title: c-Raf-mediated inhibition of epidermal growth factor-stimulated cell migration.
abstract: Epidermal growth factor stimulates migration of a number of cell types, yet the signaling pathways that regulate epidermal growth factor-stimulated migration are poorly defined. In this report, we employ a transient transfection migration assay to assess the role of components of the Ras-mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling pathway in epidermal growth factor-stimulated chemotaxis of rat embryo fibroblasts. Expression of dominant negative Ras blocks epidermal growth factor-mediated chemotaxis, while constitutively active Ras has no effect on chemokinesis or chemotaxis. PD98059 and U0126, inhibitors of MAP kinase kinase (MEK) activity, decreased epidermal growth factor-stimulated migration, while kinase-defective MEK1, an inhibitor of MAP kinase activation, enhanced migration. To understand the paradoxical effects of these molecules on epidermal growth factor-induced migration, we examined the role of c-Raf on migration. Expression of either wild type c-Raf or the catalytic domain of c-Raf effectively inhibited epidermal growth factor-stimulated cell migration. We suggest that, whereas Ras activity is necessary to promote epidermal growth factor-stimulated migration, sustained activation of c-Raf may be important in down-regulating migratory signaling pathways triggered by epidermal growth factor receptor activation. Further, activation of c-Raf upon inhibition of the MEK-MAP kinase pathway may contribute to the inhibition of cell migration observed with pharmacological MEK inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Health Sciences Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Slack
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Catling
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Eblen
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Parsons
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D048369:MAP Kinase Kinase 1; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D019908:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005419:Flavonoids; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D019908:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf; D048369:MAP Kinase Kinase 1; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; C093973:2-(2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one