scholarly journals New targets of urocortin-mediated cardioprotection

2010 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seán P Barry ◽  
Kevin M Lawrence ◽  
James McCormick ◽  
Surinder M Soond ◽  
Mike Hubank ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Related Factor ◽  
Nuclear Factor ◽  
Free Radical Damage ◽  
Apoptosis Protein ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein ◽  
Crh Receptors

The urocortin (UCN) hormones UCN1 and UCN2 have been shown previously to confer significant protection against myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying their action are poorly understood. To further define the transcriptional effect of UCNs that underpins their cardioprotective activity, a microarray analysis was carried out using an in vivo rat coronary occlusion model of I/R injury. Infusion of UCN1 or UCN2 before the onset of reperfusion resulted in the differential regulation of 66 and 141 genes respectively, the majority of which have not been described previously. Functional analysis demonstrated that UCN-regulated genes are involved in a wide range of biological responses, including cell death (e.g. X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein), oxidative stress (e.g. nuclear factor erythroid derived 2-related factor 1/nuclear factor erythroid derived 2-like 1) and metabolism (e.g. Prkaa2/AMPK). In addition, both UCN1 and UCN2 were found to modulate the expression of a host of genes involved in G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signalling including Rac2, Gnb1, Dab2ip (AIP1), Ralgds, Rnd3, Rap1a and PKA, thereby revealing previously unrecognised signalling intermediates downstream of CRH receptors. Moreover, several of these GPCR-related genes have been shown previously to be involved in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation, suggesting a link between CRH receptors and induction of MAPKs. In addition, we have shown that both UCN1 and UCN2 significantly reduce free radical damage following myocardial infarction, and comparison of the UCN gene signatures with that of the anti-oxidant tempol revealed a significant overlap. These data uncover novel gene expression changes induced by UCNs, which will serve as a platform to further understand their mechanism of action in normal physiology and cardioprotection.

scholarly journals Molecular Mechanisms of Liver Injury and Hepatocarcinogenesis: Focusing on the Role of Stress-Activated MAPK

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hayato Nakagawa ◽  
Shin Maeda
Keyword(s):  
Liver Injury ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Mapk Pathway ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Cellular Effects ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein ◽  
Compensatory Proliferation

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common cause of cancer mortality. Short-term prognosis of patients with HCC has improved recently due to advances in early diagnosis and treatment, but long-term prognosis is still unsatisfactory. Therefore, obtaining a further understanding of the molecular carcinogenic mechanisms and the unique pathogenic biology of HCC is important. The most characteristic process in hepatocarcinogenesis is underlying chronic liver injury, which leads to repeated cycles of hepatocyte death, inflammation, and compensatory proliferation and subsequently provides a mitogenic and mutagenic environment leading to the development of HCC. Recent in vivo studies have shown that the stress-activated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade converging on c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 plays a central role in these processes, and it has attracted considerable attention as a therapeutic target. However, JNK and p38 have complex functions and a wide range of cellular effects. In addition, crosstalk with each other and the nuclear factor-kappaB pathway further complicate these functions. A full understanding is essential to bring these observations into clinical settings. In this paper, we discuss the latest findings regarding the mechanisms of liver injury and hepatocarcinogenesis focusing on the role of the stress-activated MAPK pathway.

Role of nuclear factor κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling in exercise-induced antioxidant enzyme adaptation

2007 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 930-935 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Li Ji ◽  
Maria-Carmen Gomez-Cabrera ◽  
Jose Vina
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Nuclear Factor Κb ◽  
Mapk Signaling ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Ros Generation ◽  
Nuclear Factor ◽  
Adaptive Responses ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein ◽  
Exercise Induced

Activation of nuclear factor (NF) κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways in skeletal muscle has been shown to enhance the gene expression of several enzymes that play an important role in maintaining oxidant–antioxidant homeostasis, such as mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). While an acute bout of exercise activates NFκB and MAPK signaling and upregulates MnSOD and iNOS, administration of chemical agents that suppress reactive oxygen species (ROS) production can cause attenuation of exercise-induced MnSOD and iNOS expression. Thus, ROS generation during exercise may have duel effects: the infliction of oxidative stress and damage, and the stimulation of adaptive responses favoring long-term protection. This scenario explains why animals and humans involved in exercise training have demonstrated increased resistance to oxidative damage under a wide range of physiological and pathological stresses.

scholarly journals Angelicae Gigantis Radix Regulates LPS-Induced Neuroinflammation in BV2 Microglia by Inhibiting NF-κB and MAPK Activity and Inducing Nrf-2 Activity

Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (20) ◽  
pp. 3755 ◽  
Author(s):  
You-Chang Oh ◽  
Yun Hee Jeong ◽  
Wei Li ◽  
Younghoon Go
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Inflammatory Factors ◽  
Related Factor ◽  
Nuclear Factor ◽  
Mapk Activity ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein ◽  
Bv2 Microglia ◽  
Oxide Synthase

Angelicae Gigantis Radix (AGR) has been widely used as a traditional medicine in East Asia. The effects of AGR on neuroinflammation have not previously been studied in detail. In the study presented here, we investigated the antineuroinflammatory properties of this herb and its mechanism of operation. The effects of AGR on neuroinflammation were studied by measuring the production of inflammatory factors and related enzymes, and analyzing the expression levels of proteins and genes involved its activity, in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglia. We found that AGR pretreatment strongly inhibits the production of nitric oxide (NO), cytokines, and the enzymes inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and effectively induces the activation of heme oxygenase (HO)-1 and its regulator, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2). We also found that AGR effectively regulates the activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). We confirmed the antineuroinflammatory effects of the main constituents of the plant as identified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Our results indicate that the neuroinflammation inhibitory activity of AGR occurs through inhibition of NF-κB and MAPK and activation of Nrf-2.

Mechanisms and functions of p38 MAPK signalling

2010 ◽  
Vol 429 (3) ◽  
pp. 403-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Cuadrado ◽  
Angel R. Nebreda
Keyword(s):  
P38 Mapk ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Mapk Signalling ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein ◽  
External Signals ◽  
Protein Kinase Signalling ◽  
Genetic Mouse Models

The p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) signalling pathway allows cells to interpret a wide range of external signals and respond appropriately by generating a plethora of different biological effects. The diversity and specificity in cellular outcomes is achieved with an apparently simple linear architecture of the pathway, consisting of a core of three protein kinases acting sequentially. In the present review, we dissect the molecular mechanisms underlying p38 MAPK functions, with special emphasis on the activation and regulation of the core kinases, the interplay with other signalling pathways and the nature of p38 MAPK substrates as a source of functional diversity. Finally, we discuss how genetic mouse models are facilitating the identification of physiological functions for p38 MAPKs, which may impinge on their eventual use as therapeutic targets.

scholarly journals Effector caspase Dcp-1 and IAP protein Bruce regulate starvation-induced autophagy during Drosophila melanogaster oogenesis

2008 ◽  
Vol 182 (6) ◽  
pp. 1127-1139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying-Chen Claire Hou ◽  
Suganthi Chittaranjan ◽  
Sharon González Barbosa ◽  
Kimberly McCall ◽  
Sharon M. Gorski
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Nuclear Condensation ◽  
Effector Caspase ◽  
Apoptosis Protein ◽  
Egg Chambers

A complex relationship exists between autophagy and apoptosis, but the regulatory mechanisms underlying their interactions are largely unknown. We conducted a systematic study of Drosophila melanogaster cell death–related genes to determine their requirement in the regulation of starvation-induced autophagy. We discovered that six cell death genes—death caspase-1 (Dcp-1), hid, Bruce, Buffy, debcl, and p53—as well as Ras–Raf–mitogen activated protein kinase signaling pathway components had a role in autophagy regulation in D. melanogaster cultured cells. During D. melanogaster oogenesis, we found that autophagy is induced at two nutrient status checkpoints: germarium and mid-oogenesis. At these two stages, the effector caspase Dcp-1 and the inhibitor of apoptosis protein Bruce function to regulate both autophagy and starvation-induced cell death. Mutations in Atg1 and Atg7 resulted in reduced DNA fragmentation in degenerating midstage egg chambers but did not appear to affect nuclear condensation, which indicates that autophagy contributes in part to cell death in the ovary. Our study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms that coordinately regulate autophagic and apoptotic events in vivo.

scholarly journals Banhasasim-Tang Treatment Reduces the Severity of Esophageal Mucosal Ulcer on Chronic Acid Reflux Esophagitis in Rats

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mi-Rae Shin ◽  
Bu-Il Seo ◽  
Chang Gue Son ◽  
Seong-Soo Roh ◽  
Hyo-Jin An
Keyword(s):  
Reflux Esophagitis ◽  
Thiobarbituric Acid ◽  
Antioxidant Response ◽  
Acid Reflux ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Histological Evaluation ◽  
Related Factor ◽  
Nuclear Factor ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein

The present study was conducted to evaluate both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of Banhasasim-tang (BHSST) on chronic acid reflux esophagitis (CRE) model. Rat CRE model was established operatively and then treated with BHSST (1 g/kg body weight per day) for 15 days Esophageal pathological changes were analyzed using macroscopic examination and hematoxylin/eosin staining. The antioxidant and inflammatory protein levels were determined using Western blotting. The administration of BHSST significantly reduced both the overexpression of serum reactive oxygen species (ROS) and an excessive formation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) in esophagus tissue. Thus, the severity of esophageal ulcer was lower in BHSST treated rats than control rats on the gross and histological evaluation. Nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) led to the upregulation of antioxidant enzyme including SOD, GPx-1/2, and HO-1 by binding to antioxidant response element (ARE). Moreover, BHSST administration markedly reduced the expression of inflammatory proteins through mitogen-activated protein kinase- (MAPK-) related signaling pathways and decreased significantly the protein expressions of inflammatory mediators and cytokines by inhibition of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation. Taken together, these results support the fact that BHSST administration can suppress the development of esophageal mucosal ulcerviaregulating inflammation through the activation of the antioxidant pathway.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document