Stress kinase p38 mediates EGFR transactivation by hyperosmolar concentrations of sorbitol.
Activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been shown to occur by ligand-dependent and ligand-independent mechanisms. Different molecular mechanisms have been found to be responsible for ligand-independent receptor transactivation. Here, we show that hyperosmolar concentrations of sorbitol activate the EGFR in human keratinocytes. Experiments using specific inhibitors of EGFR phosphorylation show that the increased amount of activated receptors is the result of a decreased rate of dephosphorylation. Furthermore, sorbitol treatment results in a strong activation of stress kinase p38. Treatment of the cells with SB203580, a known inhibitor of p38 alpha and beta kinases, results in impairment of receptor activation, indicating that the stress kinase is involved in receptor activation modulation. This is further reinforced by experiments showing that addition of Toxin B, known to be an inhibitor of the small Rho GTPases rac1, cdc42, and Rho A/B, to the cells results in a strong induction of EGFR activation. Our results point, therefore, to a mechanism by which osmotic shock activates EGFR through the small Rho GTPases-p38 stress kinase pathway.
Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, Germany.
Hao
H
Cheng
Jürgen
J
Kartenbeck
Kirsten
K
Kabsch
Xiahong
X
Mao
Margarita
M
Marqués
Angel
A
Alonso
D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000187:drug effects; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010766:Phosphorylation; D013012:Sorbitol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D013012:Sorbitol; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins