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Kun Jiang

Bio: Kun Jiang is an academic researcher from University of South Florida. The author has contributed to research in topics: Dysplasia & Barrett's esophagus. The author has an hindex of 15, co-authored 47 publications receiving 1746 citations. Previous affiliations of Kun Jiang include Los Alamos National Laboratory & Emory University.


Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is shown that inhibition of phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K) in NK cells blocks p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1), MAPK Kinase (MEK) and ERK activation by target cell ligation, interferes with perforin and granzyme B movement toward target cells and suppresses NK cytotoxicity.
Abstract: The mitogen-activated protein kinase-extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling element (MAPK-ERK) plays a critical role in natural killer (NK) cell lysis of tumor cells, but its upstream effectors were previously unknown. We show that inhibition of phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K) in NK cells blocks p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1), MAPK kinase (MEK) and ERK activation by target cell ligation, interferes with perforin and granzyme B movement toward target cells and suppresses NK cytotoxicity. Dominant-negative N17Rac1 and PAK1 mimic the suppressive effects of PI3K inhibitors, whereas constitutively active V12Rac1 has the opposite effect. V12Rac1 restores the activity of downstream effectors and lytic function in LY294002- or wortmannin-treated, but not PD98059-treated, NK cells. These results document a specific PI3K-->Rac1-->PAK1-->MEK-->ERK pathway in NK cells that effects lysis.

333 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that FTI-277 inhibits phosphatidylinositol 3-OH kinase (PI 3-kinase)/AKT2-mediated growth factor- and adhesion-dependent survival pathways and induces apoptosis in human cancer cells that overexpress AKT2.
Abstract: Farnesyltransferase inhibitors (FTIs) represent a novel class of anticancer drugs that exhibit a remarkable ability to inhibit malignant transformation without toxicity to normal cells. However, the mechanism by which FTIs inhibit tumor growth is not well understood. Here, we demonstrate that FTI-277 inhibits phosphatidylinositol 3-OH kinase (PI 3-kinase)/AKT2-mediated growth factor- and adhesion-dependent survival pathways and induces apoptosis in human cancer cells that overexpress AKT2. Furthermore, overexpression of AKT2, but not oncogenic H-Ras, sensitizes NIH 3T3 cells to FTI-277, and a high serum level prevents FTI-277-induced apoptosis in H-Ras- but not AKT2-transformed NIH 3T3 cells. A constitutively active form of AKT2 rescues human cancer cells from FTI-277-induced apoptosis. FTI-277 inhibits insulin-like growth factor 1-induced PI 3-kinase and AKT2 activation and subsequent phosphorylation of the proapoptotic protein BAD. Integrin-dependent activation of AKT2 is also blocked by FTI-277. Thus, a mechanism for FTI inhibition of human tumor growth is by inducing apoptosis through inhibition of PI 3-kinase/AKT2-mediated cell survival and adhesion pathway.

252 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is found that suboptimal doses of AG-490 and wortmannin had an additive effect on delayed apoptosis and Mcl-1 expression, which suggests that cooperative regulation of M cl-1 by the Janus kinase/STAT and PI 3-kinase pathways contribute to GM-CSF-delayed apoptosis.
Abstract: Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) are phagocytic cells constitutively programmed for apoptotic cell death. Exposure to GM-CSF delays apoptosis as measured by annexin-V staining and cell morphological change. We found that STAT5B, STAT1, and STAT3 DNA-binding activity was induced by GM-CSF. We also detected activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) pathway after GM-CSF treatment which was inhibited by treatment with the PI 3-kinase inhibitors, wortmannin and LY294002. We investigated whether STAT or PI 3-kinase activity was necessary for the pro-survival response of GM-CSF in PMN. Exposure of PMN to GM-CSF in the presence of either AG-490, antisense STAT3 oligonucleotides, or wortmannin resulted in a partial inhibition of GM-CSF-mediated pro-survival activity. GM-CSF induced a time-dependent increase in the mRNA and protein expression of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2-family protein, Mcl-1. We examined the hypothesis that Janus kinase/STAT and PI 3-kinase regulation of Mcl-1 contributed to GM-CSF-delayed apoptosis. Using either AG-490 or wortmannin alone, we observed a dose-dependent inhibition of GM-CSF-induced Mcl-1 expression. Using suboptimal doses of AG-490 and wortmannin, we found that both drugs together had an additive effect on delayed apoptosis and Mcl-1 expression. These data suggest that cooperative regulation of Mcl-1 by the Janus kinase/STAT and PI 3-kinase pathways contribute to GM-CSF-delayed apoptosis.

187 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors demonstrate that Ras downregulates RhoB expression by a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)- and Akt- but not Mek-dependent mechanism.
Abstract: Although recent evidence supports a tumor-suppressive role for the GTPase RhoB, little is known about its regulation by signal transduction pathways. Here we demonstrate that Ras downregulates RhoB expression by a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)- and Akt- but not Mek-dependent mechanism. Furthermore, genetic and pharmacological blockade of PI3K/Akt results in upregulation of RhoB expression. We also provide evidence for the importance of the downregulation of RhoB in oncogenesis by demonstrating that RhoB antagonizes Ras/PI3K/Akt malignancy. Ectopic expression of RhoB, but not the close relative RhoA, inhibits Ras, PI3K, and Akt induction of transformation, migration, and invasion and induces apoptosis and anoikis. Finally, RhoB inhibits melanoma metastasis to the lung in a mouse model. These studies identify suppression of RhoB as a mechanism by which the Ras/PI3K/Akt pathway induces tumor survival, transformation, invasion, and metastasis.

182 citations

Journal Article
TL;DR: A view to a kill is provided, bringing together a unifying concept for a common signal pathway that dictates lytic function through a specific Syk/Zap70 --> PI3K --> Rac --> PAK --> MEK --> ERK signal cascade triggered by target cell recognition.
Abstract: Tumor immunity requires the participation of lymphocyte effector cells that display powerful processes to destroy malignant cells. Natural killer (NK) cells and CTLs, once activated, use the same lytic processes for mediating target cell death. However, they are triggered through distinctly separate antigen receptors. NK cells are currently known to express at least three families of receptors unrelated to the T cell receptor, i.e. , NKG2, KIR, and NCR, to mediate cytotoxicity. This review provides a view to a kill, bringing together a unifying concept for a common signal pathway that dictates lytic function. What emerges is a specific Syk/Zap70 → PI3K → Rac → PAK → MEK → ERK signal cascade triggered by target cell recognition, which is responsible for mobilizing the lytic granules containing perforin and granzyme B toward the contacted target cell.

141 citations


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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Small-molecule therapeutics that block PI3K signalling might deal a severe blow to cancer cells by blocking many aspects of the tumour-cell phenotype.
Abstract: One signal that is overactivated in a wide range of tumour types is the production of a phospholipid, phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5) trisphosphate, by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) This lipid and the protein kinase that is activated by it — AKT — trigger a cascade of responses, from cell growth and proliferation to survival and motility, that drive tumour progression Small-molecule therapeutics that block PI3K signalling might deal a severe blow to cancer cells by blocking many aspects of the tumour-cell phenotype

5,654 citations

01 Apr 2012
TL;DR: International experts in cancer prevention analyse global research on diet nutrition physical activity cancer and make public health policy recommendations, the fractions of cancer attributable to potentially modifiable factors are analyzed.
Abstract: physical activity and cancer fact sheet national cancer on this page what is physical activity what is known about the relationship between physical activity and cancer risk how might physical activity be, diet and cancer report american institute for cancer the american institute for cancer research aicr is the cancer charity that fosters research on diet and cancer prevention and educates the public about the results, download resources and toolkits world cancer research downloads for scientists from the wcrf aicr third expert report diet nutrition physical activity and cancer a global perspective, nutritional science university of washington school of public health school of public health nutritional science detailed course offerings time schedule are available for spring quarter 2019, 2019 aicr research conference american institute for about aicr we fund cutting edge research and give people practical tools and information to help them prevent and survive cancer more about aicr, agence fruits et l gumes frais aprifel the global fruit and veg newsletter is a monthly newsletter distributing to 29 countries involved in the promotion of the consumption of fruit and vegetable worldwide, world cancer research fund international we are experts in cancer prevention we analyse global research on diet nutrition physical activity cancer and make public health policy recommendations, the fractions of cancer attributable sciencedirect com a proportion of cancers at many body sites are attributable to potentially modifiable factors no global summaries of the preventable cancer burden have been, who controlling the global obesity epidemic more information obesity and overweight fact sheet who global strategy on diet physical activity and health who global database on body mass index, espen guidelines on nutrition in cancer patients gl nutrition in cancer patients outline o methods o1 basic information o2 methods o3 post publication impact a background a1 catabolic alterations in, un news global perspective human stories un news produces daily news content in arabic chinese english french kiswahili portuguese russian and spanish and weekly programmes in hindi urdu and bangla, recommended community strategies and measurements to table continued summary of recommended community strategies and measurements to prevent obesity in the united states strategies to encourage physical, food as medicine preventing treating the most dreaded food as medicine preventing treating the most dreaded diseases with diet, video resources bc cancer these videos help patients learn about their cancer and its treatment, prostate cancer nutrition and dietary supplements pdq nutrition methods and dietary supplements have been studied for prostate cancer prevention or treatment read about the history of research laboratory, who europe food safety food safety ingestion and handling of contaminated food causes significant illness and death worldwide across the who european region foodborne diseases, creating healthy food and eating environments policy and food and eating environments likely contribute to the increasing epidemic of obesity and chronic diseases over and above individual factors such as knowledge skills, health risks obesity prevention source harvard t h obesity and reproduction obesity can influence various aspects of reproduction from sexual activity to conception among women the association between, top nutrition schools undergraduate degree programs ncr want to know the top nutrition schools and best undergraduate degree programs here we review analyze rank rate them figure out which is best for you , overeating caloric restriction and breast cancer risk by this study analyzes the association of excessive energy intake and caloric restriction with breast cancer bc risk taking into account the individual, calcium what s best for your bones and health the possible increased risk of ovarian cancer high levels of galactose a sugar released by the digestion of lactose in milk have been studied as being, cancer protocol nutrition supplements cancer protocol nutrition supplements herbs enzymes note do not email me unless you would like a personalized protocol free with a suggested donation of 250

2,202 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Critically recent findings on cytotoxic granule-mediated cell death are evaluated to assess the functional significance of postulated cell-death pathways in appropriate pathophysiological contexts, including virus infection and susceptibility to experimental or spontaneous tumorigenesis.
Abstract: Perforin/granzyme-induced apoptosis is the main pathway used by cytotoxic lymphocytes to eliminate virus-infected or transformed cells. Studies in gene-disrupted mice indicate that perforin is vital for cytotoxic effector function; it has an indispensable, but undefined, role in granzyme-mediated apoptosis. Despite its vital importance, the molecular and cellular functions of perforin and the basis of perforin and granzyme synergy remain poorly understood. The purpose of this review is to evaluate critically recent findings on cytotoxic granule-mediated cell death and to assess the functional significance of postulated cell-death pathways in appropriate pathophysiological contexts, including virus infection and susceptibility to experimental or spontaneous tumorigenesis.

1,195 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Mar 2003-Leukemia
TL;DR: The PI3K/Akt signal transduction cascade has been investigated extensively for its roles in oncogenic transformation as mentioned in this paper, and the potential for cancer treatment with agents inhibiting this pathway is also addressed.
Abstract: The PI3K/Akt signal transduction cascade has been investigated extensively for its roles in oncogenic transformation. Initial studies implicated both PI3K and Akt in prevention of apoptosis. However, more recent evidence has also associated this pathway with regulation of cell cycle progression. Uncovering the signaling network spanning from extracellular environment to the nucleus should illuminate biochemical events contributing to malignant transformation. Here, we discuss PI3K/Akt-mediated signal transduction including its mechanisms of activation, signal transducing molecules, and effects on gene expression that contribute to tumorigenesis. Effects of PI3K/Akt signaling on important proteins controlling cellular proliferation are emphasized. These targets include cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases, and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors. Furthermore, strategies used to inhibit the PI3K/Akt pathway are presented. The potential for cancer treatment with agents inhibiting this pathway is also addressed.

1,105 citations

Journal Article
TL;DR: Inhibition of constitutively active STAT signaling pathways has been shown repeatedly to inhibit tumor cell growth in vitro and in vivo and provides a novel means for therapeutic intervention in human cancer.
Abstract: The signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT)factors function as downstream effectors of cytokine and growth factor receptor signaling. Compared with normal cells and tissues, constitutively activated STATs have been detected in a wide variety of human cancer cell lines and primary tumors. STATs are activated by tyrosine phosphorylation, which is normally a transient and tightly regulated process. In tumor cells, constitutive activation of STATs is linked to persistent activity of tyrosine kinases, including Src, epidermal growth factor receptor, Janus kinases, Bcr-Abl, and many others. Such oncogenic tyrosine kinases are often activated as a consequence of permanent ligand/receptor engagement in autocrine or paracrine cytokine and growth factor signaling or represent autonomous constitutively active enzymes as a result of genetic alterations found in tumor but not normal cells. Persistent signaling of specific STATs, in particular Stat3 and Stat5, has been demonstrated to directly contribute to oncogenesis by stimulating cell proliferation and preventing apoptosis. STATs participate in oncogenesis through up-regulation of genes encoding apoptosis inhibitors and cell cycle regulators such as Bcl-x(L), Mcl-1, cyclins D1/D2, and c-Myc. Inhibition of constitutively active STAT signaling pathways has been shown repeatedly to inhibit tumor cell growth in vitro and in vivo and provides a novel means for therapeutic intervention in human cancer. In this review, we will: (a) explain the mechanisms of STAT activation in normal and malignant signaling; (b) summarize recent evidence for the critical role of constitutively activated Stat3 and Stat5 in oncogenesis; (c) identify candidate STAT target genes implicated in tumor progression; and (d) discuss molecular and pharmacological strategies to interfere with STAT signaling for potential therapeutic intervention in human cancer.

1,071 citations