scholarly journals The estrogen-dependent c-JunER protein causes a reversible loss of mammary epithelial cell polarity involving a destabilization of adherens junctions.

1996 ◽  
Vol 132 (6) ◽  
pp. 1115-1132 ◽  
Author(s):  
I Fialka ◽  
H Schwarz ◽  
E Reichmann ◽  
M Oft ◽  
M Busslinger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Egf Receptor ◽  
Mammary Epithelial ◽  
Breast Development ◽  
Beta Catenin ◽  
Epithelial Polarity ◽  
Tubular Structures ◽  
Tissue Organization

Members of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor family are known to be specifically involved in mammary carcinogenesis. As a nuclear target of activated receptors, we examined c-Jun in mammary epithelial cells. For this, we used a c-JunER fusion protein which was tightly controlled by estrogen. Activation of the JunER by hormone resulted in the transcriptional regulation of a variety of AP-1 target genes. Hormone-activated JunER induced the loss of epithelial polarity, a disruption of intercellular junctions and normal barrier function and the formation of irregular multilayers. These changes were completely reversible upon hormone withdrawal. Loss of epithelial polarity involved redistribution of both apical and basolateral proteins to the entire plasma membrane. The redistribution of E-cadherin and beta-catenin was accompanied by a destabilization of complexes formed between these two proteins, leading to an enrichment of beta-catenin in the detergent-soluble fraction. Uninduced cells were able to form three-dimensional tubular structures in collagen I gels which were disrupted upon JunER activation, leading to irregular cell aggregates. The JunER-induced disruption of tubular structures was dependent on active signaling by growth factors. Moreover, the effects of JunER could be mimicked in normal cells by the addition of acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF). These data suggest that a possible function of c-Jun in epithelial cells is to modulate epithelial polarity and regulate tissue organization, processes which may be equally important for both normal breast development and as initiating steps in carcinogenesis.

scholarly journals Prolactin inhibits epidermal growth factor (EGF)-stimulated signaling events in mouse mammary epithelial cells by altering EGF receptor function.

1993 ◽  
Vol 4 (8) ◽  
pp. 773-780 ◽  
Author(s):  
S E Fenton ◽  
L G Sheffield
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Epidermal Growth Factor ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Egf Receptor ◽  
Mammary Epithelial Cells ◽  
Mammary Epithelial ◽  
Mammary Tissue ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Signaling Events ◽  
Epidermal Growth

We have previously shown that lactogenic hormones stimulate epidermal growth factor (EGF) mRNA accumulation in mouse mammary glands in vivo and in mouse mammary epithelial cells (NMuMG line). However, our in vitro studies indicate that the lactogenic hormone prolactin (PRL) completely inhibits EGF-stimulated DNA synthesis. PRL does not alter cholera toxin or insulin-like growth factor-1-stimulated cell growth, thus the inhibition appears to be specific for EGF. Our current studies are designed to evaluate the effects of PRL on EGF-stimulated signaling events in the NMuMG cell line. Cells treated with PRL for 30 min demonstrated a loss of high affinity EGF-binding ability. After long-term PRL treatment (18 h) there was a decrease in EGF receptor (R) number, as determined by [125I]EGF binding. PRL treatment (8 h) also decreased EGF-R mRNA levels. An EGF-stimulated increase in EGF-R mRNA observed 2-4 h after treatment was decreased when PRL was added to the cultures. Furthermore, levels of EGF-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of the EGF-R (170 kDa) and phospholipase C gamma (145 kDa) are dramatically decreased in cells treated with PRL. Also of great interest was a decrease in EGF-stimulated c-myc mRNA in PRL-treated cells. We conclude that PRL is acting to down-regulate the EGF-R, thus limiting EGF-stimulated cell signaling in mammary tissue.

The EGF-CFC family: novel epidermal growth factor-related proteins in development and cancer.

2000 ◽  
pp. 199-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
D S Saloman ◽  
C Bianco ◽  
A D Ebert ◽  
N I Khan ◽  
M De Santis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mammary Gland ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Mammary Epithelial Cells ◽  
Branching Morphogenesis ◽  
Mammary Epithelial ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Beta Catenin ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Related Proteins

The EGF-CFC gene family encodes a group of structurally related proteins that serve as important competence factors during early embryogenesis in Xenopus, zebrafish, mice and humans. This multigene family consists of Xenopus FRL-1, zebrafish one-eyed-pinhead (oep), mouse cripto (Cr-1) and cryptic, and human cripto (CR-1) and criptin. FRL-1, oep and mouse cripto are essential for the formation of mesoderm and endoderm and for correct establishment of the anterior/posterior axis. In addition, oep and cryptic are important for the establishment of left-right (L/R) asymmetry. In zebrafish, there is strong genetic evidence that oep functions as an obligatory co-factor for the correct signaling of a transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta)-related gene, nodal, during gastrulation and during L/R asymmetry development. Expression of Cr-1 and cryptic is extinguished in the embryo after day 8 of gestation except for the developing heart where Cr-1 expression is necessary for myocardial development. In the mouse, cryptic is not expressed in adult tissues whereas Cr-1 is expressed at a low level in several different tissues including the mammary gland. In the mammary gland, expression of Cr-1 in the ductal epithelial cells increases during pregnancy and lactation and immunoreactive and biologically active Cr-1 protein can be detected in human milk. Overexpression of Cr-1 in mouse mammary epithelial cells can facilitate their in vitro transformation and in vivo these Cr-1-transduced cells produce ductal hyperplasias in the mammary gland. Recombinant mouse or human cripto can enhance cell motility and branching morphogenesis in mammary epithelial cells and in some human tumor cells. These effects are accompanied by an epithelial-mesenchymal transition which is associated with a decrease in beta-catenin function and an increase in vimentin expression. Expression of cripto is increased several-fold in human colon, gastric, pancreatic and lung carcinomas and in a variety of different types of mouse and human breast carcinomas. More importantly, this increase can first be detected in premalignant lesions in some of these tissues. Although a specific receptor for the EGF-CFC proteins has not yet been identified, oep depends upon an activin-type RIIB and RIB receptor system that functions through Smad-2. Mouse and human cripto have been shown to activate a ras/raf/MAP kinase signaling pathway in mammary epithelial cells. Activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and Akt are also important for the ability of CR-1 to stimulate cell migration and to block lactogenic hormone-induced expression of beta-casein and whey acidic protein. In mammary epithelial cells, part of these responses may depend on the ability of CR-1 to transactivate erb B-4 and/or fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 through an src-like tyrosine kinase.

scholarly journals c-erbB-3

2002 ◽  
Vol 157 (6) ◽  
pp. 929-940 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Offterdinger ◽  
Christian Schöfer ◽  
Klara Weipoltshammer ◽  
Thomas W. Grunt
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Nuclear Localization ◽  
Nuclear Export ◽  
Mammary Epithelial Cells ◽  
Mammary Epithelial ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Receptor Protein ◽  
Erbb Receptors ◽  
Cell Fractionation ◽  
Epithelial Polarity

c-erbB receptors are usually located in cell membranes and are activated by extracellular binding of EGF-like growth factors. Unexpectedly, using immunofluorescence we found high levels of c-erbB-3 within the nuclei of MTSV1-7 immortalized nonmalignant human mammary epithelial cells. Nuclear localization was mediated by the COOH terminus of c-erbB-3, and a nuclear localization signal was identified by site-directed mutagenesis and by transfer of the signal to chicken pyruvate kinase. A nuclear export inhibitor caused accumulation of c-erbB-3 in the nuclei of other mammary epithelial cell lines as demonstrated by immunofluorescence and biochemical cell fractionation, suggesting that c-erbB-3 shuttles between nuclear and nonnuclear compartments in these cells. Growth of MTSV1-7 on permeable filters induced epithelial polarity and concentration of c-erbB-3 within the nucleoli. However, the c-erbB-3 ligand heregulin β1 shifted c-erbB-3 from the nucleolus into the nucleoplasm and then into the cytoplasm. The subcellular localization of c-erbB-3 obviously depends on exogenous stimuli and on the stage of epithelial polarity and challenges the specific function of c-erbB-3 as a transmembrane receptor protein arguing for additional, as yet unidentified, roles of c-erbB-3 within the nucle(ol)us of mammary epithelial cells.

scholarly journals Metalloproteinase axes increase beta-catenin signaling in primary mouse mammary epithelial cells lacking TIMP3

2007 ◽  
Vol 120 (6) ◽  
pp. 1050-1060 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. V. Hojilla ◽  
I. Kim ◽  
Z. Kassiri ◽  
J. E. Fata ◽  
H. Fang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Mammary Epithelial Cells ◽  
Mammary Epithelial ◽  
Beta Catenin ◽  
Primary Mouse

Eicosanoids enhance epidermal growth factor receptor activation and proliferation in glomerular epithelial cells

1992 ◽  
Vol 262 (4) ◽  
pp. F639-F646 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. V. Cybulsky ◽  
P. R. Goodyer ◽  
M. D. Cyr ◽  
A. J. McTavish
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Epidermal Growth Factor ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Egf Receptor ◽  
Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Sodium Dodecyl ◽  
Receptor Activation ◽  
Scatchard Analysis ◽  
Glomerular Epithelial Cells ◽  
Epidermal Growth

Proliferation of glomerular epithelial cells (GEC) and release of prostaglandins (PG) and thromboxane (Tx) A2 may occur in glomerular injury. We studied the relationship of eicosanoids to epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced proliferation of rat GEC in culture. After 48 h of serum-deprivation, EGF stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation ninefold above serum-deprived cells. Inhibition of cyclooxygenase with indomethacin or of Txsynthase with OKY-046 decreased the proliferative effect of EGF by 50 and 38%, respectively. The effect of indomethacin was reversed by addition of PGE2. Synthesis of PGE2, PGF2 alpha, and TxA2 by serum-deprived GEC was not enhanced by EGF. Scatchard analysis of 125I-EGF binding to GEC demonstrated two populations of EGF receptors; the high-affinity site had a dissociation constant (Kd) of 444 pM and 24,864 receptors/cell. EGF receptor autophosphorylation (reflecting receptor activation) was studied by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting of GEC membrane proteins with anti-phosphotyrosine antibody. EGF increased phosphorylation of a protein of approximately 170 kDa, which comigrated with proteins immunoprecipitated from [35S]methionine-labeled GEC with antibodies to EGF receptor. Indomethacin and OKY-046 decreased the EGF-dependent phosphorylation of the 170-kDa protein, and this decrease was overcome by addition of PGE2. Indomethacin and OKY-046 did not, however, reduce 125I-EGF binding. Thus, in GEC, the basal synthesis of eicosanoids enhanced EGF-induced proliferation. This effect appears to be due to enhancement of EGF receptor activation.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document