Cecilia Lindholm

The FRK / RAK-SHB Signaling Cascade: A Versatile Signal- Transduction Pathway that Regulates Cell Survival, Differentiation and Proliferation

Recent experiments have unravelled novel signal transduction pathways that involve the SRC homology 2 (SH2) domain adapter protein SHB. SHB is ubiquitously expressed and contains proline rich motifs, a phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) domain, tyrosine phosphorylation sites and an SH2 domain and serves a role in generating signaling complexes in response to tyrosine kinase activation. SHB mediates certain responses in platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor-, fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor-, neural growth factor (NGF) receptor TRKA-, T cell receptor-, interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor- and focal adhesion kinase- (FAK) signaling. Upstream of SHB in some cells lies the SRC-like FYN-Related Kinase FRK/RAK (also named BSK/IYK or GTK). FRK/RAK and SHB exert similar effects when overexpressed in rat phaeochromocytoma (PC12) and beta-cells, where they both induce PC12 cell differentiation and beta-cell proliferation. Furthermore, beta-cell apoptosis is augmented by these proteins under conditions that cause beta-cell degeneration. The FRK/RAK-SHB responses involve FAK and insulin receptor substrates (IRS) -1 and -2. Besides regulating apoptosis, proliferation and differentiation, SHB is also a component of the T cell receptor (TCR) signaling response. In Jurkat T cells, SHB links several signaling components with the TCR and is thus required for IL-2 production. In endothelial cells, SHB both promotes apoptosis under conditions that are anti-angiogenic, but is also required for proper mitogenicity, spreading and tubular morphogenesis. In embryonic stem cells, dominant-negative SHB (R522K) prevents early cavitation of embryoid bodies and reduces differentiation to cells expressing albumin, amylase, insulin and glucagon, suggesting a role of SHB in development. In summary, SHB is a versatile signal transduction molecule that produces diverse biological responses in different cell types under various conditions. SHB operates downstream of GTK in cells that express this kinase.

Requirement of the Src homology 2 domain protein Shb for T cell receptor-dependent activation of the interleukin-2 gene nuclear factor for activation of T cells element in Jurkat T cells.

Stimulation of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) induces tyrosine phosphorylation of numerous intracellular proteins. We have recently investigated the role of the adaptor protein Shb in the early events of T cell signaling and observed that Shb associates with Grb2, linker for activation of T cells (LAT) and the TCR ζ-chain in Jurkat cells. We now report that Shb also associates with phospholipase C-γ1 (PLC-γ1) in these cells. Overexpression of Src homology 2 domain defective Shb caused diminished phosphorylation of LAT and consequently the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases was decreased upon TCR stimulation. In addition, the Shb mutant also blocked phosphorylation of PLC-γ1 and the increase in cytoplasmic Ca2+ following TCR stimulation. Nuclear factor for activation of T cells is a major target for Ras and calcium signaling pathways in T cells following TCR stimulation, and the overexpression of the mutant Shb prevented TCR-dependent activation of the nuclear factor for activation of T cells. Consequently, endogenous interleukin-2 production was decreased under these conditions. The results indicate a role for Shb as a link between the TCR and downstream signaling events involving LAT and PLC-γ1 and resulting in the activation of transcription of the interleukin-2 gene.

IL-2 receptor signaling through the Shb adapter protein in T and NK cells.

Interleukin-2 induces heterodimerization of the IL-2 receptor beta and gamma subunits. This study addresses a role of the Shb adapter protein in IL-2 receptor signaling in T and NK cells. The IL-2Rbeta and gamma chains were found to co-immunoprecipitate with Shb, when each alone was co-expressed with Shb in COS cells. Using fusion proteins, the Shb SH2 domain was found to associate in a phosphotyrosine-dependent manner with the IL-2 receptor beta and gamma subunits upon IL-2 stimulation in primary T cells and the NK cell line NK-92. The main binding site of the Shb SH2 domain was phosphorylated Tyr-510 in the IL-2Rbeta chain. Shb was also phosphorylated upon IL-2 stimulation when overexpressed together with IL-2Rbeta (in pre-B cells, which express the gamma chain constitutively). These cells were also less apoptotic in the presence of IL-2 than cells overexpressing a mutant Shb (with a defect SH2 domain) or cells expressing a mutant IL-2Rbeta, with the Shb binding sites mutated to phenylalanine (Y392F, Y510F). JAK1 and JAK3 were also found to associate with Shb, but in contrast to the Shb-IL-2 receptor association, JAK1 and 3 appear to associate with the proline-rich regions of Shb. In conclusion, Shb links the IL-2 receptor to other signaling proteins and mediates the regulation of apoptosis in the presence of IL-2.

Role of tyrosine kinase signaling for beta-cell replication and survival.

Abstract Diabetes mellitus is commonly considered as a disease of a scant β-cell mass that fails to respond adequately to the functional demand. Tyrosine kinases may play a role for β-cell replication, differentiation (neoformation) and survival. Transfection of β-cells with DNA constructs coding for tyrosine kinase receptors yields a ligand-dependent increase of DNA synthesis in β-cells. A PCR-based technique was adopted to assess the repertoire of tyrosine kinases expressed in fetal islet-like structures, adult islets or RINm5F cells. Several tyrosine kinase receptors, such as the VEGFR-2 (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2) and c-Kit, were found to be present in pancreatic duct cells. Because ducts are thought to harbor β-cell precursor cells, these receptors may play a role for the neoformation of β-cells. The Src-like tyrosine kinase mouse Gtk (previously named Bsk/Iyk) is expressed in islet cells, and was found to inhibit cell proliferation. Furthermore, it conferred decreased viability in response to cytokine exposure. Shb is a Src homology 2 domain adaptor protein which participates in tyrosine kinase signaling. Transgenic mice overexpressing Shb in β-cells exhibit an increase in the neonatal β-cell mass, an improved glucose homeostasis, but also decreased survival in response to cytokines and streptozotocin. It is concluded that tyrosine kinase signaling may generate multiple responses in β-cells, involving proliferation, survival and differentiation.

The SHB Adapter Protein Is Required for Normal Maturation of Mesoderm during in Vitro Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells

Definitive mesoderm arises from a bipotent mesendodermal population, and to study processes controlling its development at this stage, embryonic stem (ES) cells can be employed. SHB (Src homology 2 protein in β-cells) is an adapter protein previously found to be involved in ES cell differentiation to mesoderm. To further study the role of SHB in this context, we have established ES cell lines deficient for one (SHB+/-) or both SHB alleles (SHB-/-). Differentiating embryoid bodies (EBs) derived from these ES cell lines were used for gene expression analysis. Alternatively, EBs were stained for the blood vessel marker CD31. For hematopoietic differentiation, EBs were differentiated in methylcellulose. SHB-/- EBs exhibited delayed down-regulation of the early mesodermal marker Brachyury. Later mesodermal markers relatively specific for the hematopoietic, vascular, and cardiac lineages were expressed at lower levels on day 6 or 8 of differentiation in EBs lacking SHB. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 and fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 was also reduced in SHB-/- EBs. SHB-/- EBs demonstrated impaired blood vessel formation after vascular endothelial growth factor stimulation. In addition, the SHB-/- ES cells formed fewer blood cell colonies than SHB+/+ ES cells. It is concluded that SHB is required for appropriate hematopoietic and vascular differentiation and that delayed down-regulation of Brachyury expression may play a role in this context.