Involvement of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in platelet-derived growth factor-induced migration of human lens epithelial cells.
OBJECTIVE
Posterior capsular opacification (PCO) is caused partially by the migration of lens epithelial cells. To date, the mechanism of the migration is largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-triggered signaling pathways and its downstream effectors in the migration of lens epithelial cells.


METHODS
In vitro scratch-wound healing and transwell migration assays were used to measure the migration of lens epithelial cells. The activation of PDGFR beta, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinas (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) and mitogen activation protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, the impact of PDGF stimulation on the expression of cell protrusion molecules, and the stabilization of beta-catenin were measured by western blotting. The translocation of beta-catenin was detected using indirect immunofluorescence.


RESULTS
PDGF was found to enhance cell migration, which depended on the PI3K/Akt pathway. The activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway by the PDGF/PDGFR beta axis induced the up regulation of cell protrusion molecules and stabilization and translocation of beta-catenin, contributing to enhanced cell migration.


CONCLUSIONS
Data from this study directly linked the central PI3K/Akt pathway to lens epithelial cell migration and pointed to new avenues for therapeutic intervention in PCO.
Xiong
Wei
W
Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Xiang Ya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.
Cheng
Bai-Hua
BH
Jia
Song-Bai
SB
Tang
Luo-Sheng
LS
D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism*; D020797:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013997:Time Factors; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism
D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D051176:beta Catenin; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D020797:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases