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NPR1: the spider in the web of induced resistance signaling pathways.

The plant hormones salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), and ethylene (ET) are major players in the regulation of signaling networks that are involved in induced defense responses against pathogens and insects. During the past two years, significant progress has been made in understanding the function of NON-EXPRESSOR OF PATHOGENESIS-RELATED GENES1 (NPR1), a key regulator of systemic acquired resistance (SAR), that is essential for transducing the SA signal to activate PATHOGENESIS-RELATED (PR) gene expression. SA-mediated redox changes in Arabidopsis cells regulate both the functioning of NPR1 and its binding to TGA1, a member of the TGA family of transcription factors that activate SA-responsive elements in the promoters of PR genes upon binding with NPR1. Apart from its role in regulating SAR in the nucleus, a novel cytosolic function of NPR1 in cross-communication between SA- and JA-dependent defense signaling pathways has been identified. Other advances in induced resistance signaling, such as the implication that ET is involved in the generation of systemic signal molecules, the suggestion of the involvement of lipid-derived molecules in long-distance signaling, and the identification of new components of various systemic defense signaling pathways, shed new light on how plants actively defend themselves against harmful organisms.

Arabidopsis↗

Effect of moderate acute exercise on expression of mRNA involved in the calcineurin signaling pathway in human skeletal muscle.

Calcineurin, a calcium-regulated protein phosphatase, activates gene expression specific to slow muscle fibers by dephosphorylating a family of the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT), which cooperates with myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2) and AP-1. However, it remains unknown how acute exercise influences this signaling pathway and leads to the development of slow muscle fibers. In the present study, we investigated the effect of moderate acute exercise on mRNA expression of genes in the calcineurin signaling pathway in human skeletal muscle. Five healthy volunteers underwent 1 h bicycle ergometer at 50%VO2max, and vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were collected before and after exercise. Four hours after exercise, alterations in mRNA expression of NFAT 1-3 were observed with a wide variety among subjects, while c-fos mRNA was significantly induced in all subjects. By contrast, the expression of calcineurin, MEF2, and myocyte-enriched calcineurin-interacting protein 1 (MCIP1) remained unchanged. These results suggest that even moderate acute exercise may change mRNA expression of genes in the calcineurin-signaling pathway.

Calcineurin↗

Regulation of the TAK1 signaling pathway by protein phosphatase 2C.

Protein phosphatase 2C (PP2C) is implicated in the negative regulation of stress-activated protein kinase cascades in yeast and mammalian cells. In this study, we determined the role of PP2Cbeta-1, a major isoform of mammalian PP2C, in the TAK1 signaling pathway, a stress-activated protein kinase cascade that is activated by interleukin-1, transforming growth factor-beta, or stress. Ectopic expression of PP2Cbeta-1 inhibited the TAK1-mediated mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 4-c-Jun amino-terminal kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6-p38 signaling pathways. In vitro, PP2Cbeta-1 dephosphorylated and inactivated TAK1. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments indicated that PP2Cbeta-1 associates with the central region of TAK1. A phosphatase-negative mutant of PP2Cbeta-1, PP2Cbeta-1 (R/G), acted as a dominant negative mutant, inhibiting dephosphorylation of TAK1 by wild-type PP2Cbeta-1 in vitro. In addition, ectopic expression of PP2Cbeta-1(R/G) enhanced interleukin-1-induced activation of an AP-1 reporter gene. Collectively, these results indicate that PP2Cbeta negatively regulates the TAK1 signaling pathway by direct dephosphorylation of TAK1.

Adaptation, Biological↗

GeneChip analysis of signaling pathways effected by nickel.

The carcinogenicity of nickel compounds has been shown in numerous epidemiological and animal studies. Carcinogenesis is generally considered as a multistep accumulation of genetic alterations. Nickel, however, being highly carcinogenic is only a weak mutagen. We hypothesize that nickel may act by modulating signaling pathways, and subsequently by reprogramming transcription factors. Insoluble nickel is considered to be more carcinogenic than soluble. In this study using GeneChip technology we compared changes in gene expression caused by soluble and insoluble nickel compounds. We found that both soluble and insoluble nickel compounds induce similar signaling pathways following 20 h of in vitro exposure. For example, both nickel compounds activated a number of transcription factors including hypoxia-inducible factor I (HIF-1) and p53. The induction of these important transcription factors exerts potent selective pressure leading to cell transformation. The obtained data are in agreement with our previous observations that acute nickel exposure activates HIF-1 and p53 transcription factors and in nickel-transformed cells, the ratio of HIF-I activity to p53 activity was shifted towards high HIF-I activity. The activation of the same signaling pathways by soluble and insoluble nickel compounds suggested that both nickel compounds have similar carcinogenic potential in vitro.

Animals↗

Consensus statement. Workshop on therapeutic resistance in breast cancer: impact of growth factor signalling pathways and implications for future treatment.

Anti-hormones (notably tamoxifen), chemotherapy and modern radiotherapeutic approaches are invaluable in the management of breast cancer, and collectively have contributed substantially to the improved survival in this disease. Moreover, there is promise that these successes will continue with the emergence of other endocrine agents (for example, aromatase inhibitors and pure anti-oestrogens). However, de novo and acquired resistance comprises a significant problem with all treatment approaches examined to date. This Workshop aimed to evaluate the contribution made by growth factor signalling pathways in the various resistant states, primarily focusing on resistance to anti-hormonal strategies and spanning experimental models and, where possible, clinical breast cancer data. The successes and limitations of therapeutic targeting of these pathways with various signal transduction inhibitors (STIs) were evaluated in model systems and from emerging clinical trials (including epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors such as gefitinib). It was concluded that growth factor signalling is an important contributor in the development of endocrine resistance in breast cancer and that use of STIs provides a promising therapeutic strategy for this disease. However, the cancer cell is clearly able to harness alternative growth factor signalling pathways for growth and cell survival in the presence of STI monotherapy and, as a consequence, the efficacy of STIs is likely to be limited by the acquisition of resistance. A number of strategies were proposed from studies in model systems that appeared to enhance anti-tumour actions of existing STI monotherapy, notably including combination therapies targeting multiple pathways. With the increased availability of diverse STIs and improved drug delivery, there is much hope that the more complex therapeutic strategies proposed may ultimately be achievable in clinical practice.

Breast Neoplasms↗

The TGF-beta family: signaling pathways, developmental roles, and tumor suppressor activities.

Intercellular communication is a critical process for all multicellular organisms, and communication among cells is required for proper embryonic development and adult physiology. Members of the Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-beta) family of secreted proteins communicate information between cells via a complex signaling pathway, and family members are capable of inducing a wide range of cellular responses. The purpose of this review is to provide the reader with a broad introduction to our current understanding of three aspects of the TGF-beta family. These are the molecular mechanisms utilized by TGF-beta signaling pathways, the developmental roles played by TGF-beta family members in a variety of species, and the growing list of cancers in which various TGF-beta signaling pathways display tumor suppressor activity.

Animals↗

TGFbeta signaling pathways and human diseases.

Recent progress in deciphering the TGFbeta pathway has uncovered a new signaling molecule, the Smads, and with this finding now gives us insights into how TGFbeta-like signals are transmitted from outside the cell to the nucleus. As we learn more about how TGFbeta regulates normal development, we also are gaining insights into diseases that are caused by mis-regulation or mutation of various components of the signaling pathways.

Animals↗

The calcineurin/nuclear factor of activated T cells signaling pathway regulates osteoclastogenesis in RAW264.7 cells.

Although best known for its role in T lymphocyte activation, the calcineurin/nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) signaling pathway is also known to be involved in a wide range of other biological responses in a variety of different cell types. Here we have investigated the role of the calcineurin/NFAT signaling pathway in the regulation of osteoclast differentiation. Osteoclasts are bone-resorbing multinucleated cells that are derived from the monocyte/macrophage cell lineage after stimulation with a member of the tumor necrosis factor family of ligands known as receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL). We now report that inhibition of calcineurin with either the immunosuppressant drugs cyclosporin A and FK506, or the retrovirally mediated ectopic expression of a specific calcineurin inhibitory peptide, all potently inhibit the RANKL-induced differentiation of the RAW264.7 monocyte/macrophage cell line into mature multinucleated osteoclasts. In addition, we find that NFAT family members are expressed in RAW264.7 cells and that their expression is up-regulated in response to RANKL stimulation. Most importantly, we find that ectopic expression of a constitutively active, calcineurin-independent NFATc1 mutant in RAW264.7 cells is sufficient to induce these cells to express an osteoclast-specific pattern of gene expression and differentiate into morphologically distinct, multinucleated osteoclasts capable of inducing the resorption of a physiological mineralized matrix substrate. Taken together, these data define calcineurin as an essential downstream effector of the RANKL-induced signal transduction pathway leading toward the induction of osteoclast differentiation and furthermore, indicate that the activation of the NFATc1 transcription factor is sufficient to initiate a genetic program that results in the specification of the mature functional osteoclast cell phenotype.

Animals↗

Blockage of the ERK signaling pathway abrogates the SCAP ligand-induced transcriptional activation of the LDL receptor gene in HepG2 cells.

Previous studies identified the putative SCAP ligands including compound GW707 as a new class of up-regulators of LDL receptor (LDLR) transcription by activation of the sterol-regulatory element binding proteins (SREBP). These compounds increase LDLR expression in hepatoma cells in vitro and lower plasma LDL-c in hamsters. However, it is unknown, what signaling pathways are utilized by these agents that lead to the activation of LDLR transcription. Here, we report that the ERK signaling cascade is critically involved in GW707-mediated induction of LDLR expression. We show that: a) blocking ERK activation with U0126, the inhibitor of ERK upstream kinase MEK, completely abolishes the inducing effects of GW707 on LDLR promoter activity, LDLR mRNA expression, and DiI-LDL uptake in HepG2 cells; b) treating HepG2 cells with GW707 induces a dose-dependent conversion of SREBP-2 from the 125 kDa precursor form to the 68 kDa activated form and U0126 does not inhibit this cleavage process, but U0126 significantly reduces the total amount of SREBP-2 protein in GW707-treated cells without affecting the expression levels of other proteins involving in SREBP processing; and c) inhibition of ERK signaling pathway has no effects on the promoter activity or mRNA expression of SREBP-2. Collectively, these new findings establish an important role of ERK signaling pathway in SCAP ligand-induced transcription of LDLR and imply that the protein synthesis or turnover rate of SREBP-2 may be regulated by ERK.

Butadienes↗

Drosophila ciD encodes a hybrid Pangolin/Cubitus interruptus protein that diverts the Wingless into the Hedgehog signaling pathway.

The Hedgehog (Hh) and Wingless (Wg) signaling pathways play important roles in animal development. The activities of the two pathways depend on each other during Drosophila embryogenesis. In the embryonic segment, Wg is required in anterior cells to sustain Hh secretion in adjacent posterior cells. Hh input in turn is necessary for anterior cells to maintain wg expression. The Hh and Wg pathways are mediated by the transcription factors Cubitus interruptus (Ci) and Pangolin/TCF (Pan), respectively. Coincidentally, pan and ci are adjacent genes on the fourth chromosome in a head-to-head orientation. Our genetic and in situ hybridization data indicate that ciD is a mutation affecting both ci and pan. Molecular analysis revealed that the ciD allele is caused by an inversion event that swapped the promoter regions and the first exons of the two genes. The ci gene in ciD is controlled by the ubiquitous pan promoter and encodes a hybrid Ci protein that carries the N-terminal region of Pan. This domain has previously been shown to bind to the b-catenin homolog Armadillo (Arm), raising the possibility that Wg input, in addition to Hh input, modulates the activity of the hybrid CiD protein. Indeed, we found that Wg signaling induces the expression of the Hh target gene patched (ptc) in ciD animals. We provide evidence that this effect depends on the ability of the CiD protein to bind Arm. Genetic and molecular data indicate that wild-type Pan and CiD compete for binding to Arm, leading to a compromised transduction of the Wg signal in heterozygous ciD/+ animals and to a dramatic enhancement of the gain-of-function activity of CiD in homozygous mutants. Thus, the Hh and the Wg pathways are affected by the ciD mutation, and the CiD fusion protein integrates the activities of both.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cyr61 is overexpressed in gliomas and involved in integrin-linked kinase-mediated Akt and beta-catenin-TCF/Lef signaling pathways.

Cyr61 is a member of the CCN family of growth factors; these proteins are secreted and can act as ligands of distinct integrins. We show that Cyr61 can enhance tumorigenicity of glioma cells acting through activated integrin-linked kinase (ILK) to stimulate beta-catenin-TCF/Lef and Akt signaling pathways. Overexpression of Cyr61 occurred in highly tumorigenic glioma cell lines and in 68% of the most malignant glioblastoma multiforme brain tumors. Forced expression of Cyr61 in U343 glioma cells accelerated their growth in liquid culture, enhanced their anchorage-independent proliferation in soft agar, and significantly increased their ability to form large, vascularized tumors in nude mice. Overexpression of Cyr61 in the U343 cells led to the up-regulation of distinct integrins, including beta1 and alphanubeta3, which have been shown to interact with Cyr61 and ILK. The activity of ILK was increased dramatically in these cells. Overexpression of Cyr61 also resulted in the phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta and accumulation and nuclear translocation of beta-catenin, leading to activation of the beta-catenin-TCF/Lef-1 signaling pathway. Furthermore, forced expression of Cyr61 in the glioma cells activated phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase pathway, resulting in prominent phosphorylation of Akt and the antiapoptotic protein Bad. Cyr61 appears to stimulate several signaling pathways in the development of gliomas.

Animals↗

TEL-JAK2 mediates constitutive activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase/protein kinase B signaling pathway.

A subset of chromosomal translocations that participate in leukemia involve activated tyrosine kinases. The ets transcription factor, TEL, undergoes translocations with several distinct tyrosine kinases including JAK2. TEL-JAK2 transforms cell lines to factor independence, and constitutive tyrosine kinase activity results in the phosphorylation of several substrates including STAT1, STAT3, and STAT5. In this study we have shown that TEL-JAK2 can constitutively activate the phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI 3'-kinase) signaling pathway. The regulatory subunit of PI 3'-kinase, p85, associates with TEL-JAK2 in immunoprecipitations, and this was shown to be mediated by the amino-terminal SH2 domain of p85 but independent of a putative p85-binding motif within TEL-JAK2. The scaffolding protein Gab2 can also mediate the association of p85. TEL-JAK2 constitutively phosphorylates the downstream substrate protein kinase B/AKT. Importantly, the pharmacologic PI 3'-kinase inhibitor, LY294002, blocked TEL-JAK2 factor-independent growth and phosphorylation of protein kinase B. However, LY294002 did not alter STAT5 tyrosine phosphorylation, indicating that STAT5 and protein kinase B activation mediated by TEL-JAK2 are independent signaling pathways. Therefore, activation of the PI 3'-kinase signaling pathway is an important event mediated by TEL-JAK2 chromosomal translocations.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Reconstitution of the Reelin signaling pathway in fibroblasts demonstrates that Dab1 phosphorylation is independent of receptor localization in lipid rafts.

The Reelin signaling pathway operates in migrating neurons and is indispensable for their correct positioning during embryonic brain development. Many biochemical and cell biological studies to dissect the Reelin pathway at the molecular level are hampered by the lack of a cell line harboring a functional Reelin signaling pathway. Here we present fibroblast cell lines in which all required functional components of the pathway have been reconstituted. These cells react upon Reelin treatment in the same way as primary neurons. We have subsequently used these cell lines to study the subcellular localization of ApoER2 and the VLDL receptor and could demonstrate that receptor-mediated Dab1 phosphorylation does not depend on lipid rafts and that phosphorylated Dab1 remains bound to the receptor tail when the pathway is activated by Reelin.

Animals↗

Activation of the SPHK/S1P signalling pathway is coupled to muscarinic receptor-dependent regulation of peripheral airways.

BACKGROUND: In peripheral airways, acetylcholine induces contraction via activation of muscarinic M2-and M3-receptor subtypes (M2R and M3R). Cholinergic hypersensitivity is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, and therefore the identification of muscarinic signaling pathways are of great therapeutic interest. A pathway that has been shown to be activated via MR and to increase [Ca2+]i includes the activation of sphingosine kinases (SPHK) and the generation of the bioactive sphingolipid sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P). Whether the SPHK/S1P signaling pathway is integrated in the muscarinic control of peripheral airways is not known. METHODS: To address this issue, we studied precision cut lung slices derived from FVB and M2R-KO and M3R-KO mice. RESULTS: In peripheral airways of FVB, wild-type, and MR-deficient mice, SPHK1 was mainly localized to smooth muscle. Muscarine induced a constriction in all investigated mouse strains which was reduced by inhibition of SPHK using D, L-threo-dihydrosphingosine (DHS) and N, N-dimethyl-sphingosine (DMS) but not by N-acetylsphingosine (N-AcS), a structurally related agent that does not affect SPHK function. The initial phase of constriction was nearly absent in peripheral airways of M3R-KO mice when SPHK was inhibited by DHS and DMS but was unaffected in M2R-KO mice. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed that the disruption of the M2R and M3R genes had no significant effect on the expression levels of the SPHK1-isoform in peripheral airways. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that the SPHK/S1P signaling pathway contributes to cholinergic constriction of murine peripheral airways. In addition, our data strongly suggest that SPHK is activated via the M2R. Given the important role of muscarinic mechanisms in pulmonary disease, these findings should be of considerable therapeutic relevance.

Animals↗

The CNTF/LIF signaling pathway regulates developmental programmed cell death and differentiation of rod precursor cells in the mouse retina in vivo.

Natural cell death is critical for normal development of the nervous system, but the extracellular regulators of developmental cell death remain poorly characterized. Here, we studied the role of the CNTF/LIF signaling pathway during mouse retinal development in vivo. We show that exposure to CNTF during neonatal retinal development in vivo retards rhodopsin expression and results in an important and specific deficit in photoreceptor cells. Detailed analysis revealed that exposure to CNTF during retinal development causes a sharp increase in cell death of postmitotic rod precursor cells. Importantly, we show that blocking the CNTF/LIF signaling pathway during mouse retinal development in vivo results in a significant reduction of naturally occurring cell death. Using retroviral lineage analysis, we demonstrate that exposure to CNTF causes a specific reduction of clones containing only rods without affecting other clone types, whereas blocking the CNTF/LIF receptor complex causes a specific increase of clones containing only rods. In addition, we show that stimulation of the CNTF/LIF pathway positively regulates the expression of the neuronal and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS) genes, and blocking nitric oxide production by pre-treatment with a NOS inhibitor abolishes CNTF-induced cell death. Taken together, these results indicate that the CNTF/LIF signaling pathway acts via regulation of nitric oxide production to modulate developmental programmed cell death of postmitotic rod precursor cells.

Animals↗

[Signaling pathways regulating self-renewal of mouse embryonic stem cells--review].

Mouse embryonic stem cells (ES cells) are pluripotent in that they can give rise to almost all the cell types in vitro and in vivo. Also, they can sustain self-renewal in vitro owing to symmetrical mitosis, i.e., only the cell number increases while the daughter cells remain pluripotent. Self-renewal and pluripotency of ES cells are under stringent regulation of several signaling pathways. Activation of either JAK-STAT3 or PI3K, the downstream cascade of gp130, can maintain the self-renewal of ES cells, while phosphorylation of another gp130-related branch, SHP2-Ras-ERK, drives the differentiation. BMP2/4-mediated signaling is capable of suppressing the differentiation of ES cells in collaboration with activated JAK-STAT3 under serum free culture conditions. Other signaling such as Wnt also contributes to the self-renewal of ES cells. Generally, the network, which is composed of various signaling pathways, modulates the self-renewal and differentiation of mouse ES cells precisely. This review focuses on the role of gp130 in proliferation of mouse ES cells including inhibitory effect of JAK-STAT3 pathway activation on differentiation of mouse ES cells, maintenance effect of PI3K pathway activation on self-renewal of ES cells, promotive effect of SHP-2-Ras-ERK pathway activation on differentiation of ES cells, and influence of other signaling pathways on self-renewal of mouse ES cells, including maintenance effect of BMP combination with LIF under serum free culture conditions on self-renewal of ES cells and promotive effect of Wnt pathway activation on self-renewal of ES cells.

Animals↗

Inhibition of cytokine-induced JAK-STAT signalling pathways by an endonuclease inhibitor aurintricarboxylic acid.

1. Inducible nitric oxide (iNOS) is thought to involve in host defence and tissue damage in inflammatory loci. In previous study, we have found that the endonuclease inhibitor aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA) can protect macrophages from cell death induced by bacterial lipopolysaccharide. This action is through the interruption with signalling pathways for NF-kappa B and AP-1 activation, and thus iNOS expression. In this study we have addressed the effects of ATA on JAK-STAT signalling pathways. 2. In murine RAW 264.7 macrophages, IFN-gamma-mediated NO production and iNOS expression were concentration-dependently reduced by the presence of 3-100 micro M ATA. 3. IFN-gamma-induced STAT1 activation, as assessed from its tyrosine phosphorylation, nuclear translocation, binding to specific DNA response element and evoked IRF-1 reporter gene assay, were concomitantly inhibited by ATA. However, ATA did not alter IFN-gamma binding to RAW 264.7 cells. 4. The activities of JAK1 and JAK2, the upstream kinases essential for STAT1 signalling in response to IFN-gamma, were also reduced by ATA. 5. Moreover, IL-4, IL-10, GM-CSF and M-CSF elicited tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT3, STAT5 and/or STAT6 in macrophages were diminished by the presence of ATA. 6. Taken together, we conclude that ATA can interfere JAK-STAT signalling pathways in response to cytokines. This action contributes to the inhibition of IFN-gamma-induced iNOS expression.

Animals↗

Perturbations of the AKT signaling pathway in human cancer.

AKT/PKB (protein kinase B) kinases mediate signaling pathways downstream of activated tyrosine kinases and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. AKT kinases regulate diverse cellular processes including cell proliferation and survival, cell size and response to nutrient availability, tissue invasion and angiogenesis. Many oncoproteins and tumor suppressors implicated in cell signaling/metabolic regulation converge within the AKT signal transduction pathway in an equilibrium that is altered in many human cancers by activating and inactivating mechanisms, respectively, targeting these inter-related proteins. We review a burgeoning literature implicating aberrant AKT signaling in many sporadic human cancers as well as in several dominantly inherited cancer syndromes known as phakomatoses. The latter include disorders caused by germline mutations of certain tumor suppressor genes, that is, PTEN, TSC2/TSC1, LKB1, NF1, and VHL, encoding proteins that intersect with the AKT pathway. We also review various pathogenic mechanisms contributing to activation of the AKT pathway in human malignancy as well as current pharmacologic strategies to target therapeutically components of this pathway.

Cell Proliferation↗