Cell-cycle arrest in TrkA-expressing NIH3T3 cells involves nitric oxide synthase

We have examined nerve growth factor (NGF)-triggered signaling in two NIH3T3 cell lines exogenously expressing the NGF receptor, TrkA. TRK1 cells cease to proliferate and extend long processes in response to NGF, while E25 cells continue to proliferate in the presence of NGF. These two cell lines express similar levels of TrkA and respond to NGF with rapid elevation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity. MAPK activation is slightly more sustained for E25 cells than for TRK1 cells, although sustained activation of MAPK has been suggested to cause cell-cycle arrest. As judged by NADPH-diaphorase staining, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity is increased in TRK1 cells upon exposure to NGF. In contrast, diaphorase staining in E25 cells is unaffected by NGF treatment. Immunocytochemistry shows that levels of the brain NOS (bNOS) isoform are increased in TRK1, but not E25, cells exposed to NGF. Furthermore, Western blots show that NGF elevated cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, p21(WAF1), in TRK1 cells only. NGF-induced p21(WAF1) expression, cell-cycle arrest and process extension are abolished by N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a competitive inhibitor of NOS. The inactive enantiomer, D-NAME, did not inhibit these responses. Furthermore, even though E25 cells do not respond to NGF or nitric oxide donors, they do undergo a morphological change in response to NGF plus a nitric oxide donor. Therefore, NOS and p21(WAF1) are induced only in the TrkA-expressing NIH3T3 cell line that undergoes cell-cycle arrest and morphological changes in response to NGF. These results demonstrate that sustained activation of MAPK is not the sole determining factor for NGF-induced cell-cycle arrest and implicate NO in the cascade of events leading to NGF-induced morphological changes and cell-cycle arrest.     

The trkB tyrosine protein kinase is a receptor for brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurotrophin-3.

trkB is a tyrosine protein kinase gene highly related to trk, a proto-oncogene that encodes a receptor for nerve growth factor (NGF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3). trkB expression is confined to structures of the central and peripheral nervous systems, suggesting it also encodes a receptor for neurotrophic factors. Here we show that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and NT-3, but not NGF, can induce rapid phosphorylation on tyrosine of gp145trkB, one of the receptors encoded by trkB. BDNF and NT-3 can induce DNA synthesis in quiescent NIH 3T3 cells that express gp145trkB. Cotransfection of plasmids encoding gp145trkB and BDNF or NT-3 leads to transformation of recipient NIH 3T3 cells. In these assays, BDNF elicits a response at least two orders of magnitude higher than NT-3. Finally, 125I-NT-3 binds to NIH 3T3 cells expressing gp145trkB; binding can be competed by NT-3 and BDNF but not by NGF. These findings indicate that gp145trkB may function as a neurotrophic receptor for BDNF and NT-3.     

Transformation by T-antigen and other oncogenes delays Hsp25 accumulation in heat shocked NIH 3T3 fibroblasts

We have recently reported that transformation of murine NIH 3T3 cells by v-fos oncogene interfered with Hsp70 and Hsp25 accumulation after heat shock. Here, we have investigated the effect mediated by other oncogenes on the accumulation of these stress proteins. We report that T-antigen transformation of NIH 3T3 cells delayed and reduced the accumulation of Hsp25 after heat shock and decreased the heat-mediated phosphorylation of this protein. This decreased level of Hsp25 correlated with a reduced accumulation of the corresponding mRNA and was related to T-antigen level. In contrast, T-antigen had no effect on the expression of the major stress protein Hsp70 nor did it interfere with the level of Hsp90 or Hsp60. We report also that v-src or Ha-ras oncogenes delayed Hsp25 accumulation after heat shock but that only v-src reduced the heat-induced phosphorylation of this protein. v-src, but not Ha-ras, interfered with Hsp70 expression and none of these oncogenes had an effect on Hsp60 or Hsp90 levels. Taken together, these observations suggest that an altered accumulation of Hsp25 after heat shock is a common characteristic of NIH 3T3 fibroblasts transformed by different oncogenes.     

Inhibition of the cellular actions of nerve growth factor by staurosporine and K252A results from the attenuation of the activity of the trk tyrosine kinase.

The protein kinase inhibitors staurosporine and K252A inhibit some of the cellular actions of nerve growth factor (NGF). To explore the molecular mechanisms involved, we test the ability of these agents to block one of the earliest cellular responses to NGF, protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Concentrations of 10-100 nM staurosporine and K252A inhibit NGF-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation in PC12 cells and inhibit trk oncogene-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation in trk-transformed NIH3T3 (trk-3T3 cells). In contrast, these compounds are without effect on epidermal growth factor (EGF)-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation in PC12 cells. NGF-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of the pp140c-trk NGF receptor and tyrosine phosphorylation of pp70trk are also inhibited by similar concentrations of staurosporine and K252A, whereas tyrosine phosphorylation of the EGF receptor, insulin receptor, and v-src is not affected. Both staurosporine and K252A inhibit the autophosphorylation of pp70trk on tyrosine residues in an in vitro immune complex kinase reaction. Incubation of trk-3T3 cells with 10 nM staurosporine causes rounded transformed cells to revert to a normal flattened phenotype, whereas src-transformed cells are unaffected by this agent. These data suggest that staurosporine and K252A specifically inhibit the trk tyrosine kinase activity through a direct mechanism, probably accounting for the attenuation by these agents of the cellular actions of NGF.     

Hepatocyte growth factor induces delayed STAT3 phosphorylation through interleukin-6 expression

Met receptor tyrosine kinase mediates pleiotropic cellular responses following its activation by hepatocyte growth factor or scatter factor (HGF/SF). STAT3 was reported to be one of direct downstream molecules in HGF/SF-Met signaling. In the present study, however, we observed that Tyr705 of STAT3 was phosphorylated from 2 h or 6 h in NIH3T3 and Chang liver cells, respectively, after HGF/SF treatment. Blocking of the phosphorylation by cycloheximide or actinomycin D and the rapid STAT3 phosphorylation with the conditioned medium from HGF/SF-treated NIH3T3 cells suggested that a newly synthesized secretory protein was responsible for the delayed STAT3 phosphorylation. Among the known mediators to induce STAT3 phosphorylation, interleukin-6 (IL-6) mRNA and protein were induced by HGF/SF, and the released IL-6 was accumulated in the conditioned medium after HGF/SF treatment. Furthermore, the neutralizing IL-6 antibody abolished the STAT3 phosphorylation. Treatment with LY294002, a PI3 kinase inhibitor, but not with other signal inhibitors, resulted in the loss of delayed STAT3 phosphorylation by HGF/SF, showing the involvement of PI3 kinase pathway. Collectively, these results demonstrate that HGF/SF-Met signal cascade stimulates IL-6 production via PI3 kinase pathway, leading to STAT3 phosphorylation as a secondary effect.     

H2O2-induced activation of transcription factors STAT1 and STAT3: the role of EGF receptor and tyrosine kinase JAK2

Reactive oxygen species initiate multiple signal transduction pathways including tyrosine kinase signaling. Here, we demonstrate tyrosine phosphorylation of EGF receptor, STAT3, and, to a lesser extent, STAT1 upon H2O2 treatment of HER14 cells (NIH3T3 fibroblasts transfected with full-length EGF receptor). Maximum phosphorylation levels were observed in 5 min of stimulation at 1-2 mM H2O2. It has been shown that the intrinsic EGF-receptor tyrosine kinase is responsible for the receptor phosphorylation upon H2O2 stimulation. STAT3 and STAT1 activation in HER14 cells was demonstrated to depend on EGF receptor kinase activity, rather than JAK2 activity, while in both K721A and CD126 cells (NIH3T3 transfected with kinase-dead EGF receptor, and EGF receptor lacking major autophosphorylation sites, respectively) STAT1 and STAT3 tyrosine phosphorylation requires JAK2 kinase activity. Furthermore, STAT3 is constitutively phosphorylated in K721A and CD126 cells, and STAT1 H2O2-stimulated activation in these cells is much more prominent than in HER14. In all the cell lines used, Src-kinase activity was demonstrated to be unnecessary for ROS-initiated phosphorylation of STATs. Herein, we postulate that EGF receptor plays a role in H2O2-induced STAT activation in HER14 cells. Our data also prompted a hypothesis of constitutive inhibition of JAK2-dependent STAT activation in this cell line.     

Activation of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase by nerve growth factor involves indirect coupling of the trk proto-oncogene with src homology 2 domains.

Growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases can form stable associations with intracellular proteins that contain src homology (SH) 2 domains, including the p85 regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol (PI)-3 kinase. The activation of this enzyme by growth factors is evaluated in PC12 pheochromocytoma cells and NIH 3T3 fibroblasts expressing the pp140c-trk nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor (3T3-c-trk). NGF causes the rapid stimulation of PI-3 kinase activity detected in anti-phosphotyrosine, but not in anti-trk, immunoprecipitates. This effect coincides with the tyrosine phosphorylation of two proteins, with molecular masses of of 100 kd and 110 kd, that coimmunoprecipitate with p85. Similar phosphorylation patterns are induced when an immobilized fusion protein containing the amino-terminal SH2 domain of p85 is used to precipitate tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins. Thus, although NGF produces the rapid activation of PI-3 kinase through a mechanism that involves tyrosine phosphorylation, there is no evidence for tyrosine phosphorylation of p85, or for its ligand-dependent association with the NGF receptor. Perhaps another phosphoprotein may link the NGF receptor to this enzyme.     

Involvement of fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 isoform switching in mammary oncogenesis

We identified the IIIb C2 epithelial cell-specific splice variant of fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2 IIIb C2) receptor tyrosine kinase in a screen for activated oncogenes expressed in T-47D human breast carcinoma cells. We found FGFR2 IIIb C2 expression in breast carcinoma cell lines and, additionally, expression of the mesenchymal-specific FGFR2 IIIc splice variant in invasive breast carcinomas. FGFR2 IIIc expression was associated with loss of epithelial markers and gain of mesenchymal markers. Although FGFR2 IIIb is expressed in epithelial cells, previous studies on FGFR2 IIIb transformation have focused on NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. Therefore, we compared the transforming activities of FGFR2 IIIb C2 in RIE-1 intestinal cells and several mammary epithelial cells. FGFR2 IIIb C2 caused growth transformation of epithelial cells but morphologic transformation of only NIH 3T3 cells. FGFR2 IIIb C2-transformed NIH 3T3, but not RIE-1 cells, showed persistent activation of Ras and increased cyclin D1 protein expression. NIH 3T3 but not RIE-1 cells express keratinocyte growth factor, a ligand for FGFR2 IIIb C2. Ectopic treatment with keratinocyte growth factor caused FGFR2 IIIb C2-dependent morphologic transformation of RIE-1 cells, as well as cyclin D1 up-regulation, indicating that both ligand-independent and stromal cell-derived, ligand-dependent mechanisms contribute to RIE-1 cell transformation. Our results support cell context distinct mechanisms of FGFR2 IIIb C2 transformation.     

Differential regulation of the p72-74 RAF-1 kinase in 3T3 fibroblasts expressing ras or src oncogenes

The c-raf-1 protooncogene encodes a p72-74 serine/threonine-specific kinase that has been implicated in growth factor-mediated signal transduction and malignant transformation. Here, we compared the effects of Ha-c-ras and v-src oncogenes on the regulation of p72-74 RAF-1 kinase in NIH3T3 cells. In both serum-starved and platelet-derived growth factor-treated v-src-transformed cells, the RAF-1 kinase was constitutively activated, displaying characteristic retarded mobility in electrophoretic gels and elevated activity in in vitro kinase assays. In contrast, the RAF-1 protein from quiescent ras-transformed cells did not exhibit constitutively shifted gel mobility or elevated kinase activity but did respond normally with regard to platelet-derived growth factor- and phorbol myristate acetate-induced changes in p72-74 RAF-1 phosphorylation and kinase activity. 3T3 cells transformed by ras, however, contained elevated levels of p72-74 RAF-1 protein (as determined by immunoblotting), suggesting an indirect influence on this kinase. Quantitative differences in the levels and subcellular distribution of immunodetectable protein kinase C enzymes did not account for the differences between src- and ras-transformed 3T3 cells with regard to regulation of the RAF kinase. These findings in serum-deprived 3T3 cells demonstrate that expression of a ras oncogene can be insufficient for full activation of the p72-74 RAF-1 kinase, implying necessity for an additional growth factor-mediated stimulus.     

Nerve growth factor stimulates the tyrosine phosphorylation of a 38-kDa protein that specifically associates with the src homology domain of phospholipase C-gamma 1.

The cellular actions of nerve growth factor (NGF) involve changes in protein phosphorylation, initiated by the binding and subsequent activation of its tyrosine kinase receptor, the trk protooncogene (pp140c-trk). Upon exposure to NGF, a 38-kDa tyrosine-phosphorylated protein (pp38) is identified in both PC-12 pheochromocytoma cells and NIH3T3 cells transfected with the full-length human pp140c-trk cDNA (3T3-c-trk) that is specifically coimmunoprecipitated with pp140c-trk or phosphatidylinositol-phospholipase C (PLC)-gamma 1. In both PC-12 and 3T3-c-trk cells, NGF rapidly stimulates the association of pp140c-trk and pp38 with a fusion protein containing the src homology (SH) domains of PLC gamma 1. This phosphorylation and subsequent association are specific for NGF, since epidermal growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, and insulin do not stimulate the tyrosine phosphorylation of these proteins or their association with the PLC gamma 1 SH domains, although the receptors for these growth factors do undergo tyrosine phosphorylation and association with the PLC-gamma 1 fusion protein under these conditions. Furthermore, the NGF-dependent pp38-SH binding is specific for the SH2 domains of PLC-gamma 1, since the phosphoprotein does not bind to fusion proteins containing SH domains of ras GTPase-activating protein or the p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase. Both amino- and carboxyl-terminal SH2 domains of PLC-gamma 1 are necessary for the association of pp38 with PLC-gamma 1, although each SH2 domain is sufficient for the association of pp140c-trk with PLC-gamma 1. In both PC-12 and 3T3-c-trk cells, the phosphorylation and association of pp38 with PLC gamma 1 is rapid, occurring maximally at 1 min and declining thereafter. Moreover, this effect of NGF is dose-dependent over a physiological concentration of the growth factor. The specificity and rapidity of pp38 phosphorylation and its association with PLC-gamma 1 suggest that it may be an important component in signal transduction for NGF.     

Phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase at Tyrosine 407 negatively regulates Ras transformation of fibroblasts

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) mediates signal transduction in response to multiple extracellular inputs, via tyrosine phosphorylation at specific residues. We recently reported that FAK Tyr-407 phosphorylation negatively regulates the enzymatic and biological activities of FAK, unlike phosphorylation of other tyrosine residues. In this study, we further investigated the effect of FAK Tyr-407 phosphorylation on cell transformation. We found that FAK Tyr-407 phosphorylation was lower in H-Ras transformed NIH3T3 and K-Ras transformed rat-2 fibroblasts than in the respective untransformed control cells. Consistently, FAK Tyr-407 phosphorylation was decreased in parallel with cell transformation in H-Ras-inducible NIH3T3 cells and increased during trichostatin A-induced detransformation of both K-Ras transformed rat-2 fibroblasts and H-Ras transformed NIH3T3 cells. In addition, overexpression of a phosphorylation-mimicking FAK Tyr-407 mutant inhibited morphological transformation of H-Ras-inducible NIH3T3 cells and inhibited invasion activity and anchorage-independent growth of H-Ras-transformed NIH3T3 cells. Taken together, these data strongly suggest that FAK Tyr-407 phosphorylation negatively regulates transformation of fibroblasts.     

The SH2/SH3 domain-containing protein Nck is recognized by certain anti-phospholipase C-gamma 1 monoclonal antibodies, and its phosphorylation on tyrosine is stimulated by platelet-derived growth factor and epidermal growth factor treatment.

In the course of our investigation of phospholipase C (PLC)-gamma 1 phosphorylation by using a set of anti-PLC-gamma 1 monoclonal antibodies (P.-G. Suh, S. H. Ryu, W. C. Choi, K.-Y. Lee, and S. G. Rhee, J. Biol. Chem. 263:14497-14504, 1988), we found that some of these antibodies directly recognize a 47-kDa protein. We show here that this 47-kDa protein is identical to the SH2/SH3-containing protein Nck (J. M. Lehmann, G. Riethmuller, and J. P. Johnson, Nucleic Acids Res. 18:1048, 1990). Nck was found to be constitutively phosphorylated on serine in resting NIH 3T3 cells. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) treatment led to increased Nck phosphorylation on both tyrosine and serine. Nck was also found to be phosphorylated on tyrosine in epidermal growth factor (EGF)-treated A431 cells and in v-Src-transformed NIH 3T3 cells. Multiple sites of serine phosphorylation were detected in Nck from resting cells, and no novel sites were found upon PDGF or EGF treatment. A single major tyrosine phosphorylation site was found in Nck in both PDGF- and EGF-treated cells and in v-Src-transformed cells. This same tyrosine was phosphorylated in vitro by purified PDGF and EGF receptors and also by pp60c-src. We compared the phosphorylation of Nck and PLC-gamma 1 in several cell lines transformed by oncogenes with different modes of transformation. Although PLC-gamma 1 and Nck have significant amino acid identity, particularly in their SH3 regions, and both associate with growth factor receptors in a ligand-dependent manner, they were not always phosphorylated on tyrosine in a coincident manner.