title: dlk modulates mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling to allow or prevent differentiation.
abstract: The EGF-like membrane protein dlk plays a crucial role in the control of cell differentiation. Overexpression of the protein prevents, whereas inhibition of its expression increases, adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells in response to Insulin-like Growth Factor I (IGF-1) or insulin. We have investigated whether dlk modulates the signaling pathways known to control this process. We found that the levels of dlk expression modulated signaling through the IGF-1 receptor, causing changes in the activation levels and kinetics of Extracellular-Regulated Kinase/Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (ERK/MAPK) that correlated with differentiation outcome. These changes occurred in response to IGF-1 or insulin but not in response to Epidermal Growth Factor. However, the levels of expression of IGF-1 receptor, or the activation of Insulin Receptor Substrate-1 in response to IGF-1, were not affected by the levels of dlk expression. Therefore, dlk appears to modulate ERK/MAPK signaling in response to specific differentiation signals.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunobiology, Division of Monoclonal Antibodies, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, 1401 Rockville Pike, HFM 564, Rockville, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Hidalgo
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gubina
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tull
authors.forename: Victoriano
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Baladrón
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Laborda
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007328:Insulin; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1; C064045:delta protein