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Biomedical subjects

C H Heldin

Publications and source records attributed to C H Heldin.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Distinct roles of the intracellular domains of transforming growth factor-beta type I and type II receptors in signal transduction.

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) transduces signals through binding to type I (T beta R-I) and type II (T beta R-II) serine/threonine kinase receptors. T beta R-I requires T beta R-II for ligand binding, whereas T beta R-II requires T beta R-I for signaling. We generated two different chimeric TGF-beta receptors, i.e. T beta R-1.2 containing the extracellular domain of T beta R-I and the intracellular domain of T beta R-II, and T beta R-2.1 containing the extracellular domain of T beta R-II and the intracellular domain of T beta R-I. T beta R-2.1 bound 125I-TGF-beta 1 alone, whereas T beta R-1.2 bound the ligand only in the presence of T beta R-II or T beta R-2.1. When transfected into a mutant mink lung epithelial cell line that lacks functional T beta R-II, T beta R-II cDNA, but not T beta R-2.1 cDNA, restored the responsiveness to TGF-beta 1 with regard to transcriptional activation of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 gene promoter and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-responsive elements. In a mutant mink lung epithelial cell line lacking T beta R-I, T beta R-I cDNA stimulated promoter activity, but the T beta R-1.2 cDNA did not. T beta R-2.1 formed an oligomer with T beta R-II when transfected into COS cells, but the complex did not transduce the signal after ligand stimulation. On the other hand, co-transfection of T beta R-1.2 and T beta R-2.1 cDNAs restored the responsiveness to TGF-beta 1. These results indicate that an interaction between the intracellular regions of T beta R-I and T beta R-II, triggered by ligand binding to the extracellular domains of these receptors, leads to efficient signal transduction by TGF-beta.

Animals↗

Selective platelet-derived growth factor receptor kinase blockers reverse sis-transformation.

A novel class of tyrosine kinase blockers represented by the tyrphostins AG1295 and AG1296 is described. These compounds inhibit selectively the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor kinase and the PDGF-dependent DNA synthesis in Swiss 3T3 cells and in porcine aorta endothelial cells with 50% inhibitory concentrations below 5 and 1 microM, respectively. The PDGF receptor blockers have not effect on epidermal growth factor receptor autophosphorylation; weak effects on DNA synthesis stimulated by insulin, by epidermal growth factor, or by a combination of both; and over an order of magnitude weaker blocking effect on fibroblast growth factor-dependent DNA synthesis. AG1296 potently inhibits signaling of human PDGF alpha- and beta-receptors as well as of the related stem cell factor receptor (c-Kit) but has no effect on autophosphorylation of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor KDR or on DNA synthesis induced by vascular endothelial growth factor in porcine aortic endothelial cells. Treatment by AG1296 reverses the transformed phenotype of sis-transfected NIH 3T3 cells but has no effect on src-transformed NIH 3T3 cells or on the activity of the kinase p60c-src(F527) immunoprecipitated from these cells. These potent and selective compounds represent leads for the development of novel agents to combat tumors driven by PDGF or to inhibit PDGF action in other diseases in which PDGF plays a key role, such as restenosis.

3T3 Cells↗

Different signal transduction properties of KDR and Flt1, two receptors for vascular endothelial growth factor.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a homodimeric peptide growth factor which binds to two structurally related tyrosine kinase receptors denoted Flt1 and KDR. In order to compare the signal transduction via these two receptors, the human Flt1 and KDR proteins were stably expressed in porcine aortic endothelial cells. Binding analyses using 125I-VEGF revealed Kd values of 16 pM for Flt1 and 760 pM for KDR. Cultured human umbilical vein endothelial (HUVE) cells were found to express two distinct populations of binding sites with affinities similar to those for Flt1 and KDR, respectively. The KDR expressing cells showed striking changes in cell morphology, actin reorganization and membrane ruffling, chemotaxis and mitogenicity upon VEGF stimulation, whereas Flt1 expressing cells lacked such responses. KDR was found to undergo ligand-induced autophosphorylation in intact cells, and both Flt1 and KDR were phosphorylated in vitro in response to VEGF, however, KDR much more efficiently than Flt1. Neither the receptor-associated activity of phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase nor tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma were affected by stimulation of Flt1 or KDR expressing cells, and phosphorylation of GTPase activating protein was only slightly increased. Members of the Src family such as Fyn and Yes showed an increased level of phosphorylation upon VEGF stimulation of cells expressing Flt1 but not in cells expressing KDR. The maximal responses in KDR expressing porcine aortic endothelial cells were obtained at higher VEGF concentrations as compared to HUVE cells, i.e. in the presence of Flt1. This difference could possibly be explained by the formation of heterodimeric complexes between KDR and Flt1, or other molecules, in HUVE cells.

Actins↗

A unique autophosphorylation site in the platelet-derived growth factor alpha receptor from a heterodimeric receptor complex.

The platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) alpha and beta receptors undergo dimerization as a consequence of ligand binding. Depending on the PDGF isoform (PDGF-AA, -AB or -BB), homodimers or heterodimers of receptors are formed. In this study, we have used transfected porcine aortic endothelial cells, coexpressing cDNAs for the alpha receptor and the beta receptor at comparable levels, to investigate the properties of the alpha beta-heterodimeric receptor complex. PDGF-AB, which mainly induced alpha beta-heterodimeric complexes, was the most efficient isoform for stimulating mitogenicity. Actin reorganization, in the form of circular membrane ruffling and chemotaxis, was induced by PDGF-AB and PDGF-BB, but not by PDGF-AA, thus indicating that the beta receptor in the homodimeric or heterodimeric configuration was required for induction of motility responses. The molecular basis for the apparent receptor dimer-specific properties was examined by analyzing receptor autophosphorylation and phosphorylation of substrates. The alpha receptor was found to be phosphorylated at an additional tyrosine residue, Tyr754, in the heterodimeric complex as compared to the alpha alpha receptor homodimer. Phosphorylation of this tyrosine residue could permit the binding of a specific signal-tranducing protein. A candidate is a 134,000-M(r) protein, which was shown to associate preferentially with the alpha receptor in the heterodimeric receptor complex. It is possible that phosphorylated Tyr754 in the alpha receptor mediates activation of specific signal-tranducing molecules like the 134,000-M(r) substrate, and thereby initiates signal-tranduction pathways from the alpha beta receptor heterodimer, which are distinct from those initiated via homodimeric receptor complexes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cloning and characterization of PTPL1, a protein tyrosine phosphatase with similarities to cytoskeletal-associated proteins.

A novel cytoplasmic protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP), PTPL1, was identified and cloned using a polymerase chain reaction-based approach. Overlapping cDNA clones encompass an open reading frame of 7398 base pairs, predicting a protein of 2466 amino acid residues with a molecular mass of 275 kDa. PTPL1 has a wide tissue distribution, a 9.5-kilobase transcript being expressed in most tissues. Peptide antisera against PTPL1 specifically precipitate a protein with an apparent mass of 250 kDa. PTPL1 has a PTP domain located in the COOH terminus, and the protein was shown to dephosphorylate 32P-labeled myelin basic protein. In the non-enzymatic part of PTPL1, three different structural motifs can be identified. Two of these are often found in proteins at the interface between the plasma membrane and the cytoskeleton, i.e. a 300-amino acid domain with similarity to the band 4.1 superfamily, and a region consisting of five GLGF repeats, an 80-amino acid repeat found in a variety of cytoskeleton-associated proteins. In addition to these structures PTPL1 has a region that fulfills the criteria for a leucine zipper motif. PTPL1 is the hitherto largest PTP identified and the only one known which contains a leucine zipper motif.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Activation of p70/p85 S6 kinase by a pathway independent of p21ras.

The enzymes p70s6k and p85s6k are two isoforms of the same kinase and are important in mitogenesis. Both isoforms are activated by a complex phosphorylation event and lie on a common signalling pathway, distinct from that of the p42mapk/p44mapk kinases. Activation of p42mapk/p44mapk is triggered by sequential activation of the GDP-GTP exchange factor Sos, the GTP-binding protein p21ras, and protein kinases p74raf and p47mek (refs 7-10). As p21ras transformed cells have increased S6 phosphorylation, we tested whether the p70s6k/p85s6k signalling pathway bifurcates between p21ras and p42mapk/p44mapk. We found that mutants of p74raf and p21ras blocked activation of epitope-tagged p44mapk but not epitope-tagged p70s6k. Moreover, in cells expressing human platelet-derived growth factor receptors lacking the kinase-insert domain, the growth factor activates p21ras but not p70s6k/p85s6k. The critical autophosphorylation site for p70s6k/p85s6k activation within this domain is a tyrosine at residue 751. Our results show that the p70s6k/p85s6k signalling pathway is independent of p21ras, that it bifurcates from the p21ras pathway at the receptor, and that it is initiated by autophosphorylation at a specific site.

3T3 Cells↗

Modulation of Kit/stem cell factor receptor-induced signaling by protein kinase C.

The Kit/stem cell factor receptor (Kit/SCF-R) is a transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor of importance for the normal development of hemopoietic cells, melanoblasts, and germ cells. We recently reported that protein kinase C (PKC) is involved in a negative feedback loop regulating the Kit/SCF-R by direct phosphorylation on serine residues in the receptor. Inhibition of PKC led to increased SCF-induced tyrosine kinase activity and mitogenicity, but PKC was necessary for SCF-induced motility. In this report we have further examined the modulatory role of PKC on SCF-induced signaling. The ligand-activated Kit/SCF-R associated weakly with GRB2 and induced only little tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma in porcine aortic endothelial cells transfected with Kit/SCF-R. In contrast, the SCF-stimulated Kit/SCF-R associated efficiently with, and induced tyrosine phosphorylation of, the p85 alpha regulatory subunit of phosphatidyl inositide-3'-kinase (PI-3'-kinase). Both receptor association and tyrosine phosphorylation of p85 alpha were increased after inhibition of PKC, while its serine phosphorylation was decreased. Concomitantly, the specific activity of receptor-associated PI-3'-kinase activity was increased. Inhibition of PI-3'-kinase with wortmannin inhibited SCF-induced mitogenicity. SCF-induced phosphorylation of Raf-1 and activation of ERK2 still occurred after PKC inhibition but was not increased. In conclusion, SCF-induced PI-3'-kinase activation paralleled the increased SCF-induced mitogenicity after inhibition of PKC.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Formation of hetero-oligomeric complexes of type I and type II receptors for transforming growth factor-beta.

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) transduces signals through a heteromeric complex of type I (T beta R-I) and type II (T beta R-II) TGF-beta receptors. To determine the stoichiometry of this complex we used analysis by affinity labeling with 125I-TGF-beta 1 and covalent cross-linking with disuccinimidyl suberate and immunoprecipitation using T beta R-I- or T beta R-II-specific antisera, followed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis under nonreducing (first dimension) and reducing (second dimension) conditions. Dimers composed of T beta R-I and/or T beta R-II were observed on mink lung epithelial cells as well as COS-1 cells transfected with T beta R-I and T beta R-II cDNAs. Homodimers of T beta R-I could be demonstrated on these cells after dissociation of T beta R-II by sodium dodecyl sulfate treatment. On the cell surface of mink lung epithelial cell mutants that express only T beta R-II and do not respond to TGF-beta, and on COS-1 cells transfected with only T beta R-II, only homodimers of T beta R-II were seen. The facts that T beta R-I does not bind TGF-beta in the absence of T beta R-II and that T beta R-II forms a signaling complex with T beta R-I, together with our observations that homodimers of T beta R-I and T beta R-II are seen on responsive cells, support the notion that TGF-beta induces the formation of hetero-oligomeric receptor complexes, most likely a heterotetramer containing two molecules each of T beta R-I and T beta R-II.

Affinity Labels↗

Structural properties of 3.0 kb and 3.2 kb transcripts encoding platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor/thymidine phosphorylase in A431 cells.

Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor/thymidine phosphorylase (PD-ECGF/TP) is a 90 kDa protein consisting of two non-covalently associated subunits. In addition to the previously identified 1.8 kilobase (kb) PD-ECGF/TP mRNA, the human epidermoid carcinoma cell line A431 was found to express 3.0 kb and 3.2 kb transcripts. cDNA cloning of the larger transcripts revealed that they contain long 5' leader sequences of 1.5 kb and 1.7 kb, respectively, and the same open reading frame encoding PD-ECGF/TP as that of the 1.8 kb transcript. Comparison with the published PD-ECGF/TP genomic sequence shows that the long 5' leader sequence contain 7 of 8 copies of Sp-1 binding sites present in the transcription promoter region of the 1.8 kb transcript.

Base Sequence↗

Identification of type I receptors for osteogenic protein-1 and bone morphogenetic protein-4.

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are multifunctional proteins, structurally related to transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and activin. TGF-beta and activin exert their effects by forming heteromeric complexes of type I and type II serine/threonine kinase receptors. We have previously identified a series of type I serine/threonine kinase receptors, termed activin receptor-like kinase (ALK)-1 to -6. ALK-5 is a TGF-beta type I receptor, whereas ALK-2 and ALK-4 are activin type I receptors. Here we investigated the binding of proteins in the BMP family to ALKs. In transfected COS cells, the binding of osteogenic protein (OP)-1 and BMP-4 to certain ALKs was observed in the absence of type II receptors, and their binding was increased after co-transfection of a BMP type II receptor from Caenorhabditis elegans, DAF-4. OP-1 bound to ALK-2 and ALK-6 efficiently, and to ALK-3 less efficiently, whereas BMP-4 bound to ALK-3 and ALK-6 efficiently. Similarly, OP-1 bound to ALK-2, ALK-3, and/or ALK-6 in various nontransfected cell lines, although the binding profiles were different between different cell types. BMP-4 bound to ALK-3 in MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts and human foreskin fibroblasts. These results suggest that ALK-3 and ALK-6 are type I receptors for OP-1 and BMP-4; in addition, ALK-2 is a type I receptor shared by activin and OP-1, but not by BMP-4.

Activin Receptors↗

Direct interaction between Shc and the platelet-derived growth factor beta-receptor.

The Src homology 2 (SH2) domain-containing Shc proteins p52shc and p46shc become phosphorylated upon activation of several tyrosine kinases and are implicated in mitogenic signal transduction. Ligand stimulation of the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) beta-receptor leads to autophosphorylation of tyrosine residues, which is known to mediate interactions with several SH2 domain-containing signaling molecules. In this study, we have characterized the interaction between the PDGF beta-receptor and Shc. PDGF beta-receptor coprecipitation in Shc immunoprecipitates was dependent on stimulation with PDGF-BB. The Shc SH2 domain expressed as a bacterial fusion protein bound the autophosphorylated PDGF beta-receptor. Moreover, the Shc SH2 domain could bind the autophosphorylated purified baculovirus-expressed PDGF beta-receptor intracellular domain, which indicates a direct association of Shc with the PDGF beta-receptor. Activation of the PDGF beta-receptor induced the preferential phosphorylation of p52shc. Tyrosine-phosphorylated Shc, in turn, formed a complex with the signaling molecule Grb2. Synthetic peptide analysis revealed that certain autophosphorylation sites in the PDGF beta-receptor (Tyr-579, Tyr-740, Tyr-751, and Tyr-771) were able to mediate the specific binding of the Shc SH2 domain as well as intact Shc proteins. A mutant PDGF beta-receptor in which Tyr-579 was replaced with phenylalanine showed 40% impaired association of Shc in vivo, but phosphorylation of Shc proteins was not affected. We conclude that multiple autophosphorylation sites in the PDGF beta-receptor are responsible for the binding of Shc. This is in contrast to previously characterized interactions between the PDGF beta-receptor and SH2 domain-containing proteins, which generally involve one high affinity binding site in the receptor.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Negative feedback regulation of human platelets via autocrine activation of the platelet-derived growth factor alpha-receptor.

Human platelets contain platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in their alpha-granules which is released during platelet exocytosis. We show by immunoprecipitation and 125I-PDGF binding experiments that human platelets have functionally active PDGF alpha-receptors, but not beta-receptors. The PDGF alpha-receptor (PDGFR-alpha) was identified as a 170-kDa glycosylated protein-tyrosine kinase as found in other cell types. Stimulation of platelets with 0.1 unit/ml thrombin resulted in a significant increase (2-5-fold) of the tyrosine phosphorylation of the PDGFR-alpha, as determined by immunoprecipitation with phosphotyrosine antiserum as well as with PDGFR-alpha antiserum. The observed thrombin-induced autophosphorylation of the PDGFR-alpha was inhibited by the addition of a neutralizing monoclonal PDGF antibody. Thus, our results suggest that the platelet PDGFR-alpha is stimulated in an autocrine manner by PDGF secreted during platelet activation. Preincubation of platelets with PDGF inhibited thrombin-induced platelet aggregation and secretion of ATP + ADP and beta-hexosaminidase. Thrombin-induced platelet aggregation was also reversed when PDGF was added 30 s after thrombin stimulation. Inhibition of the autocrine PDGF pathway during platelet activation by the PDGF antibody led to a potentiation of thrombin-induced beta-hexosaminidase secretion. Thus, the PDGFR-alpha takes part in a negative feedback regulation during platelet activation. Our demonstration of PDGF alpha-receptors on human platelets and its inhibitory function during platelet activation identifies a new possible role of PDGF in the regulation of thrombosis.

Becaplermin↗

Characterization of type I receptors for transforming growth factor-beta and activin.

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and activin exert their effects by binding to heteromeric complexes of type I and type II receptors. The type II receptors for TGF-beta and activin are transmembrane serine-threonine kinases; a series of related receptors, denoted activin receptor-like kinase (ALK) 1 to 5, have recently been identified, and ALK-6 is described here. ALK-5 has been shown to be a functional TGF-beta type I receptor. A systematic analysis revealed that most ALKs formed heteromeric complexes with the type II receptors for TGF-beta and activin after overexpression in COS cells; however, among the six ALKs, only ALK-5 was a functional TGF-beta type I receptor for activation of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and only ALK-2 and ALK-4 bound activin with high affinity.

Activin Receptors↗

A tyrosine residue in the juxtamembrane segment of the platelet-derived growth factor beta-receptor is critical for ligand-mediated endocytosis.

The importance of tyrosine residues in ligand-mediated endocytosis of the platelet-derived growth factor beta-receptor was analyzed using a series of tyrosine residue-mutated beta-receptors, which together cover all of the tyrosine residues in the juxtamembrane segment, the kinase insert, and the carboxyl-terminal tail; also certain of the tyrosine residues within the first and second parts of the kinase domain were examined. Of all of these tyrosine residues, only Tyr-579 seemed to be important for internalization, since mutation of this residue resulted in substantial reduction in the rate of ligand-induced receptor internalization (approximately 60% of the wild-type level). Replacement of Tyr-579 by either an aromatic (Phe) or a nonaromatic (Asp) residue reduced the efficiency of the mutant receptors in internalization to the same extent, suggesting that the role of Tyr-579 in the beta-receptor is different from that of the previously described tyrosine-based internalization motifs, which were first determined for the low density lipoprotein receptor. Tyr-579 has been found to be an autophosphorylation site in the beta-receptor. Moreover, the internalization rate of a kinase negative receptor mutant was not altered by the additional mutation of Tyr-579. Thus, it is likely that phosphorylation of Tyr-579 is important for ligand-induced internalization of the beta-receptor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Characterization of the retention motif in the C-terminal part of the long splice form of platelet-derived growth factor A-chain.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) A-chain is found in two different splice variants; the long A-chain variant differs from the short one in that it contains a stretch of basic amino acid residues in the C-terminal part that mediates retention of the growth factor inside the producer cell and to the cell matrix. By analyzing mutants in which different amino acid residues in the retention motif had been changed to alanine residues, we found that the total positive charge of the sequence is of importance for the function of the retention motif. Moreover, we showed that retention also occurs if only one of the polypeptides in the PDGF dimer carries the retention motif. Surface iodination and competition with a peptide having the sequence of the retention motif revealed that the long A-chain variant, in contrast to the short A-chain variant, is localized on the outside of the cells and is also associated to the cell matrix. The association is likely to be mediated partially through heparan sulfate proteoglycans since treatment of matrix with heparitinase released the long A-chain variant.

Alternative Splicing↗

Activated platelet-derived growth factor autocrine pathway drives the transformed phenotype of a human glioblastoma cell line.

Human glioblastoma cells (A172) were found to concomitantly express PDGF-BB and PDGF beta-receptors. The receptors were constitutively autophosphorylated in the absence of exogenous ligand, suggesting the presence of an autocrine PDGF pathway. Neutralizing PDGF antibodies as well as suramin inhibited the autonomous PDGF receptor tyrosine kinase activity and resulted in up-regulation of receptor protein. The interruption of the autocrine loop by the PDGF antibodies reversed the transformed phenotype of the glioblastoma cell, as determined by (1) diminished DNA synthesis, (2) inhibition of tumor colony growth, and (3) reversion of the transformed morphology of the tumor cells. The PDGF antibodies showed no effect on the DNA synthesis of another glioblastoma cells line (U-343MGa 31L) or on Ki-ras-transformed fibroblasts. The present study demonstrates an endogenously activated PDGF pathway in a spontaneous human glioblastoma cell line. Furthermore, we provide evidence that the autocrine PDGF pathway drives the transformed phenotype of the tumor cells, a process that can be blocked by extracellular antagonists.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Signal transduction via serine/threonine kinase receptors.

A number of serine/threonine kinase receptors have recently been identified. Most of the members of this family are type I or type II receptors for proteins in the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily. The type I and type II receptors form heteromeric receptor complexes after binding of the ligands, and transduce intracellular signals. TGF-beta type I receptor needs type II receptor for ligand binding, and type II receptor needs type I receptor for signalling. The signal transducing molecules that interact with heteromeric serine/threonine kinase receptor complexes remain to be elucidated; cyclin-dependent kinases and the retinoblastoma protein appear to be downstream elements in the antiproliferative pathway of TGF-beta.

Animals↗

Serine/threonine kinase receptors.

A new family of transmembrane receptors that contain intracellular serine/threonine kinase domains is emerging. Ligands for this class of receptors include members of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily, e.g. TGF-beta s and activins. TGF-beta s exert their effects on target cells via formation of heteromeric serine/threonine kinase complexes (TGF-beta type I and type II receptors). Other components, i.e. TGF-beta type III receptor and endoglin, appear to have more indirect roles, e.g. to present ligands to the signalling receptors. Given the structural similarity between members of the TGF-beta superfamily, other ligands in this family may act through structurally and functionally similar serine/threonine kinase receptors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗