Stimulation of leukemia inhibitory factor receptor degradation by extracellular signal-regulated kinase

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) signals via the heterodimeric receptor complex comprising the LIF receptor alpha subunit (LIFRalpha) and the common signal transducing subunit for interleukin-6 cytokine receptors, gp130. This study demonstrates that in different cell types, the level of LIFRalpha decreases during treatment with LIF or the closely related cytokine oncostatin M (OSM). Moreover, insulin and epidermal growth factor induce a similar LIFRalpha down-regulation. The regulated loss of LIFRalpha is specific since neither gp130 nor OSM receptor beta shows a comparable change in turnover. LIFRalpha down-regulation correlates with reduced cell responsiveness to LIF. Using protein kinase inhibitors and point mutations in LIFRalpha, we demonstrate that LIFRalpha down-regulation depends on activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and phosphorylation of the cytoplasmic domain of LIFRalpha at serine 185. This modification appears to promote the endosomal/lysosomal pathway of the LIFRalpha. These results suggest that extracellular signal-regulated kinase-activating factors like OSM and growth factors have the potential to lower specifically LIF responsiveness in vivo by regulating LIFRalpha half-life.     

Identification of a gp130 cytokine receptor critical site involved in oncostatin M response

Gp130 cytokine receptor is involved in the formation of multimeric functional receptors for interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-11, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), oncostatin M (OSM), ciliary neurotrophic factor, and cardiotrophin-1. Cloning of the epitope recognized by an OSM-neutralizing anti-gp130 monoclonal antibody identified a portion of gp130 receptor localized in the EF loop of the cytokine binding domain. Site-directed mutagenesis of the corresponding region was carried out by alanine substitution of residues 186-198. To generate type 1 or type 2 OSM receptors, gp130 mutants were expressed together with either LIF receptor beta or OSM receptor beta. When positions Val-189/Tyr-190 and Phe-191/Val-192 were alanine-substituted, Scatchard analyses indicated a complete abrogation of OSM binding to both type receptors. Interestingly, binding of LIF to type 1 receptor was not affected, corroborating the notion that in this case gp130 mostly behaves as a converter protein rather than a binding receptor. The present study demonstrates that positions 189-192 of gp130 cytokine binding domain are essential for OSM binding to both gp130/LIF receptor beta and gp130/OSM receptor beta heterocomplexes.     

Soluble gp130 is the natural inhibitor of soluble interleukin-6 receptor transsignaling responses.

Signal transduction in response to interleukin-6 (IL-6) requires binding of the cytokine to its receptor (IL-6R) and subsequent homodimerization of the signal transducer gp130. The complex of IL-6 and soluble IL-6R (sIL-6R) triggers dimerization of gp130 and induces responses on cells that do not express membrane bound IL-6R. Naturally occurring soluble gp130 (sgp130) can be found in a ternary complex with IL-6 and sIL-6R. We created recombinant sgp130 proteins that showed binding to IL-6 in complex with sIL-6R and inhibited IL-6/sIL-6R induced proliferation of BAF/3 cells expressing gp130. Surprisingly, sgp130 proteins did not affect IL-6 stimulated proliferation of BAF/3 cells expressing gp130 and membrane bound IL-6R, indicating that sgp130 did not interfere with IL-6 bound to IL-6R on the cell surface. Additionally, sgp130 partially inhibited proliferation induced by leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and oncostatin M (OSM) albeit at higher concentrations. Recombinant sgp130 protein could be used to block the anti-apoptotic effect of sIL-6R on lamina propria cells from Crohn disease patients. We conclude that sgp130 is the natural inhibitor of IL-6 responses dependent on sIL-6R. Furthermore, recombinant sgp130 is expected to be a valuable therapeutic tool to specifically block disease states in which sIL-6R transsignaling responses exist, e.g. in morbus Crohn disease.     

Receptor subunit-specific action of oncostatin M in hepatic cells and its modulation by leukemia inhibitory factor

The related cytokines, interleukin-6 (IL-6), oncostatin M (OSM), and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) direct the formation of specific heteromeric receptor complexes to achieve signaling. Each complex includes the common signal-transducing subunit gp130. OSM and LIF also recruit the signaling competent, but structurally distinct OSMRbeta and LIFRalpha subunits, respectively. To test the hypothesis that the particularly prominent cell regulation by OSM is due to signals contributed by OSMRbeta, we introduced stable expression of human or mouse OSMRbeta in rat hepatoma cells which have endogenous receptors for IL-6 and LIF, but not OSM. Both mouse and human OSM engaged gp130 with their respective OSMRbeta subunits, but only human OSM also acted through LIFR. Signaling by OSMRbeta-containing receptors was characterized by highest activation of STAT5 and ERK, recruitment of the insulin receptor substrate and Jun-N-terminal kinase pathways, and induction of a characteristic pattern of acute phase proteins. Since LIF together with LIFRalpha appear to form a more stable complex with gp130 than OSM with gp130 and OSMRbeta, co-activation of LIFR and OSMR resulted in a predominant LIF-like response. These results suggest that signaling by IL-6 cytokines is not identical, and that a hierarchical order of cytokine receptor action exists in which LIFR ranks as dominant member.     

Interleukin-6 signal transducer gp130 mediates oncostatin M signaling.

Oncostatin M (OM) is a multifunctional cytokine that is structurally and functionally related to interleukin 6 (IL-6) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). The specific receptor for OM has been demonstrated (by chemical cross-linking) to be a 150-kDa protein in a number of cell lines. The IL-6 signal transducer, gp130, is also an affinity converter for the LIF receptor. It does not bind to either IL-6 or LIF, but associates with the alpha subunits of the receptors and transduces the signals. We examined the possible involvement of gp130 in OM binding and signaling. We demonstrate that: (a) anti-gp130 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) block the inhibitory effect of OM on A375 cell growth, (b) the binding and cross-linking of 125I-OM to H2981 cells are completely abolished by anti-gp130 mAbs, (c) the cross-linked OM-receptor complex is immunoprecipitated by anti-gp130 mAbs, and (d) COS-7 cells transfected with the full-length cDNA encoding gp130 exhibit increased OM binding and cross-linking, which are also blocked by anti-gp130 mAbs. Therefore, we conclude that the 150-kDa OM binding protein previously characterized in a variety of cell lines is gp130. OM is the natural ligand for gp130 and gp130 mediates the biological responses of OM.     

The carboxyl-terminal domains of gp130-related cytokine receptors are necessary for suppressing embryonic stem cell differentiation. Involvement of STAT3

Cell type-specific responses to the leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF)/interleukin 6 cytokine family are mediated by dimerization of the LIF receptor alpha-chain (LIFRalpha) with the signal transducer gp130 or of two gp130 molecules followed by activation of the JAK/STAT and Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades. In order to dissect the contribution of gp130 and LIFRalpha individually, chimeric molecules consisting of the extracellular domain of the granulocyte colony stimulating factor receptor (GCSF-R) and various mutant forms of the cytoplasmic domains of gp130 or LIFRalpha were expressed in embryonic stem (ES) cells to test for suppression of differentiation, or in a factor-dependent plasma cytoma cell line to assess for induction of proliferation. Carboxyl-terminal domains downstream of the phosphatase (SHP2)-binding sites were dispensable for mitogen-activated protein kinase activation and the transduction of proliferative signals. Moreover, carboxyl-terminal truncation mutants which lacked intact Box 3 homology domains showed decreased STAT3 activation, failed to induce Hck kinase activity and suppress ES cell differentiation. Moreover, STAT3 antisense oligonucleotides impaired LIF-dependent inhibition of differentiation. Substitution of the tyrosine residue within the Box 3 region of the GSCF-R abolished receptor-mediated suppression of differentiation without affecting the transduction of proliferative signals. Thus, distinct cytoplasmic domains within the LIFRalpha, gp130, and GCSF-R transduce proliferative and differentiation suppressing signals.     

Secretion of IL-6, IL-11 and LIF by human cardiomyocytes in primary culture

Interleukin (IL)-6-type cytokines are multifunctional proteins involved in cardiac hypertrophy and myocardial protection. Recent studies, performed on animal models, report the production of these cytokines by heart. The aim of this study was to analyse the capacity of myocytes and fibroblasts isolated from human atrium to secrete IL-6, leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF), cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1), IL-11, oncostatin M (OSM), ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and the soluble receptor subunits sIL-6R and sgp130 during primary culture. We detected LIF, IL-11, sgp130 and a large amount of IL-6, but not OSM, CT-1, CNTF nor IL-6R in these culture supernatants. Both cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts are able to spontaneously produce IL-6. The increase of IL-6 production all along the culture period appears to be the consequence of fibroblast proliferation and gp130 stimulation. This is the first demonstration that human cardiac cells are able to secrete IL-6, but also LIF and IL-11 in vitro. These cytokines could be involved in an autocrine and/or a paracrine networks regulating myocardial cyto-protection, hypertrophy and fibrosis.     

No inhibition of IL-27 signaling by soluble gp130

Soluble gp130 is the natural inhibitor of trans-signaling mediated by the soluble IL-6/IL-6R complex. In mouse models, recombinant sgp130 has been successfully applied for the treatment of diseases that are triggered and maintained by soluble IL-6R like Crohn's disease, peritonitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and colon cancer. The novel heterodimeric cytokine IL-27 (p28/EBV-induced gene 3) has been shown to act via a heterodimeric receptor complex of gp130 and the WSX-1 receptor, and to co-regulate the Th(1) immune response after infection. Therefore, we have tested the potential of the recombinant sgp130-Fc protein to also inhibit signaling-mediated IL-27. Here we show that sgp130-Fc does not interfere with IL-27 signaling. We therefore conclude that IL-27 does not bind with high affinity to gp130.     

Differential expression and effects of gp130 cytokines and receptors in prostate cancer cells

High levels of circulating interleukin-6 (IL6), and possibly neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation, correlate with advanced prostate cancer (PCa). IL6 has many overlapping biological effects with the related gp130 cytokines LIF and OSM that can be explained by the shared usage of the signalling receptor, gp130. We set out to determine whether LIF and OSM can substitute for IL6 in PCa, particularly in relation to neuroendocrine differentiation. Expression analysis of the gp130 cytokines and receptors by RT-PCR, Southern blotting and immunohistochemistry showed that they are widely expressed in LNCaP, DU145 and PC3 cells, but not in normal prostate epithelial PZ-HPV-7 cells. IL6, but not LIF or OSM inhibited proliferation, induced NE differentiation and tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT3 in LNCaP cells. The data suggests that IL6 has a unique role in the progression of PCa.     

Conditional gp130 deficient mouse mutants

The common cytokine receptor chain, gp130, controls the activity of a group of cytokines, namely, IL-6, IL-11, IL-27, ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), oncostatin M (OSM), cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1), cardiotrophin-like cytokine (CLC) and neuropoietin (NPN). This family of cytokines is involved in multiple different biological processes, including inflammation, acute phase response, immune responses and cell survival. To analyze the different components of the gp130 network, mouse mutants for the single cytokine were generated by conventional gene targeting. However, since the cytokines of the IL-6 family show redundancy, it does not reveal the complete picture. Therefore, the study of mice with a cell type specific inactivation of the gp130 receptor chain is an approach that will subsequently allow the dissection of the cellular cytokine network. Here, we summarize the experimental results of the conditional gp130 mutants published so far.     

Interleukin-6 receptor signaling. I. gp80 and gp130 receptor interaction in the absence of interleukin-6

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is used as a growth factor by various tumor cells. It binds to a gp80 specific receptor (IL-6R) and then to a gp130 transducing chain. Both receptor chains are released as soluble functional proteins which circulate in biological fluids. To study the physiological role of these soluble receptors, both proteins were purified from human plasma and the kinetic constants of equilibria between IL-6 and its natural soluble IL-6R (sIL-6R) and gp130 receptor (sgp130) were measured using surface plasmon resonance analysis. Unexpectedly, natural sIL-6R and natural sgp130 were found to interact (Kd = 2.8 nM) in the absence of IL-6. No interaction was seen between the recombinant soluble receptors or between either natural soluble receptor and its recombinant partner. This binary complex was not due to copurification of IL-6 and was detected in human plasma of healthy donors. It results from either direct interaction between the two natural soluble receptors or indirect binding mediated by a yet unidentified copurified plasma molecule playing the role of an IL-6 antagonist. Once formed, the binary complex was found to be unable to bind IL-6. Soluble gp130 had already been shown to inhibit IL-6 signaling by inactivating the IL-6/IL-6R complex. In addition we show that, in the absence of IL-6, circulating natural sgp130 is able to inhibit directly the circulating sIL-6R that is a strong synergic molecule of IL-6 signaling.     

Cloning and Characterization of a Specific Receptor for Mouse Oncostatin M

Oncostatin M (OSM) is a member of a family of cytokines that includes ciliary neurotrophic factor, interleukin-6, interleukin-11, cardiotrophin-1, and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). The receptors for these cytokines consist of a common signaling subunit, gp130, to which other subunits are added to modify ligand specificity. We report here the isolation and characterization of a cDNA encoding a subunit of the mouse OSM receptor. In NIH 3T3 cells (which endogenously express gp130, LIF receptor β [LIFRβ], and the protein product, c12, of the cDNA described here), mouse LIF, human LIF, and human OSM signaled through receptors containing the LIFRβ and gp130 but not through the mouse OSM receptor. Mouse OSM, however, signaled only through a c12-gp130 complex; it did not use the LIF receptor. Binding studies demonstrated that mouse OSM associated directly with either the c12 protein or gp130. These data highlight the species-specific differences in receptor utilization and signal transduction between mouse and human OSM. In mouse cells, only mouse OSM is capable of activating the mouse OSM receptor; human OSM instead activates the LIF receptor. Therefore, these data suggest that all previous studies with human OSM in mouse systems did not elucidate the biology of OSM but, rather, reflected the biological actions of LIF.     

Structure-guided optimization of the interleukin-6 trans-signaling antagonist sgp130

Binding of interleukin-6 (IL-6) to its specific receptor IL-6R is a prerequisite for the activation of the signal-transducing receptor glycoprotein 130 (gp130). A soluble form of the IL-6R (sIL-6R) in complex with IL-6 can activate cells lacking membrane-bound IL-6R (trans-signaling). IL-6-trans-signaling is counterbalanced by a naturally occurring, soluble form of gp130 (sgp130), whereby signaling via the membrane-bound IL-6R is not affected. Many inflammatory and neoplastic disorders are driven by IL-6 trans-signaling. By analysis of the three-dimensional structure of gp130 in complex with IL-6 and sIL-6R, we identified amino acid side chains in gp130 as candidates for the generation of sgp130 muteins with increased binding affinity to IL-6/sIL-6R. In addition, with information from modeling and NMR analysis of the membrane proximal domain of gp130, we generated a more stable variant of sgp130Fc. Proteins were tested for binding to the IL-6/sIL-6R-complex, for inhibition of IL-6/sIL-6R-induced cell proliferation and of acute phase gene expression. Several mutations showed an additive effect in improving the binding affinity of human sgp130 toward human IL-6/sIL-6R. Finally, we demonstrate the species specificity of these mutations in the optimal triple mutein (T102Y/Q113F/N114L) both in vitro and in a mouse model of acute inflammation.     

A functional role of the membrane-proximal extracellular domains of the signal transducer gp130 in heterodimerization with the leukemia inhibitory factor receptor.

gp130 is the common signal transducing receptor subunit of interleukin (IL)-6-type cytokines. gp130 either homodimerizes in response to IL-6 and IL-11 or forms heterodimers with the leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) receptor (LIFR) in response to LIF, oncostatin M (OSM), ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) or cardiotrophin-like cytokine resulting in the onset of cytoplasmic tyrosine phosphorylation cascades. The extracellular parts of both gp130 and LIFR consist of several Ig-like and fibronectin type III-like domains. The role of the membrane-distal domains of gp130 (D1, D2, D3) and LIFR in ligand binding is well established. In this study we investigated the functional significance of the membrane-proximal domains of gp130 (D4, D5, D6) in respect to heterodimerization with LIFR. Deletion of each of the membrane-proximal domains of gp130 (Delta 4, Delta 5 and Delta 6) leads to LIF unresponsiveness. Replacement of the gp130 domains by the corresponding domains of the related GCSF receptor either restores weak LIF responsiveness (D4-GCSFR), leads to constitutive activation of gp130 (D5-GCSFR) or results in an inactive receptor (D6-GCSFR). Mutation of a specific cysteine in D5 of gp130 (C458A) leads to constitutive heterodimerization with the LIFR and increased sensitivity towards LIF stimulation. Based on these findings, a functional model of the gp130-LIFR heterodimer is proposed that includes contacts between D5 of gp130 and the corresponding domain D7 of the LIFR and highlights the requirement for both receptor dimerization and adequate receptor orientation as a prerequisite for signal transduction.