title: Neurotensin-mediated activation of MAPK pathways and AP-1 binding in the human pancreatic cancer cell line, MIA PaCa-2.
abstract: Neurotensin (NT), a gastrointestinal (GI) hormone, binds its receptor (NTR) to stimulate proliferation of normal and neoplastic GI tissues; the molecular mechanisms remain largely undefined. Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are a family of intracellular kinases that transmit mitogenic signals by translocating to the nucleus and activating transcription factors. The purposes of this study were: (1) to identify whether the MAPKs (ERK1/2 and JNK) are activated by NT and (2) to determine the effect of NT on downstream transcription factors using the human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line, MIA PaCa-2, which possesses high-affinity NTR. Both ERK and JNK activity were stimulated within 3-6 min by treatment with NT (10 nM); steady-state levels of ERK and JNK protein were unchanged. Moreover, NT treatment resulted in increased AP-1 binding activity as determined by gel shift analysis. Delineating the signal transduction mechanisms regulating the cellular effects of NT will provide important insights into the molecular pathways responsible for NT-mediated effects on both normal and neoplastic cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, USA.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ehlers
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hellmich
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Evers
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006801:Humans; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D007700:Kinetics; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009496:Neurotensin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms; D018028:Receptors, Neurotensin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D018028:Receptors, Neurotensin; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; D009496:Neurotensin; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases