title: Substance P induced biosynthesis of the zinc finger transcription factor Egr-1 in human glioma cells requires activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor and of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase.
abstract: Substance P is a member of the tachykinin family of neuropeptides that plays an important role in pain transmission, neurogenic inflammatory diseases and the adaptive response to stress. Substance P exerts its biological activities via binding to a G-protein coupled receptor of the neurokinin (NK) receptor family. Here, we show by Western blot experiments that substance P induced a transient synthesis of the zinc finger transcriptional regulator Egr-1 in human glioma cells. Substance P-induced stimulation of Egr-1 biosynthesis was completely inhibited by the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitor PD98059 and by AG1487, an epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor-specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor. These results indicate that transactivation of the EGF receptor as well as stimulation of the mitogen activated/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) are essential for substance P/NK-1 receptor-induced activation of Egr-1 biosynthesis. Moreover, we show that the signaling cascade initiated by substance P or EGF are indistinguishable, including the activation of the EGF receptor, the activation of ERK, and the final stimulation of Egr-1 biosynthesis. The synthesis of Egr-1 in glioma cells as a result of substance P stimulation suggests that substance P exerts long-term effects in glioma cells via Egr-1-mediated gene transcription.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Saarland Medical Center, D-66421 Homburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Alia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Sarraj
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thiel
mesh_terms: D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005910:Glioma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018040:Receptors, Neurokinin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D013373:Substance P / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D016335:Zinc Fingers / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C497325:EGR1 protein, human; D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005419:Flavonoids; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D018040:Receptors, Neurokinin-1; D014157:Transcription Factors; D013373:Substance P; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; C093973:2-(2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one