title: Activation of c-Raf-1 kinase signal transduction pathway in alpha(7) integrin-deficient mice.
abstract: Integrin alpha(7)-deficient mice develop a novel form of muscular dystrophy. Here we report that deficiency of alpha(7) integrin causes an activation of the c-Raf-1/mitogen-activated protein (MAP) 2 kinase signal transduction pathway in muscle cells. The observed activation of c-Raf-1/MAP2 kinases is a specific effect, because the alpha(7) integrin deficiency does not cause unspecific stress as determined by measurement of the Hsp72/73 level and activity of the JNK2 kinase. Because an increased level of activated FAK was found in muscle of alpha(7) integrin-deficient mice, the activation of c-Raf-1 kinase is triggered most likely by an integrin-dependent pathway. In accordance with this, in the integrin alpha(7)-deficient mice, part of the integrin beta(1D) variant in muscle is replaced by the beta(1A) variant, which permits the FAK activation. A recent report describes that integrin activity can be down-modulated by the c-Raf-1/MAP2 kinase pathway. Specific activation of the c-Raf-1/MAP2 kinases by cell-permeable peptides in skeletal muscle of rabbits causes degeneration of muscle fibers. Therefore, we conclude that in alpha(7) integrin-deficient mice, the continuous activation of c-Raf-1 kinase causes a permanent reduction of integrin activity diminishing integrin-dependent cell-matrix interactions and thereby contributing to the development of the dystrophic phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Biochemie, Am Klopferspitz 18a, D-82152 Martinsried, Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saher
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hildt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D003964:Diaphragm; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D050883:HSC70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D050884:HSP72 Heat-Shock Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006614:Hindlimb; D039001:Integrin alpha Chains; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D048056:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 9; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D019908:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D050883:HSC70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D050884:HSP72 Heat-Shock Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; C494372:Hspa8 protein, mouse; D039001:Integrin alpha Chains; C085725:integrin alpha7; D011494:Protein Kinases; D048056:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 9; D019908:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases