Ling Mei Wang

Epidermal growth factor and betacellulin mediate signal transduction through co‐expressed ErbB2 and ErbB3 receptors

Interleukin‐3 (IL‐3)‐dependent murine 32D cells do not detectably express epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs) and do not proliferate in response to EGF, heregulin (HRG) or other known EGF‐like ligands. Here, we report that EGF specifically binds to and can be crosslinked to 32D transfectants co‐expressing ErbB2 and ErbB3 (32D.E2/E3), but not to transfectants expressing either ErbB2 or ErbB3 individually. [125I]EGF‐crosslinked species detected in 32D.E2/E3 cells were displaced by HRG and betacellulin (BTC) but not by other EGF‐like ligands that were analyzed. EGF, BTC and HRG also induced receptor tyrosine phosphorylation, activation of downstream signaling molecules and proliferation of 32D.E2/E3 cells. 32D transfectants were also generated which expressed an ErbB3–EGFR chimera alone (32D.E3‐E1) or in combination with ErbB2 (32D.E2/E3‐E1). While HRG stimulation of 32D.E3‐E1 cells resulted in DNA synthesis and receptor phosphorylation, EGF and BTC were inactive. However, EGF and BTC were as effective as HRG in mediating signaling when ErbB2 was co‐expressed with the chimera in the 32D.E2/E3‐E1 transfectant. These results provide evidence that ErbB2/ErbB3 binding sites for EGF and BTC are formed by a previously undescribed mechanism that requires co‐expression of two distinct receptors. Additional data utilizing MDA MB134 human breast carcinoma cells, which naturally express ErbB2 and ErbB3 in the absence of EGFRs, supported the results obtained employing 32D cells and suggest that EGF and BTC may contribute to the progression of carcinomas that co‐express ErbB2 and ErbB3.

Chromosome assignment of mouse insulin, colony stimulating factor 1, and low-density lipoprotein receptors

Receptors for insulin, low-density lipoprotein, and colony stimulating factor 1 are associated with diabetes, atherosclerosis, and cancer in man. Complementary DNA clones for Insr, Ldlr, and Csfmr were used to chromosomally assign the three genes in mouse. In contrast to their close linkage on the short arm of human Chromosome 19, Insr and Ldlr are asyntenic, residing on mouse Chromosomes 8 and 9, respectively. The genes for CSF1R, CSF1, CSF2, IL-3, and IL-5 form a cluster on the long arm of human Chromosome 5. In mouse, Csfm, Csfgm, and IL-3 are syntenic on Chromosome 11. The Csfmr gene was assigned to mouse Chromosome 18 and is thus unlinked to other members of this gene cluster. These gene assignments provide additional topographical information on conservation of linkage groups in man and mouse and provide a genetic framework for evaluating the possible roles for the three receptor genes in genetic diseases in mouse.

Human colony stimulating factor-1 receptor activates the C-raf-1 proto-oncogene kinase

The proto-oncogene c-raf-1 encodes a 74 kD serine/threonine kinase. Recently, it has been shown that Raf kinase activity is stimulated by platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) treatment of receptor bearing cells, and that p74 is a direct substrate for PDGF receptor. CSF-1 treatment of BeWo cells, a human choriocarcinoma cell line, and mouse NIH 3T3 cells expressing a transfected human CSF-1 receptor cDNA, was associated with a 3-4 fold increase in phosphorylation of a 74 kD protein immunoprecipitated with affinity purified Raf-1 antibody. The kinase activity of p74 was increased 2-3 fold against two exogenous substrates following CSF-1 treatment of the transfected cells. These observations suggest that Raf-1 protein is a downstream second messenger molecule in CSF-1 mediated signal transduction.

Mitogenic synergy through multilevel convergence of hepatocyte growth factor and interleukin-4 signaling pathways

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) regulates various physiological and developmental processes in concert with other growth factors, cytokines and hormones. We examined interactions between cell signaling events elicited by HGF and the cytokine interleukin (IL)-4, in the IL-3-dependent murine myeloid cell line 32D transfected with the human HGF receptor, c-Met. HGF was a potent mitogen in these cells, and prevented apoptosis in response to IL-3 withdrawal. IL-4 showed modest anti-apoptotic activity, but no significant mitogenic activity. IL-4 synergistically enhanced HGF-stimulated DNA synthesis, whereas only additive prevention of apoptosis was observed. IL-4 did not enhance HGF-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of c-Met or Shc. In contrast, HGF-stimulated activation of MAP kinases was enhanced by IL-4, suggesting that the IL-4 and HGF signaling pathways converge upstream of these events. Although phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors diminished HGF-induced mitogenesis, anti-apoptosis, and MAP kinase activation, IL-4 enhanced HGF signaling persisted even in the presence of these inhibitors. IL-4 enhancement of HGF signaling was partially blocked in 32D/c-Met cells treated with inhibitors of MEK1 or c-Src kinases, completely blocked by expression of a catalytically inactive mutant of Janus kinase 3 (Jak3), and increased in 32D/c-Met cells overexpressing STAT6. Our results suggest that the IL-4 and HGF pathways converge at multiple levels, and that IL-4-dependent Jak3 and STAT6 activities modulate signaling events independent of PI3K to enhance HGF-dependent mitogenesis in myeloid cells, and possibly other common cellular targets.

Gene for parathyroid hormone-like peptide is on rat chromosome 2

Parathyroid hormone-like peptide (PLP) is thought to be a mediator of hypercalcemia in both human and rodent malignancies. A rat PLP cDNA was used as a hybridization probe in Southern blot analysis of DNAs isolated from a panel of rat-mouse somatic cell hybrids. The single-copy gene for PLP was assigned to rat chromosome 2, whereas the rat parathyroid hormone (PTH) gene has previously been assigned to rat chromosome 1. Consequently, despite significant amino-terminal homology between PLP and PTH the genes encoding these peptides in the rat as well as human species have discrete chromosomal localizations.

The kinase insert domain of colony stimulating factor-1 receptor is dispensable for CSF-1 induced phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis

Mouse NIH 3T3 fibroblasts transfected with human colony stimulating factor‐1 receptor produced diacylglycerol in response to CSFI and this correlated with elevated phosphatidylcholine hydrolyzing activity measured in an in vitro assay. Treatment of cells with the isoflavone derivative genistein attenuated PC hydrolysis in vitro suggesting a role for CSF1R tyrosine kinase activity. A CSF1R mutant lacking 67 amino acids of the kinase insert domain, which may affect the association of receptor with certain substrates, stimulated PC hydrolysis in response to CSF1. Coupling to PC hydrolysis is likely a general property of CSFIR and the kinase insert domain is dispensable for this activity.

Mouse melanoma growth stimulatory activity gene (Mgsa) is polymorphic and syntenic with the W, patch, Rumpwhite, and recessive spotting loci on chromosome 5

Melanoma growth stimulatory activity (Mgsa) is a polypeptide growth factor originally detected in culture medium of the human malignant melanoma cell line Hs294T and may have an autocrine role in neoplastic growth. Mgsa is a member of the small inducible gene (SIG) family and shares homology with beta-thromboglobulin and platelet factor 4. Mgsa was localized to chromosome 5 using a cDNA probe for mouse Mgsa and somatic cell hybrids and is thus syntenic with Kit (W), Ph, Rw, and rs loci. The results eliminate Mgsa as the product of the Steel locus on chromosome 10, but raise the possibility that Mgsa might be synonymous with a chromosome 5 locus affecting skin pigmentation.