Integrin-associated protein binding domain of thrombospondin-1 enhances insulin-like growth factor-I receptor signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells

Syndecans and Their Synstatins: Targeting an Organizer of Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Signaling at the Cell-Matrix Interface

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and integrin matrix receptors have well-established roles in tumor cell proliferation, invasion and survival, often functioning in a coordinated fashion at sites of cell-matrix adhesion. Central to this coordination are syndecans, another class of matrix receptor, that organize RTKs and integrins into functional units, relying on docking motifs in the syndecan extracellular domains to capture and localize RTKs (e.g., EGFR, IGF-1R, VEGFR2, HER2) and integrins (e.g., αvβ3, αvβ5, α4β1, α3β1, α6β4) to sites of adhesion. Peptide mimetics of the docking motifs in the syndecans, called “synstatins”, prevent assembly of these receptor complexes, block their signaling activities and are highly effective against tumor cell invasion and survival and angiogenesis. This review describes our current understanding of these four syndecan-coupled mechanisms and their inhibitory synstatins (SSTN_IGF1R, SSTN_VEGFR2, SSTN_VLA-4, SSTN_EGFR and SSTN_HER2).

Thrombospondin 1 in Metabolic Diseases

The thrombospondin family comprises of five multifunctional glycoproteins, whose best-studied member is thrombospondin 1 (TSP1). This matricellular protein is a potent antiangiogenic agent that inhibits endothelial migration and proliferation, and induces endothelial apoptosis. Studies have demonstrated a regulatory role of TSP1 in cell migration and in activation of the latent transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1). These functions of TSP1 translate into its broad modulation of immune processes. Further, imbalances in immune regulation have been increasingly linked to pathological conditions such as obesity and diabetes mellitus. While most studies in the past have focused on the role of TSP1 in cancer and inflammation, recently published data have revealed new insights about the role of TSP1 in physiological and metabolic disorders. Here, we highlight recent findings that associate TSP1 and its receptors to obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. TSP1 regulates nitric oxide, activates latent TGFβ1, and interacts with receptors CD36 and CD47, to play an important role in cell metabolism. Thus, TSP1 and its major receptors may be considered a potential therapeutic target for metabolic diseases.

Secreted Thrombospondin-1 Regulates Macrophage Interleukin-1β Production and Activation through CD47

Thrombospondin-1 regulates inflammation by engaging several cell surface receptors and by modulating activities of other secreted factors. We have uncovered a novel role of thrombospondin-1 in modulating production and activation of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β by human and murine macrophages. Physiological concentrations of thrombospondin-1 limit the induction by lipopolysaccharide of IL-1β mRNA and total protein production by human macrophages. This inhibition can be explained by the ability of thrombospondin-1 to disrupt the interaction between CD47 and CD14, thereby limiting activation of NFκB/AP-1 by lipopolysaccharide. Only the CD47-binding domain of thrombospondin-1 exhibits this activity. In contrast, CD47, CD36, and integrin-binding domains of thrombospondin-1 independently enhance the inflammasome-dependent maturation of IL-1β in human THP-1 monocyte-derived macrophages. Correspondingly, mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages that lack either thrombospondin-1 or CD47 exhibit diminished induction of mature IL-1β in response to lipopolysaccharide. Lack of CD47 also limits lipopolysaccharide induction of IL-1β, NLRP3, and caspase-1 mRNAs. These data demonstrate that thrombospondin-1 exerts CD47-dependent and -independent pro-and anti-inflammatory effects on the IL-1β pathway. Therefore, thrombospondin-1 and its receptor CD47 may be useful targets for limiting the pro-inflammatory effects of lipopolysaccharide and for treating endotoxemia.

CD47 signaling pathways controlling cellular differentiation and responses to stress

CD47 is a widely expressed integral membrane protein that serves as the counter-receptor for the inhibitory phagocyte receptor signal-regulatory protein-α (SIRPα) and as a signaling receptor for the secreted matricellular protein thrombospondin-1. Recent studies employing mice and somatic cells lacking CD47 have revealed important pathophysiological functions of CD47 in cardiovascular homeostasis, immune regulation, resistance of cells and tissues to stress and chronic diseases of aging including cancer. With the emergence of experimental therapeutics targeting CD47, a more thorough understanding of CD47 signal transduction is essential. CD47 lacks a substantial cytoplasmic signaling domain, but several cytoplasmic binding partners have been identified, and lateral interactions of CD47 with other membrane receptors play important roles in mediating signaling resulting from the binding of thrombospondin-1. This review addresses recent advances in identifying the lateral binding partners, signal transduction pathways and downstream transcription networks regulated through CD47 in specific cell lineages. Major pathways regulated by CD47 signaling include calcium homeostasis, cyclic nucleotide signaling, nitric oxide and hydrogen sulfide biosynthesis and signaling and stem cell transcription factors. These pathways and other undefined proximal mediators of CD47 signaling regulate cell death and protective autophagy responses, mitochondrial biogenesis, cell adhesion and motility and stem cell self-renewal. Although thrombospondin-1 is the best characterized agonist of CD47, the potential roles of other members of the thrombospondin family, SIRPα and SIRPγ binding and homotypic CD47 interactions as agonists or antagonists of signaling through CD47 should also be considered.

Thrombospondin-1 activation of signal-regulatory protein-α stimulates reactive oxygen species production and promotes renal ischemia reperfusion injury

Ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) causes tissue and organ injury, in part, through alterations in tissue blood flow and the production of reactive oxygen species. The cell surface receptor signal-regulatory protein-α (SIRP-α) is expressed on inflammatory cells and suppresses phagocytosis, but the function of SIRP-α in IRI has not been determined. We reported previously that the matricellular protein thrombospondin-1 is upregulated in IRI. Here, we report a novel interaction between thrombospondin-1 and SIRP-α on nonphagocytic cells. In cell-free experiments, thrombospondin-1 bound SIRP-α. In vascular smooth muscle cells and renal tubular epithelial cells, treatment with thrombospondin-1 led to phosphorylation of SIRP-α and downstream activation of Src homology domain 2-containing phosphatase-1. Thrombospondin-1 also stimulated phosphorylation of p47(phox) (an organizer subunit for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase 1/2) and increased production of superoxide, both of which were abrogated by knockdown or antibody blockade of SIRP-α. In rodent aortic rings, treatment with thrombospondin-1 increased the production of superoxide and inhibited nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation in a SIRP-α-dependent manner. Renal IRI upregulated the thrombospondin-1-SIRP-α signaling axis and was associated with increased superoxide production and cell death. A SIRP-α antibody that blocks thrombospondin-1 activation of SIRP-α mitigated the effects of renal IRI, increasing blood flow, suppressing production of reactive oxygen species, and preserving cellular architecture. A role for CD47 in SIRP-α activation in these pathways is also described. Overall, these results suggest that thrombospondin-1 binding to SIRP-α on nonphagocytic cells activates NADPH oxidase, limits vasodilation, and promotes renal IRI.

Programmed cell removal: a new obstacle in the road to developing cancer

The development of cancer involves mechanisms by which aberrant cells overcome normal regulatory pathways that limit their numbers and their migration. The evasion of programmed cell death is one of several key early events that need to be overcome in the progression from normal cellular homeostasis to malignant transformation. Recently, we provided evidence in mouse and human cancers that successful cancer clones must also overcome programmed cell removal. In this Opinion article, we explore the role of programmed cell removal in both normal and neoplastic cells, and we place this pathway in the context of the initiation of programmed cell death.

An essential role for the association of CD47 to SHPS-1 in skeletal remodeling

Integrin-associated protein (IAP/CD47) has been implicated in macrophage-macrophage fusion. To understand the actions of CD47 on skeletal remodeling, we compared Cd47(-/-) mice with Cd47(+/+) controls. Cd47(-/-) mice weighed less and had decreased areal bone mineral density compared with controls. Cd47(-/-) femurs were shorter in length with thinner cortices and exhibited lower trabecular bone volume owing to decreased trabecular number and thickness. Histomorphometry revealed reduced bone-formation and mineral apposition rates, accompanied by decreased osteoblast numbers. No differences in osteoclast number were observed despite a nonsignificant but 40% decrease in eroded surface/bone surface in Cd47(-/-) mice. In vitro, the number of functional osteoclasts formed by differentiating Cd47(-/-) bone marrow cells was significantly decreased compared with wild-type cultures and was associated with a decrease in bone-resorption capacity. Furthermore, by disrupting the CD47-SHPS-1 association, we found that osteoclastogenesis was markedly impaired. Assays for markers of osteoclast maturation suggested that the defect was at the point of fusion and not differentiation and was associated with a lack of SHPS-1 phosphorylation, SHP-1 phosphatase recruitment, and subsequent dephosphorylation of non-muscle cell myosin IIA. We also demonstrated a significant decrease in osteoblastogenesis in bone marrow stromal cells derived from Cd47(-/-) mice. Our finding of cell-autonomous defects in Cd47(-/-) osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation coupled with the pronounced skeletal phenotype of Cd47(-/-) mice support the conclusion that CD47 plays an important role in regulating skeletal acquisition and maintenance through its actions on both bone formation and bone resorption.

Thrombospondin-1 inhibits VEGF receptor-2 signaling by disrupting its association with CD47

Thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) can inhibit angiogenic responses directly by interacting with VEGF and indirectly by engaging several endothelial cell TSP1 receptors. We now describe a more potent mechanism by which TSP1 inhibits VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR2) activation through engaging its receptor CD47. CD47 ligation is known to inhibit downstream signaling targets of VEGFR2, including endothelial nitric-oxide synthase and soluble guanylate cyclase, but direct effects on VEGFR2 have not been examined. Based on FRET and co-immunoprecipitation, CD47 constitutively associated with VEGFR2. Ligation of CD47 by TSP1 abolished resonance energy transfer with VEGFR2 and inhibited phosphorylation of VEGFR2 and its downstream target Akt without inhibiting VEGF binding to VEGFR2. The inhibitory activity of TSP1 in large vessel and microvascular endothelial cells was replicated by a recombinant domain of the protein containing its CD47-binding site and by a CD47-binding peptide derived from this domain but not by the CD36-binding domain of TSP1. Inhibition of VEGFR2 phosphorylation was lost when CD47 expression was suppressed in human endothelial cells and in murine CD47-null cells. These results reveal that anti-angiogenic signaling through CD47 is highly redundant and extends beyond inhibition of nitric oxide signaling to global inhibition of VEGFR2 signaling.

Glucose regulation of thrombospondin and its role in the modulation of smooth muscle cell proliferation

Smooth muscle cells (SMC) maintained in high glucose are more responsive to IGF-I than those in normal glucose. There is significantly more thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) in extracellular matrix surrounding SMC grown in 25 mM glucose. In this study we investigated 1) the mechanism by which glucose regulates TSP-1 levels and 2) the mechanism by which TS-1 enhances IGF-I signaling. The addition of TSP-1 to primary SMC was sufficient to enhance IGF-I responsiveness in normal glucose. Reducing TSP-1 protein levels inhibited IGF-I signaling in SMC maintained in high glucose. We determined that TSP-1 protected IAP/CD47 from cleavage and thereby facilitated its association with SHP substrate-1 (SHPS-1). We have shown previously that the hyperglycemia induced protection of IAP from cleavage is an important component of the ability of hyperglycemia to enhance IGF-I signaling. Furthermore we determined that TSP-1 also enhanced phosphorylation of the beta3 subunit of the alphaVbeta3 integrin, another molecular event that we have shown are critical for SMC response to IGF-I in high glucose. Our studies also revealed that the difference in the amount of TSP-1 in the two different glucose conditions was due, at least in part, to a difference in the cellular uptake and degradation of TSP-1.

Insulin-like growth factor-1 induces phosphorylation of PI3K-Akt/PKB to potentiate proliferation of smooth muscle cells in human saphenous vein

Coronary revascularization by coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is recommended in patients with recurrent myocardial ischemia. However, the long-term results of CABG using saphenous vein (SV) graft, compared to internal mammary artery (IMA) graft, have not been satisfactory. The SV graft failure is due to the development of intimal hyperplasia, a process characterized by abnormal migration and proliferation of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in the intimal layer of the vein graft. Insulin growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is a major mitogenic growth factor released at the site of the shear stress-induced graft injury. This study, for the first time, compares the extent of IGF-1-PI3K-Akt activation in isolated human bypass graft conduits. Human SV and IMA vessels were collected and SMCs isolated and cultured. In cultured SMCs, effect of IGF-1 was examined on total and phosphorylated PI3K, Akt and IGF-1R by Western blot analysis. Cell proliferation was measured using BrdU ELISA. There was no significant difference in the basal expression of phosphorylated PI3K, Akt and IGF-1R in SV and IMA SMCs from human bypass conduits. However, we observed an upregulation of IGF-1 receptors in the SV SMCs in response to IGF-1 stimulation with no effect in IMA SMCs. Furthermore, the immunoblotting and cellular activation of signaling ELISA (CASE) assay demonstrated a significantly higher activity of both PI3K and Akt in IGF-1-stimulated SV SMCs than IMA. This was inhibited by an IGF-1R blocking antibody. IGF-1 induced proliferation in both SV and IMA SMCs was inhibited by a PI3K inhibitor, wortmannin. These data demonstrate differential activity of IGF-1-induced PI3K-Akt activation, which was quantitatively and temporally greater in SV SMCs than in the IMA. This, at least in part, could explain the greater propensity of the SV conduits than the IMA to undergo intimal hyperplasia following CABG.

Insulin-like growth factor-I regulation of immune function: a potential therapeutic target in autoimmune diseases?

This topically limited review explores the relationship between the immune system and insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I and IGF-II) and the proteins through which they act, including IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) and the IGF-I binding proteins. The IGF/IGF-IR pathway plays important and diverse roles in tissue development and function. It regulates cell cycle progression, apoptosis, and the translation of proteins. Many of the consequences ascribed to IGF-IR activation result from its association with several accessory proteins that are either identical or closely related to those involved in insulin receptor signaling. Relatively recent awareness that IGF-I and IGF-IR regulate immune function has cast this pathway in an unexpected light; it may represent an important switch governing the quality and amplitude of immune responses. IGF-I/IGF-IR signaling may also participate in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, although its relationship with these processes seems complex and relatively unexplored. On the one hand, IGF-I seems to protect experimental animals from developing insulin-deficient diabetes mellitus. In contrast, activating antibodies directed at IGF-IR have been detected in patients with Graves' disease, where the receptor is overexpressed by multiple cell types. The frequency of IGF-IR+ B and T cells is substantially increased in patients with that disease. Potential involvement of IGF-I and IGF-IR in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases suggests that this pathway might constitute an attractive therapeutic target. IGF-IR has been targeted in efforts directed toward drug development for cancer, employing both small-molecule and monoclonal antibody approaches. These have been generally well-tolerated. Recognizing the broader role of IGF-IR in regulating both normal and pathological immune responses may offer important opportunities for therapeutic intervention in several allied diseases that have proven particularly difficult to treat.

Prolactin enhances insulin-like growth factor I receptor phosphorylation by decreasing its association with the tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2 in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

Normal mammary development requires coordinated interactions of numerous factors, including prolactin (PRL) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), both of which have also been implicated in breast cancer pathogenesis and progression. We previously reported that PRL and IGF-I synergize in breast cancer cells to activate ERK1/2 and AKT, leading to increased proliferation, survival, and invasion. Intriguingly, PRL co-treatment with IGF-I augments IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) phosphorylation 2-fold higher than IGF-I alone. Here, we showed the importance of the tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2 in this cross-talk using pharmacological inhibition and small interfering RNA. SHP-2 recruitment to IGF-IR was significantly attenuated by PRL co-treatment. Src family kinase activity was required for IGF-IR association with SHP-2, ligand-induced IGF-IR internalization, and PRL-enhanced IGF-IR phosphorylation. Inhibition of internalization, via knockdown of the GTPase, dynamin-2, prevented not only IGF-IR dephosphorylation, but also PRL-enhanced IGF-IR phosphorylation. Consistently, PRL diminished IGF-I-induced IGF-IR internalization, which may result from reduced SHP-2 association with IGF-IR, because we demonstrated an essential role for SHP-2 in IGF-IR internalization. Together, these findings describe a novel mechanism of cross-talk between PRL and IGF-I in breast cancer cells, with implications for our understanding of tumor progression and potential therapeutic strategies.

Identification of compounds that inhibit IGF-I signaling in hyperglycemia

Increased responsiveness of vascular cells to the growth factor IGF-I has been implicated in complications associated with diabetes. Here we describe the development of an assay and screening of a library of compounds for their ability to accelerate cleavage of the transmembrane protein integrin-associated protein (IAP) thereby disrupting the association between IAP and SHPS-1 which we have shown as critical for the enhanced response of vascular cells to IGF-I. The cell-based ELISA utilizes an antibody that specifically detects cleaved, but not intact, IAP. Of the 1040 compounds tested, 14 were considered active by virtue of their ability to stimulate an increase in antibody-binding indicative of IAP cleavage. In experiments with smooth muscle and retinal endothelial cell cultures in hyperglycemic conditions, each active compound was shown to accelerate the cleavage of IAP, and this was associated with a decrease in IAP association with SHPS-1 as determined by coimmunoprecipitation of the proteins from cell lysates. As a consequence of the acceleration in IAP cleavage, the compounds were shown to inhibit IGF-I-stimulated phosphorylation of key signaling molecules including Shc and ERK1/2, and this in turn was associated with a decrease in IGF-I-stimulated cell proliferation. Identification of these compounds that utilize this mechanism has the potential to yield novel therapeutic approaches for the prevention and treatment of vascular complications associated with diabetes.

Complement 1s is the serine protease that cleaves IGFBP-5 in human osteoarthritic joint fluid

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs) are trophic factors for cartilage and have been shown to be chondroprotective in animal models of osteoarthritis (OA). IGFBP-5 is degraded in joint fluid and inhibition of IGFBP-5 degradation has been shown to enhance the trophic effects of IGF-I.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the identity of IGFBP-5 protease activity in human OA joint fluid.

METHOD

OA joint fluid was purified and the purified material was analyzed by IGFBP-5 zymography.

RESULTS

Both crude joint fluid and purified material contained a single band of proteolytic activity that cleaved IGFBP-5. Immunoblotting of joint fluid for complement 1s (C1s) showed a band that had the same Mr estimate, e.g., 88 kDa. In gel tryptic digestion and subsequent peptide analysis by LC-MS/MS showed that the band contained human C1s. A panel of protease inhibitors was tested for their ability to inhibit IGFBP-5 cleavage by the purified protease. Three serine protease inhibitors, FUT175 and CP-143217 and CB-349547 had IC50's between 1 and 6 microM. Two other serine protease inhibitors had intermediate activity (e.g., IC50's 20-40 microM) and MMP inhibitors had no detectible activity at concentrations up to 300 microM.

CONCLUSION

Human OA fluid contains a serine protease that cleaves IGFBP-5. Zymography, immunoblotting and LC-MS/MS analysis indicate that C1s is the protease that accounts for this activity.

Glucose-oxidized low-density lipoproteins enhance insulin-like growth factor I-stimulated smooth muscle cell proliferation by inhibiting integrin-associated protein cleavage

Prior published reports have demonstrated that glucose-oxidized low-density lipoproteins (g-OxLDL) enhance the proliferative response of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) to IGF-I. Our previous studies have determined that the regulation of cleavage of integrin-associated protein (IAP) by matrix-metalloprotease-2 (MMP-2) in diabetic mice in response to hyperglycemia is a key regulator of the response of SMC to IGF-I. Because chronic hyperglycemia enhances glucose-induced LDL oxidation, these studies were conducted to determine whether g-OxLDL modulates the response of SMC to IGF-I by regulating MMP-2-mediated cleavage of IAP. We determined that exposure of SMC to g-OxLDL, but not native LDL, was sufficient to facilitate an increase in cell proliferation in response to IGF-I. Exposure to an anti-CD36 antibody, which has been shown to inhibit g-OxLDL-mediated signaling, inhibited the effects of g-OxLDL on IGF-I-stimulated SMC proliferation. The effect of g-OxLDL could be attributed, in part, to an associated decrease in proteolytic cleavage of IAP leading to increase in the basal association between IAP and Src homology 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase substrate-1, which is required for IGF-I-stimulated proliferation. The inhibitory effect of g-OxLDL on IAP cleavage appeared to be due to its ability to decrease the amount of activated MMP-2, the protease responsible for IAP cleavage. In conclusion, these data provide a molecular mechanism to explain previous studies that have reported an enhancing effect of g-OxLDL on IGF-I-stimulated SMC proliferation.

Differential interactions of thrombospondin-1, -2, and -4 with CD47 and effects on cGMP signaling and ischemic injury responses

Thrombospondin-1 regulates nitric oxide (NO) signaling in vascular cells via CD47. Because CD47 binding motifs are conserved in the C-terminal signature domains of all five thrombospondins and indirect evidence has implied CD47 interactions with other family members, we compared activities of recombinant signature domains of thrombospondin-1, -2, and -4 to interact with CD47 and modulate cGMP signaling. Signature domains of thrombospondin-2 and -4 were less active than that of thrombospondin-1 for inhibiting binding of radiolabeled signature domain of thrombospondin-1 or SIRPalpha (signal-regulatory protein) to cells expressing CD47. Consistent with this binding selectivity, the signature domain of thrombospondin-1 was more potent than those of thrombospondin-2 or -4 for inhibiting NO-stimulated cGMP synthesis in vascular smooth muscle cells and downstream effects on cell adhesion. In contrast to thrombospondin-1- and CD47-null cells, primary vascular cells from thrombospondin-2-null mice lack enhanced basal and NO-stimulated cGMP signaling. Effects of endogenous thrombospondin-2 on NO/cGMP signaling could be detected only in thrombospondin-1-null cells. Furthermore, tissue survival of ischemic injury and acute recovery of blood flow in thrombospondin-2-nulls resembles that of wild type mice. Therefore, thrombospondin-1 is the dominant regulator of NO/cGMP signaling via CD47, and its limiting role in acute ischemic injury responses is not shared by thrombospondin-2.

Integrin-associated protein association with SRC homology 2 domain containing tyrosine phosphatase substrate 1 regulates igf-I signaling in vivo

OBJECTIVE

Smooth muscle cell (SMC) maintained in medium containing normal levels of glucose do not proliferate in response to IGF-I, whereas cells maintained in medium containing 25 mmol/l glucose can respond. The aim of this study was to determine whether signaling events that have been shown to be required for stimulation of SMC growth were regulated by glucose concentrations in vivo.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We compared IGF-I-stimulated signaling events and growth in the aortic smooth muscle cells from normal and hyperglycemic mice.

RESULTS

We determined that, in mice, hyperglycemia was associated with an increase in formation of the integrin-associated protein (IAP)/Src homology 2 domaine containing tyrosine phosphatase substrate 1 (SHPS-1) complex. There was a corresponding increase in Shc recruitment to SHPS-1 and Shc phosphorylation in response to IGF-I. There was also an increase in mitogen-activated protein kinase activation and SMC proliferation. The increase in IAP association with SHPS-1 in hyperglycemia appeared to be due to the protection of IAP from cleavage that occurred during exposure to normal glucose. In addition, we demonstrated that the protease responsible for IAP cleavage was matrix metalloprotease-2. An anti-IAP antibody that disrupted the IAP-SHPS-1 association resulted in complete inhibition of IGF-I-stimulated proliferation.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, our results support a model in which hyperglycemia is associated with a reduction in IAP cleavage, thus allowing the formation of the IAP-SHPS-1 signaling complex that is required for IGF-I-stimulated proliferation of SMC.

Glucose regulation of integrin-associated protein cleavage controls the response of vascular smooth muscle cells to insulin-like growth factor-I

Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) maintained in high glucose are more responsive to IGF-I than SMC maintained in normal glucose due to a difference in the Shc phosphorylation response. In this study we aimed to determine the mechanism by which glucose regulates the sensitivity of SMC to IGF-I. For Shc to be phosphorylated in response to IGF-I it must be recruited to tyrosine-phosphorylated sites on Src homology 2 domain-containing phosphatase (SHP) substrate-1 (SHPS-1). The association of integrin-associated protein (IAP) with SHPS-1 is required for SHPS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation. When SMC were grown in 5 mm glucose, the amount of intact IAP was reduced, compared with SMC grown in 25 mm glucose. This reduction was due to proteolytic cleavage of IAP. Proteolysis of IAP resulted in loss of its SHPS-1 binding site, which led to loss of SHPS-1 phosphorylation. Analysis of the conditioned medium showed that there was more protease activity in the medium from SMC cultured in 5 mm glucose as compared with 25 mm. Inhibition of matrix metalloprotease-2 synthesis using RNA interference or its activity using a specific protease inhibitor protected IAP from cleavage. This protection was associated with an increase in IAP-SHPS-1 association, increased recruitment and phosphorylation of Shc, and increased cell growth in response to IGF-I. Our results show that the enhanced response of SMC in 25 mm glucose to IGF-I is due to the protection of IAP from proteolytic degradation, thereby increasing its association with SHPS-1 and allowing the formation of the SHPS-1-Shc signaling complex.

Thrombospondin-1: a physiological regulator of nitric oxide signaling

Thrombospondin-1 is a secreted protein that modulates vascular cell behavior via several cell surface receptors. In vitro, nanomolar concentrations of thrombospondin-1 are required to alter endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cell adhesion, proliferation, motility, and survival. Yet, much lower levels of thrombospondin-1 are clearly functional in vivo. This discrepancy was explained with the discovery that the potency of thrombospondin-1 increases more than 100-fold in the presence of physiological levels of nitric oxide (NO). Thrombospondin-1 binding to CD47 inhibits NO signaling by preventing cGMP synthesis and activation of its target cGMP-dependent protein kinase. This potent antagonism of NO signaling allows thrombospondin-1 to acutely constrict blood vessels, accelerate platelet aggregation, and if sustained, inhibit angiogenic responses. Acute antagonism of NO signaling by thrombospondin-1 is important for hemostasis but becomes detrimental for tissue survival of ischemic injuries. New therapeutic approaches targeting thrombospondin-1 or CD47 can improve recovery from ischemic injuries and overcome a deficit in NO-responsiveness in aging. (Part of a Multi-author Review).

Expression of the human beta3 integrin subunit in mouse smooth muscle cells enhances IGF-I-stimulated signaling and proliferation

Optimal stimulation of signal transduction and biological functions by IGF-I in porcine smooth muscle cells (pSMC) requires ligand occupancy of the alphaVbeta3 integrin. Binding of heparin-binding domain (HBD) of vitronectin (VN) to the cysteine loop (C-loop) region of beta3 is required for pSMC to respond optimally to IGF-I stimulation. Mouse smooth muscle cells (mSMC), which express a form of beta3 whose sequence within the C-loop region is different than porcine or human beta3, do not respond optimally to IGF-I, and IGF-I stimulated beta3 and SHPS-1 phosphorylation which are necessary for optimal IGF-I signaling were undetectable. VN also had no effect on IGF-I stimulated the cell proliferation. In contrast, when human beta3 (hbeta3) was introduced into mSMC, there was an enhanced VN binding in spite of an equivalent amount of total beta3 expression, and IGF-I-dependent beta3, and SHPS-1 phosphorylation were detected. In addition, there was enhanced IGF-I-stimulated Shc association with SHPS-1, Shc tyrosine phosphorylation, Shc and Grb2 association, and MAP kinase activation leading to increased cell proliferation. These enhancements could be further augmented by adding a peptide containing the HBD of VN. To determine if these changes were mediated by the C-loop region of beta3, an antibody that reacts with that region of beta3 was utilized. The addition of the hbeta3 C-loop antibody abolished VN-induced enhancement of IGF-I signaling and IGF-I-stimulated cell proliferation. These results strongly support the conclusion that optimal SMC responsiveness to IGF-I requires ligand interaction with the C-loop domain of hbeta3.

Growth compensatory role of sulindac sulfide-induced thrombospondin-1 linked with ERK1/2 and RhoA GTPase signaling pathways

Previously, we reported that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) suppress cellular invasion which was mediated by thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1). As the extending study of the previous observation, we investigated the effect of NSAID-induced TSP-1 on the cellular growth and its related signaling transduction of the TSP-1 production. Among diverse NSAIDs, sulindac sulfide was most potent of inducing the human TSP-1 protein expression. Functionally, induced TSP-1 expression was associated with the growth-compensatory action of NSAID. TSP-1 expression was also elevated by mitogenic signals of ERK1/2 and RhoA GTPase pathway which had also growth-promotive capability after sulindac sulfide treatment. These findings suggest the possible mechanism through which tumor cells can survive the chemopreventive action of NSAIDs or the normal epithelium can reconstitute after NSAID-mediated ulceration in a compensatory way.

Oxidative stress regulates IGF1R expression in vascular smooth-muscle cells via p53 and HDAC recruitment

Apoptosis of VSMCs (vascular smooth-muscle cells) leads to features of atherosclerotic plaque instability. We have demonstrated previously that plaque-derived VSMCs have reduced IGF1 (insulin-like growth factor 1) signalling, resulting from a decrease in the expression of IGF1R (IGF1 receptor) compared with normal aortic VSMCs [Patel, Zhang, Siddle, Soos, Goddard, Weissberg and Bennett (2001) Circ. Res. 88, 895-902]. In the present study, we show that apoptosis induced by oxidative stress is inhibited by ectopic expression of IGF1R. Oxidative stress repressed IGF1R expression at multiple levels, and this was also blocked by mutant p53. Oxidative stress also induced p53 phosphorylation and apoptosis in VSMCs. p53 negatively regulated IGF1R promoter activity and expression and, consistent with this, p53-/- VSMCs demonstrated increased IGF1R expression, both in vitro and in advanced atherosclerotic plaques in vivo. Oxidative-stress-induced interaction of endogenous p53 with TBP (TATA-box-binding protein) was dependent on p53 phosphorylation. Oxidative stress also increased the association of p53 with HDAC1 (histone deacetylase 1). Trichostatin A, a specific HDAC inhibitor, or p300 overexpression relieved the repression of IGF1R following oxidative stress. Furthermore, acetylated histone-4 association with the IGF1R promoter was reduced in cells subjected to oxidative stress. These results suggest that oxidative-stress-induced repression of IGF1R is mediated by the association of phosphorylated p53 with the IGF1R promoter via TBP, and by the subsequent recruitment of chromatin-modifying proteins, such as HDAC1, to the IGF1R promoter-TBP-p53 complex.

Hyperglycemia alters the responsiveness of smooth muscle cells to insulin-like growth factor-I

IGF-I stimulation of smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration and proliferation requires alphaVbeta3 ligand occupancy. We hypothesized that changes in the levels of extracellular matrix proteins induced by alterations in glucose concentrations may regulate the ability of SMCs to respond to IGF-I. IGF-I stimulated migration and proliferation of SMCs that had been maintained in 25 mM glucose containing media, but it had no stimulatory effect when tested using SMCs that had been grown in 5 mM glucose. IGF-I stimulated an increase in Shc phosphorylation and enhanced activation of the MAPK pathway in SMCs grown in 25 mM glucose, whereas in cells maintained in 5 mM glucose, IGF-I had no effect on Shc phosphorylation, and the MAPK response to IGF-I was markedly reduced. In cells grown in 25 mM glucose, the levels of alphaVbeta3 ligands, e.g. osteopontin, vitronectin, and thrombospondin, were all significantly increased, compared with cells grown in 5 mM glucose. The addition of these alphaVbeta3 ligands to SMCs grown in 5 mM glucose was sufficient to permit IGF-I-stimulated Shc phosphorylation and downstream signaling. Because we have shown previously that alphaVbeta3 ligand occupancy is required for IGF-I-stimulated Shc phosphorylation and stimulation of SMC growth, our data are consistent with a model in which 25 mM glucose stimulates increases in the concentrations of these extracellular matrix proteins, thus enhancing alphaVbeta3 ligand occupancy, which leads to increased Shc phosphorylation and enhanced cell migration and proliferation in response to IGF-I.

Recruitment of the tyrosine phosphatase Src homology 2 domain tyrosine phosphatase-2 to the p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol-3 (PI-3) kinase is required for insulin-like growth factor-I-dependent PI-3 kinase activation in smooth muscle cells

IGF-I stimulates smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration and the phosphatidylinositol-3 (PI-3) kinase pathway plays an important role in mediating the IGF-I-induced migratory response. Prior studies have shown that the tyrosine phosphatase Src homology 2 domain tyrosine phosphatase (SHP)-2 is necessary to activate PI-3 kinase in response to growth factors and expression of a phosphatase inactive form of SHP-2 (SHP-2/C459S) impairs IGF-I-stimulated cell migration. However, the mechanism by which SHP-2 phosphatase activity or the recruitment of SHP-2 to other signaling molecules contributes to IGF-I stimulated PI-3 kinase activation has not been determined. SMCs that had stable expression of SHP-2/C459S had reduced cell migration and Akt activation in response to IGF-I, compared with SMC-expressing native SHP-2. Similarly in cells expressing native SHP-2, IGF-I induced SHP-2 binding to p85, whereas in cells expressing SHP-2/C459S, there was no increase. Because the C459S substitution results in loss of the ability of SHP-2 to disassociate from its substrates, making it inaccessible not only to p85 but also the other proteins, a p85 mutant in which tyrosines 528 and 556 were changed to phenylalanines was prepared to determine whether this would disrupt the p85/SHP-2 interaction and whether the loss of this specific interaction would alter IGF-I stimulated the cell migration. Substitution for these tyrosines in p85 resulted in loss of SHP-2 recruitment and was associated with a reduction in association of the p85/p110 complex with insulin receptor substrate-1. Cells stably expressing this p85 mutant also showed a decrease in IGF-I-stimulated PI-3 kinase activity and cell migration. Preincubation of cells with a cell-permeable peptide that contains the tyrosine556 motif of p85 also disrupted SHP-2 binding to p85 and inhibited the IGF-I-induced increase in cell migration. The findings indicate that tyrosines 528 and 556 in p85 are required for SHP-2 association. SHP-2 recruitment to p85 is required for IGF-I-stimulated association of the p85/p110 complex with insulin receptor substrate-1 and for the subsequent activation of the PI-3 kinase pathway leading to increased cell migration.

Expression and function of receptors for insulin-like growth factor-I and insulin in human coronary artery smooth muscle cells

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Hyperinsulinaemia and insulin resistance, as well as low IGF-I, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. Little is known about direct effects of IGF-I and insulin on human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (HCASMCs). Our aim was to characterise the expression and function of IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) and insulin receptor (IR) in HCASMCs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cultured HCASMCs were used. mRNA expression was measured by quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis. Receptor proteins, phosphorylation of beta-subunits and the presence of hybrid IR/IGF-IR were analysed by immunoprecipitation and western blotting. DNA synthesis and glucose metabolism were assessed using [3H]thymidine incorporation and D-[U-14C]glucose accumulation respectively.

RESULTS

The mRNA expression of IGF-IR was approximately eight-fold higher than that of IR in HCASMCs. The presence of IGF-IR and IR could be demonstrated by immunoprecipitation and western blot analysis. Phosphorylation of the IGF-IR beta-subunit was obtained by IGF-I at 10(-10)-10(-8) mol/l and insulin at 10(-8) mol/l. Insulin and IGF-I at 10(-10)-10(-9) mol/l phosphorylated the IR beta-subunit. When immunoprecipitated with monoclonal anti-IR alpha-subunit or IGF-IR alpha-subunit antibodies, we found bands in slightly different positions, suggesting the presence of hybrid IR/IGF-IR. IGF-I at 10(-9)-10(-8) mol/l significantly stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation and at a concentration of 10(-9)-10(-7) mol/l also D-[U-14C]glucose accumulation in HCASMCs. Insulin at 10(-9)-10(-7) mol/l had no effect on DNA synthesis, but increased glucose accumulation at 10(-7) mol/l.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

Our study provides experimental evidence that IGF-IR and possibly hybrid IR/IGF-IR play a role in HCASMCs.

Insulin-like growth factor-I signaling in smooth muscle cells is regulated by ligand binding to the 177CYDMKTTC184 sequence of the beta3-subunit of alphaVbeta3

The response of smooth muscle cells to IGF-I requires ligand occupancy of the alphaVbeta3 integrin. We have shown that vitronectin (Vn) is required for IGF-I-stimulated migration or proliferation, whereas the anti-alphaVbeta3 monoclonal antibody, LM609, which inhibits ligand binding, blocks responsiveness of these cells to IGF-I. The amino acids 177-184 ((177)CYDMKTTC(184)) within the extracellular domain of beta3 have been proposed to confer the ligand specificity of alphaVbeta3; therefore, we hypothesized that ligand binding to the 177-184 cysteine loop of beta3 may be an important regulator of the cross talk between alphaVbeta3 and IGF-I in SMCs. Here we demonstrate that blocking ligand binding to a specific amino acid sequence within the beta3 subunit of alphaVbeta3 (i.e. amino acids 177-184) blocked Vn binding to the beta3 subunit of alphaVbeta3 and correspondingly beta3 phosphorylation was decreased. In the presence of this antibody, IGF-I-stimulated Shc phosphorylation and ERK 1/2 activation were impaired, and this was associated with an inhibition in the ability of IGF-I to stimulate an increase in migration or proliferation. Furthermore, in cells expressing a mutated form of beta3 in which three critical residues within the 177-184 sequence were altered beta3 phosphorylation was decreased. This was associated with a loss of IGF-I-stimulated Shc phosphorylation and impaired smooth muscle cell proliferation in response to IGF-I. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that the 177-184 sequence of beta3 is necessary for Vn binding to alphaVbeta3 and that ligand occupancy of this site is necessary for an optimal response of smooth muscle cells to IGF-I.

Thrombospondin-1 up-regulates expression of cell adhesion molecules and promotes monocyte binding to endothelium

Expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAM) responsible for leukocyte-endothelium interactions plays a crucial role in inflammation and atherogenesis. Up-regulation of vascular CAM-1 (VCAM-1), intracellular CAM-1 (ICAM-1), and E-selectin expression promotes monocyte recruitment to sites of injury and is considered to be a critical step in atherosclerotic plaque development. Factors that trigger this initial response are not well understood. As platelet activation not only promotes thrombosis but also early stages of atherogenesis, we considered the role of thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), a matricellular protein released in abundance from activated platelets and accumulated in sites of vascular injury, as a regulator of CAM expression. TSP-1 induced expression of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 on endothelium of various origins, which in turn, resulted in a significant increase of monocyte attachment. This effect could be mimicked by a peptide derived from the C-terminal domain of TSP-1 and known to interact with CD47 on the cell surface. The essential role of CD47 in the cellular responses to TSP-1 was demonstrated further using inhibitory antibodies and knockdown of CD47 with small interfering RNA. Furthermore, we demonstrated that secretion of endogenous TSP-1 and its interaction with CD47 on the cell surface mediates endothelial response to the major proinflammatory agent, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). Taken together, this study identifies a novel mechanism regulating CAM expression and subsequent monocyte binding to endothelium, which might influence the development of anti-atherosclerosis therapeutic strategies.

Thrombospondin 1, produced by endothelial cells under the action of erythropoietin, stimulates thymidine incorporation into erythroid cells and counteracts the inhibitory action of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3

The nature of erythropoietin (EPO)-dependent, erythroid cell regulatory factors secreted by endothelial cells is largely unknown. The production of thrombospondin 1 (TSP-1) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) is increased in cultures of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) incubated with erythropoietin (EPO). Simultaneous incubation of HUVEC with EPO and interleukin 3 (IL-3) resulted in a decreased production, suggesting that both TSP-1 and IGFBP-3 belong to the EPO- and IL-3-dependent erythroid regulatory factors previously described in cultures of bone marrow endothelial cells. TSP-1 and TSP-1 derived synthetic peptides based on the CD36 and CD47 binding sites of TSPs increased thymidine incorporation into bovine erythroid cells of fetal liver. IGBBP-3 inhibited thymidine incorporation in the same cells. Preincubation of erythroid cells with TSP-1 eliminated the inhibitory activity of IGFBP-3. We suggest that EPO-dependent, endothelial-derived TSP-1 may play a positive role in red cell production by acting directly on erythroid cells, stimulating DNA synthesis and preventing the inhibitory action of IGFBP-3.

Endogenous thrombospondin-1 is not necessary for proliferation but is permissive for vascular smooth muscle cell responses to platelet-derived growth factor

We have reexamined the role of endogenous thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) in growth and motility of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Based on the ability of aortic-derived SMCs isolated from TSP1 null mice and grown in the absence of exogenous TSP1 to grow at comparable rates and to a slightly higher density than equivalent cells from wild-type mice, TSP1 is not necessary for their growth. Low concentrations of exogenous TSP1 stimulate growth of TSP1 null SMCs, but higher doses of TSP1 or its C-terminal domain are inhibitory. However, SMCs from TSP1 null mice are selectively deficient in chemotactic and proliferative responses to platelet-derived growth factor and in outgrowth in three-dimensional cultures. Recombinant portions of the N- and C-terminal domains of TSP1 stimulate SMC chemotaxis through different integrin receptors. Based on these data, the relative deficiency in SMC outgrowth during an ex vivo angiogenic response of muscle tissue from TSP1 null mice is probably due to restriction of platelet-derived growth factor dependent SMC migration and/or proliferation.

(alpha)v(beta)3 integrins and Pyk2 mediate insulin-like growth factor I activation of Src and mitogen-activated protein kinase in 3T3-L1 cells

IGF-I stimulates cell growth through interaction of the IGF receptor with multiprotein signaling complexes. However, the mechanisms of IGF-I receptor-mediated signaling are not completely understood. We have previously shown that IGF-I-stimulated 3T3-L1 cell proliferation is dependent on Src activation of the ERK-1/2 MAPK pathway. We hypothesized that IGF-I activation of the MAPK pathway is mediated through integrin activation of Src-containing signaling complexes. The disintegrin echistatin decreased IGF-I phosphorylation of Src and MAPK, and blocking antibodies to (alpha)v and beta3 integrin subunits inhibited IGF-I activation of MAPK, suggesting that (alpha)v(beta)3 integrins mediate IGF-I mitogenic signaling. IGF-I increased ligand binding to (alpha)v(beta)3 as detected by immunofluorescent staining of ligand-induced binding site antibody and stimulated phosphorylation of the beta3 subunit, consistent with inside-out activation of (alpha)v(beta)3 integrins. IGF-I increased tyrosine phosphorylation of the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) Pyk2 (calcium-dependent proline-rich tyrosine kinase-2) to a much greater extent than FAK, and increased association of Src with Pyk2 but not FAK. The intracellular calcium chelator BAPTA prevented IGF-I phosphorylation of Pyk2, Src, and MAPK, suggesting that IGF-I activation of Pyk2 is calcium dependent. Transient transfection with a dominant-negative Pyk2, which lacks the autophosphorylation and Src binding site, decreased IGF-I activation of MAPK, but no inhibition was seen with transfected wild-type Pyk2. These results indicate that IGF-I signaling to MAPK is dependent on inside-out activation of (alpha)v(beta)3 integrins and integrin-facilitated multiprotein complex formation involving Pyk2 activation and association with Src.

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-5 (IGFBP-5) interacts with thrombospondin-1 to induce negative regulatory effects on IGF-I actions

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-5 (IGFBP-5) and thrombospondin-1 (TS-1) are both present in extracellular matrix (ECM). Both proteins have been shown to bind to one another with high affinity. The purpose of these studies was to determine how the interaction between IGFBP-5 and TS-1 modulates IGF-I actions in porcine aortic smooth muscle cells (pSMC) in culture. The addition of increasing concentrations of TS-1 to pSMC cultures enhanced the protein synthesis and cell migration responses to IGF-I; whereas the addition of IGFBP-5 alone resulted in minimal changes. In contrast, the addition of IGFBP-5 to cultures that were also exposed to IGF-I and TS-1 resulted in inhibition of protein synthesis. When the cell migration response was assessed, the response to IGF-I plus TS-1 was also significantly inhibited by the addition of IGFBP-5, whereas 1.0 microg/ml of IGFBP-5 alone had no effect on the response to IGF-I. To determine the molecular mechanism by which this inhibition occurred, a mutant form of IGFBP-5 that does not bind to IGF-I was tested. This mutant was equipotent compared to native IGFBP-5 in its ability to inhibit both protein synthesis and cell migration responses to IGF-I plus TS-1 thus excluding the possibility that IGFBP-5 was inhibiting the response to TS-1 and IGF-I by inhibiting IGF-I binding to the IGF-I receptor. To determine if an interaction between TS-1 and IGFBP-5 was the primary determinant of the inhibitory effect of IGFBP-5, an IGFBP-5 mutant that bound poorly to TS-1 was utilized. The addition of 1.0 microg/ml of this mutant did not inhibit the protein synthesis or cell migration responses to IGF-I plus TS-1. To determine the mechanism by which IGFBP-5 binding to TS-1 inhibited cellular responses to TS-1 plus IGF-I, TS-1 binding to integrin associated protein (IAP) was assessed. The addition of IGFBP-5 (1.0 microg/ml) inhibited TS-1-IAP association. In contrast, a mutant form of IGFBP-5 that bound poorly to TS-1 had a minimal effect on TS-1 binding to IAP. Further analysis showed that IGFBP-5 addition altered the ability of TS-1 to modulate the SHPS-1/IAP interaction. When the IGFBP-5 mutant that did not bind to IGF-I was incubated with TS-1 and IGF-I, it inhibited the capacity of TS-1 to enhance the IGF-I receptor phosphorylation and MAP kinase activation in response to IGF-I. In contrast, the IGFBP-5 mutant that did not bind to TS-1 had no effect on IGF-I stimulated IGF-I receptor phosphorylation or MAP kinase activation. These results indicate that IGFBP-5 inhibits the binding of TS-1 to IAP, and this results in an alteration of the ability of TS-1 to modulate the disruption of the IAP/SHPS-1 interaction which leads to attenuation of the ability of TS-1 to enhance cellular responsiveness to IGF-I.

Interaction between insulin-like growth factor-I receptor and alphaVbeta3 integrin linked signaling pathways: cellular responses to changes in multiple signaling inputs

Integrins are heterodimeric transmembrane proteins that mediate cell attachment to extracellular matrix, migration, division, and inhibition of apoptosis. Because growth factors are also important for these processes, there has been interest in cooperative signaling between growth factor receptors and integrins. IGF-I is an important growth factor for vascular cells. One integrin, alphaVbeta3, that is expressed in smooth muscle cells modulates IGF-I actions. Ligand occupancy of alphaVbeta3 is required for IGF-I to stimulate cell migration and division. Src homology 2 containing tyrosine phosphatase (SHP-2) is a tyrosine phosphatase whose recruitment to signaling molecules is stimulated by growth factors including IGF-I. If alphaVbeta3 ligand occupancy is inhibited, there is no recruitment of SHP-2 to alphaVbeta3 and its transfer to downstream signaling molecules is blocked. Ligand occupancy of alphaVbeta3 stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation of the beta3-subunit, resulting in recruitment of SHP-2. This transfer is mediated by an insulin receptor substrate-1-related protein termed DOK-1. Subsequently, SHP-2 is transferred to another transmembrane protein, SHPS-1. This transfer requires IGF-I receptor-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of SHPS-1, which contains two YXXL motifs that mediate SHP-2 binding. The transfer of SHP-2 to SHPS-1 is also required for recruitment of Shc to SHPS-1. Ligand occupancy of alphaVbeta3 results in sustained Shc phosphorylation and enhanced Shc recruitment. Shc activation results in induction of MAPK. Inhibition of the Shc/SHPS-1 complex formation results in failure to achieve sustained MAPK activation and an attenuated mitogenic response. Thus, within the vessel wall, a mechanism exists whereby ligand occupancy of the alphaVbeta3 integrin is required for assembly of a multicomponent membrane signaling complex that is necessary for cells to respond optimally to IGF-I.

The C-terminal 26-residue peptide of serpin A1 stimulates proliferation of breast and liver cancer cells: role of protein kinase C and CD47

C26, the C-terminal 26 residue peptide of serpin A1, significantly increased cell proliferation in cultures of hepatoma cells, but not in porcine kidney epithelial cells, human skin fibroblasts or keratinocytes. The mitogenic activity of C26 was preferentially inhibited with a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, an antibody against CD47 and CD47 short interfering RNA. The mutant C26-K19R,N22M, imitating a thrombospondin-like cell adhesion motif, increased the mitogenic activity in both Hep G2 cells and MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Phosphorylation of C26 at T24 (a putative PKC phosphorylation site) resulted in a 1.9-2.5 increase in mitogenic activity over C26 in MCF-7 cells.

Insulin Receptor Substrate-1/SHP-2 Interaction, a Phenotype-dependent Switching Machinery of Insulin-like Growth Factor-I Signaling in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) plays a role in mutually exclusive processes such as proliferation and differentiation in a variety of cell types. IGF-I is a potent mitogen and motogen for dedifferentiated vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in vivo and in vitro. However, in differentiated VSMCs, IGF-I is only required for maintaining the differentiated phenotype. Here we investigated the VSMC phenotype-dependent signaling and biological processes triggered by IGF-I. In differentiated VSMCs, IGF-I activated a protein-tyrosine phosphatase, SHP-2, recruited by insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1). The activated SHP-2 then dephosphorylated IRS-1 Tyr(P)-895, resulting in blockade of the pathways from IRS-1/Grb2/Sos to the ERK and p38 MAPK. Conversely, such negative regulation was silent in dedifferentiated VSMCs, where IGF-I activated both MAPKs via IRS-1/Grb2/Sos interaction-linked Ras activation, leading to proliferation and migration. Thus, our present results demonstrate that the IRS-1/SHP-2 interaction acts as a switch controlling VSMC phenotype-dependent IGF-I-induced signaling pathways and biological processes, and this mechanism is likely to be applicable to other cells.

IL-1β Suppresses Prolonged Akt Activation and Expression of E2F-1 and Cyclin A in Breast Cancer Cells

Cell cycle aberrations occurring at the G(1)/S checkpoint often lead to uncontrolled cell proliferation and tumor growth. We recently demonstrated that IL-1beta inhibits insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I-induced cell proliferation by preventing cells from entering the S phase of the cell cycle, leading to G(0)/G(1) arrest. Notably, IL-1beta suppresses the ability of the IGF-I receptor tyrosine kinase to phosphorylate its major docking protein, insulin receptor substrate-1, in MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells. In this study, we extend this juxtamembrane cross-talk between cytokine and growth factor receptors to downstream cell cycle machinery. IL-1beta reduces the ability of IGF-I to activate Cdk2 and to induce E2F-1, cyclin A, and cyclin A-dependent phosphorylation of a retinoblastoma tumor suppressor substrate. Long-term activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway, but not the mammalian target of rapamycin or mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways, is required for IGF-I to hyperphosphorylate retinoblastoma and to cause accumulation of E2F-1 and cyclin A. In the absence of IGF-I to induce Akt activation and cell cycle progression, IL-1beta has no effect. IL-1beta induces p21(Cip1/Waf1), which may contribute to its inhibition of IGF-I-activated Cdk2. Collectively, these data establish a novel mechanism by which prolonged Akt phosphorylation serves as a convergent target for both IGF-I and IL-1beta; stimulation by growth factors such as IGF-I promotes G(1)-S phase progression, whereas IL-1beta antagonizes IGF-I-induced Akt phosphorylation to induce cytostasis. In this manner, Akt serves as a critical bridge that links proximal receptor signaling events to more distal cell cycle machinery.