Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 activation by myometrial oxytocin receptor involves Galpha(q)Gbetagamma and epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase activation.
The mechanisms by which oxytocin (OT) stimulates extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) are only partially understood. OT receptor (OTR) signals predominantly through Galpha(q), but ERK1/2 phosphorylation (ERK1/2-P) in PHM1 myometrial cells was not eliminated by inhibition of downstream effectors such as phospholipase C or protein kinase C. Inconsistent with a Galpha(i)-coupled response, pertussis toxin inhibition of OT-induced ERK1/2-P was reversed by the protein kinase A inhibitors Rp-cAMPS and KT5720. Consistent with an inhibitory role for protein kinase A, pertussis toxin pretreatment raised cellular cAMP and 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cAMP inhibited OT-induced ERK1/2-P. Attenuation of the OT response by the Gbetagamma scavenger carboxyl terminus of the beta-adrenergic receptor kinase implicated a Gbetagamma-mediated pathway. In both COSM6 cells overexpressing OTR (OTR-COSM6) and in PHM1 cells, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor AG1478 markedly reduced OT-induced ERK1/2-P, whereas the platelet-derived growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor AG1296 had no effect. Furthermore, OT increased EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation in OTR-COSM6 cells, which was inhibited by AG1478 or EGTA plus thapsigargin pretreatment. AG1478 did not affect inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate production by OT or protein kinase C-stimulated ERK1/2-P but completely blocked ionomycin-induced ERK1/2-P and EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation. In both OTR-COSM6 and PHM1 cells, EGTA reduced OT-stimulated ERK1/2-P; no ERK1/2-P was observed when intracellular calcium increases were blocked by pretreatment with thapsigargin plus EGTA. These data are consistent with activation of a Gbetagamma-mediated pathway as a consequence of Galpha(q) activation in myometrium and OTR-COSM6 cells that results in increased ERK1/2-P. This pathway involves both EGFR activation and an influence of calcium.
Zhong
Miao
M
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Yang
Ming
M
Sanborn
Barbara M
BM
D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D019206:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go / Q000378:metabolism; D043802:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gq-G11; D044387:GTP-Binding Protein beta Subunits; D044388:GTP-Binding Protein gamma Subunits; D020962:Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000502:physiology; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D009215:Myometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection; D010738:Type C Phospholipases / Q000378:metabolism
C118981:G-protein Beta gamma; D044387:GTP-Binding Protein beta Subunits; D044388:GTP-Binding Protein gamma Subunits; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D010738:Type C Phospholipases; D019206:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go; D043802:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gq-G11; D020962:Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins; D002118:Calcium