P85 Subunit Of PI 3-kinase Research Articles

Enhanced insulin action on glucose transport and insulin signaling in 7-day unweighted rat soleus muscle

Hindlimb suspension (HS), a model of simulated weightlessness, enhances insulin action on glucose transport in unweighted rat soleus muscle. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that these changes in glucose transport in 3- and 7-day HS soleus of juvenile, female Sprague-Dawley rats were due to increased functionality of insulin signaling factors, including insulin receptor (IR), IR substrate-1 (IRS-1), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase), and Akt. Insulin-stimulated (2 mU/ml) glucose transport was significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced in 3- and 7-day HS soleus by 59 and 113%, respectively, compared with weight-bearing controls. Insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of IR and Ser(473) phosphorylation of Akt was not altered by unweighting. Despite decreased (34 and 64%) IRS-1 protein in 3- and 7-day HS soleus, absolute insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 was not diminished, indicating relative increases in IRS-1 phosphorylation of 62 and 184%, respectively. In the 7-day HS soleus, this was accompanied by increased (47%) insulin-stimulated IRS-1 associated with the p85 subunit of PI3-kinase. Interestingly, the enhanced insulin-stimulated glucose transport in the unweighted soleus was not completely inhibited (89-92%) by wortmannin, a PI3-kinase inhibitor. Finally, protein expression and activation of p38 MAPK, a stress-activated serine/threonine kinase associated with insulin resistance, was decreased by 32 and 18% in 7-day HS soleus. These results indicate that the increased insulin action on glucose transport in the 7-day unweighted soleus is associated with increased insulin signaling through IRS-1 and PI3-kinase and decreased p38 MAPK protein expression. However, PI3-kinase-independent mechanisms must also play a small role in this adaptive response to HS.

Transactivation of the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor by angiotensin II mediates downstream signaling from the angiotensin II type 1 receptor to phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase.

Angiotensin II (AngII) activates phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase), a known effector of receptor tyrosine kinases. Treatment of smooth muscle cells with AngII has also been shown to promote phosphorylation of various tyrosine kinase receptors. We therefore investigated the relationship between AngII and IGF-I receptor activation in smooth muscle cells with a phosphorylation-specific antibody. Our experiments showed that IGF-I receptor phosphorylation was maximally stimulated within 10 min by AngII. Inclusion of an IGF-I-neutralizing antibody in the culture media did not prevent IGF-I receptor phosphorylation after AngII treatment, which argues that a paracrine/autocrine loop is not required. Furthermore, this process was blocked by losartan and 1-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-1-(4-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4-amine (PP-1), indicating stimulation of IGF-I receptor phosphorylation occurs via AngII type 1 receptor-dependent activation of Src kinase. The functional significance of IGF-I receptor transactivation was examined with selective inhibitors of the IGF-I receptor kinase (AG1024, AG538). When AngII-treated cells were incubated with AG1024 or AG538, phosphorylation of the regulatory p85 subunit of PI3-kinase was blocked. Furthermore, phosphorylation of the downstream factor p70(S6K) did not occur. In contrast, AG1024 did not prevent MAPK or Src kinase activation by AngII. AG1024 also did not inhibit AngII-dependent cell migration, although this process was blocked by inhibitors of the epidermal growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor receptors. Transactivation of the IGF-I receptor is therefore a critical mediator of PI3-kinase activation by AngII but is not required for stimulation of the MAPK cascade.

Impaired IRS-1/PI3-kinase signaling in patients with HCV: A mechanism for increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes

Patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, the mechanism of this association is unclear. In this study, we examined the potential defects in upstream insulin signaling pathways in liver specimens obtained from nonobese/nondiabetic subjects with HCV infection. Fasting liver biopsy specimens were obtained from 42 HCV-infected subjects and 10 non-HCV-infected subjects matched for age and body mass index. Liver tissues were exposed to insulin and examined for the contents and phosphorylation/activation status of the upstream insulin signaling molecules by immunoprecipitation and Western blot analysis. HCV infection resulted in a trend toward a 2-fold to 3-fold increase in insulin receptor (IR) and insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 contents when compared with non-HCV. In contrast, insulin-stimulated IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation was decreased by 2-fold in HCV-infected subjects compared with non-HCV-infected subjects ( P < .05). The observed reductions in IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation were accompanied by a 3.4-fold decrease in IRS-1/p85 phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) association and a 2.5-fold decrease in IRS-1-associated PI3-kinase enzymatic activity ( P < .05 vs. non-HCV). This was accompanied by a marked reduction in insulin-stimulated Akt phosphorylation without any alterations in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation. Cellular contents of the hepatic p85 subunit of PI3-kinase were comparable between HCV-infected and non-HCV-infected subjects. In conclusion, we found that (1) HCV infection leads to a postreceptor defect in IRS-1 association with the IR and (2) insulin signaling defects in hepatic IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation and PI3-kinase association/activation may contribute to insulin resistance, which leads to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus in patients with HCV infection. (H epatology 2003;38:1384-1392.)

Impaired IRS-1/PI3-kinase signaling in patients with HCV: a mechanism for increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes.

Patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, the mechanism of this association is unclear. In this study, we examined the potential defects in upstream insulin signaling pathways in liver specimens obtained from nonobese/nondiabetic subjects with HCV infection. Fasting liver biopsy specimens were obtained from 42 HCV-infected subjects and 10 non-HCV-infected subjects matched for age and body mass index. Liver tissues were exposed to insulin and examined for the contents and phosphorylation/activation status of the upstream insulin signaling molecules by immunoprecipitation and Western blot analysis. HCV infection resulted in a trend toward a 2-fold to 3-fold increase in insulin receptor (IR) and insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 contents when compared with non-HCV. In contrast, insulin-stimulated IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation was decreased by 2-fold in HCV-infected subjects compared with non-HCV-infected subjects (P <.05). The observed reductions in IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation were accompanied by a 3.4-fold decrease in IRS-1/p85 phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) association and a 2.5-fold decrease in IRS-1-associated PI3-kinase enzymatic activity (P <.05 vs. non-HCV). This was accompanied by a marked reduction in insulin-stimulated Akt phosphorylation without any alterations in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation. Cellular contents of the hepatic p85 subunit of PI3-kinase were comparable between HCV-infected and non-HCV-infected subjects. In conclusion, we found that (1). HCV infection leads to a postreceptor defect in IRS-1 association with the IR and (2). insulin signaling defects in hepatic IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation and PI3-kinase association/activation may contribute to insulin resistance, which leads to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus in patients with HCV infection.

Activation of Epstein-Barr virus/C3d receptor (gp140, CR2, CD21) on human cell surface triggers pp60src and Akt-GSK3 activities upstream and downstream to PI 3-kinase, respectively.

We previously demonstrated that CR2 activation on human B lymphocyte surface specifically triggered tyrosine phosphorylation of the 95-kDa nucleolin, this leading to its binding on SH2 domains of p85 sub-unit of PI 3-kinase and to activation of this enzyme. The specificity of CR2 pathway was clearly demonstrated as neither CD19 nor BCR could induce tyrosine phosphorylation of nucleolin in normal B lymphocytes. These data led us to investigate herein additional molecular events, which were triggered by CR2 activation, upstream and downstream to PI 3-kinase activation. Upstream, we demonstrated that pp60src, a tyrosine kinase of the src family, was involved in tyrosine phosphorylation of nucleolin, while syk tyrosine kinase was not. We also demonstrated a direct protein-protein interaction of pp60src with nucleolin in a CR2-dependent and CD19-independent pathway. Downstream, we demonstrated that CR2 activation also triggered Akt and GSK3 enzyme activation, this pathway being under the control of pp60src tyrosine kinase activation. These regulatory functions of activated CR2 were specific as independent of syk tyrosine kinase and of CD19 and BCR activation. Thus, CR2 activation recruits a specific mechanism to activate PI 3-kinase and its subsequent pathways, this mechanism being different to those recruited by CD19 and BCR.

Identification of Tyr900 in the kinase domain of c-Kit as a Src-dependent phosphorylation site mediating interaction with c-Crk

We have previously demonstrated that ligand-stimulation of c-Kit induces phosphorylation of Tyr568 and Tyr570 in the juxtamembrane region of the receptor, leading to recruitment, phosphorylation and activation of members of the Src family of tyrosine kinases. In this paper, we demonstrate that members of the Src family of tyrosine kinases are able to phosphorylate c-Kit selectively on one particular tyrosine residue, Tyr900, located in the second part of the tyrosine kinase domain. In order to identify potential docking partners of Tyr900, a synthetic phosphopeptide corresponding to the amino acid sequence surrounding Tyr900 was used as an affinity matrix. By use of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, CrkII was identified as a protein that specifically bound to Tyr900 in a phosphorylation dependent manner, possibly via the p85 subunit of PI3-kinase. Expression of a mutant receptor where Tyr900 had been replaced with a phenylalanine residue (Y900F) resulted in a receptor with reduced ability to phosphorylate CrkII. Together these data support a model where c-Src phosphorylates the receptor, thereby creating docking sites for SH2 domain containing proteins, leading to recruitment of Crk to the receptor.

Interaction between von Willebrand factor and glycoprotein Ib activates Src kinase in human platelets: role of phosphoinositide 3–kinase

The binding of von Willebrand factor (VWF) to glycoprotein (GP) Ib-IX-V stimulates transmembrane signaling events that lead to platelet adhesion and aggregation. Recent studies have implied that activation of Src family kinases is involved in GPIb-mediated platelet activation, although the related signal transduction pathway remains poorly defined. This study presents evidence for an important role of Src and GPIb association. In platelet lysates containing Complete, a broad-spectrum protease inhibitor mixture, Src and Lyn dynamically associated with GPIb on VWF-botrocetin stimulation. Cytochalasin D, which inhibits translocation of Src kinases to the cytoskeleton, further increased Src and GPIb association. Similar results were obtained with botrocetin and monomeric A1 domain, instead of intact VWF, with induction of both Src activation and association between GPIb and Src. These findings suggest that ligand binding of GPIb, without receptor clustering, is sufficient to activate Src. Immunoprecipitation studies demonstrated that Src, phosphoinositide 3- kinase (PI 3-kinase), and GPIb form a complex in GPIb-stimulated platelets. When the p85 subunit of PI 3-kinase was immunodepleted, association of Src with GPIb was abrogated. However, wortmannin, a specific PI 3-kinase inhibitor, failed to block complex formation between Src and GPIb. The Src-SH3 domain as a glutathione S-transferase (GST)-fusion protein coprecipitated the p85 subunit of PI 3-kinase and GPIb. These findings taken together suggest that the p85 subunit of PI 3-kinase mediates GPIb-related activation signals and activates Src independently of the enzymatic activity of PI 3- kinase.

Stromal Cell-derived Factor-1α Induces Tube-like Structure Formation of Endothelial Cells through Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase

Stromal cell-derived factor-1alpha (SDF-1alpha) is a CXC chemokine, which induces tube formation of endothelial cells. Although SDF-1alpha transduces signals via CXC receptor 4 (CXCR4), resulting in activating a panel of downstream signaling molecules, such as phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3-kinase), little is known about the SDF-1alpha-mediated signaling pathways leading to tube formation. Here we examined the signal transduction pathway involved in SDF-1alpha-mediated tube formation by primary human umbilical endothelial cells and murine brain capillary endothelial cell line (IBE (immortalized murine brain capillary endothelial) cells). SDF-1alpha stimulated tube formation by IBE cells, which was blocked by LY294002 and pertussis toxin, suggesting that PI3-kinase and G(i) protein were involved in this process. SDF-1 also stimulated tube formation of human umbilical endothelial cells, and the response was LY294002-sensitive. SDF-1alpha activated PI3-kinase in IBE cells. In stable IBE cell lines expressing either the mutant p85 subunit of PI3-kinase (denoted Deltap85-8 cells), which lacks association with the p110 subunit, or kinase-inactive c-Fes (denoted KEFes 5-15 cells), SDF-1alpha failed to activate PI3-kinase and to stimulate tube formation. SDF-1alpha-induced tube formation was inhibited by an antibody against murine vascular endothelial cadherin. The antibody as well as LY294002 attenuated SDF-1alpha-mediated compact cell-cell contact, which proceeded to tube formation. Taken together, SDF-1alpha induces compact cell-cell contact through PI3-kinase, resulting in tube formation of endothelial cells.

Reciprocal feedback regulation of insulin receptor and insulin receptor substrate tyrosine phosphorylation by phosphoinositide 3-kinase in primary adipocytes.

Signalling by the insulin receptor substrate (IRS) proteins is critically dependent on the tyrosine phosphorylation of specific binding sites that recruit Src homology 2 (SH2)-domain-containing proteins, such as the p85 subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase), the tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2 and the adapter protein Grb2. Here we show that stimulation by insulin of freshly isolated primary adipocytes resulted in the expected rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor, IRS-1 and IRS-3. Inhibition of PI 3-kinase enhanced the insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of IRS-1 on (i) Tyr(612) and Tyr(941) (p85 binding sites), concomitant with an increased association of the p85 subunit of PI 3-kinase; (ii) Tyr(896) (a Grb2 binding site); and (iii) Tyr(1229) (an SHP-2 binding site), although little or no binding of SHP-2 to IRS-1 was detectable under any conditions. In contrast, inhibition of PI 3-kinase led to a decrease in insulin-stimulated p85 binding to IRS-3, but had no effect on SHP-2 binding. Furthermore, insulin-induced insulin receptor tyrosine phosphorylation, phosphorylation of Tyr(1158) and insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity were all reduced by inhibition of PI 3-kinase at later time points (>or=20 min). The results demonstrate that, in primary adipocytes, PI 3-kinase feedback control of signalling by the insulin receptor and IRS proteins is multifaceted and reciprocal, illustrating the complexity of predicting the net flux of the insulin signal(s) through the IRS proteins.

Transient ischemia enhances tyrosine phosphorylation and binding of the NMDA receptor to the Src homology 2 domain of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in the rat hippocampus.

Tyrosine phosphorylation of the NMDA receptor has been implicated in the regulation of the receptor channel. We investigated the effects of transient (15 min) global ischemia on tyrosine phosphorylation of NMDA receptor subunits NR2A and NR2B, and the interaction of NR2 subunits with the SH2 domain of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) in vulnerable CA1 and resistant CA3/dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. Transient ischemia induced a marked increase in the tyrosine phosphorylation of NR2A in both regions. The tyrosine phosphorylation of NR2B in CA3/dentate gyrus after transient ischemia was sustained and greater than that in CA1. PI3-kinase p85 was co-precipitated with NR2B after transient global ischemia. The SH2 domain of the p85 subunit of PI3-kinase bound to NR2B, but not to NR2A. Binding to NR2B was increased following ischemia and the increase in binding in CA3/dentate gyrus (4.5-fold relative to sham) was greater than in CA1 (1.7-fold relative to sham) at 10 min of reperfusion. Prior incubation of proteins with an exogenous protein tyrosine phosphatase or with a phosphorylated peptide (pYAHM) prevented binding. The results suggest that sustained increases in tyrosine phosphorylation and increased interaction of NR2B with the SH2 domain of PI3-kinase may contribute to altered signal transduction in the CA3/dentate gyrus after transient ischemia.

STAT5a is activated in human breast cancers and associates with the p85 subunit of PI3 kinase

STAT5a is activated in human breast cancers and associates with the p85 subunit of PI3 kinase

Identification of MEK- and phosphoinositide 3-kinase-dependent signalling as essential events during Chlamydia pneumoniae invasion of HEp2 cells.

The ability of Chlamydia pneumoniae to survive and cause disease is predicated on efficient invasion of cellular hosts. While it is recognized that chlamydial determinants are important for mediating attachment and uptake into non-phagocytic cells, little is known about the bacterial ligands and cellular receptors that facilitate invasion or host cell signal transduction pathways implicated in this process. We used transmission and scanning electron microscopy to demonstrate that attachment of bacteria to host cells induced the appearance of microvilli on host cell membranes. Invasion occurred 30-120 min after cell contact with the subsequent loss of membrane microvilli. Using an epithelial cell infection model, C. pneumoniae invasion caused a rapid and sustained increase in MEK-dependent phosphorylation and activation of ERK1/2, followed by PI 3-kinase-dependent phosphorylation and activation of Akt. Tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) preceded its appearance in a complex with the p85 subunit of PI 3-kinase during chlamydial invasion and isoform-specific tyrosine phosphorylation of the docking protein Shc also occurred at the time of attachment and entry of bacteria. Chlamydia entry but not attachment could be abrogated with specific inhibitors of MEK, PI 3-kinase and actin polymerization, demonstrating the importance of these signalling pathways and an intact actin cytoskeleton for C. pneumoniae invasion. These results suggest that activation of specific cell signalling pathways is an essential strategy used by C. pneumoniae to invade epithelial cells.

Expression of a mutated form of the p85alpha regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in a Hodgkin's lymphoma-derived cell line (CO).

Phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase plays an important role in a variety of biological processes, including proliferation and apoptosis. PI3-kinase is a heterodimer consisting of an 85 kDa adapter protein (p85) containing one SH3 domain and two SH2 domains and a 110 kDa catalytic subunit (p110). Recently an oncogenic form of p85 named p65-PI3K lacking the C-terminal SH2 domain has been cloned from an irradiation-induced murine thymic lymphoma and transgenic mice expressing p65-PI3K in T lymphocytes develop a lymphoproliferative disorder. Here we describe the cloning of a C-terminal truncated form of p85 expressed in a human lymphoma cell line (CO) with a T cell phenotype derived from a patient with Hodgkin's disease. As a result of a frame-shift mutation at amino acid 636, p76 is lacking most of the C-terminal SH2 domain, but contains the inter-SH2 domain and is associated with an active form of PI3-kinase. A PI3-kinase-dependent constitutive activation of Akt was detected in CO cells which was only partially reduced after serum starvation. Treatment of CO cells with the PI3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin resulted in a concentration-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation associated with an increased number of apoptotic cells. This is the first detection of a mutated form of the p85 subunit of PI3-kinase in human hematopoietic cells further underlining a potential role of PI3-kinase/Akt signaling in human leukemogenesis.

Phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 Is Mediated by the p38/MSK1 Pathway in Response to UVB Irradiation

In resting cells, eIF4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) binds to the eukaryotic initiation factor-4E (eIF-4E), preventing formation of a functional eIF-4F complex essential for cap-dependent initiation of translation. Phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 dissociates it from eIF-4E, relieving the translation block. Studies suggested that insulin- or growth factor-induced 4E-BP1 phosphorylation is mediated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) and its downstream protein kinase, Akt. In the present study we demonstrated that UVB induced 4E-BP1 phosphorylation at multiple sites, Thr-36, Thr-45, Ser-64, and Thr-69, leading to dissociation of 4E-BP1 from eIF-4E. UVB-induced phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 was blocked by p38 kinase inhibitors, PD169316 and SB202190, and MSK1 inhibitor, H89, but not by mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitors, PD98059 or U0126. The PI3-kinase inhibitor, wortmannin, did not block UVB-induced 4E-BP1 phosphorylation, but blocked both UVB- and insulin-induced activation of PI3-kinase and phosphorylation of Akt. 4E-BP1 phosphorylation was blocked in JB6 Cl 41 cells expressing a dominant negative p38 kinase or dominant negative MSK1, but not in cells expressing dominant negative ERK2, JNK1, or PI3-kinase p85 subunit. Our results suggest that UVB induces phosphorylation of 4E-BP1, leading to the functional dissociation of 4E-BP1 from eIF-4E. The p38/MSK1 pathway, but not PI3-kinase or Akt, is required for mediating the UVB-induced 4E-BP1 phosphorylation.

Activation of the RON receptor tyrosine kinase protects murine macrophages from apoptotic death induced by bacterial lipopolysaccharide

RON is a receptor tyrosine kinase activated by macrophage-stimulating protein. We demonstrate here that RON activation inhibits LPS-induced apoptosis of mouse peritoneal macrophages and Raw264.7 cells expressing RON or a constitutively active RON mutant. The antiapoptotic effect of RON was accompanied with the inhibition of LPS-induced production of nitric oxide (NO), a molecule responsible for LPS-induced cell apoptosis. This conclusion is supported by experiments using a chemical NO donor GSNO, in which RON activation directly blocked GSNO-induced apoptotic death of Raw264.7 cells and inhibited LPS-induced p53 accumulation. Furthermore, we showed that treatment of cells with wortmannin, which inhibits phosphatidylinositol (PI)-3 kinase, prevents the inhibitory effect of RON on LPS-induced macrophage apoptosis. These results were confirmed further by expression of a dominant inhibitory PI-3 kinase p85 subunit. These data suggest that by activating PI-3 kinase and inhibiting p53 accumulation, RON protects macrophage from apoptosis induced by LPS and NO. The antiapoptotic effect of RON might represent a novel mechanism for the survival of activated macrophages during inflammation.

The Role of AKT and RAFTK in β1 Integrin Mediated Survival of Precursor B-acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells

In this study, we report that the related adhesion focal tyrosine kinase RAFTK, is an upstream kinase in β 1 integrin mediated activation of Akt. Stimulation through β 1 integrins by fibronectin reversed apoptosis induced by adriamycin. Inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3 kinase)/Akt (LY 294002), tyrosine kinases (Herbimycin-A) and the cytotoxic agent adriamycin induced apoptosis of REH cells. β 1 integrin ligation induced activation of Akt, and tyrosine phosphorylation of RAFTK and FAK, but not SYK in REH cells. This suggested that RAFTK and FAK activation might be linked to Akt activation. Evidence that RAFTK is a modulator of Akt came from phorbol myristic acetate (PMA) stimulation. RAFTK and Akt were activated but FAK was not. Using fibroblasts from FAK m / m mice, which express high levels of RAFTK, fibronectin plating enhanced Akt activation. Pretreatment of REH cells with a PI3 kinase/Akt inhibitor LY 294002 did not inhibit RAFTK tyrosine phosphorylation showing that RAFTK is upstream of PI3k/Akt. Further evidence for a link between RAFTK tyrosine phosphorylation and Akt activation was the observation that the p85 subunit of PI3 kinase associated with RAFTK following integrin ligation in REH cells. These results suggest that RAFTK plays an anti-apoptotic role through the activation of Akt.

Impaired insulin signaling in the liver of transgenic rats with low circulating growth hormone levels.

GH is known to regulate glucose and lipid metabolism as well as body growth. Controversy exists as to whether GH-deficient adults are indeed insulin sensitive or insulin resistant. In GH-deficient animal models, however, no clear observation indicating insulin resistance has been made, while increased insulin sensitivity has been reported in those animals. We have produced human GH (hGH) transgenic rats characterized by low circulating hGH levels and virtually no endogenous rat GH secretion. Although the body length of the transgenic rat is normal, they develop massive obesity and insulin resistance, indicating that the transgenic rat is a good model for the analysis of insulin resistance under GH deficiency. In this study, we have examined how GH deficiency affects the early steps of insulin signaling in the liver of the transgenic rat. Circulating glucose and insulin concentrations were significantly higher in the transgenic rats than in their littermates. In addition, impaired glucose tolerance was observed in the transgenic rat. The amount of insulin receptor was smaller in the liver of the transgenic rat, resulting in decreased tyrosine phosphorylation in response to insulin stimulation. The amounts of insulin receptor substrate-1 and -2 (IRS-1 and -2) and insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of IRSs were also smaller in the transgenic rat. Despite the decrease in tyrosine phosphorylation levels of IRSs being mild to moderate (45% for IRS-1 and 16% for IRS-2), associated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) activity was not increased by insulin stimulation at all in the transgenic rat. To elucidate whether this discrepancy resulted from the alteration in binding of the p85 subunit of PI3-kinase to phosphotyrosine residues of the IRSs, we determined the amount of p85 subunit in the immunocomplexes with anti-phosphotyrosine antibody. Insulin did not affect the amount of p85 subunit associated with phosphotyrosine in the transgenic rats, while it significantly increased in the controls, indicating that alteration may have occurred at the sites of phosphorylated tyrosine residues in IRSs. These results suggest that GH deficiency in the transgenic rat leads to impairment in at least the early steps of insulin signaling in the liver with a resultant defect in glucose metabolism.

Platelet-derived growth factor promotes the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma in vascular smooth muscle cells by a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway.

Vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis are characterized by abnormal accumulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) within the intimal lining. The intimal VSMCs exhibit an increased expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma), and the administration of pharmacological PPARgamma agonists attenuates vascular lesion formation. The factors that regulate PPARgamma expression in the vasculature are poorly defined. Here we report that platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) upregulates PPARgamma by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase)/Akt signaling pathway. Using Northern-blotting and Western-blotting analyses, we observed that the levels of PPARgamma mRNA and protein were increased by 2- to 3.5-fold in human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) treated with PDGF (20 ng/mL). This was abolished by preincubation of HASMCs with a PI3-kinase inhibitor (LY294002, 50 micromol/L), and partially inhibited by a MEK1 inhibitor (U0126, 10 micromol/L), but not affected by a p38 kinase inhibitor (SB202190, 10 micromol/L). In addition, overexpression of the dominant-negative p85 subunit of PI3-kinase or Akt proteins blocked the PDGF-induced PPARgamma expression. Taken together, our results suggest that PDGF induces PPARgamma expression in VSMCs by a PI3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway. The characterization of factors and signaling pathways that modulate PPARgamma expression in VSMCs may have important implications for understanding the pathogenesis of vascular diseases.

Endogenous angiotensin II suppresses insulin signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells from spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Angiotensin II (Ang II) has been reported to inhibit insulin signaling at multiple levels in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) in vitro. We have demonstrated that VSMC from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) produce Ang II in a homogeneous culture. In the current study, we investigated influences of endogenous Ang II on insulin signaling in VSMC from SHR. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) activity, insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) associated tyrosine phosphorylation, and p85 subunit of PI3-kinase were measured in VSMC from SHR and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats in the absence and presence of Ang II type 1 receptor antagonist RNH6270 and mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK) inhibitor U0126. Insulin treatment increased PI3-kinase activity in VSMC from WKY rats in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, insulin treatment of VSMC from SHR did not affect PI3-kinase activity. However, co-treatment of VSMC from SHR with RNH6270 and insulin, increased PI3-kinase activity. PI3-kinase activity, IRS-1-associated tyrosine phosphorylation and p85 subunit of PI3-kinase in VSMC from WKY rats decreased in response to treatment with Ang II and returned to control levels upon co-treatment with U0126. Basal levels of PI3-kinase activity, IRS-1-associated tyrosine phosphorylation, and p85 subunit of PI3-kinase were significantly lower in VSMC from SHR than in cells from WKY rats. U0126 treatment of VSMC from SHR significantly increased levels of PI3-kinase activity, IRS-1-associated tyrosine phosphorylation, and p85 subunit of PI3-kinase. These results indicate that endogenous Ang II suppresses insulin signaling in VSMC from SHR by activating extracellular signal-regulated kinase. These findings suggest that tissue Ang II may play a role in insulin resistance in hypertension.

Identification of Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase as a Receptor for the Growth Factor Pleiotrophin

Pleiotrophin (PTN) is a secreted growth factor that induces neurite outgrowth and is mitogenic for fibroblasts, epithelial, and endothelial cells. During tumor growth PTN can serve as an angiogenic factor and drive tumor invasion and metastasis. To identify a receptor for PTN, we panned a phage display human cDNA library against immobilized PTN protein as a bait. From this we isolated a phage insert that was homologous to an amino acid sequence stretch in the extracellular domain (ECD) of the orphan receptor tyrosine kinase anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK). In parallel with PTN, ALK is highly expressed during perinatal development of the nervous system and down-modulated in the adult. Here we show in cell-free assays as well as in radioligand receptor binding studies in intact cells that PTN binds to the ALK ECD with an apparent Kd of 32 +/- 9 pm. This receptor binding is inhibited by an excess of PTN, by the ALK ECD, and by anti-PTN and anti-ECD antibodies. PTN added to ALK-expressing cells induces phosphorylation of both ALK and of the downstream effector molecules IRS-1, Shc, phospholipase C-gamma, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. Furthermore, the growth stimulatory effect of PTN on different cell lines in culture coincides with the endogenous expression of ALK mRNA, and the effect of PTN is enhanced by ALK overexpression. From this we conclude that ALK is a receptor that transduces PTN-mediated signals and propose that the PTN-ALK axis can play a significant role during development and during disease processes.