The family members of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases mediate a wide variety of cellular behaviors in response to extracellular stimuli. One of the four main sub-groups, the p38 group of MAP kinases, serve...The family members of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases mediate a wide variety of cellular behaviors in response to extracellular stimuli. One of the four main sub-groups, the p38 group of MAP kinases, serve as a nexus for signal transduction and play a vital role in numerous biological processes. In this review, we highlight the known characteristics and components of the p38 pathway along with the mechanism and consequences of p38 activation. We focus on the role of p38 as a signal transduction mediator and examine the evidence linking p38 to inflammation, cell cycle, cell death, development, cell differentiation, senescence and tumorigenesis in specific cell types. Upstream and downstream components of p38 are described and questions remaining to be answered are posed. Finally, we propose several directions for future research on p38.展开更多
Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen-presen ting cells that play crucial roles in the regulation of immune response. Triptol ide, an active component purified from the medicinal plant Tripterygium wilfor ...Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen-presen ting cells that play crucial roles in the regulation of immune response. Triptol ide, an active component purified from the medicinal plant Tripterygium wilfor dii Hook F., has been demonstrated to act as a potent immunosuppressive drug c apab le of inhibiting T cell activation and proliferation. However, little is known a bout the effects of triptolide on DCs. The present study shows that triptolide d oes not affect phenotypic differentiation and LPS-induced maturation of murine DCs. But triptolide can dramatically reduce cell recovery by inducing apoptosis of DCs at concentration as low as 10 ng/ml, as demonstrated by phosphatidylserin e exposure, mitochondria potential decrease, and nuclear DNA condensation. Tript olide induces activation of p38 in DCs, which precedes the activation of caspase 3. SB203580, a specific kinase inhibitor for p38, can block the activation of caspase 3 and inhibit the resultant apoptosis of DCs. Our results suggest that t he anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive activities of triptolide may be due, in part, to its apoptosis-inducing effects on DCs.展开更多
TNNI3K is a cardiac-specific and cardiac troponin I(cT n I)-interacting MAP kinase, known to play important roles in promoting cardiac differentiation, maintenance of beating rhythm and contractual force. The molecula...TNNI3K is a cardiac-specific and cardiac troponin I(cT n I)-interacting MAP kinase, known to play important roles in promoting cardiac differentiation, maintenance of beating rhythm and contractual force. The molecular structure of TNNI3 K contains three kinds of domain: a seven or ten NH2-terminal ankyrin repeat domain followed by a protein kinase domain and a COOH-terminal serine-rich domain. There are many binding sites in the structure of TNNI3 K for binding to ATP, magnesium, nucleotide, protein kinase C, antioxidant protein 1(AOP-1) and cT n I, indicating TNNI3 K has many interacting partners. This review summarizes the evidence, hypothesis and significance of TNNI3 K interacting with TNNI3 and its other putative interaction partners. From the literature, the interaction partners of TNNI3 K are divided into 2 types following their phenotypic pattern of functions, positive interaction(to increase the cardiac performance) or negative interaction(to suppress the cardiac performance). Following their binding sites, it also can be divided into other 2 types: binding to C-terminal domain(e.g., cT n I) or binding to both ankyrin repeat domain and C-terminal domains(AOP-1).To date, a well understood partner of TNNI3 K is cT nI, from the molecular structure, physiological function, mechanisms and its significance in some physiological and pathophysiological conditions. There are many reasons to believe that, with more understanding on the TNNI3 K interacting with its partners, we can understand more roles of TNNI3 K in some cardiac diseases.展开更多
Receptor Tyrosine kinases (RTKs) play a crucial role in the signal transduction pathways at cellular levels. RTK plays a vital role in cellular communication and transmission of signals to the adjacent cells and regul...Receptor Tyrosine kinases (RTKs) play a crucial role in the signal transduction pathways at cellular levels. RTK plays a vital role in cellular communication and transmission of signals to the adjacent cells and regulates different functions of the cell, such as cellular growth, differentiation, metabolism and motility. RTK s triggers growth factor receptors such as epidermal growth factor, insulin growth factor-1 receptor, platelet derived growth factor receptor, and fibro blast growth factor receptor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, thereby initiating and regulating cell growth and proliferation. MAPK/RAS and PI3/AKT pathways are the major pathways of RTK’s function. Dysregulation of these RTK’s and pathways often leads to many diseases such as Noonan Syndrome, Logius Syndrome, CFC syndrome and different types of cancer. Point mutation and over expression of receptors and mutations in Ras leads to 30% of human cancers. Also over expression of different growth factor receptors by RTK too lead to several types of cancers as Glioblastoma, Thyroid cancer, Colon cancer and Non-small cell lung cancer. PTEN mutation in PI3/AKT pathway often leads to carcinoma relative to Thyroid, Skin, Large intestine, eye and Bone. Therefore, these RTK’s often used as targets for cancer therapies. The medical sector uses various types of small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as ATP competitive inhibitors, Allosteric inhibitors and covalent inhibitors which are known as Afatinib, Crizotinib, Eroltinib, Icotinib, Lepatinib and Lenvatinib in treatment and management of differential carcinomas.展开更多
AIM： To examine the pathway related to the IL-1β induced activation of mitogen-activated protein （MAP） kinases in cat esophageal smooth muscle cells. METHODS： Culture of the esophageal smooth muscle cells from ca...AIM： To examine the pathway related to the IL-1β induced activation of mitogen-activated protein （MAP） kinases in cat esophageal smooth muscle cells. METHODS： Culture of the esophageal smooth muscle cells from cat was prepared. Specific inhibitors were treated before applying the IL-β3. Western blot analysis was performed to detect the expressions of COX, iNOS and MAP kinases. RESULTS： In the primary cultured cells, although IL-β3 failed to upregulate the COX and iNOS levels, the levels of the phosphorylated forms of 1344142 HAP kinase and p38 MAP kinase increased in both concentration- and time-dependent manner, of which the level of activation reached a maximum within 3 and 18 h, respectively. The pertussis toxin reduced the level of p44/42 MAP kinase phosphorylation. Tyrphostin 51 and genistein also inhibited this activation. Neomycin decreased the density of the p44/42 HAP kinase band to the basal level. Phosphokinase C （PKC） was found to play a mediating role in the IL-1β-induced p44/42 MAP kinase activity. In contrast, the activation of p38 MAP kinase was inhibited only by a pretreatment with forskolin, and was unaffected by the other compounds. CONCLUSION： Based on these results, IL-1β-induced p44/42 MAP kinase activation is mediated by the Gi protein, tyrosine kinase, phospholipase C （PLC） and PKC. The pathway for p38 MAP kinase phosphorylation is different from that of p44/42 MAP kinase, suggesting that it plays a different role in the cellular response to IL- 1β.展开更多
Introduction Vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin is localized to the endothelial borders and the adherens junctions,which are regulated by changes in mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK),GTPases,and intracellular c...Introduction Vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin is localized to the endothelial borders and the adherens junctions,which are regulated by changes in mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK),GTPases,and intracellular calcium. We previously展开更多
文摘The family members of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases mediate a wide variety of cellular behaviors in response to extracellular stimuli. One of the four main sub-groups, the p38 group of MAP kinases, serve as a nexus for signal transduction and play a vital role in numerous biological processes. In this review, we highlight the known characteristics and components of the p38 pathway along with the mechanism and consequences of p38 activation. We focus on the role of p38 as a signal transduction mediator and examine the evidence linking p38 to inflammation, cell cycle, cell death, development, cell differentiation, senescence and tumorigenesis in specific cell types. Upstream and downstream components of p38 are described and questions remaining to be answered are posed. Finally, we propose several directions for future research on p38.
文摘Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen-presen ting cells that play crucial roles in the regulation of immune response. Triptol ide, an active component purified from the medicinal plant Tripterygium wilfor dii Hook F., has been demonstrated to act as a potent immunosuppressive drug c apab le of inhibiting T cell activation and proliferation. However, little is known a bout the effects of triptolide on DCs. The present study shows that triptolide d oes not affect phenotypic differentiation and LPS-induced maturation of murine DCs. But triptolide can dramatically reduce cell recovery by inducing apoptosis of DCs at concentration as low as 10 ng/ml, as demonstrated by phosphatidylserin e exposure, mitochondria potential decrease, and nuclear DNA condensation. Tript olide induces activation of p38 in DCs, which precedes the activation of caspase 3. SB203580, a specific kinase inhibitor for p38, can block the activation of caspase 3 and inhibit the resultant apoptosis of DCs. Our results suggest that t he anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive activities of triptolide may be due, in part, to its apoptosis-inducing effects on DCs.
文摘TNNI3K is a cardiac-specific and cardiac troponin I(cT n I)-interacting MAP kinase, known to play important roles in promoting cardiac differentiation, maintenance of beating rhythm and contractual force. The molecular structure of TNNI3 K contains three kinds of domain: a seven or ten NH2-terminal ankyrin repeat domain followed by a protein kinase domain and a COOH-terminal serine-rich domain. There are many binding sites in the structure of TNNI3 K for binding to ATP, magnesium, nucleotide, protein kinase C, antioxidant protein 1(AOP-1) and cT n I, indicating TNNI3 K has many interacting partners. This review summarizes the evidence, hypothesis and significance of TNNI3 K interacting with TNNI3 and its other putative interaction partners. From the literature, the interaction partners of TNNI3 K are divided into 2 types following their phenotypic pattern of functions, positive interaction(to increase the cardiac performance) or negative interaction(to suppress the cardiac performance). Following their binding sites, it also can be divided into other 2 types: binding to C-terminal domain(e.g., cT n I) or binding to both ankyrin repeat domain and C-terminal domains(AOP-1).To date, a well understood partner of TNNI3 K is cT nI, from the molecular structure, physiological function, mechanisms and its significance in some physiological and pathophysiological conditions. There are many reasons to believe that, with more understanding on the TNNI3 K interacting with its partners, we can understand more roles of TNNI3 K in some cardiac diseases.
文摘Receptor Tyrosine kinases (RTKs) play a crucial role in the signal transduction pathways at cellular levels. RTK plays a vital role in cellular communication and transmission of signals to the adjacent cells and regulates different functions of the cell, such as cellular growth, differentiation, metabolism and motility. RTK s triggers growth factor receptors such as epidermal growth factor, insulin growth factor-1 receptor, platelet derived growth factor receptor, and fibro blast growth factor receptor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, thereby initiating and regulating cell growth and proliferation. MAPK/RAS and PI3/AKT pathways are the major pathways of RTK’s function. Dysregulation of these RTK’s and pathways often leads to many diseases such as Noonan Syndrome, Logius Syndrome, CFC syndrome and different types of cancer. Point mutation and over expression of receptors and mutations in Ras leads to 30% of human cancers. Also over expression of different growth factor receptors by RTK too lead to several types of cancers as Glioblastoma, Thyroid cancer, Colon cancer and Non-small cell lung cancer. PTEN mutation in PI3/AKT pathway often leads to carcinoma relative to Thyroid, Skin, Large intestine, eye and Bone. Therefore, these RTK’s often used as targets for cancer therapies. The medical sector uses various types of small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as ATP competitive inhibitors, Allosteric inhibitors and covalent inhibitors which are known as Afatinib, Crizotinib, Eroltinib, Icotinib, Lepatinib and Lenvatinib in treatment and management of differential carcinomas.
文摘AIM： To examine the pathway related to the IL-1β induced activation of mitogen-activated protein （MAP） kinases in cat esophageal smooth muscle cells. METHODS： Culture of the esophageal smooth muscle cells from cat was prepared. Specific inhibitors were treated before applying the IL-β3. Western blot analysis was performed to detect the expressions of COX, iNOS and MAP kinases. RESULTS： In the primary cultured cells, although IL-β3 failed to upregulate the COX and iNOS levels, the levels of the phosphorylated forms of 1344142 HAP kinase and p38 MAP kinase increased in both concentration- and time-dependent manner, of which the level of activation reached a maximum within 3 and 18 h, respectively. The pertussis toxin reduced the level of p44/42 MAP kinase phosphorylation. Tyrphostin 51 and genistein also inhibited this activation. Neomycin decreased the density of the p44/42 HAP kinase band to the basal level. Phosphokinase C （PKC） was found to play a mediating role in the IL-1β-induced p44/42 MAP kinase activity. In contrast, the activation of p38 MAP kinase was inhibited only by a pretreatment with forskolin, and was unaffected by the other compounds. CONCLUSION： Based on these results, IL-1β-induced p44/42 MAP kinase activation is mediated by the Gi protein, tyrosine kinase, phospholipase C （PLC） and PKC. The pathway for p38 MAP kinase phosphorylation is different from that of p44/42 MAP kinase, suggesting that it plays a different role in the cellular response to IL- 1β.
基金supported by grants from NIH CA-125707 NSF CBET-0729091 (C D ),as well as NIH AI-065566 (A A )
文摘Introduction Vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin is localized to the endothelial borders and the adherens junctions,which are regulated by changes in mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK),GTPases,and intracellular calcium. We previously
