Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor inhibits cytokine-induced NF-kappa B activation and nitric oxide production via activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway.
NO produced by inducible NO synthase (iNOS) has been implicated in various pathophysiological processes including inflammation. Therefore, inhibitors of NO synthesis or iNOS gene expression have been considered as potential anti-inflammatory agents. We have previously demonstrated that heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like growth factor (HB-EGF) decreases proinflammatory cytokine IL-8 and NO production in cytokine-stimulated intestinal epithelial cells by interfering with the NF-kappaB signaling pathway. However, the upstream signaling mechanisms involved in these responses have not yet been defined. In this report, we show that in intestinal epithelial cells, HB-EGF triggered PI3K-dependent phosphorylation of Akt. Inhibition of PI3K reversed the ability of HB-EGF to block NF-kappaB activation, expression of iNOS, and NO production. Small interfering RNA of PI3K also reversed the inhibitory effect of HB-EGF on iNOS expression. Alternatively, transient expression of constitutively active PI3K decreased NO production by approximately 2-fold more than treatment with HB-EGF alone. This PI3K effect was HB-EGF dependent. Thus, activation of PI3K is essential but not sufficient for decreased NO synthesis. PI3K and HB-EGF act synergistically to decrease NO synthesis. Neither overexpression or inhibition of MEK, Ras, or Akt affected HB-EGF-mediated inhibition of NF-kappaB activation. These data demonstrate that HB-EGF decreases proinflammatory cytokine-stimulated NF-kappaB activation and NO production via activation of the PI3K signaling pathway. These results also suggest that inhibition of NF-kappaB and activation of the PI3K-dependent signaling cascade by HB-EGF may represent key signals responsible for the anti-inflammatory effects of HB-EGF.
Mehta
Veela B
VB
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital, and Children's Research Institute, Center for Cellular and Vascular Biology, Columbus, OH 43205, USA.
Besner
Gail E
GE
D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002384:Catalysis; D002460:Cell Line; D016207:Cytokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000502:physiology; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000502:physiology*; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D006801:Humans; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
D016207:Cytokines; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D016328:NF-kappa B; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; C587883:HBEGF protein, human; C587884:Hbegf protein, mouse; C496319:NOS2 protein, human; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse; C494918:AKT1 protein, human; C496559:CHUK protein, human; C496564:Chuk protein, mouse; C496560:IKBKB protein, human; C496565:IKBKE protein, human; C496562:Ikbkb protein, mouse; C496566:Ikbke protein, mouse