A phosphoproteomic analysis of the ErbB2 receptor tyrosine kinase signaling pathways

Overexpression of the ErbB2 receptor tyrosine kinase is common in human cancers and is associated with an increased level of metastasis. To better understand the cellular signaling networks activated by ErbB2, a phosphoproteomic analysis of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins was carried out in ErbB2-overexpressing breast and ovarian cancer cell lines. A total of 153 phosphorylation sites were assigned on 78 proteins. Treatment of cells with Herceptin, a monoclonal antibody that inhibits ErbB2 activity, significantly reduced the number of detectable protein phosphorylation sites, suggesting that many of these proteins participate in ErbB2-driven cell signaling. Of the 71 proteins that were differentially phosphorylated, only 13 were previously reported to directly associate with ErbB2. The differentially phosphorylated proteins included kinases, adaptor/docking proteins, proteins involved in cell proliferation and migration, and several uncharacterized RNA binding proteins. Selective depletion of some of these proteins, including RNA binding proteins SRRM2, SFRS1, SFRS9, and SFRS10, by siRNAs reduced the rate of migration of ErbB2-overexpressing ovarian cancer cells.     

Erk5 Participates in Neuregulin Signal Transduction and Is Constitutively Active in Breast Cancer Cells Overexpressing ErbB2

The four receptor tyrosine kinases of the ErbB family play essential roles in several physiological processes and have also been implicated in tumor generation and/or progression. Activation of ErbB1/EGFR is mainly triggered by epidermal growth factor (EGF) and other related ligands, while activation of ErbB2, ErbB3, and ErbB4 receptors occurs by binding to another set of EGF-like ligands termed neuregulins (NRGs). Here we show that the Erk5 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway participates in NRG signal transduction. In MCF7 cells, NRG activated Erk5 in a time- and dose-dependent fashion. The action of NRG on Erk5 was dependent on the kinase activity of ErbB receptors but was independent of Ras. Expression in MCF7 cells of a dominant negative form of Erk5 resulted in a significant decrease in NRG-induced proliferation of MCF7 cells. Analysis of Erk5 in several human tumor cell lines indicated that a constitutively active form of this kinase was present in the BT474 and SKBR3 cell lines, which also expressed activated forms of ErbB2, ErbB3, and ErbB4. Treatments aimed at decreasing the activity of these receptors caused Erk5 inactivation, indicating that the active form of Erk5 present in BT474 and SKBR3 cells was due to a persistent positive stimulus originating at the ErbB receptors. In BT474 cells expression of the dominant negative form of Erk5 resulted in reduced proliferation, indicating that in these cells Erk5 was also involved in the control of proliferation. Taken together, these results suggest that Erk5 may play a role in the regulation of cell proliferation by NRG receptors and indicate that constitutively active NRG receptors may induce proliferative responses in cancer cells through this MAPK pathway.     

NTAKalpha and beta isoforms stimulate breast tumor cell growth by means of different receptor combinations

Neural- and thymus-derived activator for ErbB kinases (NTAK) is a recently described member of the neuregulin family that binds directly to ErbB3 and ErbB4 and transactivates ErbB2. Rat NTAK has at least five alternative-spliced isoforms: alpha1, alpha2a, alpha2b, beta, and gamma. In order to understand their biological properties, this study focused on the NTAK alpha2a and beta isoforms, which have different EGF-like domains. The effect of these isoforms on cell growth and tyrosine phosphorylation in human breast cancer cells, MDA-MB-453 and T47D, was examined using the recombinant proteins. In terms of cell growth, NTAKalpha2a and NTAKbeta preferentially stimulate T47D cells and MDA-MB-453 cells, respectively, in a dose-dependent manner. Although both NTAKs induce the highest level of tyrosine phosphorylation of ErbB2, NTAKalpha2a and NTAKbeta preferentially induce ErbB3 and ErbB4 phosphorylation, respectively. Thus, NTAKalpha2a and NTAKbeta stimulate cell growth in different ways, by means of different combinations of receptors.     

ErbB2, EphrinB1, Src kinase and PTPN13 signaling complex regulates MAP kinase signaling in human cancers

In non-cancerous cells, phosphorylated proteins exist transiently, becoming de-phosphorylated by specific phosphatases that terminate propagation of signaling pathways. In cancers, compromised phosphatase activity and/or expression occur and contribute to tumor phenotype. The non-receptor phosphatase, PTPN13, has recently been dubbed a putative tumor suppressor. It decreased expression in breast cancer correlates with decreased overall survival. Here we show that PTPN13 regulates a new signaling complex in breast cancer consisting of ErbB2, Src, and EphrinB1. To our knowledge, this signaling complex has not been previously described. Co-immunoprecipitation and localization studies demonstrate that EphrinB1, a PTPN13 substrate, interacts with ErbB2. In addition, the oncogenic V660E ErbB2 mutation enhances this interaction, while Src kinase mediates EphrinB1 phosphorylation and subsequent MAP Kinase signaling. Decreased PTPN13 function further enhances signaling. The association of oncogene kinases (ErbB2, Src), a signaling transmembrane ligand (EphrinB1) and a phosphatase tumor suppressor (PTPN13) suggest that EphrinB1 may be a relevant therapeutic target in breast cancers harboring ErbB2-activating mutations and decreased PTPN13 expression.     

Erk1/2 MAPK and caldesmon differentially regulate podosome dynamics in A7r5 vascular smooth muscle cells

We tested the hypothesis that the MEK/Erk/caldesmon phosphorylation cascade regulates PKC-mediated podosome dynamics in A7r5 cells. We observed the phosphorylation of MEK, Erk and caldesmon, and their translocation to the podosomes upon phorbol dibutyrate (PDBu) stimulation, together with the nuclear translocation of phospho-MEK and phospho-Erk. After MEK inhibition by U0126, Erk translocated to the interconnected actin-rich columns but failed to translocate to the nucleus, suggesting that podosomes served as a site for Erk phosphorylation. The interconnected actin-rich columns in U0126-treated, PDBu-stimulated cells contained alpha-actinin, caldesmon, vinculin, and metalloproteinase-2. Caldesmon and vinculin became integrated with F-actin at the columns, in contrast to their typical location at the ring of podosomes. Live-imaging experiments suggested the growth of these columns from podosomes that were slow to disassemble. The observed modulation of podosome size and life time in A7r5 cells overexpressing wild-type and phosphorylation-deficient caldesmon-GFP mutants in comparison to untransfected cells suggests that caldesmon and caldesmon phosphorylation modulate podosome dynamics in A7r5 cells. These results suggest that Erk1/2 and caldesmon differentially modulate PKC-mediated formation and/or dynamics of podosomes in A7r5 vascular smooth muscle cells.     

Expression of Erk5 in Early Stage Breast Cancer and Association with Disease Free Survival Identifies this Kinase as a Potential Therapeutic Target

Background

Breast cancer is the most common neoplasia in women. Even though advances in its treatment have improved disease outcome, some patients relapse. Therefore, attempts to better define the molecular determinants that drive breast cancer cell proliferation may help in defining potential therapeutic targets. Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) play important roles in tumorigenesis. One of them, Erk5, has been linked to the proliferation of breast cancer cells in vitro. Here we have investigated the expression and prognostic value of Erk5 in human breast cancer.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Animal and cellular models were used to study Erk5 expression and function in breast cancer. In 84 human breast tumours the expression of Erk5 was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Active Erk5 (pErk5) was studied by Western blotting. Correlation of Erk5 with clinicopathological parameters and with disease-free survival in early stage breast cancer patients was analyzed. Expression of Erk5 was detected in most patients, and overexpression was found in 20%. Active Erk5 was present in a substantial number of samples, as well as in tumours from an animal breast cancer model. Overexpression of Erk5 was associated with a decrease in disease-free survival time, which was independent of other clinicopathological parameters of prognosis. Transient transfection of a short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting Erk5, and a stable cell line expressing a dominant negative form of Erk5 (Erk5^AEF), were used to investigate the influence of Erk5 on drugs used in the clinic to treat breast tumours. We found that inhibition of Erk5 decreased cancer cell proliferation and also sensitized these cells to the action of anti-HER2 therapies.

Conclusions/Significance

Overexpression of Erk5 is an independent predictor of disease-free survival in breast cancer, and may represent a future therapeutic target.     

Examining the mechanism of Erk nuclear translocation using green fluorescent protein

In neuronal cells, the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) cascade is an important mediator of neurotrophin signaling from cell surface receptors to the nucleus, resulting in changes in gene expression. Nuclear localization of Erk is thought to be required for these effects. To examine the mechanism and regulation of Erk nuclear translocation, we have created a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled Erk2 construct, which provides a sensitive means to follow the movement of Erk from the cytoplasm to the nucleus following receptor-mediated MAP kinase activation. Using this system in PC12 cells, we have examined a number of mechanisms that have been implicated in regulating the translocation of Erk. In PC12 cells, NGF and EGF induce a rapid translocation of GFP-Erk that requires Ras and Mek. We have found that prolonged phosphorylation of Erk is not required for the rapid and early influx of Erk into the nucleus following growth factor stimulation. Furthermore, following influx, GFP-Erk rapidly returned to the cytoplasm regardless of its phosphorylation state. The release of Erk from its cytoplasmic activator, Mek, followed by the dimerization of Erk, was sufficient to stimulate nuclear uptake, whereas Erk kinase activity was dispensable. PKA activity has been reported to be required for Erk translocation in PC12 cells. However, PKA activity was also not necessary for the early translocation of Erk into the nucleus by NGF or Ras, but it was able to induce a small influx of Erk that could be measured with GFP-Erk2.     

ErbB receptors and their ligands in the breast

ErbB receptor tyrosine kinases are membrane-bound receptors that possess intrinsic, ligand-activated, tyrosine kinase activity. Binding of growth factors to these receptors induces the formation of ErbB homo- and heterodimers and initiates a signalling cascade that traverses the cytoplasm to communicate with the nucleus and the cytoskeleton. The effect of this cascade is the regulation of cellular proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, migration and adhesion. Although ErbB signalling is important for normal growth and development in the breast, a dysregulation of ErbB activity can lead to tumourigenesis. This review will focus on the role of ErbB signalling in both normal mammary gland development and breast cancer, with an emphasis on the mechanisms behind receptor activation and the therapeutic agents designed to inhibit ErbB activity.     

Angiogenin activates Erk1/2 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Angiogenin is a potent angiogenic factor that binds to endothelial cells and is endocytosed and rapidly translocated to the nucleus where it is concentrated in the nucleolus and binds to DNA. Angiogenin also activates cell-associated proteases, induces cell invasion and migration, stimulates cell proliferation, and organizes cultured cells to form tubular structures. The intracellular signaling pathways that mediate these various cellular responses are not well understood. Here we report that angiogenin induces transient phosphorylation of extracellular signal-related kinase1/2 (Erk1/2) in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Angiogenin does not affect the phosphorylation status of stress-associated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases. PD98059--a specific inhibitor of MAP or Erk kinase 1 (MEK 1), the upstream kinase that phosphorylates Erk1/2--abolishes angiogenin-induced Erk phosphorylation and cell proliferation without affecting nuclear translocation of angiogenin. In contrast, neomycin, a known inhibitor of nuclear translocation and cell proliferation, does not interfere with angiogenin-induced Erk1/2 phosphorylation. These data indicate that both intracellular signaling pathways and direct nuclear functions of angiogenin are required for angiogenin-induced cell proliferation and angiogenesis.     

ErbB2 receptor tyrosine kinase signaling mediates early demyelination induced by leprosy bacilli

Demyelination is a common pathologic feature in many neurodegenerative diseases including infection with leprosy-causing Mycobacterium leprae. Because of the long incubation time and highly complex disease pathogenesis, the management of nerve damage in leprosy, as in other demyelinating diseases, is extremely difficult. Therefore, an important challenge in therapeutic interventions is to identify the molecular events that occur in the early phase before the progression of the disease. Here we provide evidence that M. leprae-induced demyelination is a result of direct bacterial ligation to and activation of ErbB2 receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling without ErbB2-ErbB3 heterodimerization, a previously unknown mechanism that bypasses the neuregulin-ErbB3-mediated ErbB2 phosphorylation. MEK-dependent Erk1 and Erk2 (hereafter referred to as Erk1/2) signaling is identified as a downstream target of M. leprae-induced ErbB2 activation that mediates demyelination. Herceptin (trastuzumab), a therapeutic humanized ErbB2-specific antibody, inhibits M. leprae binding to and activation of ErbB2 and Erk1/2 in human primary Schwann cells, and the blockade of ErbB2 activity by the small molecule dual ErbB1-ErbB2 kinase inhibitor PKI-166 (ref. 11) effectively abrogates M. leprae-induced myelin damage in in vitro and in vivo models. These results may have implications for the design of ErbB2 RTK-based therapies for both leprosy nerve damage and other demyelinating neurodegenerative diseases.     

A Kinase Inhibitor Screen Reveals Protein Kinase C-dependent Endocytic Recycling of ErbB2 in Breast Cancer Cells

ErbB2 overexpression drives oncogenesis in 20–30% cases of breast cancer. Oncogenic potential of ErbB2 is linked to inefficient endocytic traffic into lysosomes and preferential recycling. However, regulation of ErbB2 recycling is incompletely understood. We used a high-content immunofluorescence imaging-based kinase inhibitor screen on SKBR-3 breast cancer cells to identify kinases whose inhibition alters the clearance of cell surface ErbB2 induced by Hsp90 inhibitor 17-AAG. Less ErbB2 clearance was observed with broad-spectrum PKC inhibitor Ro 31-8220. A similar effect was observed with Go 6976, a selective inhibitor of classical Ca²⁺-dependent PKCs (α, β1, βII, and γ). PKC activation by PMA promoted surface ErbB2 clearance but without degradation, and ErbB2 was observed to move into a juxtanuclear compartment where it colocalized with PKC-α and PKC-δ together with the endocytic recycling regulator Arf6. PKC-α knockdown impaired the juxtanuclear localization of ErbB2. ErbB2 transit to the recycling compartment was also impaired upon PKC-δ knockdown. PMA-induced Erk phosphorylation was reduced by ErbB2 inhibitor lapatinib, as well as by knockdown of PKC-δ but not that of PKC-α. Our results suggest that activation of PKC-α and -δ mediates a novel positive feedback loop by promoting ErbB2 entry into the endocytic recycling compartment, consistent with reported positive roles for these PKCs in ErbB2-mediated tumorigenesis. As the endocytic recycling compartment/pericentrion has emerged as a PKC-dependent signaling hub for G-protein-coupled receptors, our findings raise the possibility that oncogenesis by ErbB2 involves previously unexplored PKC-dependent endosomal signaling.     

Overexpression of ErbB2 receptor inhibits IGF-I-induced Shc-MAPK signaling pathway in breast cancer cells

Overexpression of the ErbB2 receptor in one-third of human breast cancers contributes to the transformation of epithelial cells and predicts poor prognosis for breast cancer patients. We report that the overexpression of ErbB2 inhibits IGF-I-induced MAPK signaling. IGF-I-induced MAPK phosphorylation and MAPK kinase activity are reduced in ErbB2 overexpressing MCF-7/HER2-18 cells relative to control MCF-7/neo cells. In SKBR3/IGF-IR cells, reduction of ErbB2 by antisense methodology restores the IGF-I-induced MAPK activation. The inhibition of IGF-I-induced MAP kinase activation in ErbB2 overexpressing breast cancer cells is correlated with decreased IGF-I-induced Shc tyrosine-phosphorylation, leading to a decreased association of Grb2 with Shc and decreased Raf phosphorylation. However, IGF-I-induced tyrosine-phosphorylation of IGF-I receptor and IRS-I and AKT phosphorylation were unaffected by ErbB2 overexpression. Consistent with these results, we observed that the proportion of IGF-I-stimulated proliferation blocked by the MAPK inhibitor PD98059 fell from 82.6% in MCF-7/neo cells to 41.2% in MCF-7/HER2-18 cells. These data provide evidence for interplay between the IGF-IR and ErbB2 signaling pathways. They are consistent with the view that the IGF-IR mediated attenuation of trastuzumab-induced growth inhibition we recently described is dependent on IGF-I-induced PI3K signaling rather than IGF-I-induced MAPK signaling.     

Phosphorylation of the cyclin b1 cytoplasmic retention sequence by mitogen-activated protein kinase and Plx

The cyclin B1/Cdc2 complex regulates many of the dramatic cellular rearrangements observed at mitosis. Although predominantly cytoplasmic during interphase, this kinase complex translocates precipitously to the nucleus at the G(2)-M transition. The interphase cytoplasmic location of cyclin B1/Cdc2 reflects continuous, albeit slow, nuclear import and much more rapid nuclear export. In contrast, the sudden nuclear accumulation of the complex before entry into mitosis reflects a marked increase in the import rate, with a concomitant inhibition of cyclin B1 nuclear export. These dynamic changes in cyclin B1/Cdc2 localization are regulated by phosphorylation of four serines within a region of cyclin B1 known as the cytoplasmic retention sequence (CRS). Phosphorylation of all four serines is required for rapid nuclear entry, whereas phosphorylation of only the last in the series (Ser 113) is required to prevent nuclear export by CRM1. As these residues represent key loci of regulation, it is important to identify the kinases acting on these sites. Here we report that Xenopus cyclin B1 is regulated by both Erk and Plx kinases, and that Cdc2, counter to previous speculation, is not required for CRS phosphorylation. Phosphorylation of the first two of the CRS serines (Ser 94 and Ser 96) is catalyzed by Erk in the Xenopus system. Although it was previously reported that Ser 113 is a Plx substrate, we were unable to observe phosphorylation of this residue in isolation by purified Plx. Rather, in contrast to previously published data, we have found that the penultimate CRS serine (Ser 101) is a Plx substrate. Collectively, these data demonstrate a new role for Erk in mitotic regulation, identify the Ser 101-directed kinase, and provide a picture of cyclin B1/Cdc2 regulation by the combinatorial action of distinct kinases.     

TGF-beta activates Erk MAP kinase signalling through direct phosphorylation of ShcA

Erk1/Erk2 MAP kinases are key regulators of cell behaviour and their activation is generally associated with tyrosine kinase signalling. However, TGF-beta stimulation also activates Erk MAP kinases through an undefined mechanism, albeit to a much lower level than receptor tyrosine kinase stimulation. We report that upon TGF-beta stimulation, the activated TGF-beta type I receptor (TbetaRI) recruits and directly phosphorylates ShcA proteins on tyrosine and serine. This dual phosphorylation results from an intrinsic TbetaRI tyrosine kinase activity that complements its well-defined serine-threonine kinase function. TGF-beta-induced ShcA phosphorylation induces ShcA association with Grb2 and Sos, thereby initiating the well-characterised pathway linking receptor tyrosine kinases with Erk MAP kinases. We also found that TbetaRI is tyrosine phosphorylated in response to TGF-beta. Thus, TbetaRI, like the TGF-beta type II receptor, is a dual-specificity kinase. Recruitment of tyrosine kinase signalling pathways may account for aspects of TGF-beta biology that are independent of Smad signalling.     

Loss of PTPN12 Stimulates Progression of ErbB2-Dependent Breast Cancer by Enhancing Cell Survival,Migration, and Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition

PTPN12 is a cytoplasmic protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) reported to be a tumor suppressor in breast cancer, through its capacity to dephosphorylate oncogenic receptor protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs), such as ErbB2. However, the precise molecular and cellular impact of PTPN12 deficiency in breast cancer progression remains to be fully clarified. Here, we addressed this issue by examining the effect of PTPN12 deficiency on breast cancer progression in vivo, in a mouse model of ErbB2-dependent breast cancer using a conditional PTPN12-deficient mouse. Our studies showed that lack of PTPN12 in breast epithelial cells accelerated breast cancer development and lung metastases in vivo. PTPN12-deficient breast cancer cells displayed enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of the adaptor Cas, the adaptor paxillin, and the kinase Pyk2. They exhibited no detectable increase in ErbB2 tyrosine phosphorylation. PTPN12-deficient cells were more resistant to anoikis and had augmented migratory and invasive properties. Enhanced migration was corrected by inhibiting Pyk2. PTPN12-deficient breast cancer cells also acquired partial features of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a feature of more aggressive forms of breast cancer. Hence, loss of PTPN12 promoted tumor progression in a mouse model of breast cancer, supporting the notion that PTPN12 is a tumor suppressor in human breast cancer. This function was related to the ability of PTPN12 to suppress cell survival, migration, invasiveness, and EMT and to inhibit tyrosine phosphorylation of Cas, Pyk2, and paxillin. These findings enhance our understanding of the role and mechanism of action of PTPN12 in the control of breast cancer progression.     

Paxillin phosphorylation and complexing with Erk and FAK are regulated by PLD activity in MDA-MB-231 cells

MDA-MB-231 cells are highly aggressive human breast adenocarcinoma cells that depend on PLD activity for survival. In response to the stress of serum withdrawal, there is increased motility and invasiveness of these cells that is associated with a rapid increase in PLD activity. In addition, PLD activity is elevated in response to most mitogenic signals. Similar to PLD, paxillin, a focal adhesion adaptor protein, and Erk, mitogen-activated protein kinase, play vital roles in cell motility through regulation of focal adhesion dynamics. Here, we addressed whether there is a functional correlation between paxillin and PLD that may influence cancer cell motility. We investigated the role of PLD activity on paxillin regulation, Erk activation and formation of a paxillin-Erk and paxillin-FAK association. Inhibition of PLD activity led to an increase in paxillin tyrosine phosphorylation, a decrease in Erk activation, as measured by phosphorylation, and enhanced association of paxillin with Erk. In addition, we found that paxillin tyrosine phosphorylation depends upon Erk activity and may be a consequence of an increased association with FAK. Taken together, these results suggest that Erk activity is governed by PLD activity and regulates the tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin, potentially explaining its role in cell motility. This study indicated that PLD, Erk, paxillin and FAK participate in the same signaling pathway in this breast cancer cell line.