 and Smad3 activation and type I collagen synthesis, suggesting that Smad signaling is a key pathway in high glucose-mediated renal and vascular scarring. CONCLUSION: High glucose acts by activating the TGF-beta dependent Smad signaling pathway to stimulate collagen synthesis by renal and vascular cells. Smad signaling plays a critical role in regulating high-glucose-mediated diabetic renal and vascular complications.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

What's new in respiratory allergy?

The past 10 years have seen important advances in our understanding of allergic respiratory disease and the targets for potential therapies. Sensitisation and triggering of allergic reactions now appear to be better understood at a clinical and molecular level. Environmental intervention studies are underway attempting to reduce the sensitisation and the triggering of symptoms. Therapeutic intervention studies targeting key pathways in the allergic cascade are also taking place. This paper will assess both of these aspects of respiratory allergy, updating readers on the new evidence in our quest to understand how and when sensitisation occurs and also how we might be able to control triggered reactions using targeted therapeutics against specific elements of the allergic cascade.

Child↗
PubMed2006

Metabolic learning in the intestine: adaptation to nutrition and luminal factors.

There is increasing evidence that the magnitude and potential of intestinal nutrient absorption (sugars, fatty acids, cholesterol and triglycerides) and intestinal defense function are regulated by metabolic learning phenomena, and are influenced by dietary energy content and exercise. Metabolic overload syndromes, mainly obesity, and chronic malabsorption disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease have been defined as extreme phenotypes. Metabolic learning processes depend on developmental and transcriptional control systems of intestinal epithelial cell differentiation. The physiological differentiation zone of enterocytes is linked to the beta-catenin system, apolipoprotein apoA-IV and the master transcription factors Cdx2, HNF1alpha, and GATA4. In addition to these developmental regulatory transcription factors, nuclear receptors including RXR, LXR, PPAR, PXR, and CAR have been implicated in the generation of more absorptive enterocytes with a more differentiated phenotype on the one hand, and dedifferentiated cells with reduced capacity of detoxification and defense causing loss of junction control and barrier defects on the other. Large-scale analysis of gene expression profiles and identification of key pathways and master regulatory transcription factors will help dissect the role of nutritional and environmental factors as well as pharmacological intervention on mucosal homeostasis and disease, with potential applications for diagnosis and therapy.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2003

SecA-dependent quality control of intracellular protein localization.

Complex secretion machineries mediate protein translocation across cellular membranes. These machines typically recognize their substrates via signal sequences, which are required for proper targeting to the translocon. We report that during posttranslational secretion the widely conserved targeting factor SecA performs a quality-control function that is based on a general chaperone activity. This quality-control mechanism involves assisted folding of signal sequenceless proteins, thereby excluding them from the secretion process. These results suggest that SecA channels proteins into one of two key pathways, posttranslational secretion or folding in the cytoplasm. Implications of this finding for intracellular protein localization are discussed.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1995

Role of ceramide in cellular senescence.

Recently the sphingomyelin cycle, involving the hydrolysis of membrane sphingomyelin by an activated sphingomyelinase to generate ceramide, has emerged as a key pathway in cell differentiation and apoptosis in leukemic and other cell types. Here we investigate a role for this pathway in the senescence of WI-38 human diploid fibroblasts (HDF). We found that endogenous levels of ceramide increased considerably (4-fold) and specifically (compared with other lipids) as cells entered the senescent phase. Investigation of the mechanism of increased ceramide led to the discovery that neutral sphingomyelinase activity is elevated 8-10 fold in senescent cells. There were no changes in sphingomyelinase activity or ceramide levels as HDF entered quiescence following serum withdrawal or contact inhibition. Thus, the activation of the sphingomyelinase/ceramide pathway in HDF is due to senescence and supports the hypotheses that senescence represents a distinct program of cell development that can be differentiated from quiescence. Additional studies disclosed the ability of ceramide to induce a senescent phenotype. Thus, when exogenous ceramide (15 microM) was administered to young WI-38 HDF, it produced endogenous levels comparable to those observed in senescent cells (as determined by metabolic labeling studies). Ceramide concentrations of 10-15 microM inhibited the growth of young HDF and induced a senescent phenotype by its ability to inhibit DNA synthesis and mitogenesis. These concentrations of ceramide also induced retinoblastoma dephosphorylation and inhibited serum-induced AP-1 activation in young HDF, thus recapitulating basic biochemical and molecular changes of senescence. Sphingomyelinase and ceramide may thus be implicated as mediators of cellular senescence.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Unidirectional steady state rates of central metabolism enzymes measured simultaneously in a living plant tissue.

The unidirectional steady state reaction rates of several enzymes and metabolic fluxes of distinct processes were measured simultaneously in hypoxic maize root tips using two-dimensional phosphorus NMR exchange spectroscopy. A single spectrum monitors ATP synthesis and hydrolysis as well as the activities of four enzymes involved in key pathways of central metabolism: UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, phosphoglucomutase, hexose-phosphate isomerase, and enolase. The corresponding unidirectional reaction rates and net metabolic fluxes were calculated from spectral intensities. This method provides a unique picture, at enzyme resolution, of how metabolism reacts in a concerted fashion to changes in external parameters such as temperature and oxygen concentration. By increasing hypoxia via an increase in temperature, we measured the expected increase in glycolysis through enolase activity while total ATP synthesis settled. At the same time, we observed a net flux through phosphoglucomutase and UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase toward carbohydrate synthesis. This result is discussed in relation to the current hypothesis on the turnover of cell walls and sucrose. This reaction also produces a net flux of pyrophosphate, which is needed by pyrophosphate:fructose-6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase to work as a glycolytic enzyme.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1999

Kinetic analysis of human serine/threonine protein phosphatase 2Calpha.

The PPM family of Ser/Thr protein phosphatases have recently been shown to down-regulate the stress response pathways in eukaryotes. Within the stress pathway, key signaling kinases, which are activated by protein phosphorylation, have been proposed as the in vivo substrates of PP2C, the prototypical member of the PPM family. Although it is known that these phosphatases require metal cations for activity, the molecular details of these important reactions have not been established. Therefore, here we report a detailed biochemical study to elucidate the kinetic and chemical mechanism of PP2Calpha. Steady-state kinetic and product inhibition studies revealed that PP2Calpha employs an ordered sequential mechanism, where the metal cations bind before phosphorylated substrate, and phosphate is the last product to be released. The metal-dependent activity of PP2C (as reflected in kcat and kcat/Km), indicated that Fe2+ was 1000-fold better than Mg2+. The pH rate profiles revealed two ionizations critical for catalytic activity. An enzyme ionization with a pKa value of 7 must be unprotonated for catalysis, and an enzyme ionization with a pKa of 9 must be protonated for substrate binding. Brönsted analysis of substrate leaving group pKa indicated that phosphomonoester hydrolysis is rate-limiting at pH 7. 0, but not at pH 8.5 where a common step independent of the nature of the substrate and alcohol product limits turnover (kcat). Rapid reaction kinetics between phosphomonoester and PP2C yielded exponential "bursts" of product formation, consistent with phosphate release being the slow catalytic step at pH 8.5. Dephosphorylation of synthetic phosphopeptides corresponding to several protein kinases revealed that PP2C displays a strong preference for diphosphorylated peptides in which the phosphorylated residues are in close proximity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Perlecan mediates the antiproliferative effect of apolipoprotein E on smooth muscle cells. An underlying mechanism for the modulation of smooth muscle cell growth?

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) is known to inhibit cell proliferation; however, the mechanism of this inhibition is not clear. We recently showed that apoE stimulates endothelial production of heparan sulfate (HS) enriched in heparin-like sequences. Because heparin and HS are potent inhibitors of smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation, in this study we determined apoE effects on SMC HS production and cell growth. In confluent SMCs, apoE (10 microg/ml) increased (35)SO(4) incorporation into PG in media by 25-30%. The increase in the medium was exclusively due to an increase in HSPGs (2.2-fold), and apoE did not alter chondroitin and dermatan sulfate proteoglycans. In proliferating SMCs, apoE inhibited [(3)H]thymidine incorporation into DNA by 50%; however, despite decreasing cell number, apoE increased the ratio of (35)SO(4) to [(3)H]thymidine from 2 to 3.6, suggesting increased HS per cell. Purified HSPGs from apoE-stimulated cells inhibited cell proliferation in the absence of apoE. ApoE did not inhibit proliferation of endothelial cells, which are resistant to heparin inhibition. Analysis of the conditioned medium from apoE-stimulated cells revealed that the HSPG increase was in perlecan and that apoE also stimulated perlecan mRNA expression by >2-fold. The ability of apoE isoforms to inhibit cell proliferation correlated with their ability to stimulate perlecan expression. An anti-perlecan antibody completely abrogated the antiproliferative effect of apoE. Thus, these data show that perlecan is a potent inhibitor of SMC proliferation and is required to mediate the antiproliferative effect of apoE. Because other growth modulators also regulate perlecan expression, this may be a key pathway in the regulation of SMC growth.

Animals↗