Nerve growth factor-induced reduction in epidermal growth factor responsiveness and epidermal growth factor receptors in PC12 cells: an aspect of cell differentiation.

The rat pheochromocytoma clone PC12 responds to nerve growth factor through the expression of a number of differentiated neuronal properties. One of the most rapid changes is a large, transient increase in the activity of ornithine decarboxylase. These cells also show an increase in ornithine decarboxylase activity in response to the mitogen, epidermal growth factor, but do not respond morphologically as they do to nerve growth factor. Specific, high-affinity epidermal growth factor receptors are present on the cells. When the cells are differentiated with nerve growth factor, the response to epidermal growth factor is markedly diminished and there is a marked reduction in the binding of epidermal growth factor to the cells.     

Proteasomal inhibition alters the trafficking of the neurotrophin receptor TrkA

Neurotrophin receptors of the Trk family promote neuronal survival. The signal transduction of Trk receptors is regulated by endosomal trafficking. Monoubiquitination of receptor tyrosine kinases is an established signal for sorting of internalized receptors to late endosomes. The NGF receptor TrkA is sorted to late endosomes and undergoes ubiquitination, indicating a so far undefined regulatory role of proteasomal activity in the trafficking of TrkA. Surprisingly, we found that proteasomal inhibition alters the trafficking of TrkA from the late endosomal sorting pathway to the recycling pathway. Many neurodegenerative diseases are associated with impaired proteasomal activity. Thus, our study suggests that missorting of neurotrophic receptors might contribute to neuronal death in those neurodegenerative diseases that are known to be associated with impaired proteasomal function.     

Hepatocyte growth factor induces epithelial cell motility through transactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a potent inducer of motility in epithelial cells. Since we have previously found that activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is an absolute prerequisite for induction of motility of corneal epithelial cells after wounding, we investigated whether induction of motility in response to HGF is also dependent on activation of the EGFR. We now report that HGF induces transactivation of the EGFR in an immortalized line of corneal epithelial cells, in human skin keratinocytes, and in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. EGFR activation is unconditionally required for induction of motility in corneal epithelial cells, and for induction of a fully motile phenotype in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. Activation of the EGFR occurs through amphiregulin and heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor. Early after HGF stimulation, blocking EGFR activation does not inhibit extracellular-signal regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) activation by HGF, but the converse is seen after approximately 1 h, indicating the existence of EGFR-dependent and -independent routes of ERK1/2 activation. In summary, HGF induces transactivation of the EGFR in epithelial cells, and this is a prerequisite for induction of full motility.     

Activation mechanism of solubilized epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase.

Dimerization of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) leads to the activation of its tyrosine kinase. To elucidate whether dimerization is responsible for activation of the intracellular tyrosine kinase domain or just plays a role in the stabilization of the active form, the activated status of wild-type EGFR moiety in the heterodimer with kinase activity-deficient mutant receptors was investigated. The kinase activity of the wild-type EGFR was partially activated by EGF in the heterodimer with intracellular domain deletion (sEGFR) or ATP binding-deficient mutant (K721A) EGFRs, while the wild-type EGFR in the heterodimer of wild-type and phosphate transfer activity-deficient mutant receptor D813N could be fully activated. After treatment with EGF, the ATP binding affinity and the V(max) of the wild-type EGFR increased. In the presence of sEGFR, a similar increase in the affinity for ATP was observed, but V(max) did not change. A two-step activation mechanism for EGFR was proposed: upon binding of EGF, the affinity for ATP increased and then, as a result of interaction between the neighboring tyrosine kinase domain, V(max) increased.     

Glycosphingolipid behaviour in complex membranes

Glycosphingolipids, due to their tendency to form laterally separated liquid-ordered phases, possess a high potential for the creation of order in biological membranes. The formation of glycosphingolipid-rich domains within the membrane has profound consequences on the membrane organization at different levels, and on the conformational and biological properties of membrane-associated proteins and multimolecular protein complexes. In this review, we will discuss 1) how glycosphingolipids influence the lateral organization of biological membranes; 2) how glycosphingolipids influence the function of membrane-associated proteins.     

Involvement of the signal transduction pathway mediated by epidermal growth factor receptor in the differentiation of chicken glandular stomach

During the development of the chicken proventriculus (glandular stomach), the initially undifferentiated epithelium differentiates into two distinct cell populations: the glandular epithelium, cells of which secrete embryonic chicken pepsinogen (ECPg), and luminal epithelial cells, which express the chicken spasmolytic polypeptide gene (cSP). Based on knowledge of the adult mouse stomach, the ligands of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR) were expected to affect differentiation of the proventricular epithelium. When EGF was added to the medium in which proventriculi were cultured in vitro, gland formation was suppressed in a dose-dependent manner and the amount of ECPg mRNA decreased, whereas morphological differentiation of luminal epithelium was stimulated. Simultaneous treatment of the proventriculus with EGF and tyrphostin 47 resulted in the attenuation of the effect of EGF, suggesting that EGF, or other ligands of EGFR, may actually be involved in the normal course of development of the proventricular epithelium.     

EGFR基因在非小细胞肺癌、乳腺癌中突变的研究

表皮生长因子受体(EGFR)基因酪氨酸激酶域体细胞突变与非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)患者对酪氨酸激酶抑制剂吉非替尼敏感性密切相关。文章分析和检测本院75例非小细胞肺癌、10例乳腺癌患者石蜡包埋标本EGFR基因突变状况。采用PCR技术进行EGFR基因19和21外显子突变分析。结果显示:75例NSCLC患者中有13例(13/75,17.33%)酪氨酸激酶域存在体细胞突变。其中7例(7/75,9.33%)为19外显子缺失突变,6例(6/75,8%)为21外显子替代突变(2573T>G,L858R)。病理分型显示,腺癌突变率高于其他几种类型NSCLC。乳腺癌患者均为免疫组化HER-2阳性女性,EGFR基因的19、21外显子中未见突变发生。中国非小细胞肺癌患者总突变率高于高加索人种,女性患者较男性患者突变率高,提示肺腺癌的患者突变率高可能在吉非替尼的治疗中获益。     

Different Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Agonists Produce Unique Signatures for the Recruitment of Downstream Signaling Proteins

The EGF receptor can bind seven different agonist ligands. Although each agonist appears to stimulate the same suite of downstream signaling proteins, different agonists are capable of inducing distinct responses in the same cell. To determine the basis for these differences, we used luciferase fragment complementation imaging to monitor the recruitment of Cbl, CrkL, Gab1, Grb2, PI3K, p52 Shc, p66 Shc, and Shp2 to the EGF receptor when stimulated by the seven EGF receptor ligands. Recruitment of all eight proteins was rapid, dose-dependent, and inhibited by erlotinib and lapatinib, although to differing extents. Comparison of the time course of recruitment of the eight proteins in response to a fixed concentration of each growth factor revealed differences among the growth factors that could contribute to their differing biological effects. Principal component analysis of the resulting data set confirmed that the recruitment of these proteins differed between agonists and also between different doses of the same agonist. Ensemble clustering of the overall response to the different growth factors suggests that these EGF receptor ligands fall into two major groups as follows: (i) EGF, amphiregulin, and EPR; and (ii) betacellulin, TGFα, and epigen. Heparin-binding EGF is distantly related to both clusters. Our data identify differences in network utilization by different EGF receptor agonists and highlight the need to characterize network interactions under conditions other than high dose EGF.     

A novel bispecific diabody targeting both vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 and epidermal growth factor receptor for enhanced antitumor activity

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) are receptor tyrosine kinases known to play critical roles in the development and progression of tumors. Based on the cross‐talk between EGFR and VEGFR2 signal pathways, we designed and produced a bispecific diabody (bDAb) targeting both EGFR and VEGFR2 simultaneously. The bispecific molecule (EK‐02) demonstrated that it could bind to HUVEC (VEGFR2 high‐expressing) and A431 (EGFR overexpressing) cells. Additionally, similar to the parental antibodies, it was able to inhibit proliferation and migration, and induced apoptosis in these cells (HUVECs and A431), demonstrating that it had retained the functional properties of its parental antibodies. Furthermore, the efficacy of EK‐02 was evaluated using the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line HT29 (VEGFR2 and EGFR coexpressing). In vitro assay showed that EK‐02 could bind to HT29 cells, restrain cell growth and migration, and induce apoptosis with enhanced efficacy compared to both parental antibodies. Further, it inhibited the neovascularization and tumor formation on an HT29 cell bearing chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) tumor model in vivo. In conclusion, these data suggest that the novel bDAb (EK‐02) has antiangiogenesis and antitumor capacity both in vitro and in vivo, and can possibly be used as cotargeted therapy for the treatment of EGFR and VEGFR2 overexpressing tumors. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 32:294–302, 2016     

Serum levels of the extracellular domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor in individuals exposed to arsenic in drinking water in Bangladesh

Epidermal growth factor receptor-dependent mechanisms have been implicated in growth signal transduction pathways that contribute to cancer development, including dermal carcinogenesis. Detection of the extracellular domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR ECD) in serum has been suggested as a potential biomarker for monitoring this effect in vivo. Arsenic is a known human carcinogen, producing skin and other malignancies in populations exposed through their drinking water. One such exposed population, which we have been studying for a number of years, is in Bangladesh. The purpose of this study was to examine the EGFR ECD as a potential biomarker of arsenic exposure and/or effect in this population. Levels of the EGFR ECD were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the serum samples from 574 individuals with a range of arsenic exposures from drinking water in the Araihazar area of Bangladesh. In multiple regression analysis, serum EGFR ECD was found to be positively associated with three different measures of arsenic exposure (well water arsenic, urinary arsenic and a cumulative arsenic index) at statistically significant levels (p≤0.034), and this association was strongest among the individuals with arsenic-induced skin lesions (p ≤ 0.002). When the study subjects were stratified in tertiles of serum EGFR ECD levels, the risk of skin lesions increased progressively for each increase in all three arsenic measures (also stratified in tertiles) and this increasing risk became more pronounced among subjects within the highest tertile of EGFR ECD levels. These results suggest that serum EGFR ECD levels may be a potential biomarker of effect of arsenic exposure and may indicate those exposed individuals at greatest risk for the development of arsenic-induced skin lesions.     

Serum levels of the extracellular domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor in individuals exposed to arsenic in drinking water in Bangladesh

Epidermal growth factor receptor-dependent mechanisms have been implicated in growth signal transduction pathways that contribute to cancer development, including dermal carcinogenesis. Detection of the extracellular domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR ECD) in serum has been suggested as a potential biomarker for monitoring this effect in vivo. Arsenic is a known human carcinogen, producing skin and other malignancies in populations exposed through their drinking water. One such exposed population, which we have been studying for a number of years, is in Bangladesh. The purpose of this study was to examine the EGFR ECD as a potential biomarker of arsenic exposure and/or effect in this population. Levels of the EGFR ECD were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the serum samples from 574 individuals with a range of arsenic exposures from drinking water in the Araihazar area of Bangladesh. In multiple regression analysis, serum EGFR ECD was found to be positively associated with three different measures of arsenic exposure (well water arsenic, urinary arsenic and a cumulative arsenic index) at statistically significant levels (p≤0.034), and this association was strongest among the individuals with arsenic-induced skin lesions (p ≤ 0.002). When the study subjects were stratified in tertiles of serum EGFR ECD levels, the risk of skin lesions increased progressively for each increase in all three arsenic measures (also stratified in tertiles) and this increasing risk became more pronounced among subjects within the highest tertile of EGFR ECD levels. These results suggest that serum EGFR ECD levels may be a potential biomarker of effect of arsenic exposure and may indicate those exposed individuals at greatest risk for the development of arsenic-induced skin lesions.     

Short form of the heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor: Communication II

The structure of the green monkey Chlorocebus aethiops heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) gene was compared with that of the corresponding human gene. Exon 3a, characteristic of the short form of HB-EGF (SF-HB-EGF), was mapped between exons 3 and 4, approximately 700 bp away from the latter. In several human and simian cell lines, most of the SF-HB-EGF mRNA proved to lack exons 4 and 5, specific to the HB-EGF mRNA. In contrast to the HB-EGF mRNA, the SF-HB-EGF mRNA occurred predominantly in the P, rather than L, form, which codes for a protein with a different propeptide structure. Labeled SF-HB-EGF competed with HB-EGF and EGF for binding to the surface of A431 cells, suggesting its interaction with the specific EGF receptor. The results indicate that SF-HB-EGF plays a specific role in cell signaling.     

Ventricular injection of nerve growth factor increases dopamine content in the striata of MPTP-treated mice

Experimental depletion of dopaminergic striatal neurons was induced in mice with the neurotoxin MPTP. To investigate a possible effect of nerve growth factor on the damaged neurons, we injected 4 g into the right cerebral ventricle of mice three days after the last administration of MPTP. We found a significant increase of dopamine and homovanillic acid in the striatum of MPTP treated mice after NGF administration when compared with dopamine and HVA levels in MPTP-treated control mice (p<0.001). The increase of dopamine and homovanillic acid seems to be related to a partial restorative effect of NGF on the damaged dopaminergic cells, since ventricular administration of NGF to normal mice did not increase dopamine or homovanillic acid contents above the levels measured in untreated controls. It appears that administration of nerve growth factor prcduces a beneficial effect on damaged dopaminergic neurons; this effect could be due to stimulation of neuron sprouting from neurons that survived the toxic effect of MPTP. The increase of dopamine levels was seen 8 days after injection of nerve growth factor and was maintained at least until day 25, showing a lasting persistence of the restorative effect.     

Localization of nerve growth factor receptor mRNA in the rat basal forebrain within situ hybridization histochemistry

1. In situ hybridization histochemistry was used to localize nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR) mRNA in the adult rat basal forebrain. 2. In emulsion-dipped sections 35S-labeled RNA antisense probes produced a high density of silver grains over cells located in the medial septum, vertical and horizontal limbs of the diagonal band of Broca, and nucleus basalis. 3. This distribution of NGFR mRNA overlaps with the distribution of NGFR protein localized using immunocytochemical techniques. 4. No hybridization signal was detected when sections were hybridized with a 35S-labeled RNA sense (control) probe. 5. We suggest that NGFRs are synthesized in these basal forebrain nuclei and transported to terminal areas where NGF is thought to be bound and internalized, an initial step in the many actions of this neurotrophic factor.     

恶性转化的成纤维细胞表皮生长因子受体的研究

本文用受体的放射性配基结合分析方法观察了C_3H小鼠胚胎成纤维细胞C_3H_(10)T1/2 CL8(简称NC_3H_(10))和~3H-TdR恶性转化的C_3H_(10)T1/2CL8(简称TC_3H_(10))的表皮生长因子受体(EGFR)。结果表明细胞恶性转化前后的EGFR都存在高亲和力和低亲和力两种结合位点,细胞恶性转化后能结合表皮生长因子的EGFR结合位点减少,Western blotting和受体的亲和交联分析表明EGFR的分子量为170kD,是单链多肽。     

阿霉素肾病大鼠表皮生长因子及其受体的表达

目的研究阿霉素肾病大鼠肾组织中表皮生长因子(EGF)及其受体EGFR的表达分布以及表达量与尿蛋白之间关系。方法选择第5天、14天、28天作为动态观察的时点,同期设立正常对照。采用荧光定量RT-PCR、免疫组织化学及计算机图像定量分析EGF mRNA以及EGF、EGFR蛋白在肾组织的表达,同时测定24 h尿蛋白定量。WT1和EGFR双重免疫组化确定EGFR在肾小球内确切细胞定位。结果阿霉素注射后第5天,EGFmRNA即较正常增高,28 d明显增高并高于5 d和14 d。正常对照组EGF阳性细胞主要分布于远曲小管和髓袢,阿霉素组EGF还在集合管和近曲小管上表达;EGF阳性表达范围和强度随尿蛋白增加而增加;EGFmRNA表达量以及EGF在肾小管中的表达强度与24 h尿蛋白量呈正相关。肾小管上皮细胞广泛表达EGFR,阿霉素组EGFR在小管表达均高于正常,但组间各时点差异无显著性;随尿蛋白增加EGFR在肾小球内表达逐渐增多。EGFR在肾小球和肾小管中的表达强度均与24 h尿蛋白量呈正相关。WT1和EGFR双重免疫组化显示阿霉素肾病组EGFR可在足突细胞上表达,正常组则无。结论阿霉素肾病大鼠的肾小球脏层上皮有EGFR的表达。EGF/EGFR可能参与了阿霉素肾病的发病过程以及蛋白尿的形成。     

蛇毒神经生长因子促进周围神经再生的诱发电位观察

目的：研究蛇毒神经生长因子（sNGF)对大鼠坐骨神经损伤后诱发电位的影响,评价蛇毒神经生长因子在促进周围神经再生中的作用。方法：建立大鼠坐骨神经钳夹模型,局部滴加药物和术后肌注sNGF,通过脊髓诱发电位（SEP）,运动诱发电位（MEP）评定,观察坐骨神经修复情况。结果：sNGF治疗后可使伤后SEP,MEP提早出现,结论：蛇毒提取的NGF对大鼠坐骨神经损伤修复具有促进作用。     

Role of N-glycans in growth factor signaling

Secreted proteins and membrane proteins are frequently post-translationally modified by oligosaccharides. Therefore, many glycoproteins are involved in signal transduction. One example is growth factor receptors, which are membrane proteins that often contain oligosaccharides. The oligosaccharides in those growth factor receptors play crucial roles in receptor functions. An analysis of glycosyltransferase-transfectants revealed that the branching structures of oligosaccharide also serve as important determinants. For example, N-glycans of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are involved in receptor sorting, ligand binding and dimerization. The addition of a bisecting GlcNAc to N-glycans increases the endocytosis of EGFR. N-glycans of Trk, a high affinity nerve growth factor receptor, also affect its function. Thus, oligosaccharides play an important role in growth factor signaling.