Hypoxia-induced activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase in the cerebral cortex of newborn piglets: the role of nitric oxide.
The present study aims to investigate the mechanism of EGFR kinase activation during hypoxia and tests the hypothesis that hypoxia-induced increased activation of EGFR kinase in the cerebral cortical membrane fraction of newborn piglets is mediated by nitric oxide (NO) derived from neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). Fifteen newborn piglets were divided into normoxic (Nx, n = 5), hypoxic (Hx, n = 5) and hypoxic-treated with nNOS inhibitor (Hx-nNOSi, n = 5). Hypoxia was induced by an FiO2 of 0.07 for 60 min. nNOS inhibitor I (selectivity >2,500 vs. endothelial NOS, eNOS, and >500 vs. inducible NOS, iNOS) was administered (0.4 mg/kg, i. v.) 30 min prior to hypoxia. EGFR kinase tyrosine phosphorylation at Tyr1173, an index of activation of EGFR kinase, was determined by Western blot analysis using an anti-phospho (pTyr(1173))-EGFR kinase antibody. Protein bands were analyzed by imaging densitometry and expressed as absorbance (OD x mm(2)). EGFR kinase activity was determined radiochemically using immunopurified enzyme. EGFR kinase activity was expressed as pmols/mg protein/hr. Density of phosphor (pTyr(1173))-EGFR kinase (OD x mm(2)) was 60.2 +/- 9.8 in Nx, 177.0 +/- 26.9 in Hx (P < 0.05 vs. Nx) and 79.9 +/- 15.7 in Hx-nNOSi (P < 0.05 vs. Hx, P = NS vs. Nx). Activity of EGFR kinase (pmoles/mg protein/hr) was 4,603 +/- 155 in Nx, 8,493 +/- 427 in Hx (P < 0.05 vs. Nx) and 4,516 +/- 104 in Hx-nNOSi (P < 0.05 vs. Hx, P = NS vs. Nx). Pretreatment with nNOS inhibitor prevented the hypoxia-induced increased phosphorylation and increased activity of EGFR kinase. We conclude that the mechanism of hypoxia-induced increased activation of EGFR kinase is mediated by nNOS-derived NO.
Department of Pediatrics, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA. omprakash.mishra@drexelmed.edu
Om Prakash
OP
Mishra
Qazi M
QM
Ashraf
Maria
M
Delivoria-Papadopoulos
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000378:metabolism*; D020134:Catalytic Domain; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002534:Hypoxia, Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011897:Random Allocation; D013552:Swine; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000378:metabolism
D009569:Nitric Oxide; D014443:Tyrosine; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D066246:ErbB Receptors