title: C-Src activation by ErbB2 leads to attachment-independent growth of human breast epithelial cells.
abstract: Nontumorigenic human mammary epithelial cells (184.A1 line) were stably transfected with ErbB2 or with Ha-Ras. Transformation with ErbB2, but not ras, resulted in a 5-6 fold increase in c-src activity without affecting c-src content of cells. Similar activation of c-src by ErbB2 was also observed in other non-tumorigenic mammary epithelial cells, including the human line MCF10A and the mouse line NMuMG. Activation of c-src appeared to be dependent on active ErbB2 tyrosine kinase, as the ErbB2 inhibitor tyrphostin AG 825 blocked the induction of c-src kinase activity, as well as the ability of transformed cells to grow on soft agar, but not plastic. The src-selective inhibitor PP1 effectively reduced c-src activity, as well as growth of ErbB2-transformed cells on soft agar, but not on plastic. These results indicate that activation of c-src is a consequence of ErbB2 kinase activity in human breast cancer cells overexpressing ErbB2, and that increased activity of c-src may be responsible for attachment-independent growth of the cells.
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology-Reproductive Physiology Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA.
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Sheffield
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001940:Breast / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D010641:Phenotype; D011485:Protein Binding; D016392:Proto-Oncogene Proteins pp60(c-src) / Q000378:metabolism*; D019061:src-Family Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016392:Proto-Oncogene Proteins pp60(c-src); D019061:src-Family Kinases