Hexachlorobenzene triggers AhR translocation to the nucleus, c-Src activation and EGFR transactivation in rat liver

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) is a widespread environmental pollutant. It has some properties that are typical for dioxin-like compounds that act mainly through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) protein. Upon dioxin binding, the AhR translocates to the nucleus and modulates gene expression. At the same time, c-Src kinase frees from the AhR complex and thereby activates its own kinase activity, which acts as a trigger for the growth factor receptor signal transduction pathway. HCB is a weak agonist of the AhR, and the evidence that HCB toxicity is mediated via the AhR complex is limited and inconclusive. In the present study, female Wistar rats were administered HCB (1, 10 and 100mg/kg) for 30 days. Liver cytosolic AhR was translocated to the nucleus. The activity of liver microsomal c-Src increased at all assayed doses. HCB induced the association of the EGFR with c-Src and increased the phosphorylation of EGFR at tyrosine 845 (Tyr845), a known c-Src phosphorylation site. c-Src from WB-F344 cells treated with HCB exhibited increased protein levels and c-Src-pTyr416 phosphorylation than the control cells. Again HCB induced EGFR phosphorylation at Tyr845. Such an effect of HCB could not be detected when c-Src activity was blocked by PP2. All together, our data demonstrates that HCB may induce EGFR transactivation through an c-Src-dependent pathway.     

Hepatic arachidonic acid metabolism is disrupted after hexachlorobenzene treatment

Hexaclorobenzene (HCB), one of the most persistent environmental pollutants, can cause a wide range of toxic effects including cancer in animals, and hepatotoxicity and porphyria both in humans and animals. In the present study, liver microsomal cytochrome P450 (CYP)-dependent arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism, hepatic PGE production, and cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) activity were investigated in an experimental model of porphyria cutanea tarda induced by HCB. Female Wistar rats were treated with a single daily dose of HCB (100 mg kg(-1) body weight) for 5 days and were sacrificed 3, 10, 17, and 52 days after the last dose. HCB treatment induced the accumulation of hepatic porphyrins from day 17 and increased the activities of liver ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD), methoxyresorufin O-demethylase (MROD), and aminopyrine N-demethylase (APND) from day 3 after the last dose. Liver microsomes from control and HCB-treated rats generated, in the presence of NADPH, hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs), epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), 11,12-Di HETE, and omega-OH/omega-1-OH AA. HCB treatment caused an increase in total NADPH CYP-dependent AA metabolism, with a higher response at 3 days after the last HCB dose than at the other time points studied. In addition, HCB treatment markedly enhanced PGE production and release in liver slices. This HCB effect was time dependent and reached its highest level after 10 days. At this time cPLA2 activity was shown to be increased. Unexpectedly, HCB produced a significant decrease in cPLA2 activity on the 17th and 52nd day. Our results demonstrated for the first time that HCB induces both the cyclooxygenase and CYP-dependent AA metabolism. The effects of HCB on AA metabolism were previous to the onset of a marked porphyria and might contribute to different aspects of HCB-induced liver toxicity such as alterations of membrane fluidity and membrane-bound protein function. Observations also suggested that a possible role of cPLA2 in the early increase of AA metabolism cannot be excluded. However, the existence of other pathway(s) for metabolizable AA generation different from cPLA2 activation is also proposed.     

Hexachlorobenzene is a tumor co-carcinogen and induces alterations in insulin-growth factors signaling pathway in the rat mammary gland.

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) is a widespread environmental pollutant. Controversy still exists about the breast carcinogenic properties of organochlorines in humans. The ligands, receptors, and related signaling proteins of the insulin growth factor family are involved in the regulation of breast-cancer cell growth. The aims of this study were to determine: (1) whether HCB is co-carcinogenic in a medium term assay of N-nitroso N-methylurea (NMU)-induced mammary tumors in rats; (2) the effect of HCB on insulin receptor (IR), insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR) and insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) levels and on IRS-1 phosphorylation; (3) microsomal and cytosolic Protein Tyrosine Kinase (PTK) activities in mammary glands and NMU-induced tumors. Sprague Dawley rats were injected with 50 mg/kg body weight of NMU at 50, 80, and 110 days old. HCB (100 mg/kg body weight) was administered three times a week from 65 to 110 days of age. Rats were separated in four groups: control, NMU, HCB, and NMU-HCB. HCB alone did not induce tumor development. Parameters of tumor development were increased in NMU-HCB compared to NMU rats. A higher cellular undifferentiation was observed in NMU-HCB tumors. IR, IGF-IR, and IRS-1 levels were higher in HCB than in controls. Conversely IGF-IR levels decreased in NMU-HCB vs. NMU group. The IRS-1 phosphorylation increased in HCB rats; however, it decreased in NMU-HCB vs. NMU. HCB decreased microsomal PTK activity in tumors. This study showed for the first time that HCB is a co-carcinogenic agent in NMU-induced mammary tumors in rats. Our results suggest that the IR and/or IGF-IR signaling pathway may be involved in the mechanism of action of HCB.     

α1-Adrenoceptor-mediated contraction of rat aorta is partly mediated via transactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor

Background and purpose:

High level of plasma catecholamines is a risk factor for vascular diseases such as hypertension and atherosclerosis. Catecholamines induce hypertrophy of vascular smooth muscle through α₁-adrenoceptors, which in cell culture involves the transactivation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). We hypothesized that EGFR transactivation was also involved in contractions of rat aorta mediated by α₁-adrenoceptors.

Experimental approach:

Thoracic aorta was isolated from 12–14 week old male Wistar rats. In vitro aortic contractile responses to cumulative doses of phenylephrine were characterized in the absence and presence of the EGFR kinase inhibitors, AG1478 and DAPH, in intact and endothelium-denuded rings. Involvement of signal transduction pathways was investigated by using heparin and inhibitors of Src, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 and phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase (PI3K). Phosphorylation of EGFR and ERK1/2 was measured after short-term phenylephrine or EGF stimulation in aorta segments in the presence of AG1478 and the PI3K inhibitor, wortmannin.

Key results:

AG1478 and DAPH concentration dependently attenuated phenylephrine-induced contractile responses in intact or endothelium-denuded aortic rings. Inhibition of PI3K (wortmannin and {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"LY294002","term_id":"1257998346","term_text":"LY294002"}}LY294002) but not heparin or inhibitors of Src or MMP, prevented the effect of AG1478 on the responses to phenylephrine. Phenylephrine induced phosphorylation of EGFR, which was partially blocked by AG1478. Phenylephrine also increased phosphorylation of ERK1/2, time-dependently and was blocked by AG1478 and wortmannin.

Conclusions and implications:

Contractions of rat thoracic aorta mediated by α₁-adrenoceptors involved transactivation of EGFR, mediated via a PI3K and ERK1/2 dependent pathway.     

Epidermal growth factor receptor activation by diesel particles is mediated by tyrosine phosphatase inhibition

Exposure to particulate matter (PM) is associated with increased cardiopulmonary morbidity and mortality. Diesel exhaust particles (DEP) are a major component of ambient PM and may contribute to PM-induced pulmonary inflammation. Proinflammatory signaling is mediated by phosphorylation-dependent signaling pathways whose activation is opposed by the activity of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) which thereby function to maintain signaling quiescence. PTPases contain an invariant catalytic cysteine that is susceptible to electrophilic attack. DEP contain electrophilic oxy-organic compounds that may contribute to the oxidant effects of PM. Therefore, we hypothesized that exposure to DEP impairs PTPase activity allowing for unopposed basal kinase activity. Here we report that exposure to 30 μg/cm² DEP for 4 h  induces differential activation of signaling in primary cultures of human airway epithelial cells (HAEC), a primary target cell in PM inhalation. In-gel kinase activity assay of HAEC exposed to DEPs of low (L-DEP), intermediate (I-DEP) or high (H-DEP) organic content showed differential activation of intracellular kinases. Exposure to these DEP also induced varying levels of phosphorylation of the receptor tyrosine kinase EGFR in a manner that requires EGFR kinase activity but does not involve receptor dimerization. We demonstrate that treatment with DEP results in an impairment of total and EGFR-directed PTPase activity in HAEC with a potency that is independent of the organic content of these particles. These data show that DEP-induced EGFR phosphorylation in HAEC is the result of a loss of PTPase activities which normally function to dephosphorylate EGFR in opposition to baseline EGFR kinase activity.     

STRUCTURE-ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIPS FOR 4-ANILINOQUINAZOLINES AS POTENT INHIBITORS AT THE ATP BINDING SITE OF THE EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR RECEPTOR IN VITRO

1. Structure-activity relationships are described for the inhibition of the tyrosine kinase activity (phosphorylation of a fragment of phospholipase C_g1) of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) by 4-anilinoquinazolines. These compounds are competitive inhibitors at the ATP binding site. 2. The preferred side chain is anilino-, substituted at the 3-position with small lipophilic groups. The quinazoline moiety is absolutely required for activity, but substituents on the quinazoline greatly modulate potency, with electron-donating groups favoured. The most potent analogue, the 6,7-dimethoxy derivative (compound 20), has an IC₅₀ of 29 pmol/L and a very high selectivity for the EGFR over other tyrosine kinase enzymes. 3. The present study shows that it is possible to identify small molecules that are very potent, yet highly selective, inhibitors of a single component of the growth signal transduction pathway in cells.     

Lead acetate induces EGFR activation upstream of SFK and PKCα linkage to the Ras/Raf-1/ERK signaling

Lead acetate (Pb), a probable human carcinogen, can activate protein kinase C (PKC) upstream of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2). Yet, it remains unclear whether Pb activation of PKC → ERK1/2 involves receptor/non-receptor tyrosine kinases and the Ras signaling transducer. Here we demonstrate a novel mechanism elicited by Pb for transmitting ERK1/2 signaling in CL3 human non-small-cell lung adenocarcinoma cells. Pb induction of higher steady-state levels of Ras-GTP was essential for increasing phospho-Raf-1^S338 and phospho-ERK1/2. Pre-treatment of the cells with a conventional PKC inhibitor Gö6976 or depleting PKCα using specific small interfering RNA blocked Pb induction of Ras-GTP. Pb also activated cellular tyrosine kinases. Specific pharmacological inhibitors, PD153035 for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and SU6656 for Src family tyrosine kinases (SFK), but not AG1296 for platelet-derived growth factor receptor, could suppress the Pb-induced tyrosine kinases, PKCα, Ras-GTP, phospho-Raf-1^S338 and phospho-ERK1/2. Furthermore, phosphorylation of tyrosines on the EGFR multiple autophosphorylation sites and the conserved SFK autophosphorylation site occurred during exposure of cells to Pb for 1-5 min and 5-30 min, respectively. Intriguingly, Pb activation of EGFR required the intrinsic kinase activity but not dimerization of the receptor. Inhibition of SFK or PKCα activities did not affect EGFR phosphorylation, while knockdown of EGFR blocked SFK phosphorylation and PKCα activation following Pb. Together, these results indicate that immediate activation of EGFR in response to Pb is obligatory for activation of SFK and PKCα and subsequent the Ras-Raf-1-MKK1/2-ERK1/2 signaling cascade.     

ELEVATED EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR RECEPTOR LEVELS IN HYPERTENSIVE LYON RAT KIDNEY AND AORTA

1. The adult spontaneously hypertensive Lyon rats (LH strain) exhibited increased maximal epidermal growth factor (EGF) binding in freshly prepared kidney and aortic tissue membranes compared with age-matched normotensive (LN) or hypotensive (LL) strains. However, the binding affinity of the receptors to EGF was the same in all the three strains studied. These findings indicate an increased number of EGF receptors (EGFR) in the hypertensive LH strain. 2. Protein tyrosine kinase activity associated with the EGFR was also elevated in the LH strain compared with LN or LL strains, indicating that these receptors are functionally active. 3. There was a correlation between maximal EGF binding by aortic membranes and blood pressure in individual animals (r = 0.55; P < 0.001). 4. Taken together with previously reported similar findings in other models of genetic hypertension, the present results suggest a possible role for increased levels of EGFR in the development and maintenance of genetic hypertension.     

Icotinib enhances lung cancer cell radiosensitivity in vitro and in vivo by inhibiting MAPK/ERK and AKT activation

Icotinib hydrochloride is a small epidermal growth factor receptor‐tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR‐TKI) that was developed by Chinese scientists. While clinical trials have revealed its efficacy in the treatment of lung cancer, very little is known about its role in enhancing radiosensitivity. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of Icotinib in enhancing lung cancer cell radiosensitivity and have detailed its underlying molecular mechanism. The lung cancer cell line H1650 was pretreated with or without Icotinib for 24 hours before radiation, and clonogenic survival assay was performed. Cell apoptosis was also analyzed by flow cytometry, while western blotting was performed to examine the activation of EGFR and its downstream kinases in H1650 cells after Icotinib and radiation treatment. Furthermore, a xenograft animal model was established to evaluate the radiosensitivity of Icotinib in vivo and to confirm its mechanism. Our results demonstrate that pretreatment with Icotinib reduced clonogenic survival after radiation, inhibited EGFR activation, and increased radiation‐induced apoptosis in H1650 cells. The phosphorylation of protein kinase B (AKT), extracellular regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), and EGFR was inhibited after Icotinib and radiation combination treatment in vitro and in vivo compared with individual treatments. Combination treatment also affected the expression of the DNA repair protein H2A histone family member X (γ‐H2AX). In conclusion, our results reveal that Icotinib enhances radiosensitivity in lung cancers in vitro and in vivo and the mechanism of this may involve blocking the EGFR‐AKT and MAPK‐ERK pathways and limiting DNA repair.     

表皮生长因子受体(EGFR)酪氨酸激酶抑制剂的研究进展

表皮生长因子受体（EGFR）酪氨酸激酶介导的信号转导与肿瘤发生发展密切相关，抑制该受体活性可以有效地抑制肿瘤。近年来，许多以此为靶点的新抗肿瘤药物陆续被开发，在多种肿瘤治疗中取得了令人鼓舞的疗效。综述了EGFR的结构和作用以及近年来EGFR酪氨酸激酶抑制剂的研究进展。     

表皮生长因子受体家族单克隆抗体耐药机制的研究进展

表皮生长因子受体（EGFR）家族广泛存在于体内各种细胞中,其异常活化与多种人类上皮组织肿瘤的发生、发展密切相关,因此已成为肿瘤治疗的重要靶点之一。目前靶向EGFR家族的药物包括小分子酪氨酸激酶抑制剂和单克隆抗体（简称单抗）类药物,特别是单抗类药物近年来在临床上获得了广泛的应用。但是,越来越多的临床资料表明,大量患者对这类药物表现出原发性耐药或获得性耐药。目前靶向EGFR家族单抗类药物产生耐药的原因主要包括：受体结构改变、血管生成、多种受体酪氨酸激酶的活化、EGFR的亚细胞定位、EGFR下游效应分子的持续激活和EGFR家族生长因子表达的上调等。本文就靶向EGFR家族单抗类药物耐药机制的研究进展进行综述。     

Development of a quantitative, cell-based, high-content screening assay for epidermal growth factor receptor modulators

Aim： To develop a robust, cell-based, high-content screening （HCS） assay based on receptor internalization for the identification of novel modulators of the epidermal growth factor receptor （EGFR）. Methods： Agonist-induced receptor internalization is part of the signaling cascade of EGFR. Fluorescent-tagged epidermal growth factor （EGF） was used to visualize the internalized receptor- ligand complex. The fluorescent intracellular spots were detected and measured with an ArrayScan HCS reader. Compounds that can competitively bind to EGFR or interfere with EGFR internalization process would result in a reduced number and intensity of intracellular fluorescent spots. This assay was validated, optimized, and applied to a large-scale screening of a library containing 48 000 synthetic compounds. Results： The competition between fluorescent EGF and unlabeled EGF reveals the IC50 of unlabeled EGF is approximately 0.2 nmol/L, which is comparable with other published reports. Thirteen compounds with a relatively high degree of interference with EGFR internalization were identified. One of the compounds was proven to be agonist of the EGFR since it induced phosphorylation of the receptor and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase （ERK）. Conclusion： This automated, objective, and easy-to-use assay provided abundant information, quantitative results, and demonstrated the potential use of HCS methods in searching membrane receptor modulators.     

On the nanotoxicity of PAMAM dendrimers: Superfect stimulates the EGFR–ERK1/2 signal transduction pathway via an oxidative stress-dependent mechanism in HEK 293 cells

Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers are cationic branch-like macromolecules that may serve as drug delivery systems for gene-based therapies such as RNA interference. For their safe use in the clinic, they should ideally only enhance drug delivery to target tissues and exhibit no adverse effects. However, little is known about their toxicological profiles in terms of their interactions with cellular signal transduction pathways such as the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The EGFR is an important signaling cascade that regulates cell growth, differentiation, migration, survival and apoptosis. Here, we investigated the impact of naked, unmodified Superfect (SF), a commercially available generation 6 PAMAM dendrimer, on the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase–extracellular-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) signaling pathway in human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) cells. At concentrations routinely used for transfection, SF exhibited time and dose-dependent stimulation of EGFR and ERK1/2 phosphorylation whereas AG1478, a selective EGFR tyrosine kinase antagonist, inhibited EGFR–ERK1/2 signaling. SF-induced phosphorylation of EGFR for 1 h was partly reversible upon removal of the dendrimer and examination of cells 24 later. Co-treatment of SF with epidermal growth factor (EGF) ligand resulted in greater EGFR stimulation than either agent alone implying that the stimulatory effects of SF and the ligand are synergistic. Dendrimer-induced stimulation of EGFR–ERK1/2 signaling could be attenuated by the antioxidants apocynin, catalase and tempol implying that an oxidative stress dependent mechanism was involved. These results show for the first time that PAMAM dendrimers, aside from their ability to improve drug delivery, can modulate the important EGFR–ERK1/2 cellular signal transduction pathway – a novel finding that may have a bearing on their safe application as drug delivery systems.     

表皮生长因子受体酪氨酸激酶抑制剂在肿瘤治疗中的应用

表皮生长因子受体 (EGFR)酪氨酸激酶 ,是细胞外信号传递到细胞内的重要枢纽 ,它在信号传导、细胞增殖、分化以及各种调节机制中发挥重要作用 ,在多种癌细胞中过度表达。许多研究表明 ,抑制EGFR酪氨酸激酶活性 ,可抑制肿瘤生长。目前 ,已有几种EGFR酪氨酸激酶抑制剂进入了临床试验。本文对几种EGFR酪氨酸激酶小分子抑制剂在肿瘤治疗中的研究进展做一综述。     

Induction of Liver Microsomal Cytochrome P-450 and Associated Monooxygenases by Octachlorostyrene in the Rat

Abstract: The inducing effects of octachlorostyrene (OCS) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB), chlorinated hydrocarbon contaminants found in fish, on the microsomal cytochrome P-450 system were studied in rats. Administration of single doses of OCS and HCB at 50mg/kg intraperitoneally and higher led to increases in microsomal protein and cytochrome P-450 content, cytochrome P-450 reductase, ethylmorphine N-demethylase, 4-nitroanisole O-demethylase, acetanilide 4-hydroxylase, but not in benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase activities. Similar patterns of induction were seen after 14 days repeated intraperitoneal or oral dosing. Sodiumdodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of microsomes from OCS and HCB treated rats showed increases in proteins similar to those found after phenobarbital (PB) induction. Under the present experimental conditions OCS and HCB were found to be PB-type inducers.     

Transinactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase and focal adhesion kinase phosphorylation by dietary flavonoids: effect on invasive potential of human carcinoma cells

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a member of a growing family of structurally distinct protein tyrosine kinases (PTK), has been linked to specific phosphorylation events, and the elevation of FAK activity in human carcinoma cells correlated with increased invasive potential. Transactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase activity is proposed to stimulate cell migration and the subsequent activation of downstream signaling pathways. Quercetin (Qu) and luteolin (Lu), are potent PTK inhibitors as well as putative chemopreventive agents. The present work, we demonstrate that Qu and Lu at concentration of 20 microM transinactivated EGFR tyrosine kinase activity with marked reduction in phosphotyrosyl level of 170, 125, 65, 60 and 42 kDa cellular proteins, and induced apoptosis in MiaPaCa-2 cells. The 125 kDa protein was further identified as a FAK by immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting analyses. Tumor cells treated with Lu or Qu dampened the phosphorylation of FAK. In addition, our data clearly demonstrated that tumor cells responded to Qu and Lu by parallel reductions in the levels of phosphorylated FAK and the secreted matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) that may lead to the suppression of invasive potential and cell migration in vitro. While the molecular mechanism of FAK regulation of MMP secretion in tumor cells remains unclear, our results suggested that blockade of the EGFR-signaling pathway may contributed to the net effect. As suggested in the current study, targeting EGFR and FAK with the objective of modulating their regulatory pathways could offer prospects for the treatment of EGFR-responsive cancers in the future.     

Acrolein increases 5-lipoxygenase expression in murine macrophages through activation of ERK pathway

Episodic exposure to acrolein-rich pollutants has been linked to acute myocardial infarction, and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) is involved in the production of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), which destabilizes atherosclerotic plaques. Thus, the present study determined the effect of acrolein on 5-LO/leukotriene B₄ (LTB₄) production in murine macrophages. Stimulation of J774A.1 cells with acrolein led to increased LTB₄ production in association with increased 5-LO expression. Acrolein-evoked 5-LO expression was blocked by pharmacological inhibition of the ERK pathway, but not by inhibitors for JNK and p38 MAPK pathways. In line with these results, acrolein exclusively increased the phosphorylation of ERK among these MAPK, suggesting a role for the ERK pathway in acrolein-induced 5-LO expression with subsequent production of LTB₄. Among the receptor tyrosine kinases including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and platelet derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), acrolein-evoked ERK phosphorylation was attenuated by AG1478, an EGFR inhibitor, but not by AG1295, a PDGFR inhibitor. In addition, acrolein-evoked 5-LO expression was also inhibited by inhibition of EGFR pathway, but not by inhibition of PDGFR pathway. These observations suggest that acrolein has a profound effect on the 5-LO pathway via an EGFR-mediated activation of ERK pathway, leading to acute ischemic syndromes through the generation of LTB₄, subsequent MMP-9 production and plaque rupture.     

Desensitization by Different Strategies of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and ErbB4

Four transmembrane tyrosine kinases constitute the ErbB protein family: epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) or ErbB1, ErbB2, ErbB3, and ErbB4. In general, the structure and mechanism of the activation of these members are similar. However, significant differences in homologous desensitization are known between EGFR and ErbB4. Desensitization of ligand-occupied EGFR occurs by endocytosis, while that of ErbB4 occurs by selective cleavage at the cell surface. Because ErbB4 is abundantly expressed in neurons from fetal to adult brains, elucidation of the desensitization mechanism is important to understand neuronal development and synaptic functions. Recently, it has become clear that heterologous desensitization of EGFR and ErbB4 are induced by endocytosis and cleavage, respectively, similar to homologous desensitization. It has been reported that heterologous desensitization of EGFR is induced by serine phosphorylation of EGFR via the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAP kinase) pathway in various cell lines, including alveolar epithelial cells. In contrast, the protein kinase C pathway is involved in ErbB4 cleavage. In this review, we will describe recent advances in the desensitization mechanisms of EGFR and ErbB4, mainly in alveolar epithelial cells and hypothalamic neurons, respectively.     

Combination treatment of glioblastoma multiforme cell lines with the anti-malarial artesunate and the epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor OSI-774

New drugs and combination modalities for otherwise non-responsive brain tumors are urgently required. The anti-malarial artesunate (ART) and the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor OSI-774 reveal profound cytotoxic activity. The effectiveness of a combination treatment and the underlying molecular determinants of cellular response are unknown. In the present investigation, we studied ART and OSI-774 in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cell lines. Supra-additive inhibition of cell growth was observed in U-87MG.DeltaEGFR cells transduced with a deletion-mutant constitutively active EGFR gene, while additive effects were present in cells transduced with wild-type EGFR (U-87MG.WT-2N), kinase-deficient EGFR (U-87MG.DK-2N), mock vector controls (U-87MG.LUX), or non-transduced parental U-87MG cells. Among nine other non-transduced GBM cell lines, supra-additive effects were found in two cell lines (G-210GM, G-599GM), while ART and OSI-774 acted in an additive manner in the other seven cell lines (G-211GM, G-750GM, G-1163GM, G-1187GM, G-1265GM, G-1301GM, and G-1408GM). Sub-additive or antagonistic effects were not observed. Genomic gains and losses of genetic material in the non-transduced cell lines as assessed by comparative genomic hybridization were correlated with the IC(50) values for ART and OSI-774 and subsequently subjected to hierarchical cluster analysis and cluster image mapping. A genomic profile of imbalances was detected that predicted cellular response to ART and OSI-774. The genes located at the genomic imbalances of interest may serve as candidate resistance genes of GBM cells towards ART and OSI-774. In conclusion, the combination treatment of ART and OSI-774 resulted in an increased growth inhibition of GBM cell lines as compared to each drug alone.