Activation of the MAPK pathway mediates insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I)-dependent proliferation in vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC).Our previous studies have shown that IGF-I-induced Shc phosphorylation is necessary for sustained activation of MAPK and increased cell proliferation of SMCs, and both Shc and the tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2 must be recruited to the membrane protein SHPS-1 in order for Shc to be phosphorylated. These studies were undertaken to determine whether Src kinase activity is required to phosphorylate Shc in response to IGF-I in SMC and because SHP-2 binds to Src whether their interaction was also required for IGF-I-stimulated mitogenesis. Our results show that IGF-I induces activation of Src kinase and that is required for Shc phosphorylation and for optimal MAPK activation. We tested whether Shc is a substrate of c-Src in SMC by disrupting Src/Shc association using a peptide containing a YXXL (Tyr 328 ) motif sequence derived from Src. The peptide blocked the binding of Src and Shc in vitro and in vivo. Cells expressing a mutant Src (Src-FF) that had Tyr 328 / Tyr 358 substituted with phenylalanines (Src-FF) showed defective Src/Shc binding, impaired IGF-I-dependent Shc phosphorylation, and impaired mitogenesis. This supports the conclusion that Src phosphorylates Shc. IGF-I induced both Src/SHP-2 and Src/SHPS-1 association. SMCs expressing an SHP-2 mutant that had the polyproline-rich region of SH2 deleted (SHP-2⌬10) had disrupted SHP-2/Src association, impaired IGF-I-dependent Shc phosphorylation, and an attenuated mitogenic response. IGF-I-induced association of Src and SHPS-1 was also impaired in SHP-2⌬10-expressing cells, although SHP-2/SHPS-1 association was unaffected. Upon IGF-I stimulation, a complex assembles on SHPS-1 that contains SHP-2, c-Src, and Shc wherein Src phosphorylates Shc, a signaling step that is necessary for an optimal mitogenic response.
IGF-I2 stimulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) leads to activation of two major signaling pathways, e.g. the MAP kinase (MAPK) and PI 3-kinase pathways (1). Activation of the MAPK pathway is required for IGF-I-dependent proliferation, whereas activation of the PI 3-kinase pathway is the predominant determinant of IGF-I-dependent SMC migration. BindingofIGF-ItotheIGF-Ireceptorleadstoreceptorautophosphorylation followed by tyrosine phosphorylation of substrates such as IRS-1 and Shc (2). These adaptor proteins bind Grb2/ SOS and activate the Ras/MAPK pathway (3). Previous studies in SMC have shown that IGF-I-induced Shc phosphorylation and its association with Grb-2 are necessary for sustained phosphorylation of Erk1/2 MAPK and IGF-I-dependent cell proliferation (4). The requirement of Shc phosphorylation for growth factor-dependent mitogenesis has been demonstrated in other cell types as well (5, 6).Src family kinases (SFK) have been implicated in mediating the mitogenic effect of several growth factors (7, 8); however, the mechanism by which SFK function is not completely understood. Src has also been implicated i...