• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.101-109
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• 2010

Protein phosphorylation is one of the major mechanisms for controlling many cellular processes in all living organisms. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades are known to transducer extracellular stimuli to several cellular processes, including cell division, differentiation as well as responses to various stresses. In plants, several studies have revealed that MAPK cascade pathways play an important role in responses against biotic and abiotic stresses, including wounding, pathogen infection, temperature, drought, salinity and plant hormones. It is also known that MAPK cascades-mediated signaling is an essential process in the resistance step to pathogens by regulating the activity of transcription factors. Here, the insights into the functions of MAPK cascade pathways in plant defense response signaling from Arabidopsis, tobacco and rice are described.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2009

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is essential for many angiogenic processes both in normal and pathological conditions. However, the signaling pathways involved in VEGF-induced angiogenesis are incompletely understood. The protein kinase D1 (PKD1), a newly described calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine/threonine kinase, has been implicated in cell migration, proliferation and membrane trafficking. Increasing evidence suggests critical roles for PKD1-mediated signaling pathways in endothelial cells, particularly in the regulation of VEGF-induced angiogenesis. Recent studies show that class IIa histone deacetylases (HDACs) are PKD1 substrates and VEGF signal-responsive repressors of myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2) transcriptional activation in endothelial cells. This review provides a guide to PKD1 signaling pathways and the direct downstream targets of PKD1 in VEGF signaling, and suggests important functions of PKD1 in angiogenesis.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.195-208
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• 2005

Diabetes is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, and associated with a high risk of atherosclerosis, and liver, kidney, nerve and tissue damage. Defective insulin secretion in pancreas and/or insulin resistance in peripheral tissues is a central component of diabetes. It is well established that, regardless of the degree of muscle insulin resistance, glucose levels in diabetic and non-diabetic individuals are determined by the rate of hepatic glucose production. Moreover recently studies using liver-specific insulin receptor knockout mice show the paramount role of the liver in insulin resistance and diabetes. Insulin exerts a multifaceted and highly integrated series of actions via its intracellular signaling systems. The first major section of this review defines the major insulin-mediated signaling pathways including phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and mitogen activated protein kinases. The second major section of the review presents a summary and evaluation of methods for determination of the role and function of signaling pathways, including methods for determination of kinase phosphorylation, the use of pharmacological inhibitors of kinase and dominant-negative kinase constructs, and the application of new RNA interference methods.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.473-483
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• 2023

Many cancers arise from sites of chronic inflammation, which creates an inflammatory microenvironment surrounding the tumor. Inflammatory substances secreted by cells in the inflammatory environment can induce the proliferation and survival of cancer cells, thereby promoting cancer metastasis and angiogenesis. Therefore, it is important to identify the role of inflammatory factors in cancer progression. This review summarizes the signaling pathways and roles of C-reactive protein (CRP) in various cancer types, including breast, liver, renal, and pancreatic cancer, and the tumor microenvironment. Mounting evidence suggests the role of CRP in breast cancer, particularly in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which is typically associated with a worse prognosis. Increased CRP in the inflammatory environment contributes to enhanced invasiveness and tumor formation in TNBC cells. CRP promotes endothelial cell formation and angiogenesis and contributes to the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. In pancreatic and kidney cancers, CRP contributes to tumor progression. In liver cancer, CRP regulates inflammatory responses and lipid metabolism. CRP modulates the activity of various signaling molecules in macrophages and monocytes present in the tumor microenvironment, contributing to tumor development, the immune response, and inflammation. In the present review, we overviewed the role of CRP signaling pathways and the association between inflammation and cancer in various types of cancer. Identifying the interactions between CRP signaling pathways and other inflammatory mediators in cancer progression is crucial for understanding the complex relationship between inflammation and cancer.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.477-482
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• 2009

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a critical role in the induction of innate immune responses that are essential for host defense against invading microbial pathogens. In general, TLRs have two major downstream signaling pathways, namely MyD88- and TRIF-dependent pathways, leading to the activation of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) and interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) and the expression of inflammatory mediators. TLR4 dimerization is required for the activation of downstream signaling pathways and may be one of the first lines of regulation in activating TLR-mediated signaling pathways. In this paper, the molecular targets of curcumin, 6-shogaol, and cinnamaldehyde in TLR signaling pathways will be discussed. Curcumin, 6-shogaol, and cinnamaldehyde with ${\alpha},{\beta}$-unsaturated carbonyl groups inhibit the dimerization of TLR4 induced by lipopolysaccharide, resulting in the downregulation of NF-${\kappa}B$ and IRF3. These results suggest that phytochemicals with the structural motif conferring Michael addition inhibit TLR4 dimerization, suggesting a novel mechanism for the anti-inflammatory activity of phytochemicals.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.130-136
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• 2012

The GroEL heat-shock protein from Fusobacterium nucleatum, a periodontopathogen, activates risk factors for atherosclerosis in human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) and ApoE-/- mice. In this study, we analyzed the signaling pathways by which F. nucleatum GroEL induces the proinflammatory factors in HMEC-1 cells known to be risk factors associated with the development of atherosclerosis and identified the cellular receptor used by GroEL. The MAPK and NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling pathways were found to be activated by GroEL to induce the expression of interleukin-8 (IL-8), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin, and tissue factor (TF). These effects were inhibited by a TLR4 knockdown. Our results thus indicate that TLR4 is a key receptor that mediates the interaction of F. nucleatum GroEL with HMEC-1 cells and subsequently induces an inflammatory response via the MAPK and NF-${\kappa}B$ pathways.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.264-270
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• 2018

Cells cope with diverse intrinsic and extrinsic stimuli in order to make adaptations for survival. The epigenetic landscape plays a crucial role in cellular adaptation, as it integrates the information generated from stimuli. Signaling pathways induced by stimuli communicate with chromatin to change the epigenetic landscape through regulation of epigenetic modifiers. Metabolic dynamics altered by these stimuli also affect the activity of epigenetic modifiers. Here, I review the current understanding of epigenetic regulation via signaling and metabolic pathways. In addition, I will discuss possible ways to achieve specificity of epigenetic modifications through the cooperation of stimuli-induced signal transduction and metabolic reprogramming.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.189-196
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• 2011

Major depressive disorder is characterized by cellular and molecular alterations resulting in the depressive behavioral phenotypes. Preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated the deficits, including cell atrophy and loss, in limbic and cortical regions of patients with depression, which is restored with antidepressants by reestablishing proper molecular changes. These findings have implicated the involvement of relevant intracellular signaling pathways in the pathogenetic and therapeutic mechanisms of depressive disorders. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the signal transduction mechanisms related to depressive disorders, including cyclic-AMP, mitogen-activated protein kinase, Akt, and protein translation initiation signaling cascades. Understanding molecular components of signaling pathways regulating neurobiology of depressive disorders may provide the novel targets for the development of more efficacious treatment modalities.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1506-1521
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• 2019

Tuberculosis, which is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), is among the most pressing worldwide problems. Mtb uniquely interacts with innate immune cells through various pattern recognition receptors. These interactions initiate several inflammatory pathways that play essential roles in controlling Mtb pathogenesis. Although the TLR signaling pathways have essential roles in numerous host's immune defense responses, the role of TLR signaling in the response to Mtb infection is still unclear. This review presents discussions on host-Mtb interactions in terms of Mtb-mediated TLR signaling. In addition, we highlight recent discoveries pertaining to these pathways that may help in new immunotherapeutic opportunities.

• Interdisciplinary Bio Central
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.13.1-13.6
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• 2012

The advanced glycation endproducts receptor (AGER) is a multiligand signal transduction receptor. One of its ligands, S100b molecules activates vascular smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells via its receptor, thus triggering activation of signaling cascades and generation of cytokines and proinflammatory molecules. Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme Ubc9 is an E2 conjugating enzyme that transfers the activated small ubiquitin-related modifier to protein substrates, and thus it plays a critical role in SUR-Mylation-mediated cellular pathways. Previous studies have shown that both AGE-R and Ubc9 play roles in diverse cellular signaling pathways. However, until recently, little attention has been paid to interactions between AGE-R and Ubc9. In this study, sequence database searches allowed us to identify a potential interaction motif between AGE-R and Ubc9. The subsequent biochemical and molecular biological analysis suggested that there may be specificity in AGE-R and Ubc9 complex signaling in atherosclerosis and cancer cells in a cell-type specific manner. Although the determinant for specificity in AGE-R and Ubc9 complex signaling in cancer cells and atherosclerosis is yet to be determined, this study provides the basis to develop a specific therapeutic application of AGE-R, SURM (small ubiquitin-related modifier)-1, and Ubc9 complex activation pathways in atherosclerosis, diabetes, cancer and inflammatory diseases.