A novel mechanism for JAK2 activation by a G protein-coupled receptor, the CCK2R: implication of this signaling pathway in pancreatic tumor models

To date very few G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have been shown to be connected to the Janus kinase (JAK)/STAT pathway. Thus our understanding of the mechanisms involved in the activation of this signaling pathway by GPCRs remains limited. In addition, little is known about the role of the JAK pathway in the physiological or pathophysiological functions of GPCRs. Here, we described a new mechanism of JAK activation that involves Galpha(q) proteins. Indeed, transfection of a constitutively activated mutant of Galpha(q) (Q209L) in COS-7 cells demonstrated that Galpha(q) is able to associate and activate JAK2. In addition, we showed that this mechanism is used to activate JAK2 by a GPCR principally coupled to G(q), the CCK2 receptor (CCK2R), and involves a highly conserved sequence in GPCRs, the NPXXY motif. In a pancreatic tumor cell line expressing the endogenous CCK2R, we demonstrated the activation of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway by this receptor and the involvement of this signaling pathway in the proliferative effects of the CCK2R. In addition, we showed in vivo that the targeted CCK2R expression in pancreas of Elas-CCK2 mice leads to the activation of JAK2 and STAT3. This process may contribute to the increase of pancreas growth as well as the formation of preneoplastic lesions leading to pancreatic tumor development observed in these transgenic animals.