Growth stimulation and inhibition are both associated with tyrosine phosphorylation. We examined the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF), a growth stimulant, and compound 5 (Cpd 5), a protein-tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) inhibitor, which inhibits the growth of the same Hep3B hepatoma cells. We found that both EGF and Cpd 5 induced tyrosine phosphorylation of EGF receptor (EGFR) and ERK. However, the phosphorylation caused by EGF was transient and that caused by Cpd 5 was prolonged. Furthermore, Cpd 5 action caused a strong nuclear phospho-ERK signal and induced phospho-Elk-1, a nuclear target of ERK activation, in contrast to the weak effects of EGF. An ERK kinase assay demonstrated that ERK activated by Cpd 5 could phosphorylate its physiological substrate, Elk-1. The MEK inhibitors PD098056 and U0126 abrogated both the induction by Cpd 5 of phospho-ERK, its nuclear translocation and phospho-Elk-1 and also antagonized its growth inhibitory effects. Furthermore, phospho-ERK phosphatase and phospho-Elk-1 activities were lost from nuclear extracts from Cpd 5 treated, but not EGF treated cells. In conclusion, the data show that Cpd 5 causes growth inhibition as a consequence of prolonged ERK and Elk-1 phosphorylation, likely a result of inhibition of multiple PTPases, including those acting on phospho-EGFR, on phospho-ERK, and on phospho-Elk-1, in contrast to the kinase driven transient activation resulting from EGF.
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-stimulated DNA synthesis in primary cultured rat hepatocytes. HGF-induced DNA synthesis was concentration-dependently inhibited by a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin. BW755C, a dual inhibitor for cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase activities, also inhibited hepatocyte growth. Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1), PGE2, and PGF2 alpha induced DNA synthesis even at such a low concentration as 5 nmol/L and potentiated [3H]thymidine incorporation induced by HGF in an additive manner. HGF caused arachidonic acid (AA) release and eicosanoid production. These events were detectable within 10 minutes after stimulation and lasted for at least 60 minutes. Furthermore, two proteins with approximately 40 kd were tyrosine phosphorylated by HGF. These proteins were identified as p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases by anti-MAP kinase immunoblots, which were known to activate cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), a key enzyme in AA release. Activation of MAP kinases was detectable within 5 minutes after stimulation with HGF and lasted for at least 60 minutes. EGF-mediated DNA synthesis was also inhibited by the above cyclooxygenase inhibitors. EGF caused AA release and tyrosine phosphorylation of MAP kinases. These results suggest that HGF as well as EGF causes AA release, probably through activation of cPLA2 mediated by MAP kinases, and that PGs, metabolites of AA, might play a pivotal role in hepatocyte proliferation in an autocrine mechanism.
MAP kinase activation in rat hepatocytes. Activation Received June 15, 1995; accepted December 18, 1995. of MAP kinases caused AA release, leading to producSupported in part by research grants from the Ministry of Education, Scition of prostaglandins (PGs), which promoted DNA synence, and Culture of Japan.Address reprint requests to: Takahito Adachi, M.D., Second Department thesis in rat
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