Tyrosine phosphatase inhibition permits analysis of signal transduction complexes in p185HER2/neu-overexpressing human tumor cells

Mislocalisation of Activated Receptor Tyrosine Kinases - Challenges for Cancer Therapy

Activating mutations in genes encoding receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) mediate proliferation, cell migration, and cell survival, and are therefore important drivers of oncogenesis. Numerous targeted cancer therapies are directed against activated RTKs, including small compound inhibitors, and immunotherapies. It has recently been discovered that not only certain RTK fusion proteins, but also many full-length RTKs harbouring activating mutations, notably RTKs of the class III family, are to a large extent mislocalised in intracellular membranes. Active kinases in these locations cause aberrant activation of signalling pathways. Moreover, low levels of activated RTKs at the cell surface present an obstacle for immunotherapy. We outline here why understanding of the mechanisms underlying mislocalisation will help in improving existing and developing novel therapeutic strategies.

Thrombospondin-1 repression is mediated via distinct mechanisms in fibroblasts and epithelial cells

Tumor-associated angiogenesis is postulated to be regulated by the balance between pro- and anti-angiogenic factors. We demonstrate here that the critical step in establishing the angiogenic capability of human tumor cells is the repression of a key secreted anti-angiogenic factor, thrombospondin-1 (Tsp-1). This repression is essential for tumor formation by mammary epithelial cells and kidney cells engineered to express SV40 early region proteins, hTERT, and H-RasV12. In transformed epithelial cells, a signaling pathway leading from Ras to Tsp-1 repression induces the sequential activation of PI3 kinase, Rho and ROCK, leading to activation of Myc through phosphorylation, thereby enabling Myc to repress Tsp-1 transcription. In transformed fibroblasts, however, the repression of Tsp-1 can be achieved by an alternative mechanism involving inactivation of both p53 and pRb. We thus describe novel mechanisms by which the activation of oncogenes in epithelial cells and the inactivation of tumor suppressors in fibroblasts permits angiogenesis and, in turn, tumor formation.

Stability of the recombinant anti‑erbB2 scFv‑Fc‑interleukin‑2 fusion protein and its inhibition of HER2‑overexpressing tumor cells

The anti‑erbB2 scFv‑Fc‑IL‑2 fusion protein (HFI) is the basis for development of a novel targeted anticancer drug, in particular for the treatment of HER2‑positive cancer patients. HFI was fused with the anti‑erbB2 antibody and human IL‑2 by genetic engineering technology and by antibody targeting characteristics of HFI. IL‑2 was recruited to target cells to block HER2 signaling, inhibit or kill tumor cells, improve the immune capacity, reduce the dose of antibody and IL‑2 synergy. In order to analyse HFI drug ability, HFI plasmid stability was verified by HFI expression of the trend of volume changes. Additionally, HFI could easily precipitate and had progressive characteristics and thus, the buffer system of the additive phosphate‑citric acid buffer, arginine, Triton X‑100 or Tween‑80, the establishment of a microfiltration, ion exchange, affinity chromatography and gel filtration chromatography‑based purification process were explored. HFI samples were obtained according to the requirements of purity, activity and homogeneity. In vivo, HFI significantly delayed HER2 overexpression of non‑small cell lung cancer (Calu‑3) in human non‑small cell lung cancer xenografts in nude mice, and the inhibition rate was more than 60% (P<0.05) in the group treated with 1 mg/kg the HFI dose; HFI significantly inhibited HER2 expression of breast cancer (FVB/neu) transgenic mouse tumor growth in 1 mg/kg of the HFI dose group, and in the following treatment the 400 mm3 tumors disappeared completely. Combined with other HFI test data analysis, HFI not only has good prospects, but also laid the foundation for the development of antibody‑cytokine fusion protein‑like drugs.

Breakdown of endocytosis in the oncogenic activation of receptor tyrosine kinases

There is increasing evidence to support the concept that the malignant behavior of many tumors is sustained by the deregulated activation of growth factor receptors. Activation of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) by their respective ligand(s) initiates cellular signals that tightly modulate cell proliferation, survival, differentiation and migration to ensure normal tissue patterning. Therefore, uncontrolled activation of such signals can have deleterious effects, leading to oncogenesis. To date, deregulation of most RTKs has been implicated in the development of cancer, although the mechanisms that lead to their deregulation are not yet fully understood (10). RTK endocytosis, the internalization and trafficking of receptors inside the cell, has long been established as a mechanism to attenuate RTK signaling. However, RTKs have been demonstrated to continue to signal along the endocytic pathway, which contributes to the spatio-temporal regulation of signal transduction. This review will focus on recent advances linking defective endocytosis of RTKs in the development of cancer.

First study of the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of CP-724,714 in patients with advanced malignant solid HER2-expressing tumors

PURPOSE

To test the tolerability, safety, and recommended phase II dose of CP-724,714, a reversible, highly selective, oral HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor in patients with advanced solid tumor malignancies that express HER2.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

A phase I trial evaluated escalating doses of CP-724,714, administered daily in 21-day cycles. Pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics were evaluated in serial blood samples and in pretreatment and posttreatment tumor and skin biopsies.

RESULTS

Thirty female patients [median age, 51 years (range, 37-71); median performance status, 1 (range, 0-1)] received CP-724,714 at four dose levels: 250 mg once daily (4 patients), 250 mg twice daily (15 patients), 250 mg thrice daily (6 patients), and 400 mg twice daily (5 patients). Dosing at 400 mg twice daily and 250 mg thrice daily was not feasible due to reversible, cholestatic liver dysfunction. Treatment-related adverse events were nausea (58%), asthenia (23%), hyperbilirubinemia (27%), elevated transaminases (30%), and skin rash (30%); neither diarrhea nor cardiomyopathy was observed. No objective responses were observed in 28 evaluable patients; 8 (29%) patients had stable disease. Twenty-seven (96%) patients received prior trastuzumab and were heavily pretreated (median prior chemotherapy, 6; range, 1-11). Systemic exposure exceeded the in vivo efficacy threshold required in preclinical studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Dose-limiting toxicities included hyperbilirubinemia, elevated alanine aminotransferase, thrombocytopenia and pulmonary embolus. Although the protocol-specified maximum tolerated dose of CP-724,714 was 250 mg thrice daily, the recommended phase II dose was 250 mg twice daily due to excessive late-cycle hepatotoxicity. Despite extensive prior treatment, 29% of patients had stable disease. A phase II trial has been initiated in patients with breast cancer.

Receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase sigma inhibits axon regrowth in the adult injured CNS

Recently, receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase-sigma (RPTPsigma) has been shown to inhibit axon regeneration in injured peripheral nerves. Unlike the peripheral nervous system (PNS), central nervous system (CNS) neurons fail to regenerate their axons after injury or in disease. In order to assess the role of RPTPsigma in CNS regeneration, we used the retinocollicular system of adult mice lacking RPTPsigma to evaluate retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axon regrowth after optic nerve lesion. Quantitative analysis demonstrated a significant increase in the number of RGC axons that crossed the glial scar and extended distally in optic nerves from RPTPsigma (-/-) mice compared to wild-type littermate controls. Although we found that RPTPsigma is expressed by adult RGCs in wild-type mice, the retinas and optic nerves of adult RPTPsigma (-/-) mice showed no histological defects. Furthermore, the time-course of RGC death after nerve lesion was not different between knockout and wild-type animals. Thus, enhanced axon regrowth in the absence of RPTPsigma could not be attributed to developmental defects or increased neuronal survival. Finally, we show constitutively elevated activity of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Akt kinase in adult RPTPsigma (-/-) mice retinas, suggesting that these signaling pathways may contribute to promoting RGC axon regrowth following traumatic nerve injury. Our results support a model in which RPTPsigma inhibits axon regeneration in the adult injured CNS.

Differential responses to doxorubicin-induced phosphorylation and activation of Akt in human breast cancer cells

INTRODUCTION

We have shown previously that overexpression of constitutively active Akt or activation of Akt caused by constitutively active Ras or human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) confers on breast cancer cells resistance to chemotherapy or radiotherapy. As an expanded study we here report differential responses in terms of phosphorylation and activation of Akt as a result of treatment with doxorubicin in a panel of breast cancer cell lines.

METHODS

The levels of Akt phosphorylation and activity were measured by Western blot analysis with an anti-Ser473-phosphorylated Akt antibody and by in vitro Akt kinase assay using glycogen synthase kinase-3 as a substrate.

RESULTS

Within 24 hours after exposure to doxorubicin, MCF7, MDA468 and T47D cells showed a drug-dose-dependent increase in the levels of phosphorylated Akt; in contrast, SKBR3 and MDA231 cells showed a decrease in the levels of phosphorylated Akt, and minimal or no changes were detected in MDA361, MDA157 and BT474 cells. The doxorubicin-induced Akt phosphorylation was correlated with increased kinase activity and was dependent on phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3-K). An increased baseline level of Akt was also found in MCF7 cells treated with ionizing radiation. The cellular responses to doxorubicin-induced Akt phosphorylation were potentiated after the expression of Akt upstream activators including HER2, HER3 and focal adhesion kinase.

CONCLUSION

Taken together with our recent published results showing that constitutive Akt mediates resistance to chemotherapy or radiotherapy, our present data suggest that the doxorubicin-induced phosphorylation and activation of Akt might reflect a cellular defensive mechanism of cancer cells to overcome doxorubicin-induced cytotoxic effects, which further supports the current efforts of targeting PI3-K/Akt for enhancing the therapeutic responses of breast cancer cells to chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Vanadate and rapamycin synergistically enhance insulin-stimulated glucose uptake

Tyrosine dephosphorylation, serine phosphorylation, and proteasomal degradation of insulin receptor substrates (IRSs) are implicated in the negative regulation of insulin action. Here we show that simultaneous inhibition of IRS-1 tyrosine dephosphorylation and proteasomal degradation synergistically augments insulin-responsive glucose uptake. L6 skeletal muscle cells (L6 cells) were treated with inhibitors of protein-tyrosine phosphatases, proteasomal degradation, and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and the effects of insulin on glucose uptake, IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation, phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase activity, and IRS-1 mass were examined. Pretreatment of L6 cells with sodium orthovanadate (Na(3)VO(4)) plus the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin caused a 5-fold increase in insulin-responsive glucose uptake at 2 hours when compared to insulin alone. Evaluation of IRS-1 associated PI 3-kinase activity, IRS-1-associated p85 mass, and IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation showed that 2 hours after insulin addition they were reduced by 70% from maximal activity. Likewise, IRS-1 mass was reduced by 50%. When L6 cells were pretreated with Na(3)VO(4) plus the proteasome inhibitor MG-132 or the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin prior to insulin addition, IRS-1 mass loss as well as IRS-1/PI-3 kinase complex decay was blocked at 2 hours and PI 3-kinase activity was increased 2.5-fold and 4-fold, respectively, over insulin alone. Finally, treatment of L6 cells with subtherapeutic amounts of vanadyl sulfate and rapamycin induced a synergistic 3-fold increase in insulin-induced glucose uptake at 2 hours. These findings indicate that vanadium and rapamycin synergize to enhance glucose uptake by preventing IRS-1 mass loss and IRS-1/PI 3-kinase complex decay and may offer a new approach to enhance glucose transport in diabetes.

Relationship of Mcl-1 isoforms, ratio p21WAF1/cyclin A, and Jun kinase phosphorylation to apoptosis in human breast carcinomas

Full length Mcl-1 is an anti-apoptotic protein consisting of two closely migrating 42/40kDa species. We now investigated the relationship of these isoforms to the expression of cell cycle stimulatory (cyclin A) and inhibitory (p21WAF1) proteins and to the induction of apoptosis in wt p53 MCF-7 and mutant p53 SKBR3 human breast carcinomas. The latter cells exhibited lower 42kDa Mcl-1, higher expression of cyclin A relative to that of p21WAF1, and apoptosis in response to okadaic acid, a phosphatase 1/2A inhibitor. The proteasome inhibitor MG-115 selectively increased expression of the 40kDa Mcl-1 isoform and induced p21WAF1, but also promoted preferential apoptosis in SKBR3 cells. Neither okadaic acid nor MG-115 caused comparable effects in MCF-7 cells. However, vanadate or acetyl furanonaphthoquinone induced the 40kDa Mcl-1 and greater Jun kinase (JNK) phosphorylation without apoptosis-associated PARP fragmentation in MCF-7 cells. Our data suggest that the higher susceptibility of SKBR3 cells to undergo apoptosis may be partly due to their greater proliferative potential (cyclin A), low expression of the anti-apoptotic 42kDa Mcl-1 isoform, and suboptimal JNK activation in response to stress.

Insight into the role of low molecular weight phosphotyrosine phosphatase (LMW-PTP) on platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGF-r) signaling. LMW-PTP controls PDGF-r kinase activity through TYR-857 dephosphorylation

Low molecular weight phosphotyrosine phosphatase (LMW-PTP) is an enzyme involved in platelet-derived growth factor-induced mitogenesis and cytoskeleton rearrangement. Our previous results demonstrated that LMW-PTP is able to bind and dephosphorylate activated platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGF-r), thus inhibiting cell proliferation. Here we revisit the role of LMW-PTP on activated PDGF-r dephosphorylation. We demonstrate that LMW-PTP preferentially acts on cell surface PDGF-r, excluding the internalized activated receptor pool. Many phosphotyrosine phosphatases act by site-selective dephosphorylation on several sites of PDGF-r, but until now, there has been no evidence of a direct involvement of a specific phosphotyrosine phosphatase in the dephosphorylation of the 857 kinase domain activation tyrosine. Here we report that LMW-PTP affects the kinase activity of the receptor through the binding and dephosphorylation of Tyr-857 and influences many of the signal outputs from the receptor. In particular, we demonstrate a down-regulation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, Src homology phosphatase-2, and phospholipase C-gamma1 binding but not of MAPK activation. In addition, we report a slight action of LMW-PTP on Tyr-716, which directs MAPK activation through Grb2 binding. On the basis of these results, we propose a key role for LMW-PTP in PDGF-r down-regulation through the dephosphorylation of the activation loop Tyr-857, thus determining a general negative regulation of all downstream signals, with the exception of those elicited by internalized receptors.

c-Cbl is a suppressor of the neu oncogene

A rodent oncogenic mutant of the Neu receptor tyrosine kinase is a useful experimental model because overexpression of the respective receptor, namely HER2/ErbB-2, in human malignancies is associated with relatively aggressive diseases. Here we show that the oncogenic form of Neu is constitutively associated with the product of the c-cbl proto-oncogene and is part of a large complex that includes the phosphoinositide 3-kinase and Shc. Ectopic expression of c-Cbl, a ubiquitin-protein isopeptide ligase specific to activated tyrosine kinases, causes rapid removal of Neu from the cell surface and severely reduces signaling downstream of oncogenic Neu. c-Cbl-induced down-regulation of Neu involves covalent attachment of ubiquitin molecules and requires the carboxyl-terminal domain of Neu. The negative effect of c-Cbl is antagonized by v-Cbl, a virus-encoded oncogenic truncated form of c-Cbl. In an in vivo model, infection of a Neu-transformed neuroblastoma with a c-Cbl-encoding retrovirus caused enhanced down-regulation of Neu and correlated with tumor retardation. Our results implicate c-Cbl in negative regulation of Neu and offer a potential target for treatment of HER2/ErbB-2-positive human malignancies.

Signal transduction in mammary tumorigenesis: a transgenic perspective

A number of genes have been implicated in breast cancer development, yet few have been demonstrated to play causative roles in mammary tumor formation. The advent of transgenic mouse and embryonic stem cell technologies now permits manipulation of the mouse genome in such a way as to temporally and spatially control a gene product's expression. Thus, the basic researcher now can directly assess the involvement of particular genes in tumorigenesis and disease progression and, in the process, to develop mouse models of human genetic disease. The utility of such technologies is emphasized in transgenic mice expressing genes thought to play important roles in the initiation and progression of mammary carcinomas. As these transgenic strains have been the subject of several reviews, here we focus on two mouse mammary tumor models, Polyomavirus middle T antigen and the Neu/ErbB-2 receptor tyrosine kinase, which are most amenable to study specific signaling pathways in process of mammary tumorigenesis.

Ionizing radiation stimulates existing signal transduction pathways involving the activation of epidermal growth factor receptor and ERBB-3, and changes of intracellular calcium in A431 human squamous carcinoma cells

Previous studies demonstrated that ionizing radiation activates the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), as measured by Tyr autophosphorylation, and induces transient increases in cytosolic free [Ca2+], [Ca2+]f. The mechanistic linkage between these events has been investigated in A431 squamous carcinoma cells with the EGFR Tyr kinase inhibitor, AG1478. EGFR autophosphorylation induced by radiation at doses of 0.5-5 Gy or EGF concentrations of 1-10 ng/ml is inhibited by >75% at 100 nM AG1478. Activation of EGFR enhances IP3 production as a result of phospholipase C (PLC) activation. At the doses used, radiation stimulates Tyr phosphorylation of both, PLCgamma and erbB-3, and also mediates the association between erbB-3 and PLCgamma not previously described. The increased erbB-3 Tyr phosphorylation is to a significant extent due to transactivation by EGFR as >70% of radiation- and EGF-induced erbB-3 Tyr phosphorylation is inhibited by AG 1478. The radiation-induced changes in [Ca2+]f are dependent upon EGFR, erbB-3 and PLCgamma activation since radiation stimulated IP3 formation and Ca2+ oscillations are inhibited by AG1478, the PLCgamma inhibitor U73122 or neutralizing antibody against an extracellular epitope of erbB-3. These results demonstrate that radiation induces qualitatively and quantitatively similar responses to EGF in stimulation of the plasma membrane-associated receptor Tyr kinases and immediate downstream effectors, such as PLCgamma and Ca2+.

Inhibition of the epidermal growth factor receptor family of tyrosine kinases as an approach to cancer chemotherapy: progression from reversible to irreversible inhibitors

The rationale to inhibit the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase family as an approach to cancer chemotherapy has continued to grow stronger over the last 10 years. Both preclinical and clinical data strongly support the involvement of these receptors in the formation and progression of human cancers, as well as establish a high correlation in cancer patients between receptor/ ligand expression and poor prognosis. During the past 4 years, significant progress has been made in the area of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and new structural classes have emerged that exhibit enormous improvements with regard to potency, specificity, and in vitro and in vivo activity. Very recently, further advancements in this field have been made whereby very specific, irreversible inhibitors of the EGFR family have been synthesized that provide unique pharmacological properties and exceptional efficacy. The in vivo performance of these modern kinase inhibitors has improved to the point where several compounds are either in clinical trials or very near to that point in their development. This review will briefly address the justification for targeting the EGFR family for cancer therapeutics, and then will highlight some of the more promising kinase inhibitors that are in development.

Adjacent carboxyterminal tyrosine phosphorylation events identify functionally distinct ErbB2 receptor subsets: implications for molecular diagnostics

Site-directed mutagenesis can define the effects of altering one or more amino acids within a protein, but this technique may lack sensitivity when used to characterize proteins which differ conformationally or posttranslationally at multiple sites. A novel alternative approach involves the direct characterization of wild-type protein isoforms identified by site-specific immunodetection. To this end we have developed antibodies which recognize ErbB2 subsets characterized by adjacent tyrosine phosphorylation events (Y1222 and Y1248) in the C-terminal tail of the oncoprotein. Here we use these phosphoantibodies to demonstrate the existence of tyrosine-phosphorylated ErbB2 subsets which differ in their patterns of heterooligomer formation, in vitro autophosphorylation, and recruitment of SH2-containing substrates. Furthermore, Y1222 and/or Y1248 phosphoantibody immunoreactivity is readily detectable in ErbB2-overexpressing human breast tumors, in which context these phosphorylation events exhibit significant discordance. These data confirm the value of site-specific immunodetection as a strategy for characterizing phosphoprotein function in vitro and in vivo and suggest that multisite phosphotyping of human tumors may contribute novel clinicopathologic insights into the significance of the ErbB2 overexpression phenotype.

Cross-talk between phorbol ester-mediated signaling and tyrosine kinase proto-oncogenes. I. Activation of protein kinase C stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of ErbB2 and ErbB3

The tumor-promoting phorbol ester, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), acutely stimulates the tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins of approximately 190, 120, and 70 kDa in the well differentiated Fao rat hepatoma cell line. This phosphorylation is dependent on protein kinase C (PKC) and is abolished by down-regulation of PKC or pretreatment with a PKC inhibitor. Purification of the 190-kDa tyrosine-phosphorylated protein revealed that it consists of both ErbB2 and ErbB3. Following PMA-induced tyrosine phosphorylation, ErbB2 and ErbB3 were able to associate with the SH2 domains of several signaling proteins including the p85alpha subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, Syp, and Grb2. The 120-kDa protein phosphorylated in response to PMA consists of at least two proteins: focal adhesion kinase that exhibits a minor increase in tyrosine phosphorylation following treatment with PMA, and a major 120-kDa tyrosine-phosphorylated species in PMA-stimulated Fao cells which as yet is unidentified. Similarly, the 70-kDa tyrosine-phosphorylated protein also appears to represent more than one protein, including paxillin and a second protein of similar mobility which appears to be the major tyrosine phosphorylation in response to PMA. Both ErbB2 and paxillin also exhibit reduced migration on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis following PMA treatment, suggesting that they are also phosphorylated on serine/threonine residues. The mobility shift of both of these proteins is abolished by treatment with inhibitors of PKC or mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-related kinase kinase. These results suggest a novel mechanism of cross-talk between the serine/threonine kinase PKC and tyrosine phosphorylation pathways. The activation of ErbB2 and ErbB3 that is initiated by PMA may contribute to the tumor promoting activity of these compounds.

Cross-talk between phorbol ester-mediated signaling and tyrosine kinase proto-oncogenes. II. Comparison of phorbol ester and sphingomyelinase-induced phosphorylation of ErbB2 and ErbB3

In the accompanying paper (Emkey, R., and Kahn, C. R. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 31172-31181), we demonstrated that phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) treatment of Fao cells induces tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins including ErbB2 and ErbB3. In the present study we show that sphingomyelinase also results in the enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of ErbB2 and ErbB3 in these cells. In contrast to activation by PMA, the sphingomyelinase-induced phosphorylation of these proteins is independent of protein kinase C. However, both agents stimulate tyrosine phosphorylation of the kinase Pyk2 suggesting that it may be involved in the PMA and sphingomyelinase activation of these ErbB proto-oncogenes. Insulin plays a negative regulatory role in the ligand and non-ligand-induced phosphorylation of the ErbB proto-oncogenes via two mechanisms. Prolonged insulin treatment resulted in decreased expression of both ErbB2 and ErbB3. Insulin also appears to negatively regulate the protein tyrosine kinase responsible for phosphorylating ErbB2 in PMA-stimulated cells. The former effect of insulin was relieved by treatment with inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. The similarities in PMA and sphingomyelinase-induced effects and the negative regulatory role of insulin suggest a mechanism by which multiple ligands can synergize with or protect against the tumorigenic effects of phorbol esters.

The receptor-like protein-tyrosine phosphatase DEP-1 is constitutively associated with a 64-kDa protein serine/threonine kinase

Protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) are involved in the regulation of diverse cellular processes and may function as positive effectors as well as negative regulators of intracellular signaling. Recent data demonstrate that malignant transformation of cells is frequently associated with changes in PTP expression or activity. Our analysis of PTP expression in mammary carcinoma cell lines resulted in the molecular cloning of a receptor-like PTP, also known as DEP-1. DEP-1 was found to be expressed at varying levels in mammary carcinoma cell lines and A431 cells. In all tumor cell lines analyzed, DEP-1 was constitutively phosphorylated on tyrosine residues. Phosphorylation of DEP-1 increased significantly after treatment of cells with the PTP inhibitor pervanadate. In A431 cells, tyrosine phosphorylation of DEP-1 was also observed after stimulation with epidermal growth factor, however, only after prolonged exposure of the cells to the ligand, suggesting an indirect mechanism of phosphorylation. In addition, DEP-1 coprecipitated with several tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins from pervanadate-treated cells. In vitro binding experiments using a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein containing the catalytically inactive PTP domain of DEP-1 (Gst-DEP-1-C/S) identify these proteins as potential substrates of DEP-1. In addition, we found a 64-kDa serine/threonine kinase to be constitutively associated with DEP-1 in all tumor cell lines tested. The 64-kDa kinase forms a stable complex with DEP-1 and phosphorylates DEP-1 and DEP-1-interacting proteins in vitro. These data suggest a possible mechanism of DEP-1 regulation in tumor cell lines involving serine/threonine and/or tyrosine phosphorylation.

Epidermal growth factor receptor signaling cascade as target for tyrphostin (RG 50864) in epithelial cells. Paradoxical effects on mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase activities

Tyrphostins are synthetic compounds that have been described as in vitro inhibitors of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) tyrosine kinase activity. The inhibitory effect of tyrphostins in intact cells has been shown only after prolonged treatment. However, these compounds appear to be readily incorporated, which suggests that tyrphostin acts indirectly on EGF-R. We studied the effects of a tyrphostin derivative, RG 50864, without preincubation in intact epithelial cells. We selected two human cell lines differing in degree of expression of the p185erbB2 protein, which is closely related to EGF-R. We showed that tyrphostin (RG 50864) had no effect on EGF-dependent EGF-R tyrosine phosphorylation in the parental cell line. On the contrary, it prolonged the EGF-dependent EGF-R and p185erbB2(V-E) tyrosine phosphorylation in p185erbB2(V-E)-expressing cells. Because tyrphostin has been shown to be an inhibitor of p185erbB2 and EGF-R in vitro, this finding indicates that the tyrphostin effect on p185erbB2(V-E) and EGF-R was the result of an indirect mechanism in transfected cells. Tyrphostin treatment alone led to the activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase or MAP kinase or extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase (MEK), suggesting that one of the tyrphostin targets was upstream of MEK1. MAP kinase, however, was not activated after tyrphostin treatment. This finding indicates that tyrphostin had another target in intact cells because MEK1 activation by tyrphostin alone did not correlate with MAP kinase activation. In the two cell lines, tyrphostin modified the time course of EGF-dependent MEK and MAP kinase activation. We conclude that whereas tyrphostins were designed to inhibit EGF-R tyrosine kinase activity, under our conditions EGF-R is not a physiological target for tyrphostin, nor is one of its related protein tyrosine kinases, p185erbB2(V-E). On the contrary, our results show that tyrphostin targets are multiple, leading to complex effects on receptor signaling in these epithelial cells.

Association of csk-homologous kinase (CHK) (formerly MATK) with HER-2/ErbB-2 in breast cancer cells

Protein-tyrosine kinases, such as HER-2/ErbB-2, have been specifically linked to breast cancer. The Csk-homologous kinase (CHK), formerly MATK, is a tyrosine kinase that contains the Src homology 2 and 3 (SH2 and SH3) domains and demonstrates homology ( approximately 50%) to the Csk tyrosine kinase. Like Csk, CHK is able to phosphorylate and inactivate Src family kinases. In this report, we investigated whether CHK is expressed in breast cancer tissues and whether it participates in the ErbB-2 signaling pathway in T47D and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. Immunostaining of the CHK protein in breast tissues demonstrated that primary invasive ductal carcinomas, stage II (13 of 15 cases) and stage I (8 of 15 cases), expressed the CHK protein, while this protein was not detected in the adjacent normal tissues from the same patients. To study the role of CHK in the ErbB-2 signaling pathway, glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins containing the SH2 and SH3 domains of CHK were generated. CHK-SH2 and CHK-SH3-SH2, but not CHK-SH3 or CHK-NH2-SH3, precipitated the tyrosine-phosphorylated ErbB-2 upon stimulation with heregulin. EGF or interleukin-6 stimulation of T47D cells failed to induce CHK-SH2 association with ErbB-2, the EGF-receptor, or the interleukin-6 receptor. In vivo association of the tyrosine-phosphorylated ErbB-2 with CHK was observed in co-immunoprecipitation studies with anti-CHK antibodies. EGF-R, ErbB-3, and ErbB-4 were not detected in the CHK immunoprecipitates or in the precipitates of the GST-SH2 fusion proteins of CHK, suggesting that the association of CHK with ErbB-2 upon heregulin stimulation is receptor-specific (ErbB-2) and ligand-specific (heregulin). These results indicate that CHK might participate in signaling in breast cancer cells by associating, via its SH2 domain, with ErbB-2 following heregulin stimulation.

Plasma membrane phosphotyrosine, Her2-NEU, and epidermal growth factor receptor in human breast cancer. A comparative study

Experimental therapeutic regimens for breast cancer include strategies to block the activity of specific oncogenes. Because oncogenesis is a multistep process, specific oncogenes may drive tumor production at one stage yet not function in another. Since the effectiveness of therapy targeted against oncogenes depends on their function in the tumor, correlation of oncogene function to specific stages of tumor development has therapeutic implications. Among the oncogenes known to be important in breast cancer production are two cell surface growth factor receptors, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and Her2-NEU (NEU). These proteins are receptor tyrosine kinases that autophosphorylate specific tyrosine residues on activation. The oncogenic potential of these receptors depends on this autophosphorylation. We examined 86 primary formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded breast tumors for overexpression of EGFR and NEU and correlated our findings with the presence of cell surface phosphotyrosine as an indicator of tyrosine kinase activity at the plasma membrane. Our data indicate that only 34% of tumors that overexpress EGFR or NEU show plasma membrane phosphotyrosine, indicating that in the majority of these tumors, the overexpressed oncogene may not be active at this stage.

The relationship between human epidermal growth-like factor receptor expression and cellular transformation in NIH3T3 cells

A collection of cell lines expressing each human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) family member alone or in all pairwise combinations in a clone of NIH3T3 cells (3T3-7d) devoid of detectable epidermal growth factor receptor family members has been generated. Transformation, as measured by growth in soft agar, occurred only in the presence of appropriate ligand and only in cells expressing two different HER family members. Transfection of oncogenic neu (Tneu), conferred ligand-independent transformation only in cells which co-expressed HER1, HER3, or HER4, but not when expressed alone or with HER2. Cell lines were also tested for their ability to form tumors in animals. None of the cell lines expressing single HER family members was able to form tumors in animals with the exception of HER1, which was weakly tumorigenic. Although unable to form tumors when expressed alone, HER2 was tumorigenic when expressed with HER1 or HER3, but not HER4. Of all complexes analyzed, cells expressing HER1 + HER2 were the most aggressive. The relationship between HER1 activation, intracellular calcium fluxes, and phospholipase Cgamma1 activation is well established. We found that activation of HER1 was required for the induction of a calcium flux and the phosphorylation of phospholipase Cgamma1. These activities were independent of, and unaffected by, the co-expression of any other family member. Further, heregulin stimulation of all cell lines including those containing HER1 did not demonstrate any effect on intracellular calcium levels or phospholipase Cgamma1 phosphorylation. This demonstrates that heregulin induced cellular transformation by activating HER3- and HER4-containing complexes does not require the activation of either phospholipase Cgamma1 or the mobilization of intracellular calcium.

c-neu oncoprotein in developing rostral cerebral cortex: relationship to epidermal growth factor receptor

The c-neu oncoprotein, p185c-neu, is a transmembrane tyrosine kinase that shares structural similarities with the receptor for epidermal growth factor (EGFr). We used immunoblots, immunoprecipitation, and immunohistochemistry 1) to test the hypothesis that p185c-neu and EGFr are coordinately expressed in central nervous system tissue and 2) to assess the spatiotemporal expression of both the c-neu oncoprotein and EGFr in the rostral cerebral cortex. In nondenaturing gels, anti-c-neu antibody identified high molecular weight proteins (about 300-400 kDa) that were reduced by EDTA to a molecular weight of 180-200 kDa. Sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis broke down this protein into an array of smaller peptides, which were expressed prenatally, transiently during the first three postnatal weeks, or in the adult. Perinatally, c-neu immunoreactivity was evident in subplate neurons, ascending processes of neurons in the cortical plate, and ventricular zone cells. During the second postnatal week, cells throughout cortex expressed somatodendritic immunostaining, but, in the adult, c-neu immunoreactivity was expressed only by pyramidal neurons in layer V and by glia in the white matter and ependyma. EGFr-positive proteins behaved in the nondenaturing gels as did c-neu-positive oncoproteins, suggesting that both proteins naturally formed dimers. This contention was supported by the EGFr-or c-neu immunolabeling of tissue that was previously immunoprecipitated with anti-c-neu or anti-EGFr, respectively. The pattern of EGFr immunolabeling in the developing and mature cortex was virtually identical to that described for c-neu immunoreactivity. Cortical neurons express the c-neu oncoprotein and EGFr, probably as heterodimers. The specific immunolabeling of layer V neurons in the adult cortex with anti-c-neu and anti-EGFr suggests that the p185c-neu ligand and EGF regulate the activity of corticofugal systems. The expression of different c-neu- and EGFr-positive peptides is developmentally defined and may be related to specific ontogenetic events.

Association of inhibition of cell growth by O-phospho-L-tyrosine with decreased tyrosine phosphorylation

We have previously demonstrated that O-phospho-L-tyrosine (P-Tyr), a substrate for a wide range of PTPases, inhibits the growth of human renal cell carcinoma and human breast cancer cell lines and suppresses EGF-mediated EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation. We now show that P-Tyr inhibited the growth of the human hepatoma cell line HEPG2, and src transformed NIH3T3 cells, but did not inhibit the growth of human ovarian carcinoma SKOV-3 cells. Addition of exogenous P-Tyr inhibited the insulin triggered insulin receptor (IR) tyrosine phosphorylation in the HEPG2 cell line and the tyrosine phosphorylation of a variety of cellular proteins in src-transformed NIH3T3 cells. P-Tyr did not inhibit the tyrosine phosphorylation of gp185 erbB-2 in P-Tyr resistant SKOV-3 cells. Thus, inhibition of cell growth by P-tyr was associated with decreased tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins.

HER4-mediated biological and biochemical properties in NIH 3T3 cells. Evidence for HER1-HER4 heterodimers

The EGF receptor family of tyrosine kinase growth factor receptors is expressed in a variety of cell types and has been implicated in the progression of certain human adenocarcinomas. The most recent addition to this family of receptors, HER4, was expressed in NIH 3T3 cells to determine its biological and biochemical characteristics. Cells expressing HER4 were responsive to heregulin beta2 as demonstrated by an increase in HER4 tyrosine phosphorylation and ability to form foci on a cell monolayer. HER4 exhibited in vitro kinase activity and was able to phosphorylate the regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and SHC. Peptide competition studies identified tyrosine 1056 of HER4 as the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase binding site and tyrosines 1188 and 1242 as two potential SHC binding sites. Interestingly, transfection of HER4 into NIH 3T3 cells conferred responsiveness to EGF with respect to colony formation in soft agar. It was also found that in response to heregulin beta2, endogenous murine HER1 or transfected human HER1 became phosphorylated when HER4 was present. This demonstrates that HER1 and HER4 can exist in a heterodimer complex and likely activate each other by transphosphorylation.

Activation of FSH-responsive adenylate cyclase by staurosporine: role for protein phosphorylation in gonadotropin receptor desensitization

Prolonged stimulation of gonadotropin receptors in granulosa cells leads to desensitization of the cellular response to gonadotropic hormones which is evident by decrease in cAMP formation. In order to explore the mechanism of desensitization and to examine whether protein phosphorylation may play a role in this phenomenon, we have studied the effect of various stimulators and inhibitors of protein phosphorylation on FSH-induced cAMP formation in the FSH-responsive cell line, GFSHR-17, recently established in our laboratory. Both ovine and human FSH activated the hormone sensitive adenylate cyclase in a dose-dependent manner with an ED50 of 0.5 nM. This stimulation was followed by a sharp decrease in cAMP formation after 30 min incubation of the cell with the hormone. When cells were preincubated for 60 min with staurosporine, cAMP accumulation during 20 min of FSH stimulation was elevated about 500%, compared to cells stimulated by FSH alone. Staurosporine alone showed a negligible effect on cAMP accumulation in these cells. In cells stimulated with forskolin, a non-specific activator of adenylate cyclase, or with cholera toxin (CT), an inhibitor of GTPase activity associated with Gs of adenylate cyclase, preincubation with staurosporine increased cAMP formation in these cells by only 50-70 or 80-120%, respectively. Preincubation of cells with the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors chelerythrine and GF109203X increased FSH-stimulated accumulation of cAMP by 50 and 30%, respectively. These drugs exhibit a similar effect on forskolin-stimulated cells. Preincubation of cells for 60 min with a PKC stimulator, TPA, suppressed FSH-mediated cAMP response in these cells by 40%. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as AG18, AG33 and genistein exhibit a modest inhibitory effect of up to 20% on FSH-stimulated cAMP accumulation. All the above results were obtained both in the presence and absence of IBMX, a potent inhibitor of the cellular phosphodiesterases. Upon prolonged incubation with FSH (3 h) cells pretreated with staurosporine exhibited a much slower rate of decline in intracellular cAMP levels. Moreover, in desensitized cells, following 1 or 2 h of continuous stimulation with FSH, staurosporine could markedly enhance cAMP formation in the presence of FSH. Our data suggest that staurosporine-sensitive phosphorylation of serine or threonine in the FSH receptor-cyclase system may be responsible for desensitization of the FSH coupled activation of cAMP formation, while reactivation of the system can be achieved by protein dephosphorylation at these specific sites. Because specific inhibition of PKC could not mimic the staurosporine effect on FSH-stimulated cAMP formation, nor could activation of kinase C antagonize it, it is suggested that a specific staurosporine-sensitive receptor kinase may be responsible for modulation of the coupling between the gonadotropin receptor and the adenylate cyclase system.

Increased phosphotyrosine in breast cancer tissue is associated with a worse prognosis

We have previously demonstrated that phosphotyrosine can be identified in breast cancer cells using an immunohistochemical stain. We have subsequently used this technique to characterize 106 women with breast cancer (46 with Stage 1 and 60 with Stage 2) who have been followed for at least four years by one oncologist. We analyzed all primary breast cancer tissue using immunohistochemical staining and the amount of phosphotyrosine (PT) was scored on a 0 to 3 range. The PT score of the primary tumor was unrelated to either breast cancer stage or estrogen and progesterone receptor analysis, as high PT scores were noted in both disease stages and all receptor categories. We did find that patients with either no or trace (1+) amounts of PT survived longer than those patients with higher amounts of PT. The patients with low PT had significantly lower chance of relapse (Chi Square = 15.8, p < 0.001) and a lower mortality (Chi Square = 13.1, p = 0.001). We conclude that immunohistochemical methods to determine the PT score may identify patients at higher risk for disease relapse independent of tumor stage or hormonal status.

Interferon gamma-induced reduction in erbB-2 tyrosyl phosphorylation in human ovarian carcinoma cells

Interferon, which inhibits growth of ovarian cancer cells in vivo and in vitro, decreases expression of erbB-2 protein in ovarian carcinoma cell lines. We now show that interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) also decreases constitutive tyrosine phosphorylation of erbB-2 and inhibits erbB-2 kinase activity in an ovarian cancer cell line. SK-OV3 ovarian cancer cells, which over-express erbB-2, were treated with IFN-gamma for 0-72 hr. Immunoblot analysis revealed that IFN decreased the levels of tyrosyl phosphorylated erbB-2 24 hr after IFN treatment. Protein levels of erbB-2 were not changed until 72 hr post-treatment. Tyrosine kinase (TK) activity of immunoprecipitated erbB-2 for an exogenous substrate was decreased in IFN-treated cells. Total cellular protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) activity for the epidermal growth factor receptor was not changed by IFN treatment. Our results suggest that the decreased levels of tyrosyl phosphorylated proteins observed after IFN treatment in SK-OV3 cells may be due to inhibition of erbB-2 kinase activity.

Differences in the regulation of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C in normal and neoplastic keratinocytes

The induction of epidermal differentiation by Ca2+ in vitro is associated with enhanced activity of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PLC). Neoplastic keratinocyte cell lines expressing a mutant c-Ha-ras gene and normal keratinocytes transformed to the neoplastic phenotype by transduction with the v-Ha-ras gene (v-Ha-ras keratinocytes) have elevated constitutive activity of PLC that increases further in response to Ca2+, but the cells do not differentiate normally. PLC-gamma 1 (145 kDa) is the major isoform detected by immunoblotting of extracts from control, v-Ha-ras, and neoplastic keratinocyte cell lines cultured in 0.05 mM Ca2+ medium. The amount of PLC-gamma 1 protein was higher in neoplastic cell lines than in normal and v-Ha-ras keratinocytes that had similar PLC-gamma 1 protein levels. Thus, higher PLC-gamma 1 protein levels cannot account for the elevated constitutive activity PLC in v-Ha-ras keratinocytes. After induction of differentiation by Ca2+, the amount of PLC-gamma 1 protein increased in all cell types, and PLC-delta 1 (85 kDa), barely detectable in 0.05 mM Ca2+, increased. PLC-beta 1 was not detected at any Ca2+ concentration. PLC-gamma 1 and PLC-delta 1 mRNA did not increase after elevation of extracellular Ca2+, suggesting that posttranscriptional mechanisms can regulate PLC-gamma 1 and PLC-delta 1 protein levels in normal and neoplastic keratinocytes. Activation of protein kinase C by treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) inhibited the stimulation of inositol phosphate (InsP) formation by Ca2+ but did not alter basal InsP levels in normal keratinocytes. In contrast, TPA treatment reduced both Ca(2+)-stimulated and basal InsP formation in neoplastic cells lines and v-Ha-ras keratinocytes. In both normal and v-Ha-ras keratinocytes labeled with [32P]orthophosphate, antibodies against PLC-gamma 1 immunoprecipitated a complex of 32P-labeled proteins. The relative labeling of the PLC-gamma 1 band was greater in normal than in v-Ha-ras keratinocytes. Furthermore, treatment with TPA specifically increased the relative phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1 in v-Ha-ras keratinocytes but not in normal keratinocytes. These results suggest that the negative regulation of constitutive activity of PLC by protein kinase C differs in normal and neoplastic keratinocytes and that this could be the mechanism of increased PLC activity produced by an oncogenic ras gene in keratinocytes.

A role for reactive oxygen species in zymosan and beta-glucan induced protein tyrosine phosphorylation and phospholipase A2 activation in murine macrophages

Previously we have shown that reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation induced by phorbol ester in association with vanadate is essential for protein tyrosine phosphorylation and phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activation. Here we show that the interaction of beta-glucan particles (glucanp) or zymosan with complement receptor type 3 (CR3) leads, when associated with vanadate, to a cascade of reactions culminating in PLA2 activation. Vanadate + zymosan (or glucanp) markedly enhance protein tyrosine phosphorylation in bone marrow derived macrophages (BMMs), whereas neither of the agents alone has any effect. The enhancement was due to both sustained activation of protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) and inactivation of protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) as assessed in lysates of treated cells. Zymosan elevates membranal PKC, an effect that is potentiated by vanadate. Activation of both PTK and PKC leads to the activation of NADPH oxidase and to ROS formation. The formed ROS together with vanadate are potent inactivators of PTP leading to amplification of tyrosine phosphorylation and myelin basic protein kinase (MBP-K) activation. The activation of the cascade of protein kinases eventually leads to activation of PLA2. All the activation steps, i.e., activation of PTK, NADPH oxidase, MBP-K,PLA2 and the inactivation of PTP are sensitive to the NADPH oxidase inhibitor diphenyleneiodonium (DPI), to antioxidants and to PKC inhibitors. Thus, ROS formation (in the presence of vanadate) is critical for protein phosphorylation processes constituting the regulatory pathway of PLA2 activation by ligand-CR3 interaction.

Neu and its ligands: from an oncogene to neural factors

Transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinases that bind to peptide factors transmit essential growth and differentiation signals. A growing list of orphan receptors, of which some are oncogenic, holds the promise that many unknown ligands may be discovered by tracking the corresponding surface molecules. The neu gene (also called erbB-2 and HER-2) encodes such a receptor tyrosine kinase whose oncogenic potential is released in the developing rodent nervous system through a point mutation. Amplification and overexpression of neu are thought to contribute to malignancy of certain human adenocarcinomas. The search for soluble factors that interact with the Neu receptor led to the discovery of a 44 kDa glycoprotein that induces phenotypic differentiation of cultured mammary tumor cells to growth-arrested and milk-producing cells. The Neu differentiation factor (NDF or heregulin), however, also acts as a mitogen for epithelial, Schwann and glial cells. Multiple forms of the factor are produced by alternative splicing and their expression is confined predominantly to the central and to the peripheral nervous systems. One identified neuronal function of this family of polypeptides is to control the formation of neuromuscular junctions, but their physiological role in secretory epithelia is still unknown. Other open questions relate to the transmembrane topology of various precursors, the identity of a putative coreceptor, the possible existence of additional ligands of Neu and the functional significance of the interaction between Neu and at least three highly related receptor tyrosine kinases.