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Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica. B Mar 2023The skeletal system, which contains bones, joints, tendons, ligaments and other elements, plays a wide variety of roles in body shaping, support and movement, protection... (Review)
Review
The skeletal system, which contains bones, joints, tendons, ligaments and other elements, plays a wide variety of roles in body shaping, support and movement, protection of internal organs, production of blood cells and regulation of calcium and phosphate metabolism. The prevalence of skeletal diseases and disorders, such as osteoporosis and bone fracture, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and intervertebral disc degeneration, increases with age, causing pain and loss of mobility and creating a huge social and economic burden globally. Focal adhesions (FAs) are macromolecular assemblies that are composed of the extracellular matrix (ECM), integrins, intracellular cytoskeleton and other proteins, including kindlin, talin, vinculin, paxillin, pinch, Src, focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and integrin-linked protein kinase (ILK) and other proteins. FA acts as a mechanical linkage connecting the ECM and cytoskeleton and plays a key role in mediating cell-environment communications and modulates important processes, such as cell attachment, spreading, migration, differentiation and mechanotransduction, in different cells in skeletal system by impacting distinct outside-in and inside-out signaling pathways. This review aims to integrate the up-to-date knowledge of the roles of FA proteins in the health and disease of skeletal system and focuses on the specific molecular mechanisms and underlying therapeutic targets for skeletal diseases.
PubMed: 36970189
DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.09.020 -
Biology Nov 2021The cytoskeleton provides structure to cells and supports intracellular transport. Actin fibres are crucial to both functions. Focal Adhesions (FAs) are large... (Review)
Review
The cytoskeleton provides structure to cells and supports intracellular transport. Actin fibres are crucial to both functions. Focal Adhesions (FAs) are large macromolecular multiprotein assemblies at the ends of specialised actin fibres linking these to the extracellular matrix. FAs translate forces on actin fibres into forces contributing to cell migration. This review will discuss recent insights into FA protein dynamics and their organisation within FAs, made possible by advances in fluorescence imaging techniques and data analysis methods. Over the last decade, evidence has accumulated that FAs are composed of three layers parallel to the plasma membrane. We focus on some of the most frequently investigated proteins, two from each layer, paxillin and FAK (bottom, integrin signalling layer), vinculin and talin (middle, force transduction layer) and zyxin and VASP (top, actin regulatory layer). Finally, we discuss the potential impact of this layered nature on different aspects of FA behaviour.
PubMed: 34827182
DOI: 10.3390/biology10111189 -
European Review For Medical and... Apr 2017Identifying and studying the molecular mechanisms of neovascularization biomarkers are critical for conquering many diseases, such as corneal diseases and cancer.... (Review)
Review
Identifying and studying the molecular mechanisms of neovascularization biomarkers are critical for conquering many diseases, such as corneal diseases and cancer. Paxillin is an important cell scaffold and cellular signaling protein, especially a key molecule of the Integrin-mediated downstream signaling transduction. This review summarizes the structure and functions of paxillin, and the research progress of its roles in neovascularization. Although there are still some problems to be solved, paxillin may become an important target of anti-neovascularization therapies.
Topics: Humans; Neovascularization, Pathologic; Paxillin; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 28485804
DOI: No ID Found -
Steroids May 2018Paxillin is a group III LIM domain protein that is best characterized as a cytoplasmic scaffold/adaptor protein that functions primarily as a mediator of focal adhesion.... (Review)
Review
Paxillin is a group III LIM domain protein that is best characterized as a cytoplasmic scaffold/adaptor protein that functions primarily as a mediator of focal adhesion. However, emerging studies indicate that paxillin's functions are far broader. Not only does paxillin appear to regulate cytoplasmic kinase signaling, but it also cycles between the cytoplasm and nucleus, and may serve as an important regulator of mRNA trafficking and subsequent translation. Herein, we provide some insights suggesting that paxillin, like its relative Hic-5, has nuclear binding partners and mediates critical processes within the nucleus, at least in part functioning as coregulator of nuclear receptors and nuclear kinases to mediate genomic signaling.
Topics: Amino Acid Motifs; Animals; Cell Nucleus; Humans; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Nuclear Export Signals; Paxillin
PubMed: 29097144
DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2017.10.012 -
American Journal of Physiology.... Mar 2020PAK4 is the only member of the Group II p21-activated kinases (PAKs) present in rat pancreatic acinar cells and is activated by gastrointestinal...
PAK4 is the only member of the Group II p21-activated kinases (PAKs) present in rat pancreatic acinar cells and is activated by gastrointestinal hormones/neurotransmitters stimulating PLC/cAMP and by various pancreatic growth factors. However, little is known of the role of PAK4 activation in cellular signaling cascades in pancreatic acinar cells. In the present study, we examined the role of PAK4's participation in five different cholecystokinin-8 (CCK-8)-stimulated signaling pathways (PI3K/Akt, MAPK, focal adhesion kinase, GSK3, and β-catenin), which mediate many of its physiological acinar-cell effects, as well as effects in pathophysiological conditions. To define PAK4's role, the effect of two different PAK4 inhibitors, PF-3758309 and LCH-7749944, was examined under experimental conditions that only inhibited PAK4 activation and not activation of the other pancreatic PAK, Group I PAK2. The inhibitors' effects on activation of these five signaling cascades by both physiological and pathophysiological concentrations of CCK, as well as by 12--tetradecanoylphobol-13-acetate (TPA), a PKC-activator, were examined. CCK/TPA activation of focal adhesion kinases(PYK2/p125) and the accompanying adapter proteins (paxillin/p130), Mek1/2, and p44/42, but not c-Raf or other MAPKs (JNK/p38), were mediated by PAK4. Activation of PI3K/Akt/p70s6K was independent of PAK4, whereas GSK3 and β-catenin stimulation was PAK4-dependent. These results, coupled with recent studies showing PAK4 is important in pancreatic fluid/electrolyte/enzyme secretion and acinar cell growth, show that PAK4 plays an important role in different cellular signaling cascades, which have been shown to mediate numerous physiological and pathophysiological processes in pancreatic acinar cells. In pancreatic acinar cells, cholecystokinin (CCK) or 12--tetradecanoylphobol-13-acetate (TPA) activation of focal adhesion kinases (p125,PYK2) and its accompanying adapter proteins, p130CAS/paxillin; Mek1/2, p44/42, GSK3, and β-catenin are mediated by PAK4. PI3K/Akt/p70s6K, c-Raf, JNK, or p38 pathways are independent of PAK4 activation.
Topics: Acinar Cells; Animals; Crk-Associated Substrate Protein; Enzyme Activation; Enzyme Activators; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; Focal Adhesion Kinase 1; Focal Adhesion Kinase 2; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3; Male; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; Pancreas, Exocrine; Paxillin; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Signal Transduction; beta Catenin; p21-Activated Kinases
PubMed: 31984786
DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00229.2019 -
The Journal of Clinical Investigation Nov 2023Solid cancers like pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a type of pancreatic cancer, frequently exploit nerves for rapid dissemination. This neural invasion (NI) is...
Solid cancers like pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a type of pancreatic cancer, frequently exploit nerves for rapid dissemination. This neural invasion (NI) is an independent prognostic factor in PDAC, but insufficiently modeled in genetically engineered mouse models (GEMM) of PDAC. Here, we systematically screened for human-like NI in Europe's largest repository of GEMM of PDAC, comprising 295 different genotypes. This phenotype screen uncovered 2 GEMMs of PDAC with human-like NI, which are both characterized by pancreas-specific overexpression of transforming growth factor α (TGF-α) and conditional depletion of p53. Mechanistically, cancer-cell-derived TGF-α upregulated CCL2 secretion from sensory neurons, which induced hyperphosphorylation of the cytoskeletal protein paxillin via CCR4 on cancer cells. This activated the cancer migration machinery and filopodia formation toward neurons. Disrupting CCR4 or paxillin activity limited NI and dampened tumor size and tumor innervation. In human PDAC, phospho-paxillin and TGF-α-expression constituted strong prognostic factors. Therefore, we believe that the TGF-α-CCL2-CCR4-p-paxillin axis is a clinically actionable target for constraining NI and tumor progression in PDAC.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Mice; Transforming Growth Factor alpha; Paxillin; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal; Phenotype; Cell Line, Tumor
PubMed: 37607005
DOI: 10.1172/JCI166333 -
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental... 2022Focal adhesions are specialized integrin-dependent adhesion complexes, which ensure cell anchoring to the extracellular matrix. Focal adhesions also function as... (Review)
Review
Focal adhesions are specialized integrin-dependent adhesion complexes, which ensure cell anchoring to the extracellular matrix. Focal adhesions also function as mechano-signaling platforms by perceiving and integrating diverse physical and (bio)chemical cues of their microenvironment, and by transducing them into intracellular signaling for the control of cell behavior. The fundamental biological mechanism of creating intracellular signaling in response to changes in tensional forces appears to be tightly linked to paxillin recruitment and binding to focal adhesions. Interestingly, the tension-dependent nature of the paxillin binding to adhesions, combined with its scaffolding function, suggests a major role of this protein in integrating multiple signals from the microenvironment, and accordingly activating diverse molecular responses. This minireview offers an overview of the molecular bases of the mechano-sensitivity and mechano-signaling capacity of core focal adhesion proteins, and highlights the role of paxillin as a key component of the mechano-transducing machinery based on the interaction of cells to substrates activating the 3 integrin-talin1-kindlin.
PubMed: 35450290
DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.852016 -
Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial... 2023Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are found on the surface of all cells, where they allow dynamic processes to take place. These include cadherins, integrins, selectins and... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are found on the surface of all cells, where they allow dynamic processes to take place. These include cadherins, integrins, selectins and Immunoglobulin superfamily. Directly associated with β-integrin tails is a multidomain protein known as paxillin. However, CAMs participate in cell-cell and extracellular matrix-cell interactions during histomorphogenesis in the various phases of odontogenesis. Some tumours or cysts like ameloblastoma (AB) or odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) having odontogenic origin show disturbance in the interaction of these CAMs. Hence, the assessment of paxillin expression in AB and OKC was carried out.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The present observational study comprised 30 clinically and histologically confirmed cases of AB and OKC. All the slides were stained immunohistochemically using a paxillin antibody.
RESULTS
Upon comparison of staining intensity of paxillin among AB and OKC showed statistically significant result, whereas quantitative staining and final summation showed non-significant result. Gender-wise comparison of paxillin staining intensity, quantitative staining and final summation among OKC showed significant result; however, in AB, staining intensity showed non-significant result, whereas quantitative staining and final summation showed significant result.
CONCLUSION
Paxillin has the greatest influence on tissue morphogenesis and development. The regulation of cell mobility is aided by the multiple roles that paxillin plays in a range of cells and tissues. However, further studies using a large sample size, along with other molecular analytical methods, may be essential to draw a definite conclusion about the association of paxillin and its exact function in OKC and AB.
PubMed: 38304525
DOI: 10.4103/jomfp.jomfp_312_23 -
Oncotarget May 2016Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a devastating cancer in large part due to late diagnosis and a lack of effective screening tests. In spite of recent progress... (Review)
Review
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a devastating cancer in large part due to late diagnosis and a lack of effective screening tests. In spite of recent progress in imaging, surgery and new therapeutic options for pancreatic cancer, the overall five-year survival still remains unacceptably low. Numerous studies have shown that focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is activated in many cancers including PDAC and promotes cancer progression and metastasis. Paxillin, an intracellular adaptor protein that plays a key role in cytoskeletal organization, connects integrins to FAK and plays a key role in assembly and disassembly of focal adhesions. Here, we have reviewed evidence in support of FAK as a potential therapeutic target and summarized related combinatorial therapies.
Topics: Biomarkers, Tumor; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal; Focal Adhesion Kinase 1; Humans; Models, Biological; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Paxillin; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 26980710
DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.8040 -
EMBO Reports Nov 2023The remodeling and stiffening of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is a well-recognized modulator of breast cancer progression. How changes in the mechanical properties of...
The remodeling and stiffening of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is a well-recognized modulator of breast cancer progression. How changes in the mechanical properties of the ECM are converted into biochemical signals that direct tumor cell migration and metastasis remain poorly characterized. Here, we describe a new role for the autophagy-inducing serine/threonine kinases ULK1 and ULK2 in mechanotransduction. We show that ULK1/2 activity inhibits the assembly of actin stress fibers and focal adhesions (FAs) and as a consequence impedes cell contraction and migration, independent of its role in autophagy. Mechanistically, we identify PXN/paxillin, a key component of the mechanotransducing machinery, as a direct binding partner and substrate of ULK1/2. ULK-mediated phosphorylation of PXN at S32 and S119 weakens homotypic interactions and liquid-liquid phase separation of PXN, impairing FA assembly, which in turn alters the mechanical properties of breast cancer cells and their response to mechanical stimuli. ULK1/2 and the well-characterized PXN regulator, FAK/Src, have opposing functions on mechanotransduction and compete for phosphorylation of adjacent serine and tyrosine residues. Taken together, our study reveals ULK1/2 as important regulator of PXN-dependent mechanotransduction.
Topics: Humans; Female; Paxillin; Breast Neoplasms; Mechanotransduction, Cellular; Phosphorylation; Cell Movement; Serine; Autophagy-Related Protein-1 Homolog; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
PubMed: 37846507
DOI: 10.15252/embr.202356850