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The linear C-terminal regions of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor-alpha bind to different epitopes on the human EGF receptor.

ABSTRACT: Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGFalpha) bind with similar affinities in a competitive fashion to the human EGF receptor, and basically induce similar mitogenic responses. In spite of the fact that EGF and TGFalpha are structurally alike, it is still not clear if the two growth factors bind the receptor in an identical manner. The observation that the 13A9 antibody blocks binding of TGFalpha, but not that of EGF, to the human EGF receptor [Winkler, O'Connor, Winget and Fendly (1989) Biochemistry 28, 6373-6378] suggests that their binding characteristics are not identical. In the present study we have made use of a set of EGF/TGFalpha chimaeric molecules to show that the 13A9 antibody blocks receptor binding of ligands with TGFalpha sequences, but not of ligands with EGF sequences, in their C-terminal linear regions. Using HaCaT human keratinocyte cells in culture, it was determined that ligands that are able to bind the EGF receptor in the presence of 13A9 are also able to induce calcium release from intracellular stores in these cells, indicating that these ligands have the ability to activate the EGF receptor in the presence of the antibody. From these data it is concluded that the flexible C-terminal linear domains of EGF and TGFalpha bind to separate sequences on the EGF receptor, such that the binding domain of TGFalpha, but not that of EGF, overlaps with the binding epitope of the 13A9 antibody.

SUBMITTER: Lenferink AE

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1219853 | biostudies-other | 1998 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Project description:Transforming growth factor-? (TGF-?) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) have critical roles in regulating the metastasis of aggressive breast cancers, yet the impact of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by TGF-? in altering the response of breast cancer cells to EGF remains unknown. We show in this study that murine metastatic 4T1 breast cancer cells formed compact and dense spheroids when cultured under three-dimensional (3D) conditions, which was in sharp contrast to the branching phenotypes exhibited by their nonmetastatic counterparts. Using the human MCF10A series, we show that epithelial-type and nonmetastatic breast cancer cells were unable to invade to EGF, whereas their mesenchymal-type and metastatic counterparts readily invaded to EGF. Furthermore, EMT induced by TGF-? was sufficient to manifest dense spheroid morphologies, a phenotype that increased primary tumor exit and invasion to EGF. Post-EMT invasion to EGF was dependent on increased activation of EGF receptor (EGFR) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, all of which could be abrogated either by pharmacologic (PF-562271) or by genetic (shRNA) targeting of focal adhesion kinase (FAK). Mechanistically, EMT induced by TGF-? increased cell-surface levels of EGFR and prevented its physical interaction with E-cadherin, leading instead to the formation of oncogenic signaling complexes with T?R-II. Elevated EGFR expression was sufficient to transform normal mammary epithelial cells, and to progress their 3D morphology from that of hollow acini to branched structures characteristic of nonmetastatic breast cancer cells. Importantly, we show that TGF-? stimulation of EMT enabled this EGFR-driven breast cancer model to abandon their inherent branching architecture and form large, undifferentiated masses that were hyperinvasive to EGF and showed increased pulmonary tumor growth upon tail vein injection. Finally, chemotherapeutic targeting of FAK was sufficient to revert the aggressive behaviors of these structures. Collectively, this investigation has identified a novel EMT-based approach to neutralize the oncogenic activities of EGF and TGF-? in aggressive and invasive forms of breast cancer.

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The linear C-terminal regions of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor-alpha bind to different epitopes on the human EGF receptor.

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